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Glite Dictionary
🎸 To change tuning 🚗 To lower power 📻 To misadjust
to detune

to detune

1 6.8
To make an engine less powerful to follow rules and make it last longer
  • verb
  • /dɪˈtun/
  • Specialized
translation icon : reducir la potencia
  • Before the vehicle was released to the public, the manufacturer chose to detune it for better fuel efficiency.

I think these manufacturers detune their engines to their capability of what they can take them to for future proofing the model.

Examples

  • If I were going to detune an engine, compression and RPM would be two places I'd look.

    Blog text (17)

  • I think these manufacturers detune their engines to their capability of what they can take them to for future proofing the model.

    Rob Moore

  • A street-legal Superlight R600 would probably be slightly detuned for the road to comply with emissions.

    Blog text (18)

  • True, the Tiger engines are stroker 675s, but they are annoyingly detuned.

    Blog text (7)

  • The engineers decided to detune the racing car's engine to ensure it would pass all safety regulations.

  • To enhance reliability, they had to detune the system, reducing its output slightly.

Synonyms

to derate
vsto detune
  • Specialized
9.6

To reduce the allowed output of equipment for safety or performance

reduces actual power output of engines or systems rather than lowering rated capacity

Antonyms

to enhance
424 4.0

Make something better or more attractive

boost
153 2.7

An increase in amount or success that helps something

How Powerful

to run
∞ 2.2
to detune
  • Specialized
1 6.8
to derate
  • Specialized
9.6
to shut down
541 2.9

Surface Forms

detune infinitive
detuned past
detuned past participle
detuning present participle
detunes third person singular

Morphology

detune = tune (semi-transparent) = de + tune

Although morphologically 'de-' + 'tune' suggests 'make not tuned', the industry-specific extension 'reduce engine power/output' is a metaphorical or technical specialization and may not be fully obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Detune comes from de- 'reduce or remove' and tune 'set for best performance'. So to detune an engine or system is to lower its power or output on purpose, often to make it last longer or to meet local rules.