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Originally Posted by AtomicLabMonkey
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Originally Posted by sperry
The street tuner software shows you real-time data. Whoopty do. Are you gonna just remember all those data points in your head, after reading them as they flash across the screen while you're driving? It only logs to a text file on disc. You have to open that file in another application to graph it. And that graph won't include the data coming from the G-Tech.
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I'm going with Dean in this argument. What you're describing is exactly what we work with on the mustangs, and it works just fine. Would it be nice if the software did absolutely everything for you? Sure, but it's not necessary. An Excel graph works just as well as a graph in the tuning program (or better).
Dyno tuning is great and all, but lots of pulls add up to be expensive and you can't be on a dyno 24/7 whenever you want to make some changes to your car. There's all KINDS of stuff you can tune by yourself on the street if you have this level of control over the ECU, from idle control, part throttle tip-in response, deceleration injector cuts, throttle breakpoints, etc. etc. etc. All of the little things can add up to a big difference in the way the car responds to you, and it's nice to be able to customize it so it feels ideal for you.
I understand you guys have to be more careful with what you do since your engines are boosted and on the verge of blowing up at anytime (  ), but trust me.. if you're comfortable with your level of knowledge on what you're doing it's very nice to have the control to change anything anytime. |
I'm not saying that tweeking the car is impossible... although I'm not totally convinced that it's a good idea w/o some previous tuning experience. I'm saying that tuning the car with the tools that Dean listed is tuning in the dark... you're not going to get the necessary into to see what's really going on.
For example, the wide-band O2 sensor has zero logging ability. You will have to somehow drive the car to the top of 3rd gear, and watch and remember the readings from the gauge. Then later, after you've got excel open to show the datalog, add in the A/F ratios to the chart. There's no way you're going to get that right...
Next, the data for hp and torque that he's going to be tuning against are coming from a notoriously innaccurate tool. G-Tech's are fun, and can sometimes tell you useful info in back to back runs, but they're not accurate enough to be used to actually tune hp and torque! If they were really that good, why would tuners spend $30,000 on a dyno when they could spend $300?
The current EcuTeck software (DeltaDash) already lets you bump base timing, idle speed, base boost, etc. The only reason to use something like the Street Tuner software is if you want to make specific adjustments to the maps at a specific RPM. I contend that without adequate data, making adjustments like that are a crap shoot: chances are you'll either make less power or risk the motor instead of improving on the dyno tuned map that's in the car to begin with.
Really, if you want to adjust for altitude, bump the base timing a degree, or add a pound of boost across the board (assuming you're not already pushing the efficiency of the turbo). Poking around in the maps isn't going to give you an advantage over the existing tools. Not to mention, there are a finite number of times you can reflash the ECU before the chips wear out... while the base offset feature of DeltaDash are stored in volitle memory that doesn't require buring the ECU.