After reading all the posts in this subforum, I am still uncertain if this new tuner is a viable alternative for me.

I consider myself slightly above average with a wrench (I kept my '70 Nova running with duct tape and coat hangers, changed a couple of transmissions, replaced the head gaskets on my '88 vette, installed headers on my Tundra, etc.), but I have to admit to myself that I have no idea where to even begin when it comes to tuning an engine electronically. For that matter, I don't even understand how the different variables affect my DMax (my first diesel). I don't know when turbo boost is good and when it is bad, or how fuel rail pressure helps or hurts performance/durability. I understand that injector bandwidth controls fuel flow (along with fuel pressure), but I don't know when lots of fuel is good or how extra fuel should correlate with boost/pressure/timing/IAT/ECT/RPM/etc. There's lots more I don't know, these examples just popped immediately to mind...

I read in another thread that I don't have to fear frying my ECM, but what about destroying my engine? I realize my fear of the unknown might be irrational, but I can see in my mind's eye a scenario where I change a value on a table and promptly spit a rod or send the turbo scattering through my muffler. I guess I have two questions for any sympathetic brother out there:

1. What should I study to get smart on how the different systems work together on the DMax to create power while maintaining reliable service?

2. Is it possible to destroy the engine with electronic tuning changes? I realize increased power will limp the tranny, but what about the engine itself?

Thanx!

You are looking at a noob. Boost is always good, unless it is too high for the factory turbo.

I bought mine from Trippin, and he hooked me up with a good tune to start with. Just play with it the more you play the more you will learn. I am still scared of the timing tables, but that is all I havent messed with.

good post, as I think there are a few of us that feel this way !

Agreed, I would have one if I knew there was say a 85hp predator like tune I could just plug in. I got rid of my Predator to get this but am kind of overwhelmed with some of the stuff. Can I save a few different files, like different levels and how risky is it of losing say your stock tune? If my laptop would get stolen or go bad on me then would I be out of luck getting stock tune back or could someone send me theirs and no one(dealer) would know any different?

I've been watching this also but combining my minimal diesel knowlege with a loathing for computer programs makes me a little apprehensive too! I am hoping guys will start posting programs they have had success with for my kind to use as a base as our knowledge builds. Does this seem like a reasonable wish for the near future? If so my Edge will be for sale soon!

I have all of the same thought as all of you do. I barely know how to use the computer I'm typing on right now.

This is a good thread.

I have all of the same thought as all of you do. I barely know how to use the computer I'm typing on right now.

This is a good thread.


TRUE

Who is in the AVATAR ?

Kinda funny...the last three post come from 20" guys...must be the water

I also have this concern and I am not sure that giving up my PPE is the best idea with my minimal knowledge of a DMAX.
Jcast

Ok I was just doing some research on EFI's site and it looks like if you own a tuner that reflashes your ECM ie. Predetor etc. you can download it to your laptop and tweak it if you wish. Now as I see it to keep everything "legal like" you should only do that if you own the tuner your copying and then don't share it with anyone. To me that seems like recording a CD you bought for your own use. Anything else would be copyright piracy. However it gives a place to start tuning from. Beyond that would be a question of ethics....."no comment"

The software is pretty darn smart. There's a lot of people with limited experience enjoying playing with it. The key is making something that works and quantifying the results. Once you see a sample modified tune it should help.

If anyone needs any help and or wants a file to play around with PM me.

I have some basic knowledge of how this EFI-Live works..........:cool:
.
.
;)

Same here, if anyone is thinking of purchasing an EFI Live give me a shout and I can help you out with some basic tunes etc for the LLY. I don't have as much experience with the LB7 but Tony does.

Max hook me up with a tune to compare. To wolfordlawn@hotmail.com

Thanks,

Wolford

Thanks Max!!!:secret:



:thankyou2

Max do you have a tune i could give a try gsr_griff@yahoo.com

Thanks Max!

If there was some sort of book, that explained everything and what it did to the truck exactly...Id buy efi live. Then spend all my spare time tunning

Yep it comes with very detailed manuals. Download the software and you will see the manuals when you go to install.

We are all novices! We are just learning together.

We are all novices! We are just learning together.
I think the novice thing probally isn't so bad till it combines with limited computer knowledge.:o:

Could somebody mail me a basic/starting tune for LLY, I will surely purchase efilive when funds are available.

send to dieselheart@hotmail.com
thanks,
Todd

The support from members swells my heart; thanx to everyone for the words of encouragement and offers of assistance.

EFILive certainly sounds awesome, and I have yet to hear a negative word about it. The only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger on a system of my own is the knowledge that I would have no idea where to begin once I loaded my stock tune into my desktop. I do not understand enough about my diesel engine to know what parameters to change in order to yield more power or to know which parameters if changed will instantly destroy my high-dollar baby.

Do I understand correctly that some of you are just changing a number in a random table and then driving the truck to determine what effect that change had? I just don't have the stomach to try that with my $40,000 daily driver sole-source-of-transportation.

I joined the forum at EFILive and read every diesel-related post. I tried reading some of the gasser posts, but realized I was in way over my head. I did notice that there are a couple of tutorials related to gassers; something like that would really help me (and judging from the other posts in this thread, several other folks as well) if it were available. I also saw a thread that layed out which tables have an effect on power production (though not how those various engine systems relate to each other); something like that geared toward turbo diesels would at least give folks like me a starting point.

Max mentioned above that the EFILive download includes manuals. Do these manuals give a basis of how to tune EFI turbo diesels? Does anyone know of a book or other resource that spells out how to tune these beasties? If it is all trial and error - I just don't think I am up to it.

If EFILive offered a couple of reliable and trusted performance tunes to start with, it would make the decision to purchase a no-brainer. It would be the best of both worlds: a tune to load and drive while working up the nerve to tinker with the electrons.

Again, thanx for all the support! You guys rock! And if anyone knows of a reference for how to electronically tune turbodiesels, please enlighten those of us who are too scared to just jump in and start changing numbers!

ThanxThanxThanx!

Also - you guys stop posting your email addresses on the forum! The professional spammers out there use software that combs the internet looking for email addresses that have been posted in the proper format; the spammer then sells lists of addresses to other spammers who fill your email inbox with spam. Once on the list, you never get off it. To avoid this, post an email address like this:

yourname at yourISP dot com

or this:

yourname@nospamyourISP.com (then tell the recipient to remove the "nospam" from your address)

Just a friendly tip!

mountainstoner,

I'm in the same boat you'r in. This TOOL can do so much and I don't understand 75% of it. I can spend hours on what the scan tool can do alone and hope to use the data logging to make changes to a tune.
The tunner that's is something else.
I loaded a tune Trippen sent me Wed pm, yesterday Am. Traveled yesterday 600 miles. The tune is not bad for what I'm lookig for:ro) , But I had my laptop on and did some data logging, start, stops, wot and so on for about 2 hours through the 10 hour drive:eek: . In the next week I'll try and see if I can use some of the data to make changes to the tune. I might see if I can get a little more low end power. EGT would be nice to lower them a bit by 100F. Do I know how to make these changes,NO! I see the tables that Trippen used to make changes against the stock tune. I'll ask ?'S how to change the cells in the tables and where and what cells to change. I'll learn. Might take a little time, but I'll get it!
Have you talked or PM'ed Trippen.:grd:

Max mentioned above that the EFILive download includes manuals. Do these manuals give a basis of how to tune EFI turbo diesels? Does anyone know of a book or other resource that spells out how to tune these beasties? If it is all trial and error - I just don't think I am up to it.



I feel the same way

Guys Just a quick note, I'm running behind today and haven't been able to address your questions. I'll send out some tunes and address your questions in about 2 hours. I left the laptop at home today. :(

For those sitting on the fence, download the free demo and get a couple tunes from Max Power ( thanks Max) or Trippin to mess around with. You won't be able to save any changes or actually load the tunes on your truck, but you can get a really good feel for the software and what it is capable of - all for no charge.

The software has an excellent diff capability that will show you exactly what was changed between two tunes. With a stock tune as the base, you can determine exactly what was changed in the alternate tune.

There is alot of information available in the software, but it is not overwhelming.

Could someone send me a few tunes to look at. I downloaded the software, now i just a stock tune and something that has been "tuned".


TIA....
S

anthony.hunter at direcway dot com.........hows that:D

Todd T,

Email sent. ;)


Mountainstoner,

I'm certainly no tuning expert. All of us are in the same boat. We are all learning. I know what I like to drive and how it should feel. I'm not going to tell you that I can supply you a tune that does everything you want it to do. What I will tell you is that I can supply you with a couple of starter tunes and then work with you to help you tailor the tunes to your liking. Emailing tunes back and forth is alot easier than sending boxes or ECMs back and forth.

This is the beauty of EFILive, we can all customize a tune for our specific needs and wants. Something that was unavailable to us just a few short months ago.

Don't forget about the power of the scanning side of the software as well. We can record over 100 engine parameters and play them back or graph them to try and diagnose why a tune has a specific feel and what we can do to change it.

The software is very powerful and has many tables and parameters to adjust. Whether or not you choose to use that all of that power is up to you. For $699.00 you could treat it as a nothing more than a Scan tool/tune uploader and still be ahead monetarily of what you would pay for a comparable handheld tuner. This truly is a great value.

Frankly based on the power of this software I'm suprised they sell for only $699.00. I think EFILive could easily get $1000.00 for it. But..........I won't tell them if you won't. ;)

Another option is find someone close that has the set up and pay the $99 for a license and have them put in a mild tune if that's what u want.

Then decide if that is what u want.

I assume if u buy it and don't like it u could resell but it would only have 1 license left.

Just wanted to thank Trippin and Dave for forwarding me some tunes to mess with.

Thanks

What about a interface cable to hook the laptop to the vehicle? Where does one get that or did i miss that it comes with the sofeware.

What about a interface cable to hook the laptop to the vehicle? Where does one get that or did i miss that it comes with the sofeware.

The EFILive kit comes with the software, a black box and an interface cable to hook up to the vehicle. The black box is also capable of logging additional auxillary sensors such as EGTs or pressures.

I have a question. This may have been asked, but I didn't see it when I scanned this post.

What do you have to do if you need to take it in for warranty work? Can they deny the claim if they 'see' the different tune, or is it 'invisible' to them? Or is it a matter of returning the stock tune before returning to the dealer? TIA

Pete

I have a question. This may have been asked, but I didn't see it when I scanned this post.

What do you have to do if you need to take it in for warranty work? Can they deny the claim if they 'see' the different tune, or is it 'invisible' to them? Or is it a matter of returning the stock tune before returning to the dealer? TIA

Pete

Reload your stock tune back into the computer before you take it back in.

Reload your stock tune back into the computer before you take it back in.

Thanks!

I'm new to this whole thing and am considering purchasing it as this is really cool and I've always liked conrolling things myself. But I have no clue about how this works. I just downloaded the software from EFIlive.
Would somebody be willing to send me a tune stock or not (maybe even two to compare...)??

Thanks for any replies.

you can get some tunes here

http://www.holdencrazy.com/EFILive/

The black box is also capable of logging additional auxillary sensors such as EGTs or pressures.

What Aux sensors? After market and which brand for EGT?

What Aux sensors? After market and which brand for EGT?
Disconnect your mechanical EGT probe from your gauge and hook it up to the black box. Directions are in the "Scan" manual.

Any 2 sensors that have a 0-5 volt output.

Edited to remove stupidity. :D

Disconnect your mechanical EGT probe from your gauge and hook it up to the black box. Directions are in the "Scan" manual.

Any 2 sensors that have a 0-5 volt AC output.


Uh, 0-5 volt AC output? Oh, I forgot, you have one of them Kalifornia trucks!:eek:

Any brands come to mind?

I need to get an EGT and boost guage. I was considering digital but have not found a style I like yet.

being that I bought a plain jane truck I have all kinds of room to mount them in my dash.

After I get them I think a power pup will be on the way

Disconnect your mechanical EGT probe from your gauge and hook it up to the black box. Directions are in the "Scan" manual.

Any 2 sensors that have a 0-5 volt AC output.

I tried to get my Flashscan to read from my thermocouple the other night and it wouldn't work.

1) Yes, it was disconnected from the analog gauge
2) Yes, I tried swaping the leads in the flashscan plug.
3) Yes I had the exhaust temp PID enabled.

Is there anything else that I'm overlooking that would cause the EGT to not log?

I tried to get my Flashscan to read from my thermocouple the other night and it wouldn't work.

1) Yes, it was disconnected from the analog gauge
2) Yes, I tried swaping the leads in the flashscan plug.
3) Yes I had the exhaust temp PID enabled.

Is there anything else that I'm overlooking that would cause the EGT to not log?

Not sure what brand you have, but it only accepts 'K' type thermocouples, if you have a spec sheet on the one you have you might want to check that out.

Cheers,
Ross

Not sure what brand you have, but it only accepts 'K' type thermocouples, if you have a spec sheet on the one you have you might want to check that out.

Cheers,
Ross

I am using the Di Pricol inconel thermocouple, which is supposed to be a Type K.

And I thought I was done reading on this site....this one is going to keep me bust for a while. This might be exactly what I was looking for tuning wise. Very excited and nervous all at the same time...who would think a truck could be so much fun? Back to my research and questions to follow.

You mentioned modifying your T-couple in another post. What did you mod?


I am using the Di Pricol inconel thermocouple, which is supposed to be a Type K.

You mentioned modifying your T-couple in another post. What did you mod?

I soldered a GM WeatherPac connector to the TC leads, and then one to the lead that goes to the gauge, and another that wires up to the Flashscan. Now, all I need to do is pop the hood, and swap leads on the TC in about 10 seconds to log (if I could get it to work). It works fine with the gauge.

I soldered a GM WeatherPac connector to the TC leads, and then one to the lead that goes to the gauge, and another that wires up to the Flashscan. Now, all I need to do is pop the hood, and swap leads on the TC in about 10 seconds to log (if I could get it to work). It works fine with the gauge.

Well, I don't know why the gauge is still working but thermocouple connections should not be joined by any means other than the correct thermocouple extention. To be honest, I don't understand the physics of it entirely but I did get this from a website -

"Connection problems. Many measurement errors are caused by unintentional thermocouple junctions. Remember that any junction of two different metals will cause a junction. If you need to increase the length of the leads from your thermocouple, you must use the correct type of thermocouple extension wire (eg type K for type K thermocouples). Using any other type of wire will introduce a thermocouple junction. Any connectors used must be made of the correct thermocouple material and correct polarity must be observed."

Cheers,
Ross

I used Mcmaster-Carr p/n 3873K212 for my SPA gauge. Go to page 504 for premade extension cables or you can cutom build your own with individual connectors and thermocouple wire on page 503. The mini or style 1 connector seems common in our applications. I also keep an extra plug in the unused connection at all times to keep dirt out. Make sure you get type K and do not have ANY solder on the connection when you screw them together. Plug and play

http://www.mcmaster.com/

I used Mcmaster-Carr p/n 3873K212 for my SPA gauge. Go to page 504 for premade extension cables or you can cutom build your own with individual connectors and thermocouple wire on page 503. The mini or style 1 connector seems common in our applications. I also keep an extra plug in the unused connection at all times to keep dirt out. Make sure you get type K and do not have ANY solder on the connection when you screw them together. Plug and play

http://www.mcmaster.com/

Great information on the extension cable, thanks! :ro)

Well, I guess you guys have narrowed down my t-couple problems. Time to start ordering more parts, lol.

Time to start ordering more parts, lol.

That's the spirit ):h

Cheers,
Ross

Would it be possible to run the EFILive program while running the J/A in "0" so you have the functionality of monitoring the truck's vital stats?
Thanks!

Would it be possible to run the EFILive program while running the J/A in "0" so you have the functionality of monitoring the truck's vital stats?
Thanks!

Yes that seems to work well.

I just tried to download the EFILive file off of FlashScan's site. It is a 70MB file and my comp said it would take almost 6 hours to download. Something tells me EFILive is not going to be a very easy thing to use if you are stuck with dial-up.

They have a split version listed right below the big version on their web site for download using dial up. It is actually 10 seperate file downloads.

Saw that, I'll give it a shot.

I'd be happy to mail you a CD if you wish. PM me with your address.

I'd be happy to mail you a CD if you wish. PM me with your address.

Now that`s service! Not even a customer, and your willing to send him info. Things like this is why I will buy from you when my ducks are all in a row!:)

Now that`s service! Not even a customer, and your willing to send him info. Things like this is why I will buy from you when my ducks are all in a row!:)
same here as soon as the weather brakes and work starts back up... that is GREAT service... what a nice guy!!!

Don't I know it! Trippin is the man. As soon as I get my CD from him I am going to play with EFILive and then very likely purchase one from him. I'm also gonna pick up one of his pick-ups.

As far as the scan tool. Will EFILive give me information on my LB7 injector performance? I have read in other threads that the tech2 scan well help me know if my original injectors are functioning correctly. Will this do the same?

Yes EFILive can read injector balance rates.