HPTuners review
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Senior Member
Joined: 06-06-06
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From: Oakland, Ca
HPTuners review
I've been playing with hp tuners on my 2.4L for a while now and just wanted to pass on as much info as i can to everyone else getting started. If you've been looking into HPT at all for your car, you realize that theres a steep learning curve. Its very overwelming at first because of all the options the V8+V6 guys talk about, and none of them directly apply to your 2.4L. Our PCM features are completely stripped down, we have about 1/2 of the control, but enough to make it fun as hell!
I wont get into details of each part, because you can use the search function on hpt's forum and get much better explainations then i could sum up here.
Heres the general order of tuning and that i found worked so far:
1. remove and/or tune down your torque management.
For us 5spd guys, we have engine torque management and other options such as "Shift smoothing". I've disabled all of these but plan to add them back slowly once im done with the tune. Removing these help isolate alot of the spark retard issues.
2. Get to understand VCM scanner histrograms
Monitor ELBOWTHANG! histrograms are ******* odd things to get use'ta unless your a math major, but they are a huge help in making things simple once you've figure it out. Make sure to troll the v8/v6 forums and find histrograms, modify them to work with the right PIDs and tables... histrograms are the one thing you can mess around with and not do any damage. In one 48hr weekend i had over 20hours of data logged, and reviewed every bit with at least 2-3 different custom histrograms. The important thing to take away is dont make changes that you cant monitor!
3. Scale your MAF
Heres another example of the V8's having more options. They all talk about tuning your VE tables and SD mode , but this doesnt exist on our cars. The only option we have is MAF calibrations, which really is enough. This is a HUGE area of importance if you've installed a CAI, and big gains can be had by having consitent fueling for when you go WOT. This is also where you'll see increases in MPG.
4. Power Enrich
Power Enrich on our cars dont REALLY happen until 4 grand.... yea.. everyone that says "VVT doesnt kick in til 4K"... thats bullshit, its the power enrich kicking you back into your seat at 4k, not vvt. vvt is never felt because it happens slowly. Tweaking these PE numbers help get that "kick" anywhere you want it. The big gains are in the delay and enable numbers as well as throttle postion. This includes all your WOT fuel levels.
5. Advance Timing
These tables are again very limited compared to the V8 and V6 guys, however advancing "dwell" and your "high octane" and "low octane" tables has a huge effect on making the car feel much more solid. every change you make to a table, you should return back to monitoring these changes, ANY knock/ping should be attacked and completely removed.
Of course theres alot more details. so get to reading: http://hptuners.com/forums/
Warnings:
Standard disclaimers apply, dont sent me your ******* car bill! If your smart, get the EIO interface when you order HPT and buy a wideband, otherwise you'll be driving blind on anything dealing with fueling! Calibrating the MAF is a huge PITA without it.
I wont get into details of each part, because you can use the search function on hpt's forum and get much better explainations then i could sum up here.
Heres the general order of tuning and that i found worked so far:
1. remove and/or tune down your torque management.
For us 5spd guys, we have engine torque management and other options such as "Shift smoothing". I've disabled all of these but plan to add them back slowly once im done with the tune. Removing these help isolate alot of the spark retard issues.
2. Get to understand VCM scanner histrograms
Monitor ELBOWTHANG! histrograms are ******* odd things to get use'ta unless your a math major, but they are a huge help in making things simple once you've figure it out. Make sure to troll the v8/v6 forums and find histrograms, modify them to work with the right PIDs and tables... histrograms are the one thing you can mess around with and not do any damage. In one 48hr weekend i had over 20hours of data logged, and reviewed every bit with at least 2-3 different custom histrograms. The important thing to take away is dont make changes that you cant monitor!
3. Scale your MAF
Heres another example of the V8's having more options. They all talk about tuning your VE tables and SD mode , but this doesnt exist on our cars. The only option we have is MAF calibrations, which really is enough. This is a HUGE area of importance if you've installed a CAI, and big gains can be had by having consitent fueling for when you go WOT. This is also where you'll see increases in MPG.
4. Power Enrich
Power Enrich on our cars dont REALLY happen until 4 grand.... yea.. everyone that says "VVT doesnt kick in til 4K"... thats bullshit, its the power enrich kicking you back into your seat at 4k, not vvt. vvt is never felt because it happens slowly. Tweaking these PE numbers help get that "kick" anywhere you want it. The big gains are in the delay and enable numbers as well as throttle postion. This includes all your WOT fuel levels.
5. Advance Timing
These tables are again very limited compared to the V8 and V6 guys, however advancing "dwell" and your "high octane" and "low octane" tables has a huge effect on making the car feel much more solid. every change you make to a table, you should return back to monitoring these changes, ANY knock/ping should be attacked and completely removed.
Of course theres alot more details. so get to reading: http://hptuners.com/forums/
Warnings:
Standard disclaimers apply, dont sent me your ******* car bill! If your smart, get the EIO interface when you order HPT and buy a wideband, otherwise you'll be driving blind on anything dealing with fueling! Calibrating the MAF is a huge PITA without it.
Last edited by bigworm; Aug 22, 2006 at 05:07 AM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 06-06-06
Posts: 753
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From: Oakland, Ca
Originally Posted by patathSS
The 2.4 can't tune VE tables? I know it is available on the 2.0
http://hptuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6935
Senior Member
Joined: 08-19-05
Posts: 3,018
Likes: 0
From: Horseheads, NY
not important really
can u send my ur file for ur car...i want a 2.4 to play with
djt81185@hotmail.com
can u send my ur file for ur car...i want a 2.4 to play with
djt81185@hotmail.com
The 2.0 does have a prim ve table but it only goes up to 215 kpa and 6800 rpm (and I'm running a bit above those parameter).... same thing just gotta work with the maf... ve table is only used if the MAF fails.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 06-06-06
Posts: 753
Likes: 0
From: Oakland, Ca
Originally Posted by rcmpayne
what will this tune give for HP on the 2.4
I'll be renting dyno time in the next month or so. I'll see what those numbers add up to.
Member
Joined: 11-12-06
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: Nevada
I've been playing with hp tuners on my 2.4L for a while now and just wanted to pass on as much info as i can to everyone else getting started. If you've been looking into HPT at all for your car, you realize that theres a steep learning curve. Its very overwelming at first because of all the options the V8+V6 guys talk about, and none of them directly apply to your 2.4L. Our PCM features are completely stripped down, we have about 1/2 of the control, but enough to make it fun as hell!
I wont get into details of each part, because you can use the search function on hpt's forum and get much better explainations then i could sum up here.
Heres the general order of tuning and that i found worked so far:
1. remove and/or tune down your torque management.
For us 5spd guys, we have engine torque management and other options such as "Shift smoothing". I've disabled all of these but plan to add them back slowly once im done with the tune. Removing these help isolate alot of the spark retard issues.
2. Get to understand VCM scanner histrograms
Monitor ELBOWTHANG! histrograms are ******* odd things to get use'ta unless your a math major, but they are a huge help in making things simple once you've figure it out. Make sure to troll the v8/v6 forums and find histrograms, modify them to work with the right PIDs and tables... histrograms are the one thing you can mess around with and not do any damage. In one 48hr weekend i had over 20hours of data logged, and reviewed every bit with at least 2-3 different custom histrograms. The important thing to take away is dont make changes that you cant monitor!
3. Scale your MAF
Heres another example of the V8's having more options. They all talk about tuning your VE tables and SD mode , but this doesnt exist on our cars. The only option we have is MAF calibrations, which really is enough. This is a HUGE area of importance if you've installed a CAI, and big gains can be had by having consitent fueling for when you go WOT. This is also where you'll see increases in MPG.
4. Power Enrich
Power Enrich on our cars dont REALLY happen until 4 grand.... yea.. everyone that says "VVT doesnt kick in til 4K"... thats bullshit, its the power enrich kicking you back into your seat at 4k, not vvt. vvt is never felt because it happens slowly. Tweaking these PE numbers help get that "kick" anywhere you want it. The big gains are in the delay and enable numbers as well as throttle postion. This includes all your WOT fuel levels.
5. Advance Timing
These tables are again very limited compared to the V8 and V6 guys, however advancing "dwell" and your "high octane" and "low octane" tables has a huge effect on making the car feel much more solid. every change you make to a table, you should return back to monitoring these changes, ANY knock/ping should be attacked and completely removed.
Of course theres alot more details. so get to reading: http://hptuners.com/forums/
Warnings:
Standard disclaimers apply, dont sent me your ******* car bill! If your smart, get the EIO interface when you order HPT and buy a wideband, otherwise you'll be driving blind on anything dealing with fueling! Calibrating the MAF is a huge PITA without it.
I wont get into details of each part, because you can use the search function on hpt's forum and get much better explainations then i could sum up here.
Heres the general order of tuning and that i found worked so far:
1. remove and/or tune down your torque management.
For us 5spd guys, we have engine torque management and other options such as "Shift smoothing". I've disabled all of these but plan to add them back slowly once im done with the tune. Removing these help isolate alot of the spark retard issues.
2. Get to understand VCM scanner histrograms
Monitor ELBOWTHANG! histrograms are ******* odd things to get use'ta unless your a math major, but they are a huge help in making things simple once you've figure it out. Make sure to troll the v8/v6 forums and find histrograms, modify them to work with the right PIDs and tables... histrograms are the one thing you can mess around with and not do any damage. In one 48hr weekend i had over 20hours of data logged, and reviewed every bit with at least 2-3 different custom histrograms. The important thing to take away is dont make changes that you cant monitor!
3. Scale your MAF
Heres another example of the V8's having more options. They all talk about tuning your VE tables and SD mode , but this doesnt exist on our cars. The only option we have is MAF calibrations, which really is enough. This is a HUGE area of importance if you've installed a CAI, and big gains can be had by having consitent fueling for when you go WOT. This is also where you'll see increases in MPG.
4. Power Enrich
Power Enrich on our cars dont REALLY happen until 4 grand.... yea.. everyone that says "VVT doesnt kick in til 4K"... thats bullshit, its the power enrich kicking you back into your seat at 4k, not vvt. vvt is never felt because it happens slowly. Tweaking these PE numbers help get that "kick" anywhere you want it. The big gains are in the delay and enable numbers as well as throttle postion. This includes all your WOT fuel levels.
5. Advance Timing
These tables are again very limited compared to the V8 and V6 guys, however advancing "dwell" and your "high octane" and "low octane" tables has a huge effect on making the car feel much more solid. every change you make to a table, you should return back to monitoring these changes, ANY knock/ping should be attacked and completely removed.
Of course theres alot more details. so get to reading: http://hptuners.com/forums/
Warnings:
Standard disclaimers apply, dont sent me your ******* car bill! If your smart, get the EIO interface when you order HPT and buy a wideband, otherwise you'll be driving blind on anything dealing with fueling! Calibrating the MAF is a huge PITA without it.
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