How many of you have self tuned with PCMTEC?

[Pistol_91]

There probably isn't much info on the forums for v6 cars but... Ford logic is Ford logic. I've never looked at a v6 file but I'd assume it's pretty similar to a 5.0 file when going from N/A to boost. Keep it basic, raise all relevant limiters and rescale torque model/spark/SD for boost.

If you are confused by what the mapped points are and how they work. There are a ton of threads on the HPT forums on these and how they work and control the cam angles. I personally don't mess with v6 cars. Maybe someone else on here can help you.

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[SBPGT]

I'm just looking for info on how to log which map points are being used. The datalogs I've tried showed 1 map point during the WOT log and it was labeled differently then Map 1,2,3, etc.

 

[Pistol_91]

Mapped point OP? Optimum power? I'm not sure if this is the one you're speaking of. If it is, then that's the mapped point used during WOT.

You just log the channels of mapped points in the scanner. I'm kind of confused about what you mean on how to log them... You just search them and click them. Then log. They're in %. They blend together depending on what mapped points are being commanded depending on what table the VCT schedule is using. So log VCT Schedule and mapped points and it will point you to the table.

Example>
Fuel economy, mapped point 12 - 25%. Mapped point 13 - 75%

That means at whatever RPM and whatever Load it's currently at, it is using the fuel economy table. It will be blending those 2 tables. So 75% of the spark/torque model/ SD values are being pulled from mapped point 13. The rest, 25%, is being pulled from mapped point 12. They're blending together.
Depending on cam angles commanded, sometimes you can have 4 or 5 mapped points blending together. Sometimes it's 100% only one. Depends on the distance tables.

If I have a chance I'll send you a picture and make it easy to visualize.

 

[SBPGT]

Yeah, I know about the map point blending and graphing it out. I just needed to find the parameters to log the correct map points, timing, and everything thing else.

I can't remember what is said but I don't think it was OP. I think it was something about efficiency? I'll have to look again, I got burnt out trying to use HP Tuners and their missing parameters. I spent days reading and downloading information trying to compile some kind of guide. Somehow my car was running an older stock tune that didn't match my ecu. Then switched over to PCMTec, updated to the correct stock tune and trying to compare the software and descriptions I learned from HP Tuners. I needed a break at that point.

I like tinkering and modding my own stuff, and hate relying on back and forth e-mails. I want to try out different things, and fine tune it to my liking, like someone mentioned earlier in this thread.

Thanks
Steve B

 

[Pistol_91]

Can you post your stock file here

 

[SBPGT]

GR3A-14C204-BLB_NEW_STOCK.tec
The uploaded file does not have an allowed extension.

GR3A-14C204-BLB is the file i got from PCMTec's file DB, if you can grab it there.

 

[mejohn50]

What, specifically, are you trying to achieve?

 

[SBPGT]

I want to be able to tune my car and make adjustments without having to go through a tuner with a locked tune.

I'm trying to learn how to log the map points used for tuning. I'll have to revist the PCMTec logging again. Just trying to find all the relevant parameters to log to find out what map points and other various parameters the ECU is using to get it's tune.

I've just been looking at my PCMTec and HP Tuner editors and I think I've been mixing them up from my memory. I think all the trouble I remember was from HPT?

Just refreshing my memory looking at PCMTec software, it's starting to make sense again. I just need to get back into it. Looking for some possible info to jump start/speed up the process.

I have to return the car to stock from my MPT tune to do all the data logging and testing. But I hate driving the car on the stock tune!

Thanks
Steve B

 

[mejohn50]

I want to be able to tune my car and make adjustments without having to go through a tuner with a locked tune.

What specifically do you want to tune? Do you want to adjust drivability? Do you want to try to optimize timing for a specific fuel? Do you have drastically different airflow modifications that require major cam timing or speed density model changes?

These things all play a role in what you should be data logging. You generally want to data log the least amount of parameters at the fastest polling rate possible to ensure the data you collect is useful.

I'm trying to learn how to log the map points used for tuning. I'll have to revist the PCMTec logging again. Just trying to find all the relevant parameters to log to find out what map points and other various parameters the ECU is using to get it's tune.

@Pistol_91 explained how to log the mapped points. Find the mapped point weight logging parameters and then just...log them.

Regarding "all the relevant parameters" to log and "other various parameters the ECU is using" is extremely broad. There are thousands of things you could log, and depending on what you are trying to acheive, they may be relevant. You need to decide what specific system or element you want to change, and then log parameters that are relevant to that system.

For some of this, you are going to have to do a lot of your own leg work. This platform is notoriously secretive, but there are resources out there that can help get you pointed in the correct direction. People who have already done the leg work are reluctant to just spoon feed people and give step-by-step tutorials, especially for some of the basics like data logging. You need to approach this from the angle that it's going to take some time to achieve your desired end state.

Just refreshing my memory looking at PCMTec software, it's starting to make sense again. I just need to get back into it. Looking for some possible info to jump start/speed up the process.

Like I said above, you're going to need to do some work on your own and expect that this is going to take time. If you can't data log the car, and you can't use the resources available to figure out how to data log the car, it's going to be difficult getting anyone to be truly helpful.

I promise you, those of us who do this ourselves want to be helpful. We all had to start somewhere, and once you have a solid grasp of how the basics work, people become more receptive to helping with the details.

 

[SBPGT]

Thank you for responding. I have already learned about logging specific parameters at the fastest polling rate possible.

There were just so many different parameters under each section. I was just looking for a quick rundown of what the 5.0 people check off to log. Like, "Log RPM, Load, Spark Boarderline and MBT tables and or these specific Mapped Point tables." (can't remember the description off the top of my head.) I just started to dive into PCMTec earlier this year after messing with HPT for a little while. I know there is so much more than this and there are many other variables that influence those tables.

I think what I am looking for, is there a parameter that logs all the mapped points and shows you which ones are being used or do you have to log all the mapped points. I think that is what was confusing me when hearing someone trying to explain it before. Again, it's been about 3-4 months since I last messed with it. I was just starting to figure it out in HPT with a histograph(?) using Load/RPM, but I think I had the wrong mapped point parameter for the graph.

I will get back into it soon, just seeking any advise, tips or insight that people are willing to share. I appreciate the responses, I got zero responses on PCMTec Forums.

Thank You
Steve B

 

[Pistol_91]

You can log each mapped point weight that is enabled in your tune file. Just a few others off the top of my head would be RPM, vehicle speed, IAT, ECT, air load, desired air load, VCT schedule, almost all the "Sources" (torque source, spark source), cam angles if you'd like, equivalence ratio both banks, commanded lambda both banks, short term & long term fuel trims both banks, mass airflow, manifold absolute pressure, mass airflow period (assuming it's a MAF car and uses this). Timing advance, spark correction or either spark retard (they're the same, just reversed). You can log borderline spark and MBT but you really don't need to unless you're wanting to see if you're riding near MBT. Engine brake torque, desired engine brake torque, etc torque request, scheduled torque, IPC wheel torque error.

If you have an automatic transmission, maybe log some basic ones like current gear so it makes it easy to see which gear you're in.

There's probably some ive missed but no one really runs all the channels all the time. You can, but it slows everything down. Some things you have to log all the time. Like fuel trims and lambda, rpm, mph, but most people log what they need to depending on what they're working on.


If I'm working on updating my timing tables, I wouldn't log anything torque related like scheduled torque because it's irrelevant to the situation.

If you're trying to just get a feel on the car and how everything works together, you can log everything just to view it and see how it's all working. There's nothing wrong with that.

If you're reviewing over your log utilize the "chart vs time" graphs. If you're strictly looking at values from the channel list, it's slow even with polling changed to the fastest rate. If you utilize the chart vs time tables you can input your channel in there, and then zoom in and out on it to get a way more precise value. It updates way faster and more often. Using this table also lets you visualize what's going on with your foot and the car. This helps A LOT when you're new. It takes a little time to set it up and figure out which values you need to monitor but its not difficult. Do it if you truly want to learn how to read a log well.

I'm sure with your specific car there's a few I left out that you would want to log but without laying my eyes on your specific channels I have no idea.

 

[SBPGT]

If you're reviewing over your log utilize the "chart vs time" graphs. If you're strictly looking at values from the channel list, it's slow even with polling changed to the fastest rate. If you utilize the chart vs time tables you can input your channel in there, and then zoom in and out on it to get a way more precise value. It updates way faster and more often. Using this table also lets you visualize what's going on with your foot and the car. This helps A LOT when you're new. It takes a little time to set it up and figure out which values you need to monitor but its not difficult. Do it if you truly want to learn how to read a log well.

Thank you, that is some insight I did not know and have not come across yet. The problem I had before was with HPT and missing parameters, I assume do to the incorrect stock tune on my car. It was showing "Generic" sensor and missing things like the "Source" values and other tune options were greyed out that shouldn't have been. I barely started using PCMTec back then and only adjusted the Pedal response before I reinstalled my MPT tune to go to the track.

I was just starting to mess with novelty things like increasing the burble ever so slightly over the stock burble to give it a little more character, nothing annoying. Just to get use to how things work together. But HPT was missing a timing parameter, or decel delay time so I couldn't get it to work. I was getting frustrated with the inability to get get HPT to work with my car. I used PCMTec to correct the stock tune issue, but did not spend enough time with it.

I'll have to switch back to stock and start messing with PCMTec on the way to and from work. Then I will probably be able to ask a more specific question with actual PCMTec based information.

Thank you to everyone who has responded and your patience.

 

[Pistol_91]

I think a lot of guys use PCMtec to tune and HPT to log. So you can probably do that.

 

[ehazel]

I think a lot of guys use PCMtec to tune and HPT to log. So you can probably do that.

This is what I do, it's so much easier and is far more mature with lots of features pcmtech doesn't provide. The only time I log with pcmtech is if I'm really digging in to specifics that hptuners doesn't expose.

I got an obd2 y splitter so I can have both adapters plugged in at the same time to avoid switching back and forth between the adapters.

 

[engineermike]

I got an obd2 y splitter so I can have both adapters plugged in at the same time to avoid switching back and forth between the adapters.

How do you connect both to the laptop? USB splitter by chance?

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