Self-Tuning | HPT or PCMTec

[Shepard]

I have a 10r80 car and need a trans tune specialized for my own driving feel, so self-tuning seems to make sense.

For anyone that has self-tuned, especially those of you with experience in PCMTec, would you suggest jumping right in? I've played with HP Tuners and documented everything that I'd want changed, have a very good idea of the final results/tune file that I'll want to run and I'm at the point where it's time to commit to one ecosystem or the other. If I commit to PCMTec, I'll replicate and incrementally test my work so far.

I know that PCMTec is going to be significantly more involved and don't want to be overwhelmed, but I'm willing to put in time to learn, even if it takes longer to get there. I don't have plans to modify my car in a hurry before I really understand the platform and effects of changing parameters in detail. I know that PCMTec is a lot more capable as well but I'm not in a hurry to use some of their more advanced features, though I imagine I'll want to use them eventually.

I'm really asking if I should use PCMTec, I'll use HPT if there isn't a strong argument for it.

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[junits15]

Yes, this website: https://hpttotec.com/ will help you find all the tables your used to working with in PCMTec.

PCMT give you access to more parameters than HPT, which in turn lets you make better tunes.

 

[engineermike]

I use both with frightening regularity.

Pcmtec has access to easily 5x the tuning parameters and possibly 100x the logging parameters. It’s astonishing. Pcmtec is cheaper, doesn’t require a wifi connection to flash or open files, and takes under 30 seconds to do a write. Pcmtec has a library of stock files built right into the software, which also includes Whipple, Roush, and frpp files. And finally, pcmtec automatically highlites all non-stock parameters so you can easily see what’s changed, and makes returning individual parameters to stock a one.click process.

Hpt is more intuitive to use, the logger is more “flexible” because it has some neat features like user math, and you can pull and clear codes with it. Hpt is more widely used so there is more forum support, though lately the quality of this has been total garbage.

Ultinately I prefer Pcmtec but I do use hpt often to find parameters I need and then cross it over to pcmtec to make changes.

 

[Pistol_91]

It's up to you brother. I started with HPT and still use it. I don't really see a need yet for myself to switch to pcmtec. If pcmtec was available when I started, I'd probably go with them. Although like Mike said, HPT is easier to use, so for a newbie, it may be a better choice.
If you can get familiar with pcmtec easily, then go with them.
I'm not sure if you can mess around with their software for free like you can with HPT, if you can, play around with both programs and see which one is better for you.

 

[mejohn50]

Either platform will probably do everything you need, but if I had to pick one after using both for years, I’d pick PCMTEC.

If I didn’t have to pick one, and thankfully I don’t, I’d pick both. @engineermike summed up why I always bring both PCMTEC and HPT interfaces with me when I go out to the car to do any tuning. They compliment each other very well.

I also run PCMTEC’s Custom OS, which is a game changer in my opinion, so obviously I’m partial to PCMTEC just for that.

 

[xr4x4ti]

I also run PCMTEC’s Custom OS, which is a game changer in my opinion, so obviously I’m partial to PCMTEC just for that.

Are you Gen 2 or 3? What exactly is a game changer? The ability to switch tunes? CAN based flex fuel? If you read PCMTec's description, that it is all it seems to add, am I missing something?

I have a Gen 2 and it would be nice if the custom OS added some of the features built into the Gen 3 tunes.

 

[EFI]

PCMTec is more advanced, but nothing wrong with HPT especially for a beginner. It has MORE than enough parameters to get you into trouble. For your needs, either will do fine.

I've been using HPT since the late 2000s and have been happy with the support both from the company itself and the community of users.

 

[mejohn50]

Are you Gen 2 or 3? What exactly is a game changer? The ability to switch tunes? CAN based flex fuel? If you read PCMTec's description, that it is all it seems to add, am I missing something?

I have a Gen 2 and it would be nice if the custom OS added some of the features built into the Gen 3 tunes.

Gen 3.

If you don’t find the abilities it brings to the table beneficial, then it isn’t for you.

You have a supercharged gen 2. If I remember correctly, gen 2 can’t adjust timing based on ethanol content with the OEM OS. With PCMTEC flex fuel it can. You can control anything the PCM can control based on ethanol with it.

Map switching is pretty much up to your imagination what you want to do with it, or your tuners imagination if you aren’t doing it yourself. I’ve used it for all manner of things from novelty stuff like deceleration burble and ghost cam to things like different power levels or different boost by gear profiles when I had a supercharger on the car.

There is also a rolling RPM limiter, or launch tune if you prefer, that is momentary and can be configured to do various things. It can be as simple as just an RPM limiter or it can be configured to do just about anything you can dream up. I typically leave it set up as a rolling RPM limiter which can be helpful if you’re doing any kind of roll racing.

I understand there are other features in the pipeline, but that isn’t my info to share. The current features are worth it for me, and I think it adds impressive functionality that benefits the platform.

 

[EFI]

With PCMTEC flex fuel it can.

Does it work natively with the PCM or do you need to wire in a 3rd party ethanol sensor so the PCM can read ethanol content?

 

[mejohn50]

Does it work natively with the PCM or do you need to wire in a 3rd party ethanol sensor so the PCM can read ethanol content?

You need to add in a CAN bus ethanol sensor, the recommended one is the Zeitronix ECA-2 CAN, and then setup the PCMTEC flex fuel logic.

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