Learning to tune with EFI

Max Attitude

11SIX
Mar 7, 2012
814
0
16
Caledonia, MI
Alright guys I have a V2 and know how to load tunes and stuff but I'm wondering where or how a lot of you have learned how to build tunes. I know some have just learned by doing. I see the tow tune tutorial above as well. I bought a 99 Sierra with the 5.3 to drive through the winter (keep the dmax clean). I'm really wanting to learn how to tune that. Any insight? Have any of you bought the efi live books and learned from those? Any good sites to check out? Thanks for any help.
 

Dmax87

Member
Dec 3, 2013
171
0
16
I did a lot of research on tuning. I bought starlites basic and advanced books, have asked a lot of questions, and tons of reading. The books definitely helped a lot. Also there are tunes out there people load up for us to use, don't steal/copy and paste their stuff but learn from it. I've been doing my own tuning now close to a year now and still have bugs I need to work out but I must say I have a very strong running tune. Start with single tunes and work your way up. I enjoy being able to say I tune my own stuff. But I also have a stock engine/trans truck. Start throwing more fuel and air at a truck and you kinda need to tread lightly when changing tables. Hope this helps.
 

DMAXchris

It’s only temporary!
Apr 28, 2009
2,273
2
38
44
Natrona Heights PA
ALL RED for big power! :D

I learned the little bit i know about tuning from data logging and reading a lot on the EFILive forums. The gasser stuff is a little more complex and to do it right you need an A/F ratio gauge. The diesels have a lot more room for error before they get temperamental.
 

Burn Down

Hotrodder
Sep 14, 2008
7,092
28
48
Boise Idaho
Starlite books for me, Reece Shelton (righteyeblind), Trial and error... Reece was my biggest help. Main thing is like Shane said learn what each thing does and make small changes and test.
 

chevyburnout1

Fixing it till it breaks
Aug 25, 2008
2,368
1
38
Berthoud, CO
Trial and error for me as well. Luckily my engine was one of the "stronger" engines and it survived through my amateur tuning phase haha.
 

02greysixer

Active member
Jun 4, 2011
1,829
7
38
North Central FL
Trial and error for me as well. Luckily my engine was one of the "stronger" engines and it survived through my amateur tuning phase haha.
This for me. Plus a resilient stock transmission too. I also had some helpful pointers from Shane. But I look back at some of the tunes I started with and I'm amazed the truck ran and shifted as well as it did. I'm still learning and far from a master over a year later
 

chevyburnout1

Fixing it till it breaks
Aug 25, 2008
2,368
1
38
Berthoud, CO
I'm pretty sure one of my first tunes had gallons of fuel dumping into the engine before the turbo would spool :roflmao: Those were the days haha.
 

Dozerboy

Well-known member
Jun 23, 2009
4,917
496
83
TX of course
Logging and lots of it. I was lucky it all kind of made since to me. All I had to do was figure out where to make the changes. A shit load of reading from the guys bothered to post tips helped a ton too. Two really good guys josh and neens that took the time to look over my tunes and add their .02 to them.


Sent from my iPhone digging a ditch near you.
 

DPC

Member
Jan 2, 2012
323
1
18
Adams, TN
The EFILive fourm helped me out, most of the time I could just do a search and find what I needed to know. Lots of good tuning info on that site, diesel and gas.