Just thought I'd start a thread for those of us who really want to get into tuning our own trucks, but have no idea where to start. Basically I'm looking for books, authors, internet articles, or any relevant info on tuning theory/practice. So if any of you master tuners out there would care to share something that helped you learn, I think it could really benefit everyone involved. If it gets enough response I think it'd be a good sticky one day too.
Info: Tuning Education Resources
- Thread starter SgtKilroy
- Start date
Have you read this?...Good place to start...
http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35
http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35
Basically I'm wanting to learn to tune my own truck (I'm sure others are too), but I'm afraid of screwing something up. I guess learning how to alter the stock tune with timing, PW, rail pressure, etc and fine tune it by logging. How to get that to not lunch my trans would also be a bonus.
So what I'm looking for is resources to learn how to do that. Books, articles, words of wisdom, etc. Like TheNeens said, the 20-20 is an awesome tutorial, but it also says there is a lot that can be done to improve that tune. It was the first tune I tried, but I have no idea what to do with the thing after making it. All I know how to do effectively is open the turbo vanes at idle, adjust the speedo, put in an LBZ MAF scale, and turn the EGR off. I've tried putting my stock tune into the timing calculator, but it made such a drastic change I was a bit leery of flashing it into my truck.
Personally, I think it'd be interesting to have a build thread for a tune instead of a motor.
So what I'm looking for is resources to learn how to do that. Books, articles, words of wisdom, etc. Like TheNeens said, the 20-20 is an awesome tutorial, but it also says there is a lot that can be done to improve that tune. It was the first tune I tried, but I have no idea what to do with the thing after making it. All I know how to do effectively is open the turbo vanes at idle, adjust the speedo, put in an LBZ MAF scale, and turn the EGR off. I've tried putting my stock tune into the timing calculator, but it made such a drastic change I was a bit leery of flashing it into my truck.
Personally, I think it'd be interesting to have a build thread for a tune instead of a motor.
I would like to know how to add fuel and timing. How do you know how muching timing to run with how much fuel? Example if your main injection pulsewidth is 2300us and you want to up it to 2500us how much timing should you add and in what timing table do you add it?
What helped me the most was Josh's calculator. I dont use it much anymore, Steve does my tuning in my Lb7 cuz im lazy. 
How did you know when you adjusted too much or too little? Knock? Is there any theory/doctrine behind how much to inject at a certain degree before or after TDC? Is there a perfect stoichiometric (I'm sure that's spelled completely wrong) ratio that we should be shooting for?
And all the multipliers like ECT. Should those be as intimidating as I think they are? Or are they only something to worry about until the truck warms up?
How did you learn to deal with torque limited fuel quantity? I'm ASSuming I have to know how much TQ I'm actually making before I can limit the fuel, correct?
And all the multipliers like ECT. Should those be as intimidating as I think they are? Or are they only something to worry about until the truck warms up?
How did you learn to deal with torque limited fuel quantity? I'm ASSuming I have to know how much TQ I'm actually making before I can limit the fuel, correct?
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The ratio is not really relevant on diesels. The multipliers are very small, but if you like you can set them all to 1, that way nothing gets changed.
The TQ and mm3 values are simply reference guidelines that dont necessarily correlate to real world TQ or quantity values.
I believe the most important thing in tuning is knowing how a diesel works, and what it does when there is too much/little fuel, timing, etc.
Defuel is a little more advanced, but is very important in keeping the TQ between shifts to a minimum.
You can't learn it overnight, but it is definitely possible for you guys, especially those of you who have a little experience with hotrodding. A lot of theory comes into play once you understand the mechanics of diesel motors.
That 'theory' is the idea that different tuners stand behind and tune to achieve.
I could really use some help on tuning the defuel if you'd be willing to help! What is the easiest way to dial it in without just logging and slamming gears?
Well sir that depends on the other tables that are referencing the defuel table. Unless customers ask for something else I usually set defuel at around ~200uS. Logging and altering the tune is the only way to get it perfect. You should not feel your shifts.
Hit up Zach Fuller he on this site he gave out a book that he wrote for his EFI class that he taught and it was the most informative info that I have been able to find in my time searching.
I know he was thinking of selling it but I'm not sure if he ever decided to or not.
I know he was thinking of selling it but I'm not sure if he ever decided to or not.
I have my shifts pretty good up until about 75% throttle and then it turns bad haha
Not to derail this so I'll pitch some info in... Something that helped me a lot was loading different tunes and seeing how they drove and acted and then compared them to others. Like compare a race tune to the stock one and go back and forth to see what was changed and where.
Not to derail this so I'll pitch some info in... Something that helped me a lot was loading different tunes and seeing how they drove and acted and then compared them to others. Like compare a race tune to the stock one and go back and forth to see what was changed and where.
Definitely some good advice. Any suggestions on where to start? I'm thinking about playing with the 20-20 tune some more.
Awesome link with some good info! Thanks!
That is what I have been doing. It has helped me understand how different things work. How I can change things if I did not like it.