Buying Hp Tuner

stlavsa · October 9, 2009

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HP-tuners-G...sQ5fAccessories

Is this the tuner to have for an 08 silverado? I want full capability flash tuner. Correct me if im wrong but this and efi-live are the two to choose from? Any pros and cons of either one? Can either do real-time datalogging? Im gonna look into it myself but just want to see what some of you guys who may have used either of them think.

EDIT: just realized HP tuners is EFI-Live??! Im confused a little, are their any other tuners like this?

How does it work with credits Im not familiar with that, do I have to purchase credits from GM or something to that affect, I heard something like that.. Probably one for each module if i do?

stlavsa · October 9, 2009

I think im starting to figure this out.. You need the PRO in order to do datalogging? Is that real-time? Will it show you what cells your in at that exact point in time while your driving?

ShoddyHog · October 9, 2009

HP Tuners is not EFI Live. They are two different products.

I have HP Tuners Pro, and it does real-time data logging as I'm sure EFI Live does. I can't compare the two because I've never used EFI Live, but HP Tuners will certainly do what you're asking.

HP Tuners Pro comes with 8 credits. Each vehicle you tune, depending on the vehicle, will use some of those credits. I used 2 to tune my GTO, and 2 to tune my 09 Silverado, so I could tune 2 more vehicles without buying more credits from HP Tuners.

HTH,

Gerry

ShoddyHog · October 9, 2009

I think im starting to figure this out.. You need the PRO in order to do datalogging? Is that real-time? Will it show you what cells your in at that exact point in time while your driving?

You can do live datalogging with both the Pro version and the non-Pro version. The two biggest advantages of Pro is that you can hook up a wideband O2 directly to the MPVI box, and you can also log with just the box (laptop not attached), then download the logs later. That is HUGE at the track...don't want a laptop flying around in the cabin if you happen to crash.

It is possible to *fudge* a wideband input through other means, but it is klugy at best.

Gerry

stlavsa · October 9, 2009

I think im starting to figure this out.. You need the PRO in order to do datalogging? Is that real-time? Will it show you what cells your in at that exact point in time while your driving?

You can do live datalogging with both the Pro version and the non-Pro version. The two biggest advantages of Pro is that you can hook up a wideband O2 directly to the MPVI box, and you can also log with just the box (laptop not attached), then download the logs later. That is HUGE at the track...don't want a laptop flying around in the cabin if you happen to crash.

It is possible to *fudge* a wideband input through other means, but it is klugy at best.

Gerry

Thanks for your help, I have a wideband with gauge, (I dont have it in the truck tho its from an old car) I wonder can either of these tuners be setup to take different voltage inputs from the wideband. I have an AEM EUGO and if i can recall its 0-1 volt instead of 0-10 like most others.

Can you log a wide-band with the non-pro? How would you go about it? Replace the OEM o2?

music · October 9, 2009

Another reason to choose one or the other is *if* you plan to get a "professional" to help you. For example, Justin @ Blackbear uses EFILive (from what I understand). Many use HP Tuner. Files created/used by the two are not interchangeable. I'm no expert, but that's my understanding.

stlavsa · October 9, 2009

Another reason to choose one or the other is *if* you plan to get a "professional" to help you. For example, Justin @ Blackbear uses EFILive (from what I understand). Many use HP Tuner. Files created/used by the two are not interchangeable. I'm no expert, but that's my understanding.

that is something to consider.. I guess I should see who else is using what and possibly share .bin files.

thearborbarber · October 9, 2009

I use HPTuners. I bought the professional to make it easy to hook up a wide band. HPTuners has a great forum to get information and a tune repository where you can download other people's tunes.

ShoddyHog · October 9, 2009

I think im starting to figure this out.. You need the PRO in order to do datalogging? Is that real-time? Will it show you what cells your in at that exact point in time while your driving?

You can do live datalogging with both the Pro version and the non-Pro version. The two biggest advantages of Pro is that you can hook up a wideband O2 directly to the MPVI box, and you can also log with just the box (laptop not attached), then download the logs later. That is HUGE at the track...don't want a laptop flying around in the cabin if you happen to crash.

It is possible to *fudge* a wideband input through other means, but it is klugy at best.

Gerry

Thanks for your help, I have a wideband with gauge, (I dont have it in the truck tho its from an old car) I wonder can either of these tuners be setup to take different voltage inputs from the wideband. I have an AEM EUGO and if i can recall its 0-1 volt instead of 0-10 like most others.

Can you log a wide-band with the non-pro? How would you go about it? Replace the OEM o2?

I'm not sure. I have a PLX SM-AFR in the goat, and it was plug-n-play. I haven't had to set up any others.

I haven't read all the details and don't know if it would apply to our trucks, but the way they've rigged it on the LS1/LS2s is to run the wire to an A/C input that is not in use, and splice the wire there. You'd then map the A/C input to get your AFR error % like you would with the Pro's wideband (aux) inputs.

You have three options to mount a wideband O2:

1. Replace one of your stock narrowband O2s while in Open Loop doing the tuning, and swap them back before going back to Closed Loop.

2. Have another O2 bung welded into the exhaust system (that's what I did on the goat).

3. Replace the standard narrowband O2s with one that has an output for both your ECM and the widband controller.

FWIW, I haven't seen much file sharing here yet. I have HP Tuners and plan to share my results here...it is just slow going due to other stuff keepin' me busy.

ShoddyHog · October 9, 2009

I use HPTuners. I bought the professional to make it easy to hook up a wide band. HPTuners has a great forum to get information and a tune repository where you can download other people's tunes.

I have Pro as well, and recommend it.

Have you actually asked for any help there regarding your truck? There seems to be very little information there about our 2009s, especially the transmission.

thearborbarber · October 9, 2009

I haven't tuned the truck. I tune my camaro. Russ K is the guy to talk to over there about transmission tuning.

stlavsa · October 10, 2009

I think im starting to figure this out.. You need the PRO in order to do datalogging? Is that real-time? Will it show you what cells your in at that exact point in time while your driving?

You can do live datalogging with both the Pro version and the non-Pro version. The two biggest advantages of Pro is that you can hook up a wideband O2 directly to the MPVI box, and you can also log with just the box (laptop not attached), then download the logs later. That is HUGE at the track...don't want a laptop flying around in the cabin if you happen to crash.

It is possible to *fudge* a wideband input through other means, but it is klugy at best.

Gerry

Thanks for your help, I have a wideband with gauge, (I dont have it in the truck tho its from an old car) I wonder can either of these tuners be setup to take different voltage inputs from the wideband. I have an AEM EUGO and if i can recall its 0-1 volt instead of 0-10 like most others.

Can you log a wide-band with the non-pro? How would you go about it? Replace the OEM o2?

I'm not sure. I have a PLX SM-AFR in the goat, and it was plug-n-play. I haven't had to set up any others.

I haven't read all the details and don't know if it would apply to our trucks, but the way they've rigged it on the LS1/LS2s is to run the wire to an A/C input that is not in use, and splice the wire there. You'd then map the A/C input to get your AFR error % like you would with the Pro's wideband (aux) inputs.

You have three options to mount a wideband O2:

1. Replace one of your stock narrowband O2s while in Open Loop doing the tuning, and swap them back before going back to Closed Loop.

2. Have another O2 bung welded into the exhaust system (that's what I did on the goat).

3. Replace the standard narrowband O2s with one that has an output for both your ECM and the widband controller.

FWIW, I haven't seen much file sharing here yet. I have HP Tuners and plan to share my results here...it is just slow going due to other stuff keepin' me busy.

I have always just welded another bung and ran the wideband full-time because I have the gauge to keep an eye on in the cab. I doubt that would be necessary in this truck. The gauge was more useful before with the higher strung cars I was trying to use in the streets.

Prolly stick to tuning it in open loop then popping the narrow back in there. I guess I will try to talk to the guys at efi and hp tuners and see if I can use the AEM wideband with their loggers.

Seems like the pro is definately the way to go, but then I gotta decide is it worth spending $800 bux to tune this truck. Its not like I have another use for tuner besides this truck so thats something to consider. B4 when i was constantly modding and switching engines and it was important to have the whole setup. I dont know if its worth spending $800 to tune 1 vehicle 1 time.

ShoddyHog · October 10, 2009

Seems like the pro is definately the way to go, but then I gotta decide is it worth spending $800 bux to tune this truck. Its not like I have another use for tuner besides this truck so thats something to consider. B4 when i was constantly modding and switching engines and it was important to have the whole setup. I dont know if its worth spending $800 to tune 1 vehicle 1 time.

I hear ya. I'm only doing it because I already had HP Tuners and the available credits. I probably won't be using a wideband anytime soon though. You only really need it for WOT tuning anyway, and my truck won't see much of that. I've got a toy in the garage for those times One of the things the gto guys do to help finance it is tune a couple others' cars for a few bucks once they got it figured out. I'd imagine there's folks around that want these trucks tuned.

The tuning I've been doing has been to reduce the amount of KR when running on 87 octane, kill the torque management, shut off AFM, and firm up the shifts a bit. I have it running great...just need to figure out the transmission stuff.

Oh, and I meant to tell you that there is a built in setup for an AEM wideband in HP Tuners. I just don't know if it is your particular model or not.

Gerry

music · October 10, 2009

The tuning I've been doing has been to reduce the amount of KR when running on 87 octane, kill the torque management, shut off AFM, and firm up the shifts a bit. I have it running great...just need to figure out the transmission stuff.

Were you able to find useful "starting points" on the HPTuner site? I browsed around on there one day trying to see what was available in their repository, but I didn't see much for the trucks.

ShoddyHog · October 10, 2009

The tuning I've been doing has been to reduce the amount of KR when running on 87 octane, kill the torque management, shut off AFM, and firm up the shifts a bit. I have it running great...just need to figure out the transmission stuff.

Were you able to find useful "starting points" on the HPTuner site? I browsed around on there one day trying to see what was available in their repository, but I didn't see much for the trucks.

No. Like you, I didn't find many tunes in the repository, and the one I did find had different transmission screens than I. It must have been the six speed or something.