Gen Iv Vortec 5.3 Liter Ecm (e38) Program

[neto1978]

ARE ALL THE GEN IV 5.3 LITERS "LMG, LH6, LC9, ETC..." PROGRAMMED THE SAMEWAY?

 

ACCORDING TO GM POWERTRAIN, THE ONLY HARDWARE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALL THESE ENGINES AND E85 ENGINES ARE THE INJECTORS..

 

WHAT ABOUT PROGRAMMING???

 

TKS.

[Willshire]

The e85 pcm may have some dif programming but any pcm from any of the same truck should work just do a crank relearn.

[C. Charles Hahn]

Regardless, do you think you could program yourself to stop yelling?

 

TURN OFF CAPS LOCK!!

[neto1978]

Of course not.

but I intend to buy a silverado with LH6 engine and replace the injectors by "flex fuel injectors" and pray that the ecm will recognize E85.

 

 

Regardless, do you think you could program yourself to stop yelling?

 

TURN OFF CAPS LOCK!!

[C. Charles Hahn]

Of course not.

but I intend to buy a silverado with LH6 engine and replace the injectors by "flex fuel injectors" and pray that the ecm will recognize E85.

 

Uhh.... whoa. Stop right there.

 

You do not want to run E85 through a truck that didn't come from the factory already set up for it. There is a lot more than just the injectors that are different on a FlexFuel engine. The fuel rails, all the seals, all the fuel lines, fuel pump, etc. are all set up differently because if they weren't, the higher ethanol content would destroy the rubber in the seals and corrode the metal parts.

 

And based on what I've seen in HP Tuners, while the ECM is capable of being programmed to recognize E85 even if the engine is not capable of using it, the factory tuning will have the E85 fuel tables disabled since the rest of the equipment is not present in the vehicle.

[MS3DALE]

Service Information

 

Subject: Usage of E85 Fuels in GM Vehicles

 

 

Customer Interest in E85 Fuel:

As the retail price of gasoline increases, some locations in the country are seeing price differentials between regular gasoline and E85 where E85 is selling for substantially less than regular grade gasoline. One result of this is that some customers have inquired if they are able to use E85 fuel in non-E85 compatible vehicles.

 

Important: Only vehicles designated for use with E85 should use E85 blended fuel.

 

E85 compatibility is designated for vehicles that are certified to run on up to 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. All other gasoline engines are designed to run on fuel that contains no more than 10% ethanol.

 

Notice: Use of fuel containing greater than 10% ethanol in non-E85 designated vehicles can cause driveability issues, service engine soon indicators as well as increased fuel system corrosion.

 

Using E85 Fuels in Non-Compatible Vehicles

General Motors is aware of an increased number of cases where customers have fueled non-FlexFuel designated vehicles with E85. Fueling non-FlexFuel designated vehicles with E85, or with fuels where the concentration of ethanol exceeds the ASTM specification of 10%, will result in one or more of the following conditions:

 

• Lean Driveability concerns such as hesitations, sags and / or possible stalling.

 

• SES lights due to OBD codes.

 

• Fuel Trim codes P0171 and / or P0174.

 

• Misfire codes (P0300).

 

• Various O2 sensor codes.

 

• Disabled traction control or Stability System disabled messages.

 

• Harsh / Firm transmission shifts.

 

• Fuel system and / or engine mechanical component degradation.

 

Notice: Use of fuel containing greater than 10% ethanol in non-E85 designated vehicles can cause driveability issues, service engine soon indicators as well as increased fuel system corrosion.

 

If the dealer suspects that a non-FlexFuel designated vehicle brought in for service has been fueled with E85, the fuel in the vehicle's tank should be checked for alcohol content with tool J 44175. If the alcohol content exceeds 10% , the fuel should be drained and the vehicle refilled with gasoline - preferably one of the Top Tier brands.

 

Repairs to non-FlexFuel vehicles that have been fueled with E85 are not covered under the terms of the New Vehicle Warranty.

 

 

Notice:

 

• Use of fuel containing greater than 10% ethanol in non-E85 designated vehicles can cause driveability issues, service engine soon indicators as well as increased fuel system corrosion.

 

• Repairs to non-FlexFuel vehicles that have been fueled with E85 are not covered under the terms of the New Vehicle Warranty.

[neto1978]

according to gmpowertrain:

 

Hardware changes for flex-fuel operation are limited to the injectors. Because ethanol

has fewer BTUs (less energy) than the same volume of gasoline, more fuel is required to

produce the same horsepower at wide-open throttle. Flex fuel engines use unique

injectors with a greater cone angle and higher maximum fuel-flow rate. The fuel rail

matches the injectors, but it’s manufactured of the same stainless steel used for all

Vortec V-8s.

The flex-fuel Vortec 5.3L doesn’t even require a special fuel sensor. The first flex-fuel

engines used a light-reactive sensor to measure fuel composition from 100 percent

gasoline to 85 percent ethanol. The Gen IV has a virtual sensor—software programmed

in the E38 ECM with no separate physical sensor. Based on readings from the oxygen

(O²) sensors, fuel level sensor and vehicle speed sensors, the ECM adjusts the length of

time the fuel injectors open for the type of fuel used. Within a fuel miles after filling up,

the E38 controller determines what fuel is powering the Vortec 5.3L and manages the

engine accordingly.

 

I didn't make it up:

 

http://www.gmpowertrain.ca/Product/5.3%20LMG/LMG%20Summary.pdf

Of course not.

but I intend to buy a silverado with LH6 engine and replace the injectors by "flex fuel injectors" and pray that the ecm will recognize E85.

 

Uhh.... whoa. Stop right there.

 

You do not want to run E85 through a truck that didn't come from the factory already set up for it. There is a lot more than just the injectors that are different on a FlexFuel engine. The fuel rails, all the seals, all the fuel lines, fuel pump, etc. are all set up differently because if they weren't, the higher ethanol content would destroy the rubber in the seals and corrode the metal parts.

 

And based on what I've seen in HP Tuners, while the ECM is capable of being programmed to recognize E85 even if the engine is not capable of using it, the factory tuning will have the E85 fuel tables disabled since the rest of the equipment is not present in the vehicle.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

I didn't made it up:

 

Make sure you read what Rich posted as well.

[neto1978]

Man , I live outside the USA and theres no warranty for these vehicles in here.because we import them by ourselves, it's not a product offered by GM Brazil.

 

I just wanted to know if my thinking does make sense...Understand?

 

What do you guys think? Since the only hardware change between these 5.3 liters engines with E38 ECM are the injectors...If I change them , the ECM will recognize that ,right? Capisci???

 

I didn't made it up:

 

Make sure you read what Rich posted as well.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Man , I live outside the USA and theres no warranty for these vehicles in here.because we import them by ourselves, it's not a product offered by GM Brazil.

 

I just wanted to know if my thinking does make sense...Understand?

 

What do you guys think? Since the only hardware change between these 5.3 liters engines with E38 ECM are the injectors...If I change them , the ECM will recognize that ,right? Capisci???

 

We're just trying to get across to you that things aren't always as easy as they may seem, and that you're taking a risk by trying to make something operate in a manner other than that which it was originally designed and built to do. If you're not 100% certain what you're doing will work without further modifications and/or are not familiar with the ways in which to make those modifications, you should just leave the vehicle stock.

 

I already told you once that most likely the FlexFuel parameters are not active in the factory ECM calibration of a truck that does not come equipped with FlexFuel components in place, so you'll need to find out from a custom tuner whether or not that's the case and if so, have those tables added and the system enabled. LET ALONE the possibility that some other parts may not be compatible, despite what GM Powertrain suggests. There's little way of guaranteeing you won't have any problems.

[neto1978]

Ok, Finally I got the answer I was looking for:

 

the FlexFuel parameters are not active in the factory ECM calibration of a truck that does not come equipped with FlexFuel components in place

 

 

Tks Buddy!

 

Man , I live outside the USA and theres no warranty for these vehicles in here.because we import them by ourselves, it's not a product offered by GM Brazil.

 

I just wanted to know if my thinking does make sense...Understand?

 

What do you guys think? Since the only hardware change between these 5.3 liters engines with E38 ECM are the injectors...If I change them , the ECM will recognize that ,right? Capisci???

 

We're just trying to get across to you that things aren't always as easy as they may seem, and that you're taking a risk by trying to make something operate in a manner other than that which it was originally designed and built to do. If you're not 100% certain what you're doing will work without further modifications and/or are not familiar with the ways in which to make those modifications, you should just leave the vehicle stock.

 

I already told you once that most likely the FlexFuel parameters are not active in the factory ECM calibration of a truck that does not come equipped with FlexFuel components in place, so you'll need to find out from a custom tuner whether or not that's the case and if so, have those tables added and the system enabled. LET ALONE the possibility that some other parts may not be compatible, despite what GM Powertrain suggests. There's little way of guaranteeing you won't have any problems.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Ok, Finally I got the answer I was looking for:

 

the FlexFuel parameters are not active in the factory ECM calibration of a truck that does not come equipped with FlexFuel components in place

 

 

Tks Buddy!

 

Selective reading again? I said MOST LIKELY they're not active. I cannot provide you with any guarantees, nor can anyone else.

 

Just don't come here whining if you decide not to leave well enough alone and cause yourself problems as a result.

[neto1978]

I understand your side.

If I buy this new truck for my wife , I will change the injectors ,fill up with E85 and let you all know what happens thru the time, 10.000miles, 20.000 miles,etc...

tks.

 

Ok, Finally I got the answer I was looking for:

 

the FlexFuel parameters are not active in the factory ECM calibration of a truck that does not come equipped with FlexFuel components in place

 

 

Tks Buddy!

 

Selective reading again? I said MOST LIKELY they're not active. I cannot provide you with any guarantees, nor can anyone else.

 

Just don't come here whining if you decide not to leave well enough alone and cause yourself problems as a result.