2014+ Engine & Transmission Tuning

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

The reason why people don't tune their own vehicles is because the software costs an arm and a leg.

What do you consider an arm and a leg?

 

Diablo Canned Tune VS. HPtuners Custom tune software

Diablo tuner $400 (I consider this a higher end canned tune)

Pros-

load it and go -

great for the person not wanting to get to involved

 

Cons-

Very limited in tunability (is that a word)

Tune 1 vehicle

 

 

HPTuners Standard- $500

Pros-

squeeze every single bit of available power out of your car

Tune 4 vehicles

Tune more cars for $100 each

Customize tune for you mods at no additional charge.

Scan every available sensor or PID in you vehicle using charts, graphs, histogram, bit status and digital values, gauges.

 

Cons-

must be patient and have the time to lean how your car and it's ECU actually work together.

Very indepth with a heavy learning curve for most

Edited March 17, 2014 by iCryWheniGoPoop

[fondupot]

 

Cons-

must be patient and have the time to lean how your car and it's ECU actually work together.

Very indepth with a heavy learning curve for most

 

 

Ur right, its not that expensive, but the learning curve is pretty big like you stated. Plus the potential to really foul up a motor if you don't invest the time to learn the tuning capabilities.

 

 

And I didn't really consider Diablo a real "tune it yourself" option. IF you are gonna dive deep into custom tunes, it's gotta be with HP Tuners. Diablo is good for a canned tune which some people like, but you said it, limited tune-ability.

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

 

 

Ur right, its not that expensive, but the learning curve is pretty big like you stated. Plus the potential to really foul up a motor if you don't invest the time to learn the tuning capabilities.

 

 

And I didn't really consider Diablo a real "tune it yourself" option. IF you are gonna dive deep into custom tunes, it's gotta be with HP Tuners. Diablo is good for a canned tune which some people like, but you said it, limited tune-ability.

 

I was using Diablo as a Tune-in-a-can comparison. its only $100 cheaper and doesn't hold a candle to EFI-Live or HPTuners ability to custom tune. I will clarify my previous post.

[fondupot]

 

I was using Diablo as a Tune-in-a-can comparison. its only $100 cheaper and doesn't hold a candle to EFI-Live or HPTuners ability to custom tune. I will clarify my previous post.

 

Roger that. I was picking up ur drift.

[calgator73]

I've tried searching this topic but no real direct answer. I have read on this forum and others that the 5.3 tune includes both an 87 and E-85 tune. To trigger the E-85 tune requires increasing the alcohol content to a point where the computer senses the change. There have also been comments that all of the E-92 ECMs will naturally advance timing if you continue to use 91+ octane fuel. Couple of questions: Is it true that the E-92 implementation for the 5.3 will function this way? If true is the horsepower gain similar to what people are seeing when they use a custom tune? Thanks in advance.

[MikeNH]

I would think so but do realize that the biggest gain from a tune isn't horsepower/torque, it's the truck not driving like a dieing slug.

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

I've tried searching this topic but no real direct answer. I have read on this forum and others that the 5.3 tune includes both an 87 and E-85 tune. To trigger the E-85 tune requires increasing the alcohol content to a point where the computer senses the change. There have also been comments that all of the E-92 ECMs will naturally advance timing if you continue to use 91+ octane fuel. Couple of questions: Is it true that the E-92 implementation for the 5.3 will function this way? If true is the horsepower gain similar to what people are seeing when they use a custom tune? Thanks in advance.

 

The Calibration actually adjusts timing and AFR's thoughout the alcohol content % range and will start making corrections with as little as 6.5% alcohol content. Although the adjustment is slow, it's not as slow as people report. I can swap from E0% to E85% and the calibration will be fully adjusted within 50 to 100 miles. You have heard correct on the power increase as well, you are effectivly gaining well over 10 points octane and in the calibration there is an alcohol content timing modifier that is based off of alcohol percent and seems to be set very conservatively. I am currently working on a max power E85 tune on mine just to see what is possible in these new 5.3's. I believe there have been several dyno pulls to support the increase in power of E85 over pure gasoline. Here is a good link to Lingenfelters Forum from when they did base line numbers before there supercharger build and very impressive if you ask me. http://www.lingenfelter.com/LPEforumfiles/showthread.php?2248-2014-1500-Silverado-with-5-3L-L83-engine-work-begins

 

As far as the E92 advancing timing for continued use of 91 octane or better, this is false. The calibration has no way of knowing what octane is in the vehicle. After working with mine for almost 2 weeks now, I can verify that the factory part throttle timing tables are very aggressive for this engine and show a more than average amount of knock on 87 octane causing the truck to pull timing. When running 91, there was little if any knock which did transfer to 1-2 MPG increase and although there are no numbers to support it, seemed to help HP/TQ as well. In a way... you heard correct, but its not so much as a gain for 91 octane, but more of a loss for running 87.

Edited March 18, 2014 by iCryWheniGoPoop

[calgator73]

Does it automatically adjust based on octane alone too?

 

Sent from my LG-G2

 

 

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

Does it automatically adjust based on octane alone too? Sent from my LG-G2

No... I modified the previous post to add this information.

[calgator73]

Thanks for your time... Now I don't have an excuse not to get a tune... Should be fun with a 3.73

 

Sent from my LG-G2

 

Edited March 19, 2014 by calgator73

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

Well... all 2014 owners have an excuse not to get a tune since we are all gambling with our warranty and the odds are heavily against us.

[8thsense]

Maybe I've not searched the right places but I can't seem to find anything online where a Silverado/Sierra truck with a street tune has blown their engine or tranny. Not saying that it won't or hasn't happened but I would imagine the odds would be low. Now I'm not talking about guys who have turbos/superchargers or aftermarket cams. Since these engines gain almost 30 HP and 30+ lb ft of torque with E85 I don't see where a custom street tune will stress these engines much. It seems that people are getting roughly 40 more HP with custom tunes with only bolt-ons.

 

Putting E85 in the 2014 5.3 has shown better results than any stret ecu/tcu tune for 93 octane so far for me. What I plan to do , is leave a street 87 octane tune in with good tcu tune and then go BIG on the E85 fuel tune. It is nice that GM gave us a nice starter race tune for E85..

Edited March 19, 2014 by 8thsense

[iCryWheniGoPoop]

 

Putting E85 in the 2014 5.3 has shown better results than any stret ecu/tcu tune for 93 octane so far for me. What I plan to do , is leave a street 87 octane tune in with good tcu tune and then go BIG on the E85 fuel tune. It is nice that GM gave us a nice starter race tune for E85..

 

This is exactly what I am doing... I have finished up what seems to be a pretty strong 87 tune (Dyno results will follow as time permits) and now I am raping the timing on the E85 side. I think I'm going to have to put it on a Dyno to make some real gains because I'm going to end up in jail if I keep tuning on the street.

[Guilty]

I've been searching, but haven't seen much talk about programmers on the 2014's....is this cause of warranty issues or what? I saw a few guys mention getting custom tunes, but I was actually just going to get the Hypertech speedometer calibrator for new larger tires, but for another $100 its almost a no brainer to get a programmer even though I'm not really looking to go changing anything crazy. Anybody out there have experience with any of these?

[KUUG]

There is plenty of discussion on this. Yes you will have warranty issues even if you just do a speed calibration. GM just shows something is changed, they do not show if its for speed calibration or if its a complete tune.