What is tuning?

[mcimo]

Guys, please don't bash me for my noobish question, because as you all know I'm still learning about cars. I understand that the whole point of tuning is to get the highest possible performance out of everything in your engine. What I am wondering is what exactly happens during the tuning process? Is it a physical thing, like aligning parts in the engine? I've always wondered.

[ogsmakdade]

mostly done with engine management systems.
piggy back
stand alone

[ninety3lude]

tuning is when you alter/change the settings of your ecu or whatever engine management system you have to get the smoothest and best possible powerband for the style of driving you want. things like changing the a/f ratio. but im pretty sure tuning is just for your ecu and not actually physically touching your engine.... i think lol

[ogsmakdade]

altering:
air
fuel
timing
ignition

all through the ECU or EMS. Good answer Ninety3

[94ludeguy]

well the little physical aspect of tuning can come with actually taking advantage of adjustable cam gears. by adjusting them a few degrees either way you can for instance have the intake valves open sooner or later. same goes with the exhaust valves. whatever setting makes tune best tune possible

[Si Speed]

Hey, adjusting suspension components can be considered aprt of tuning for a well rounded car. Stock suspension just doesn't cut it. Adjust car height, sway bar, spoiler for downforce, etc.

[mcimo]

Hey, adjusting suspension components can be considered aprt of tuning for a well rounded car. Stock suspension just doesn't cut it. Adjust car height, sway bar, spoiler for downforce, etc.

Thanx E. I was actually just asking about engine tuning, but thats a good point. So I guess it's not very easy to tune something yourself then huh? Is it possible to do it yourself, or does it have to be brought to a special shop?

BTW you have like the best siggys ever hahahahahaha!

[twokexlv6coupe]

Thanx E. I was actually just asking about engine tuning, but thats a good point. So I guess it's not very easy to tune something yourself then huh? Is it possible to do it yourself, or does it have to be brought to a special shop?





its very, very hard. if you dont know what your doing, you WILL blow your engine up, no doubt about that.

this should give you a taste of what it is, this is blakes (98Vtec's) company

http://www.preludezone.com/showthread.php?p=99338#post99338

[mcimo]

^Dang thats crazy! Good link!

BTW just so you all know I'm not tuning mine, I was just wondering.

[yogi_pahl]

Nitro Midget Widget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[1997Prelude]

I hear alot about stand alone/piggy back systems (hondata, vfac). I assume these are "chips". Can the stock computer be tuned without adding these extras? Pro's/Con's?

[BadMofo]

OBD2 computers can not be tuned by anything other than piggy backs like VAFC and E-manage.

OBD1 computers can be tuned by piggy backs like hondata, crome, neptune, etc...

OBD2 computers can't be tuned by the chipping method (that's why VAFC and E-manage and similar controllers need to be used)

OBD1 computers can be chipped with a programmable ROM chip. The ROM chip is programmed using a program like neptune, hondata, etc... Once the ROM chip is programmed for the specific application, it can be installed into an OBD1 computer that has been modified with a chip socket to accept it.

Another option is using a "Romulator". A Romulator is a connector that fits into the chip socket on a modified OBD1, and is tethered to a laptop or an on-board PC, and can be programmed on the fly. The OBD1 computer reads it as a regular rom chip even though it is being fed data from the PC or laptop.

[nolimitz]

I Have A Jdm H22 But It Redlines At About 68. People Have Told Me Its The Wrong Ecu, But Could It Be The Tuning As Well? Also I Have Had The Ecu Out And I Can Not Find Anything On It That Says What Ecu It Is. I Know I Need The P13 But Where Does It Say It?

[1997Prelude]

OBD2 computers can not be tuned by anything other than piggy backs like VAFC and E-manage.

OBD1 computers can be tuned by piggy backs like hondata, crome, neptune, etc...

OBD2 computers can't be tuned by the chipping method (that's why VAFC and E-manage and similar controllers need to be used)

OBD1 computers can be chipped with a programmable ROM chip. The ROM chip is programmed using a program like neptune, hondata, etc... Once the ROM chip is programmed for the specific application, it can be installed into an OBD1 computer that has been modified with a chip socket to accept it.

Another option is using a "Romulator". A Romulator is a connector that fits into the chip socket on a modified OBD1, and is tethered to a laptop or an on-board PC, and can be programmed on the fly. The OBD1 computer reads it as a regular rom chip even though it is being fed data from the PC or laptop.

So my tuning options are:

1. Purchase an obd2 piggyback and the tuner can then tune my stock ecu (obd2).
2. Swap an obd1 in place of my stock obd2 and have it tuned by an obd1piggyback system.
3. Purchase obd2 to obd1 adaptor? Tune with an obd1 piggyback system?

Correct?

Also what is a piggy back physically? Just a computer program/software? Or is it something that plugs in to ecu?
What is a standalone system? Physically/Functionality?

Im in the midst of I/H/E for now and want to find the best tuning method/parts for this application. I may add cams down the road, lightwieght flywheel, better clutch, bigger wheel/tire size. I know aftermarket cams will require additional tuning, not sure about flywheel/clutch/wheels.

[twokexlv6coupe]

So my tuning options are:

1. Purchase an obd2 piggyback and the tuner can then tune my stock ecu (obd2).
2. Swap an obd1 in place of my stock obd2 and have it tuned by an obd1piggyback system.
3. Purchase obd2 to obd1 adaptor? Tune with an obd1 piggyback system?

Correct?

Also what is a piggy back physically? Just a computer program/software? Or is it something that plugs in to ecu?
What is a standalone system? Physically/Functionality?

Im in the midst of I/H/E for now and want to find the best tuning method/parts for this application. I may add cams down the road, lightwieght flywheel, better clutch, bigger wheel/tire size. I know aftermarket cams will require additional tuning, not sure about flywheel/clutch/wheels.




http://www.preludezone.com/showthread.php?p=71993#post71993

[mr_y82]

I Have A Jdm H22 But It Redlines At About 68. People Have Told Me Its The Wrong Ecu, But Could It Be The Tuning As Well? Also I Have Had The Ecu Out And I Can Not Find Anything On It That Says What Ecu It Is. I Know I Need The P13 But Where Does It Say It?

redline on a p14 (h23 nonvtec) is 6800... does vtec engage (you will feel it)?

get a p13 if you want, but it better to get an obd 1 civic computer (or some others) and get it chipped and tuned.

eCtune allows iab control, knock sensor, egr... the whole deal... (on OBD1 p05/06, pr4, p28/72) it is a relatively new program, but my shop, Blueridge Motorsports dyno tuned the head mechanics h22 civic hatch w/ bolt ons (like my setup) and got about 45whp with ONLY the ECU change and tune... he had all the bolt-ons prior to the tune and put down about 140whp... after the tune he hit 185... somehow while I was at the shop the other day he dynoed at almost 205whp... that is totally banging on a bolt-on h22 (no aftermarket intake manifold or injectors)

go get eCtuned for about 4-500 hundred bucks.. totally worth it.

http://www.ectune.com/

my tune is pending, but I will post some numbers when I get it in the next couple weeks.

you have to get a REAL TUNE, not some ebay m*gen chip or a chip from some company that never tuned a Lude... the tune really NEEDS to be specific to your ride... you might be able to use a buddy's map if you have a similar setup, but getting your own tune is really the best option for power, safety, and the life of your engine.. it you want to toast you h22 get an ebay chip.. go ahead, get one without a rev limiter... have fun with that.

[92_prelude]

Thanx E. I was actually just asking about engine tuning, but thats a good point. So I guess it's not very easy to tune something yourself then huh? Is it possible to do it yourself, or does it have to be brought to a special shop?

BTW you have like the best siggys ever hahahahahaha!

Man i would say if you're looking to tune now then take it somewhere. If you plan on eventually tuning then do your research. The overall goal of tuning is to increase Hp and torque most efficiently over the entire powerband, to reduce engine knock, and to make sure your **** doesn't blow up.

[THE ONE]

I Have A Jdm H22 But It Redlines At About 68. People Have Told Me Its The Wrong Ecu, But Could It Be The Tuning As Well? Also I Have Had The Ecu Out And I Can Not Find Anything On It That Says What Ecu It Is. I Know I Need The P13 But Where Does It Say It?


something is definately wrong. do know if vtec engages at wot? On the ecu there should be a peice of paper on it that have a bunch of numbers. One of those numbers will say p13 or p28 or p72 or p06 etc etc on it.

[98vtec]

http://www.bbmoto.net/index.php?page=products

learning how to tune is not difficult once you at least learn the basics.

www.pgmfi.org
www.ectune.com
www.phearable.net
www.bbmoto.net
www.efi101.com
www.xenocron.com
www.homemadeturbo.com
www.evans-tuning.com
http://web.archive.org/web/20060517155400/www.pgmfi.org/twiki/bin/view/Library/WebHome
http://mtggraphics.com/bigmoose.htm


start reading.