PCM Diagnostics & Tuning HP Tuners | Holley | Diablo

Tuning warning

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 11, 2007 | 09:15 PM
  #1  
Slowhawk's Avatar
Thread Starter
LS1Tech Sponsor
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,865
Likes: 6
From: Bridgewater,Ma
Default Tuning warning

For the new tuners that might not know.Watch out how you tune in this hot weather. Cars can take lot more timing due to poor air quality.The side affect is when the weather cools down the engine's start to detinate.This is a huge problem with FI cars.You see alot of these cars tuned in the hot months then blow #7 piston in the fall.

Just a heads up
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2007 | 09:19 PM
  #2  
foff667's Avatar
LS1TECH Sponsor
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,986
Likes: 3
From: Clermont, FL
Default

Good tip Don

Reply
Old Jul 11, 2007 | 09:20 PM
  #3  
edcmat-l1's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 4
From: Va Beach
Default

Originally Posted by Slowhawk
For the new tuners that might not know.Watch out how you tune in this hot weather. Cars can take lot more timing due to poor air quality.The side affect is when the weather cools down the engine's start to detinate.This is a huge problem with FI cars.You see alot of these cars tuned in the hot months then blow #7 piston in the fall.

Just a heads up
Good point. And good tip. Saw a couple Lightnings pop last winter. Tuned by another shop.
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2007 | 09:45 PM
  #4  
vaticano's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colo.
Default

thanks for the info i was just concidering adding little timing since im not getting any detonation. so would you recommend adding timing when it cools down ,i was told it was easier to tune in the winter, i guess that was more bad info i got from old mechanic
Reply
Old Jul 11, 2007 | 09:51 PM
  #5  
2002_Z28_Six_Speed's Avatar
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,538
Likes: 1
From: Wash, DC
Default

Good word of warning!
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 04:43 AM
  #6  
Slowhawk's Avatar
Thread Starter
LS1Tech Sponsor
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,865
Likes: 6
From: Bridgewater,Ma
Default

I played with a car yesterday that I know only likes 26 degree's of timing in the cool weather.It was 94 degree's out and I ran 32 degree's of timing on it without any KR HP stayed the same as 26 degree's. Of course we put it back after.

FI cars are famous. We get a ton of blown up Mustangs in the fall and ussually 2-3 LS1's. All ussually have too much timing from being tuned in the heat.Atleast the shops around here keep us busy
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 07:10 AM
  #7  
06MonteSS's Avatar
LS1Tech Sponsor
20 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,932
Likes: 12
From: CT
Default

I've always heard/experienced that the hotter/warmer weather is when we'll see KR and can't run as much timing...

in the winter/cooler weather though, the air is MORE dense, thus resulting in a better air charge, sucking in more air and we can increase timing/spark.

This has been my experience anyway...
__________________
06MonteSS / DiabLew Tune

2014 Camaro 2SS/RS - LS3, 6-speed manual, short-throw performance shifter, NPP dual-mode performance exhaust, 1LE front splitter, ZL1 rockers, Z28 Rear Spoiler, all paint-matched Red Rock Metallic, BMR strut tower brace, Cold Air Inductions cold air intake, Apex Motorsports, Inc. catch-can, Custom DiabLew Tune
www.diablewtune.com -- www.diablocustomtune.com -- www.diablocustomtunegm.com

Last edited by 06MonteSS; Jul 12, 2007 at 07:38 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 02:02 PM
  #8  
HD6.0l's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: In a shack
Default

Originally Posted by 06MonteSS
I've always heard/experienced that the hotter/warmer weather is when we'll see KR and can't run as much timing...

in the winter/cooler weather though, the air is MORE dense, thus resulting in a better air charge, sucking in more air and we can increase timing/spark.

This has been my experience anyway...
Same here .
Hot air leaner , Cold air richer as far as AFR goes , phatter AFR more timing .
???????

Last edited by HD6.0l; Jul 12, 2007 at 02:27 PM.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-2

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-9

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 02:18 PM
  #9  
06MonteSS's Avatar
LS1Tech Sponsor
20 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,932
Likes: 12
From: CT
Default

actually, colder air should make you leaner shouldn't it? since it's more dense, you're pulling/sucking in MORE air....

hotter air is less dense, therefore less air is coming in, making it run richer... no??
__________________
06MonteSS / DiabLew Tune

2014 Camaro 2SS/RS - LS3, 6-speed manual, short-throw performance shifter, NPP dual-mode performance exhaust, 1LE front splitter, ZL1 rockers, Z28 Rear Spoiler, all paint-matched Red Rock Metallic, BMR strut tower brace, Cold Air Inductions cold air intake, Apex Motorsports, Inc. catch-can, Custom DiabLew Tune
www.diablewtune.com -- www.diablocustomtune.com -- www.diablocustomtunegm.com
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 02:34 PM
  #10  
HD6.0l's Avatar
Banned
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: In a shack
Default

No , I have watched with wideband and colder air seems to run richer AFRs , at the track a guy had his car Dynoed that day at 80* and was running 11.5 AFR at the track that night he was running 10.8 AFR @ 55* .
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 02:47 PM
  #11  
06MonteSS's Avatar
LS1Tech Sponsor
20 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,932
Likes: 12
From: CT
Default

aaah, ok... makes sense now that I think about it...

colder, more dense air means we're pulling in more air by volume, so the ECM adds more fuel to keep the AFR in check...

warmer, less dense air means we're pulling in less air by volume, so the ECM subtracts fuel...

gotcha...

thx!

EDIT: but then, how could the issue mentioned in post #1 happen then? if you tune in the hotter weather, then when it gets colder the AFR should go richer - so why would that blow the engine?? I could see if it went leaner when it got colder, but what we're saying here is that it gets richer when it gets colder... Hmmm...
__________________
06MonteSS / DiabLew Tune

2014 Camaro 2SS/RS - LS3, 6-speed manual, short-throw performance shifter, NPP dual-mode performance exhaust, 1LE front splitter, ZL1 rockers, Z28 Rear Spoiler, all paint-matched Red Rock Metallic, BMR strut tower brace, Cold Air Inductions cold air intake, Apex Motorsports, Inc. catch-can, Custom DiabLew Tune
www.diablewtune.com -- www.diablocustomtune.com -- www.diablocustomtunegm.com

Last edited by 06MonteSS; Jul 12, 2007 at 02:52 PM.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 04:42 PM
  #12  
Slowhawk's Avatar
Thread Starter
LS1Tech Sponsor
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,865
Likes: 6
From: Bridgewater,Ma
Default

Originally Posted by 06MonteSS
EDIT: but then, how could the issue mentioned in post #1 happen then? if you tune in the hotter weather, then when it gets colder the AFR should go richer - so why would that blow the engine?? I could see if it went leaner when it got colder, but what we're saying here is that it gets richer when it gets colder... Hmmm...
Tune your car in the hot weather and see what happens in the cold weather The change is more drastic on FI cars.Most people here deal with there own cars.I'm lucky enough to tune a ton of cars and see the difference.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 07:03 PM
  #13  
jimmyblue's Avatar
Moderator
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 12,604
Likes: 7
From: East Central Florida
Default

You can put more charge into the motor when the air
is denser.

With more charge in it, you would really like to not
light it off in a place where it can't easily expand
into work delivered to the crank. Your motor might
tolerate early ignition (after TDC, but away from
best crank angle) if it's a punk charge but break
something at a higher charge that has nowhere to
go (for a few tens of crank degrees ATDC, cylinder
volume changes not much, so pressure and temp
must remain high and the aluminum doesn't really
like either one). You want peak pressure to develop
around peak leverage angle I believe. Not early and
not late. Early breaks stuff, late burns stuff.

None of this has to do with mixture really. Though
you could add problems that way.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 07:43 PM
  #14  
Slowhawk's Avatar
Thread Starter
LS1Tech Sponsor
iTrader: (12)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,865
Likes: 6
From: Bridgewater,Ma
Default

Originally Posted by jimmyblue
You can put more charge into the motor when the air
is denser.

With more charge in it, you would really like to not
light it off in a place where it can't easily expand
into work delivered to the crank. Your motor might
tolerate early ignition (after TDC, but away from
best crank angle) if it's a punk charge but break
something at a higher charge that has nowhere to
go (for a few tens of crank degrees ATDC, cylinder
volume changes not much, so pressure and temp
must remain high and the aluminum doesn't really
like either one). You want peak pressure to develop
around peak leverage angle I believe. Not early and
not late. Early breaks stuff, late burns stuff.

None of this has to do with mixture really. Though
you could add problems that way.
Can someone explain this in English to me








Just messing with ya
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 08:35 PM
  #15  
smokin2001formula's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Pompano Beach Florida
Default

Slowhawk I am gonna be running 9lbs of boost in my car. It is getting tuned down in Southeast Florida in about a week and a half hopefully. Obviously it is summer here and will be tuned for the weather accordingly. Now should I also have it retuned in the winter months here as well? It doesn't get that cold here at all usually in the winter. If it does it may be for no longer than a week at a time usually, and by no means is it cold compared to where you are located. What are your thoughts? I appreciate any advice you can throw my way.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2007 | 10:41 PM
  #16  
06MonteSS's Avatar
LS1Tech Sponsor
20 Year Member
Photogenic
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,932
Likes: 12
From: CT
Default

Originally Posted by Slowhawk
Tune your car in the hot weather and see what happens in the cold weather The change is more drastic on FI cars.Most people here deal with there own cars.I'm lucky enough to tune a ton of cars and see the difference.
DUDE! no need to get friggin' snotty... I'm just questioning/curious, as I'd like to learn what is actually happening when it comes to hotter/colder temps so I can tune correctly...

geez....

rough day??!!
__________________
06MonteSS / DiabLew Tune

2014 Camaro 2SS/RS - LS3, 6-speed manual, short-throw performance shifter, NPP dual-mode performance exhaust, 1LE front splitter, ZL1 rockers, Z28 Rear Spoiler, all paint-matched Red Rock Metallic, BMR strut tower brace, Cold Air Inductions cold air intake, Apex Motorsports, Inc. catch-can, Custom DiabLew Tune
www.diablewtune.com -- www.diablocustomtune.com -- www.diablocustomtunegm.com
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 12:44 AM
  #17  
5.7 ute's Avatar
11 Second Club
 
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Default

None of this really makes any sense.
If your sensors are reporting correctly & you have tuned properly for the variations then your AFR shouldnt change. Only if your sensors are giving bad info like with heatsoak not giving an accurate description of air temp should you have an issue.
I realise it isnt a perfect world but from what Ive seen in my car from an early morning log with the ambient air being around 0 degC to an afternoon temp of 28 degC is less than 1% variation on my Ben Maps. Not an engine destroying scenario.
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 08:33 AM
  #18  
horist's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 7,036
Likes: 1
From: Lake Zurich, IL
Default

^^^but if you're running alot more timing due to tuning in warm weather... when it gets cold that timing is overkill and potentially dangerous (especially for FI instances)

I suppose you could use the IAT timing modifier table to account for changes.. however there's no reason to run more timing than you need... (no reason to run 35* when running 26* makes the same power)
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 09:12 AM
  #19  
johnh's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
From: SE Michigan
Default

Yep...I agree...

On the GTP in say 30* weather I can see as much as 1-1.5 psi more boost than in say 70* weather. That extra boost, even though its a colder charge, makes KR more likely. Gotta be way conservative on timing...

One thing does the LS1 PCM have a table to adjust spark based on AFR? The GTP does and for some reason it adds timing when the A/F gets richer. So colder often makes the WOT AFR richer and then adds timing on top.....
Reply
Old Jul 13, 2007 | 09:30 AM
  #20  
ZL1Killa's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,747
Likes: 0
From: NC - Charlotte area
Default

maybe thats why i have heard of some things being blown up in the past 3-5 months...go figure.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:16 AM.

story-0
10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

Slideshow: 10 reasons daily-driving a swap project might not be for you. Or is it?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-17 09:39:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-2
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-18 10:26:23


VIEW MORE
story-3
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-5
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-7
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE