Best user frendly/eaisest tuning software?
That's the thing, I love my EFI but the forum sucks ***** in my opinion. It seems like when ya post a question there will be 20 people look at it but no reply. There only seems to be a handfull of people on there that will reply and try to help. Maybe it's that nobody knows except for a handful of people.
all tuning software is equally worthless given lack of knowledge. with thousands of tables and very few rules to establish any relationship between them, tuning is HARD. color coded buttons or easily customizable histograms wont help you any until you understand the concepts. whoever tells you that they'll make tuning easy is lying their *** off.
I think HPtuners definately has and advantage in the since that its much easier to switch gears to tune something else. For instance.. I tuned 3 cars today.. a 99 F body, a 2004 GTO, and a 2000 Y body. One configuration file is all I pretty much need... Really the only time I change configuration files is when I want to look at more detailed idle pids or when I'm doing a 98. Also when I need to input a wideband its much easier to point and click rather than open up a txt file to add a custom offset or which ever.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,259
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From: Lexington, KY
I have EFI Live and it's great but I can't compare it to HP Tuners because I haven't used it. But I will say that there are enough knowledgable people that swear by both that you won't go wrong with either one.
If you are determined to learn it and are generally good working with computers and learning new software, by all means go for it. That's exactly what I was thinking a year ago when I decided to buy my own software and I don't regret it at all. I just need to find more time to work with it. Make sure you get a wideband to go with it though.
If you are determined to learn it and are generally good working with computers and learning new software, by all means go for it. That's exactly what I was thinking a year ago when I decided to buy my own software and I don't regret it at all. I just need to find more time to work with it. Make sure you get a wideband to go with it though.
I think HPtuners definately has and advantage in the since that its much easier to switch gears to tune something else. For instance.. I tuned 3 cars today.. a 99 F body, a 2004 GTO, and a 2000 Y body. One configuration file is all I pretty much need... Really the only time I change configuration files is when I want to look at more detailed idle pids or when I'm doing a 98. Also when I need to input a wideband its much easier to point and click rather than open up a txt file to add a custom offset or which ever.
How is that an advantage?
Last edited by kbracing96; Apr 17, 2008 at 02:21 AM.
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TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 620
Likes: 0
From: Katherine N.T Australia
I think HPtuners definately has and advantage in the since that its much easier to switch gears to tune something else. For instance.. I tuned 3 cars today.. a 99 F body, a 2004 GTO, and a 2000 Y body. One configuration file is all I pretty much need... Really the only time I change configuration files is when I want to look at more detailed idle pids or when I'm doing a 98. Also when I need to input a wideband its much easier to point and click rather than open up a txt file to add a custom offset or which ever.
Don't know what your on about here as EFI does everything pretty much the same way. As for the WB, I just select the PIDS for mine and it works. Plus I now have the option of using a Serial interface which offers far more accurate data. That kind of capability isn't even possible with HPT.
Not really
Example... Go tune a F-body then tune a 05 GTO.. Your going to have to change the VE table histogram... Or go tune a colorado.. the spark table is going to be different but with HPtuners since the histograms are linked to the tuning file the spark tables automatically have the right X Y.
Also, due to floating grounds and no zero reference for the wideband my wideband requires a voltage offset to match with what the controller is reading. Modifying the formula in EFIliveisn't hard but it is definately a touch awkard especially compared to Hptuners
To be honest... it sounds more complicated than it really is. If you keep up with the research you'll understand most of this in no time. I've been reading up and doing research off and on for a few months and feel pretty comfortable in my decision to purchase tuning software. If you're really unsure where to start, I would pick up a few books on engine management systems and read through there first. It's much easier to understand what needs to be done and some of the tuning lingo when you have a background of how EFI works in generalities.
These threads are always funny because really it just boils down to what interface/licensing scheme you like the best. On that note I have used all of them but prefer HPT, just personal preference.
EFIL still costs more; you get enough credits when you buy HPT to tune 4 vehicles included in the purchase price of $499. That's the editor, scanner, and and the hardware, and you still have credits left over.
with EFI you pay the price, but you get all the features up front. HPT will nickle and dime you for every single improvement. my personal preference is toward simple licensing, and HPT's new pricing scheme been with us...3yrs now? and i still don't know how it really works. I'm glad I bought all my licenses before the switch.
I bought EFILive tune when it first came out. I turned in my LS1 Edit and got a credit. I also already had EFILive Scan so I just payed an ungrade. I ended up getting 5 lic. for the price of 2. I think either one will do the job. I would like to try HPTuner but it will never happen due to cost.
Bill
Bill
with EFI you pay the price, but you get all the features up front. HPT will nickle and dime you for every single improvement. my personal preference is toward simple licensing, and HPT's new pricing scheme been with us...3yrs now? and i still don't know how it really works. I'm glad I bought all my licenses before the switch.
-Bill
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 620
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From: Katherine N.T Australia
Hmm lets see a customer comes to me with an E38 and wants an SD tune. With HPT it will cost me 4 credits to tune the car and another 2 to use a SD OS, 6 credits all up so whats that like $300 just to start with, o but if its a VZ I can't even use a custom os as one doesn't exist. Screw that for a joke its $100 for any car with any computer with EFI LIVE and I can use any OS I want for free. Not that I even need one doing a SD tune in EFI LIVE. Some of us have actually moved on from LS1's and are living in the present with out customer base.
Hmm lets see a customer comes to me with an E38 and wants an SD tune. With HPT it will cost me 4 credits to tune the car and another 2 to use a SD OS, 6 credits all up so whats that like $300 just to start with, o but if its a VZ I can't even use a custom os as one doesn't exist. Screw that for a joke its $100 for any car with any computer with EFI LIVE and I can use any OS I want for free. Not that I even need one doing a SD tune in EFI LIVE. Some of us have actually moved on from LS1's and are living in the present with out customer base.
Most of our tunershops have opted for the tunershop licensing so the single vehicle licenses don't even come into play for those customers and the ones that do usually take advantage of our upgrade credits that we give towards upgrading to year/model & tunershop licensing.
The bottom line being both companies have employed their own licensing and each has their advantages but both work very well for what they were meant to do no matter how you'd like to knock ours every chance you get.
