Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Friday March 29, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC General > Newbies & FAQs

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-03-2010, 08:16 PM   #1
Chasey
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 242109
Join Date: Mar 2010
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: So Cal
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon
Aspen White

Default Question about open source tuning

So i want to start modifying my car, but i can't do it in big chunks. ill start with a CBE then a month down the road get a UP/DP, then maybe a month or two later an intake etc etc. and every time i dont want to pay for a tune, nor do i want to pay for the AP.

So i started looking into opensource tuning, and being the type of person that would genuinly enjoy tuning his own car i found it appealing, regardless of the risks involved with being an inexperienced tuner.

Before i even begin to tune, beleive me, i will read every possible article and thread on the subject, but reading only takes me so far. And in preperation ive read up on some of the tools needed.

Tactrix cable
Knock sensor
laptop
open source software

With all this being said i am looking to you other open source do it yourselfers to give me a rundown on your experience with the different opensource options out there, as well as what precautions i should take. other tools (Such as knock sensor) and perhaps where you got these items from.

Tl;dr

What open source tuning software do you like, what tools do i need to do it correctly? (of course the person doing the tuning is the biggest variable on it being done correctly or not)

thanks.
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Chasey is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 06-03-2010, 08:24 PM   #2
Byzantium
*** Banned ***
 
Member#: 207826
Join Date: Apr 2009
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Katabatic
Vehicle:
85k 2002 WRX
Correct Fitment Crew #034

Default

What about a wideband? If you're looking to learn, a UTEC may be an easier start for you.
Byzantium is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2010, 03:33 AM   #3
Chi_San
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 53558
Join Date: Jan 2004
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Deadford, OR
Vehicle:
2005 Baja Turbo
White/Silver/Black 3tone

Default

I've used ROMRaider and ECU Flash. Worked well for me.

I will be getting a protune when I build my stroker motor, I think, though. Too many variables, such as 9:1 compression, 2.15 liters (or 2.2, I can't figure out exactly what the displacement will end up being), different cams, and possibly a twinscroll turbo will make self tuning it a huge challenge that I won't have the time to deal with I'm afraid.
Chi_San is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2010, 03:36 AM   #4
jonnylin1
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 232228
Join Date: Dec 2009
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Bellevue
Vehicle:
2008 SWP WRX -BYE <3
WHITE FTW - AW e92 335i

Default

i'll be doing this soon as well, it'd be great to learn some things before i start haha

perhaps we could share some ideas too after we start getting a hang of things...
jonnylin1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2010, 07:11 AM   #5
OUScooby
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 100449
Join Date: Nov 2005
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: NoHo
Vehicle:
'04 WRX 307whp278tq
03WRX wgn, '72 MGB

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chasey View Post
So i want to start modifying my car, but i can't do it in big chunks. ill start with a CBE then a month down the road get a UP/DP, then maybe a month or two later an intake etc etc. and every time i dont want to pay for a tune, nor do i want to pay for the AP.

So i started looking into opensource tuning, and being the type of person that would genuinly enjoy tuning his own car i found it appealing, regardless of the risks involved with being an inexperienced tuner.

Before i even begin to tune, beleive me, i will read every possible article and thread on the subject, but reading only takes me so far. And in preperation ive read up on some of the tools needed.

Tactrix cable
Knock sensor
laptop
open source software

With all this being said i am looking to you other open source do it yourselfers to give me a rundown on your experience with the different opensource options out there, as well as what precautions i should take. other tools (Such as knock sensor) and perhaps where you got these items from.

Tl;dr

What open source tuning software do you like, what tools do i need to do it correctly? (of course the person doing the tuning is the biggest variable on it being done correctly or not)

thanks.
Never heard of an aftermarket knock sensor. But if you are serious about tuning yourself you'll need a wibeband o2 sensor. As for software, romraider and ecuflash are the only ones available that i know of for subarus.

As far as my experiences with OS tuning, well I came into it all bright eyed and busy tailed like you, expecting to tune my car myself. The reality of it is that if you don't know what you;re doing you can do some serious damage to you're engine.
Now I just use OS software for datalogging, and to switch between a few different map, basically using my laptop like an AP. I've learned enough to tweak my OTS map for my own car, but I am by no means a tuner.

My advice, leave your tune alone until you are sure you know what you're doing. Learning the basics of tuning can be done by reading forums and articles, but it is no substitute for practical real world training.

If you are serious about learning how to tune then hook up with an experienced tuner who is willing to show you the ropes. But don't expect to be tuning cars overnight, there is a lot of things you need to know, a lot of concepts you'll need to grasp. It'll take a lot of time and patience to learn these things before you are ready to try you hand at a tune.
One piece of more practical advice, is most newbies read a few forums and think they understand what changing each of the parameters does, but only in an academic sense. Don't just learn what each parameter does, but also learn how this affects the mechanics in the motor, and how it works with all the other parameters you are changing.
Good luck, wish you the best.
OUScooby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2010, 08:17 AM   #6
quazimoto
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 70395
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Da-boonies,Va
Default

Your car already has a knock sensor and the software can use it. And I totally agree with what was said above. This isn't going to happen overnight and will especially take longer or be more riskier if you know nothing about internal combustion engine operations and OBDII systems. Most people tuning there own cars have been turning wrenches and building motors for years/decades. Some more info that might be helpful :

http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/tuning...hp?t=134322320

http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/tuning...hp?t=134322905
quazimoto is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-04-2010, 08:56 AM   #7
TiredGXP
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 245040
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: A cold, miserable place
Vehicle:
2010 Legacy GT

Default

OP, like you, I'm looking for an opensource tuning product. I've been perusing the tuning threads here and over at the Romraider site.

Up to now, I've only tuned na vehicles, but I'm working on a base tune for a different turbo project. Some basic concepts apply in both situations:

Data logs - it's important to understand what information you need to log, what's relevant for the area of the tune you are working on.

Get a wideband - necessary to obtain good fueling data when in open loop. The factory O2 sensor has limitations, especially if mounted in the up.

Only change one thing at a time - Much easier to see, and interpret, the effect of a single change.

Make small changes - if you goof, small changes are less likely to cause *boom*

Log data after each adjustment to the tune - learning to interpret the data is key - what was the effect of the change, did it improve or not?

Rinse and repeat as often as necessary until satisfied.

There appear to be some great tuning spreadsheets and utilities on the Romraider site to help interpret data. I'm currently playing around with the Road Dyno spreadsheet using data logs from my Grand Prix.

Good luck with your tuning efforts.
TiredGXP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2010, 01:54 AM   #8
Chasey
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 242109
Join Date: Mar 2010
Chapter/Region: BAIC
Location: So Cal
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon
Aspen White

Default

Thanks for all the tips!

Yeah, I maybe sounded a bit like i was planning on super tweaking things myself from scratch. I was more in the mindset of using a laptop like an AP and then once i learned the software and became more familiar with the vehicle maybe tweaking some things myself.

Im guessing alot of people that use open source create their own maps for specific brand parts? such as a map for a XXX model Catback exhaust?

I by no means expect to learn how to tune overnight, but gotta start somewhere
Chasey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2010, 09:02 AM   #9
quazimoto
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 70395
Join Date: Sep 2004
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Da-boonies,Va
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chasey View Post
.

Im guessing alot of people that use open source create their own maps for specific brand parts? such as a map for a XXX model Catback exhaust?
Sort of. Certain parts call for retuning or just turning off/defeating a DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code). Turboback exhausts, intakes, bigger turbos/injectors generally require retuning. Not so much the brand name matters. For intakes certain intakes have certain problems so that's why most list the brand of intake. But regardless someone elses map should always be used as a starting point not an end product.
quazimoto is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
MA: Who knows about open source tuning? andrew3776 New England Impreza Club Forum -- NESIC 33 06-03-2009 05:36 PM
Question about Open Source InNOutBandit Southern California Impreza Club Forum -- SCIC 4 03-18-2009 05:43 PM
Noob open source tuning questions. strictlyJDM Open Source Reflashes 8 03-04-2009 02:43 AM
Noob question, WHAT is open source tune? WHAT is access port? Landsharkk Newbies & FAQs 9 02-17-2009 12:02 AM
some final questions about open source/tactrix tuning JasonLI25T Newbies & FAQs 11 08-21-2008 12:33 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.