Tuning your own Ecoboost Mustang!??

2042 Views 47 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Coyote Chaser, 6 d ago

Coyote Chaser

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

Step 1) I'm taking a course on EFI Tuning.

Step 2) I'm researching equipment needed.

Question, how many of us are doing our own electronic tuning and do you have recommendations for training and equipment?

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Buldawg76

· #2 · 2 mo ago

I am not tuning my eco at this time but have built and tuned twin cam and V-rod Harleys using both the Screaming eagle Harley based program as well as the TTS program (Mastertune The turbo Shop), both allowed full access to the PCMs but the Screaming eagle could only compensate so much for built engine needs whereas the TTS program gave complete control over full manipulation of parameters. Steve Cole is the owner of TTS and was the main designer of the Screaming eagle program till Harley refused to pay him what he wanted to continue the development for them. He started the TTS shortly after that in 07/08 time frame.

Sadly, he only has products for Harleys because if he did cars, it would be who I would use. I worked with him while at Harley on tuning programs for V-rods and twin cams.

For our ecos I have been looking at the HP tuner for its ability to fully access the PCM for tuning, they also have videos and tutorial courses available to the public for learning their systems and how to use for tuning with the VCM editor and VCM scanner.

HP Tuners – Home

Interested in what you choose to go with.

BD

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Coyote Chaser

Discussion Starter · #3 · 2 mo ago

Buldawg76 said:
I am not tuning my eco at this time but have built and tuned twin cam and V-rod Harleys using both the Screaming eagle Harley based program as well as the TTS program (Mastertune The turbo Shop), both allowed full access to the PCMs but the Screaming eagle could only compensate so much for built engine needs whereas the TTS program gave complete control over full manipulation of parameters. Steve Cole is the owner of TTS and was the main designer of the Screaming eagle program till Harley refused to pay him what he wanted to continue the development for them. He started the TTS shortly after that in 07/08 time frame.

Sadly, he only has products for Harleys because if he did cars, it would be who I would use. I worked with him while at Harley on tuning programs for V-rods and twin cams.

For our ecos I have been looking at the HP tuner for its ability to fully access the PCM for tuning, they also have videos and tutorial courses available to the public for learning their systems and how to use for tuning with the VCM editor and VCM scanner.

HP Tuners – Home

Interested in what you choose to go with.

BD

So far, I've only looked at HPtuner. Plus they sponsor the class I race in at NMRA events.
I also started a class at HP Academy on EFI tuning.

Reactions: 1

Buldawg76

· #4 · 2 mo ago

Sounds like a plan for sure.

I am keeping my FP tune till the 3/36 is up to decide which route I want to take moving forward. I have a Cobb tuner now but like the HPtuner for its ability to change PCM parameters myself versus having to rely on a custom tune from third parties to change simple things like toggling the oil pressure switch signal to a sensor signal for installing a PP gauge cluster or speed limiter setting when I install GT brakes.

HP tuners seem to be the top player at this time IMO.

BD

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ihasnostang

· #5 · 2 mo ago

bold strategy cotton. Is it just a cost thing, or is there something a custom tune cant satisfy you? You can download HPtuners and if you make a forum account you can download a map for a ecoboost and get familiar with it.

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MD18EcoStang

· #6 · 2 mo ago

If Cobb's Accesstuner software would happen to become available again before I run out of patience and pay for a pro tune, that's what I'll be doing... 🤷‍♂️

Reactions: 4

Coyote Chaser

Discussion Starter · #7 · 2 mo ago

ihasnostang said:
bold strategy cotton. Is it just a cost thing, or is there something a custom tune cant satisfy you? You can download HPtuners and if you make a forum account you can download a map for a ecoboost and get familiar with it.

The last "tune" I was sent had the potential to damage my motor due to excessive combustion chamber heat. Who ever you are, you really have to understand how our motors fail to prevent detonation.
I recommend to all "tuners", when a client loses a motor, instead of blaming them or the manufacturer for a engine failures, that you dig into the how and why it happened and what you can do to prevent it happening again.
I know it's time consuming and expensive, but if you are willing to close your laptop and open your tool box, you can earn the respect and title of "professional".

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Buldawg76

· #8 · 2 mo ago

There are numerous tuners out there, but I will wager to say only a handful really understand and have any formal training/education in actual fundamentals of the full tuning process. Especially when it comes to the advanced PCM strategies used in out ecos electronic systems.

BD

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ihasnostang

· #9 · 2 mo ago

here's some resources i found on hpt, a tune from 2.3 focus rs. i couldnt attach directly to the forum.

https://file.io/x4Vn9fUTmYA6

SHO / EcoBoost HPT Tuning Guides

Here's what I've been working on for the past few weeks. It's not to be taken as 100% gospel, but it is based on countless hours of logging and experimentation, and is intended mainly to catalyze the sharing of tuning info related to the EcoBoost platform. The tuning guide provides a basic...

forum.hptuners.com

Reactions: 2

S550Chip

· #10 · 2 mo ago

Coyote Chaser said:
The last "tune" I was sent had the potential to damage my motor due to excessive combustion chamber heat. Who ever you are, you really have to understand how our motors fail to prevent detonation.
I recommend to all "tuners", when a client loses a motor, instead of blaming them or the manufacturer for a engine failures, that you dig into the how and why it happened and what you can do to prevent it happening again.
I know it's time consuming and expensive, but if you are willing to close your laptop and open your tool box, you can earn the respect and title of "professional".

Who was your tuner who sent you your last tune?

Coyote Chaser

Discussion Starter · #11 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

Completed first 4 courses. It boggles my mind, how much electronic data is available! Yet, the foundation, is still based on the same "physics of tuning" that some of us, used back in our day.

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ihasnostang

· #12 · 2 mo ago

Did you go lean with a tune that had the secondary injection active? maybe the tune had the supplemental fuel "scaled" wrong? If i had to make a guess how it works; for any load, an AFR is commanded and there is a related injector pulse width modulation (ms), then to account for your secondary injection, the primary injection duration is pulled back. There may be limits of how much fuel can be added for STFT, and maybe the amount that was subtracted from the primary was greater than what was needed to get the AFR back to the commanded level while you were going lean.

anytime drastic changes are made it doesn't hurt to progressively work your way up to WOT. That's what i did when i switched from 93 to an ethanol mix with the cobb tune.

Reactions: 2

Coyote Chaser

Discussion Starter · #13 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

ihasnostang said:
Did you go lean with a tune that had the secondary injection active? maybe the tune had the supplemental fuel "scaled" wrong? If i had to make a guess how it works; for any load, an AFR is commanded and there is a related injector pulse width modulation (ms), then to account for your secondary injection, the primary injection duration is pulled back. There may be limits of how much fuel can be added for STFT, and maybe the amount that was subtracted from the primary was greater than what was needed to get the AFR back to the commanded level while you were going lean.

anytime drastic changes are made it doesn't hurt to progressively work your way up to WOT. That's what i did when i switched from 93 to an ethanol mix with the cobb tune.

Your pretty much on the mark! I've been watching video (via Flo Racing) of my car during competition at the NMRA Spring Break Shootout. And I come off the line slow with an AFR over 15/1, and then right about the 60' mark, the front end of my car appears to be pulled down against the pavement. After that, it takes off like a rocketship!

PS: Before I loaded that last tune, after installing a new Turbocharger and Intake, my AFRs weren't as high and as my port Injectors opened, the AFR dropped.

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Coyote Chaser

Discussion Starter · #14 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

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Coyote Chaser

Discussion Starter · #15 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

S550Chip said:
Who was your tuner who sent you your last tune?

The majority of the aftermarket parts, and all the tuning, for my car were purchased though EMS.

Reactions: 1

MD18EcoStang

· #16 · 2 mo ago

Coyote Chaser said:
The majority of the aftermarket parts, and all the tuning, for my car were purchased though EMS.

Give 'em the whole story... Although they could search it on here if they wanted. PD Tuning did the tune, but purchased through EMS, right?

Coyote Chaser

Discussion Starter · #17 · 2 mo ago (Edited)

MD18EcoStang said:
Give 'em the whole story... Although they could search it on here if they wanted. PD Tuning did the tune, but purchased through EMS, right?

Your right, but my choice to learn how to electronically tune my own car doesn't really have to do with anyone or anything.
I race in NMRA events and when I show up with a poorly tuned car, I need to be able to make the necessary changes.

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MD18EcoStang

· #18 · 2 mo ago

Coyote Chaser said:
Your right, but my choice to learn how to electronically tune my own car doesn't really have to do with anyone or anything.
I race in NMRA events and when I show up with a poorly tuned car, I need to be able to make the necessary changes.

I get it. My issue is I have such a distrust of "pros" in general. So here I am, still on OTS. I really wanted Cobb's Accesstuner, but...

So, does HP Tuners have similar software for non-pro tuners to diy their own tune? If so, do they charge for it? I'm not up on their platform and how it compares to Cobb.

Reactions: 2

Coyote Chaser

Discussion Starter · #19 · 2 mo ago

MD18EcoStang said:
I get it. My issue is I have such a distrust of "pros" in general. So here I am, still on OTS. I really wanted Cobb's Accesstuner, but...

So, does HP Tuners have similar software for non-pro tuners to diy their own tune? If so, do they charge for it? I'm not up on their platform and how it compares to Cobb.

I'm looking at the HPtuners* hardware/software. But haven't made a decision.
However, when I calculate, how much I've spent on Cobb's equipment, plus "custom" tuning ($1500), the e cost is reasonable. Even with the cost of registration credits and training from HP Academy, the cost will be less than $1500.
As for running OTS tunes, they aren't that bad. I was able to break into the high 12s on the 1/4 mile while running the Cobb stage 3 OTS 93 octane tune and mixed fuel (93 pump/VP X85) and factory turbocharger.

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*HPtuners sponsors the NMRA class, I compete in (SST).

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Buldawg76

· #20 · 2 mo ago

So, I have looked over the HP site and see the MPVI3 dongle is 399 but I am guessing you have to buy credits as well to access the tuning software for the VCM editor and VCM scanner capabilities. Or is that included in the 399 cost. I see they offer different levels or number of credits so just curious as to how many credits we need for our ecos to have full access for tuning.

BD

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