[TC TUNE GUIDE #2] Dial in Fuel Trims

OptimizePrime

Goblin Guru
I was hoping to get my Goblin on the dyno this weekend so I had some empirical data to support what I'm saying but it was an extra 3hrs on top of a long drive already. Either way, I'm motivated to get this out as there is a lack of information specific to getting a TC Goblin up and running well before you go about other aspects of your tune.

Helpful Threads: LINK

Cliff notes of first step, you do not want to mess with the MAF Calibration table as you're not 'relocating' your MAF, even though it's in a different position compared to the Cobalt. You want to modify the table your ecu looks at for fuel vs rpm vs load. *Edit* - while this is still accurate, if you're consistently off in a certain Hz level by > +-1.5% then change those specific Hz levels by multiplying by % to get it closer. After making this change, keep an eye on your fuel vs rpm vs load values as they may need updating.

This guide is mainly focused on how to set up HP Tuners to optimize your tuning workflow, what you need to adjust and look out for to get a good foundation to build from. I am by no means a professional tuner, my only experience tuning a vehicle outside of this is with my 600whp eclipse using ECMLink - but the concepts are still the same regardless of tuning software. With that said, I don't know the dark corners of HP Tuners or LNF platforms, any advanced questions should be deferred to google and the cobaltss crowd. If you have any tips / tricks / stuff to add please join in

This guide assumes your vehicle is in otherwise good heath and you assume all responsibility for any damages following anything I'm about to outline. With that out of the way, lets get started.

My setup:
Stock LNF with factory turbo
Forge BPV with 23psi spring (yellow)
Re-clocked both knock sensors so the lead faces 9pm (this apparently helps with phantom knock)
GM 3bar map sensors
Relocated MAF/filter outside of the vehicle
2.5" intercooler pipes


I don't think any of the above materially factors in to just getting your fuel trims aligned, but it's worth mentioning in case you're looking at other aspects of my tune files and copying verbatim. I have linked the layout you'll need to follow along - it should already have the tables setup so you can easily copy and paste from VCM Scanner into VCM Editor

HPTuners VCM Scanner Defaults (layout, charts, maths etc)

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Before messing with boost, timing, camshaft angles, afr's etc. you have to nail down your fuel trims - which is really what this step is focused on. These values change depending on season and elevation so it's likely something you'll become familiar with over time.

Before you run your first scan, you'll have to modify your stock tune. Open VCM Editor and modify your MAF Correction > Base table all to 1. Don't touch your Airflow vs. Frequency table. You can see the rest of the tunes settings here: LINK
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At this point, that should be the only change you make - write the file to your vehicle. Your vehicle trims are now baselined, and it's likely to run really rich - and that's okay. Time to go for a drive...

Unplug your EVAP sensor and bring your vehicle to operating temperature. Start your scan and go for a long drive which consists of idling, stop and go, highway, boost. You want a broad range of RPMs with boost/vaccuum levels so the data you copy over is pretty comprehensive of most driving conditions. This first scan will likely have the most dramatic change in how your vehicle idles and drives, so be sure to have a solid first baseline scan.

Step 1
Once you have your scan saved, look at the MAF Correction Base table - mine was pulling ~20% fuel across the board which is pretty nutty. Your scan may look totally different from mine and this is where a judgement call has to be made. In my scenario, I'm pulling a ton of fuel across the board so it would make sense to actually change the Fuel > Injector Const. by 3-5% less (since it's pulling fuel) until the percentages are closer to 0% or a mix of negative to positive depending on whether you're in boost or off boost. Do not automatically go to pulling 20% out of your Injector Const. as it doesn't work like that. Do not copy my Injector Const, it'll be different for everyone.
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Step 2
After you're comfortable with Step 1, look at the LTFT + STFT graph in your scan. You're looking for Hz levels +- 1.5%, this will not be a blanket copy and paste the whole histogram activity, it's usually certain sections or cells. So copy these cells and head to the MAF Calibration > Airflow vs Frequency and Paste Special %. Go for another scan and you'll start to see things get closer. Do Step #2 a few times until you're comfortable.

Step 3
Assuming you did Step 1 and Step 2 effectively, your scan's histogram should be centering around 0% more or less and this is for load based fine tuning. Get your scan and right click the top-left corner of the chart with nothing in it > Copy (not copy with axis).
*make sure you're looking at the A (average) and the full scan*
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Go to VCM Editor and open MAF Correction > Base table and right click > Paste Special > Multiply by %
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Save and write that to your vehicle. You can now start your car and take it for a drive. You should notice that she's drastically more smooth (and probably not smelling like gas as much, you still don't have cats). You're not done yet! You should do this at least two more times but instead of Paste > Multiply by % you'll choose Multiply by % - Half. Ideally you want these values to be within +/- 1% although you may drive yourself crazy getting there. There is an element of 'close enough' to which you can move on and start your actual tune which i'll get to in another post. I was satisfied with a total difference averaging ~3% ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

After you're comfortable with the trims, plug your EVAP sensor back in. More to come...
 
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OptimizePrime

Goblin Guru
Layout and Channels Updated - I found out you have to create a PID using Boost Pressure (Low Res) - Barometric Pressure in PSI to log boost pressures above 22.7psi for your given altitude. Your logged boost will only read >=0 now (ie. no vacuum).

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The boost sensor that was being logged previously was displaying a maximum of 22.7psi even though the engine was seeing much more ( woops ).
 
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dastrups

Well-Known Member
Thank you for all the work you put into this!! I am just now getting into doing this. I’m curious if you found maybe one major area of tuning that helped smooth out throttle sensitivity and getting rid of the jerky ride. I can’t even drive around at steady throttle without the car wanting to lurch. Gets a little better the higher gear I go. When I come around a tight corner and try to gently apply throttle on corner exit it will buck all over the place. Wondering where I should be focusing to fix that. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you again!!
 

Mayor West

Goblin Guru
Thank you for all the work you put into this!! I am just now getting into doing this. I’m curious if you found maybe one major area of tuning that helped smooth out throttle sensitivity and getting rid of the jerky ride. I can’t even drive around at steady throttle without the car wanting to lurch. Gets a little better the higher gear I go. When I come around a tight corner and try to gently apply throttle on corner exit it will buck all over the place. Wondering where I should be focusing to fix that. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you again!!
There’s a torque by rpm/speed/gear setting I used to settle mine down.
 

Mayor West

Goblin Guru
Yes, but in return you get less throttle response but that’s the point I guess. I do like 20-50% torque range tamped up later on to 100. If you goose it it’ll still hit it but not giving available torque until later will help.
 

OptimizePrime

Goblin Guru
Thank you for all the work you put into this!! I am just now getting into doing this. I’m curious if you found maybe one major area of tuning that helped smooth out throttle sensitivity and getting rid of the jerky ride. I can’t even drive around at steady throttle without the car wanting to lurch. Gets a little better the higher gear I go. When I come around a tight corner and try to gently apply throttle on corner exit it will buck all over the place. Wondering where I should be focusing to fix that. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you again!!
Not knowing a lot about your setup/current tune I would look at two tables that I covered in the Tune Guide #1

Torque Model > Optimum Torque
% vs RPM vs Gear

Your fuel trims / timing factor in here also. So first thing i'd do is look at the two tables above and then work on smoothing out those fuel trims. You could start a tune thread with your logs and i'll take a look also
 

dastrups

Well-Known Member
So I actually was able to fix the issue. I had two plugs switched. The coolant temp sensor and the sensor on the transmission for the Speedo. When I switched them and deleted the engine codes the tune was working great. Dumb mistake. I think the PCM thought the car was overheating so it was cutting timing or something. I still want to dive into this for when I do some upgrades in the future.
 

AZmoto

Well-Known Member
Thanks for putting all of this together!

What are your thoughts on the pros and cons of dialing in trims via the MAF curve vs. the MAF correction table?
 

Gtstorey

Goblin Guru
I wouldn’t consider it either/or, Dial in the Maf calibration graph until it’s close and fine tune with the maf correction table.
 

OptimizePrime

Goblin Guru
Thanks for putting all of this together!

What are your thoughts on the pros and cons of dialing in trims via the MAF curve vs. the MAF correction table?
@Gtstorey nailed it. You really want to dial in your MAF Calibration first and then use the MAF Correction for fine tuning. Your MAF Correction values should be around 1, if you're +-3% I'd say you still have some MAF Calibration to do. It's impossible to get it perfect bc of the variance that occurs in each log but you'll definitely feel it start to smooth out and rip through the RPMs as you get closer to dialed.
 

OptimizePrime

Goblin Guru
I still owe this group a Tune Guide 3 on boost control, timing, etc. when one finally gets to WOT. It'll come, I'm taking some time off next week so I have all the intentions of posting something then. For now, this is what it looks like when an LNF runs out of fuel, don't be like me.

Main areas of focus are:
- Injector Pulse Widths > 7ms
- sizeable gap between desired and actual fuel rail pressure
- INJ Duty cycles considerably above >= 30%.
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This snip is with me back on stock cams but I do have the Opel injectors, Fuel cam will be installed at some point and that'll bump my ceiling a bit. When I hit 400whp I was seeing ~43lbs/min with the Stage 2 cams, with the fuel cam I expect to hit the same even though she's a ripper at this level.
 
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