more sputtering

[stlhrse]

OK, so I flashed the new 87 performance tune, and the tranny strategy felt MUCH better. I then started incrementally increasing timing one degree at a time. I don't know if it was necessary, but everytime I increased timing I flashed back to stock then changed it and reflashed. Anyway, I'm up to 5 degrees of additional timing, and it's running great. I'm not really worried about detonation or anything since it's not on juice or a blower. Although I haven't noticed any performance decreases, I am concerned about the knock sensor pulling timing without me realizing it, if I get some bad gas or something.
Cody, is it possible in your software to disable the functionality of the knock sensor, so it can't pull timing on its own? I use SCT software to tune my racecar, and though its an 02 so it never had a knock sensor, I know that there are quite a few things in there you can just disable. I just don't know if the software you guys use does that, or if it does, if the knock sensor is a switchable value, but it would be nice if it was.
Granted I have only been running it for a few days, but I haven't noticed any sputtering or bucking or anything. It feels really good so far. So, I'll continue running it and we'll see what happens. Maybe by Friday, if there are no problems we can wrap this up.

Thanks
Doug

[Jackpine]

Disabling the knock sensor is a great way to destroy your engine. If the PCM was pulling timing, it would pull more than necessary. You would not hear "ping" of course, but you would not have the power you want either.

I think if you actually HAVE advanced the timing by 5 degrees, the PCM is compensating.

At this point, I don't know what your goal really is, and I'm not sure PHP does either. You should not have to change the timing in a custom tune.

- Jack

[stlhrse]

Jack, I am fully aware of what the knock sensor does and how it works. I think Cody understands what I am trying to do, and what my goals are. I've been building engines and doing mechanic work for 20+ years, as well as I'm also a Mechanical Engineer, and a little bit of ping, although certainly not a good thing, is not going to "destroy" my engine. What did performance minded people do before knock sensors, way back in 2002? Or the stone ages way back when when cars had distributors that you actually had to turn to advance the timing......Stop being dramatic, and now I'll politely ask you to keep your opinions to yourself and but out. Custom tunes are not sacred cows. Cody made the comment the other day that he was getting close to stock timing curves on my old tune, so I expected that his timing curve on this new file might be a little conservative. So I upped the timing, and have been very pleased with the results. Let me be clear, you don't need to know what my goal really is. You're not the tuner.

Cory, please let me know if it's possible to lock out the knock sensor's adjustment. By the way, I expect that the timing that is added to the tuner when I modify the tune is a global modifier, that adds 5 degrees to the whole curve, correct?

Thanks,
Doug

[Jackpine]

OK, this will be my last post.

Doug, I understand exactly what timing does. I have a degree in Aerospace Engineering, about 2 quarters short of an additional degree in Mechanical Engineering (from Georgia Tech) and a Masters in Computer Science. I taught courses in computer programming and embedded systems design for 20 years. I've been playing with cars since the late 50s. I have a TINY bit of knowledge here.

A 5 degree advance in a custom tune sounds like the wrong approach to me. However, I've been wrong in the past and am quite willing to be proven wrong here. I've got no "stake" in this. It's your truck and only YOU know what's really happening with it. I didn't think I was being "dramatic", but I tend to err on the cautious side.

I wish you well. I will only reenter this thread as a Moderator. (And, you are free to post a last word, telling me again to kindly butt out (go to hell?)).

- Jack