I wanna learn to tune engines. What are the barriers to entry? What equipment do you use to tune an engine? How much does this stuff cost?

 

If you want to get the best start possible, take an EFI101, and an EFI Advanced class. And read, a ton.

One of the first things I did was download the software for Hondata, AEM, etc, and learn how the programs work. Many have help features and menus to learn what they do in that specific program, and the best ways to work with them.

Also, if you don't have it, get a vehicle that you can work with, tuneable ecu setup, wideband, and once you read and have a good understanding of what the engine is doing and how tuning changes effect it, start to experiment a bit. I suggest a cheaper vehicle that you can play with, and not have a huge burden if you do roast an engine or ten (hopefully none if you do it right).

 

check, forgot the name but I got bored nearly done with the "101" class, and decided to watch it again when I'm not crazy bored of an hour of basics and trying to understand complicated advanced stuff.

ill do that

check, old worthless civic with old worthless engine.

so I guess all I need is the chips for the ecu and a computer?

 

I'm in the process of learning to use one of these.....

http://www.viatrack.ca/

.....alot of the tuning practices I see try to use many methods for knock detection or avoidance by looking at many different factors such as sloping of peak power nearing MBT or temperatures of exhaust gases if not using simple homemade devices to listen for knock since the stock sensor becomes unworthy after modding most motors.


This the equivalent to a stock knock sensor as a wide band is to a narrow band O2 only its used for knock detection, not necessarily as a logical output for the ECU to dial timing back in the event of knock however I'm sure if logged a conditional output could be created on say a Hondata or Neptune system to trigger secondary ignition maps for use in the event of a knock as a mean of logical output

 

My cars dont even have knock sensors doe. Am I gonna need to get one of those along with a wide band O2 sensor?

 

You need:

1 a wideband sensor and gauge
2 a chippable ecu
3 a socket, chips, and a burner OR an emulator
4 compatible tuning software

You're probably looking at $400-800 depending on the route you take. Thats my wild guess.

 

I have installed multiple KnockSenseMS units. They display a TON of false knock. I have even installed a dashpot to combat phantom knock from stock applications and forged internals with small and moderately large cams. They do come in handy but will throw a knock sensor code if used with an OEM knock board. So they are pretty much limited to full map switching or datalogging only in the Honda EMS solutions which is unfortunate. Reading the plugs is the only real way to go... I order 24 at a time and it is under $60 which is half the cost of a KSMS unit with teflon cable.

OP - With the amount of information and websites selling such equipment if you aren't looking for yourself already you are going to have a VERY long HARD road ahead for tuning. Research is everything here.

 

Yeah this is also a very DIY-oriented scene. Not a lot of people willing to hold your hand or help with questions you could answer through research.

 

I dunno what this stuff is. A chip is what goes in the ecu I guess? I dunno if my ecu can do that, I know my accord's v6 cant use hondata tho.

I think the d15b7 92-95 civic ECU can be chipped, if not I can get some other non vtec ecu Integra LS or something dunno.

what's a burner emulator and also a socket? I know dyno meters are useful but I can't afford dat. I'm obviously gonna learn how to do it before I use the stuff but I wanna know what stuff I need to tune my old civic. After a while I wanna use a b16a# or 18c#, maybe a K##x#. I know I need the TL ecu for my accord tho, but that car needs stupid amounts of work so I'm playing with this POS civic in the meantime

 

Here.....

http://www.moates.net/hondaacura-19881995-c-69.html


This is very true......OP in order to accomplish knowledge from experience, alot of what you'll need will rely on reading and trial and error. But if your asking questions with regards to the basics of the ECU and parts needed to accomplish editing the ROM, my question is, didn't this EFI101 course go over any of this? I mean I know for other types of cars their ECU's probably aren't as easily modified as an OBD1 Honda ECU so with tuning cars like that most effective tuning is done by means of standalone units but still, the hardware and understanding of its functions should be something that is covered along with the tuning practices too

 

The chip contains the fuel and ignition maps andsome other info. Chips can be re-burned and replaced, but they must be soldered to the ECU mainboard.

For people who want to easily swap chips (e.g. while tuning) this is no good. They use a socket instead. The socket is a receptacle for a chip. A socket is soldered into place where the chip goes, and then the chip can be plugged and unplugged into the socket without solder.

An emulator is a much more complicated mini-computer that can be added to a socket instead of a chip. The emulator is a mini-computer that pretends to be (emulates) a chip. Unlike a chip which is read-only (which is why they are called ROMs) an emulator can easily be rewritten, can store multiple maps, and can modify the maps on the fly. Neptune RTP and Hondata S300 are the emulators available for ODB1 b series.

 

nope it just talked about making engines work better, never about what computers/etc to use and that sorta stuff.

 

I am not believing him that he took the EFI101 class...

http://www.efi101.com/efi-classes/efi-101/

So you are telling me you paid $500 and didn't learn anything? Because I know they cover all these basics you are asking about...

 

I took a tuning class that my friend payed for. I didnt finish it I got about an hour thru basics "pistons move up and down" which was mostly review, so I was bored.

them he started talkng about complicated stuff like formulas and I was bored already so I couldn't listen to him drone on anymore. But they never talked about hardware just techniques

 

Your friend made a pretty big investment in you. You should follow through. (Was this an online class? I wasn't aware EFIU had an online 101?)

Formulas and theory are the meat & potatoes of learning to calibrate, or really to anything technical. Anyone can trial & error their way to a decently running motor, but the people who do it well know why they're making it work.

 

Yeah he's a cool guy. Lots of people help him with stuff and I guess he likes to pay it forward.

I think it was called high performance tuning or something like that, its a really long online lecture. Its not "efi 101" but its about electronic fuel injection and electronic control units

 

Sounds like a bunch of bullshit to me. You've been asking to be spoonfed since you signed up and made your first post. On this subject there is no shortcut. You put the work in to learn it or move on. This isn't the place to shoot the ****.

 

is there a lecture I can watch or something I can read that's about tuning hondurs?

tuning Hondas for dumbies?

 

Yes, there are at least 5 How To guides available online for tuning Hondas. Pick one or all and read them. EFI 101 goes over all these simpleton questions and more.

 

Are they free?

 

I just wanted to update that OP is still here. An over zealous moderator banned me for making a joke in the suspension section. Apparently, camber is taken VERY seriously on this forum.

 

You must not take the hint. Re-registering under a different name and not changing your behavior is just plain stupid. You must be related to Hamza.

 

Over zealous? Hardly.

You made several comments about completely ludicrous ideas that are so far fetched, that it draws nothing but negative commentary (in short, "trolling", no matter how hard you try to defend yourself through PM's).

Also, if you took the time to do some research, you would ALREADY KNOW the answers to your requests. There's a reason we have a search engine and FAQ threads... for FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!

No matter how many threads you make that don't seem to have inflammatory content, the several posts/threads that DO... got you banned. That's just the reality of it.