RV Towing and Smarty Jr.

[DZLROKET]

I'm sure that's what the guy in the built GTO thought when I left him in a somewhat hazy cloud of bio/dino smoke yesterday! LOL. He came up behind me at the next light and had this bewildered look on his face. Sort of like: how the heck did that happen?

 

[MrFixit]

I think we need to report altitudes as well as temps.



I loaded 4 this morining (coming from 2) and took a 2 hour drive. I am at 6500 feet and the temp was 50 deg. and near raining. A lot more smoke just even at idle from a cold start and slowly driving to the highway. It did not do this w/ Beta2. It cleared up after the truck warmed up and seemed a little less than w/ version 2. It's hard to tell at this altitude. I will try it again when I get home from vacation back to sea level. I am currently in Island Park Idaho



Fixit

 

[AH64ID]

Latest beta is great for me... My dad has #4 on his 06 G56 too. He drove from Boise to Bozeman today. Said mileage was similar to the standard software, greatly reduced smoke at low power, but he still can blow a ton of black at upper rpms. At 2200 if he rolls on the power he gets good smoke that wont clear, if I roll on at 2200 I get a small puff that is gone as fast as it appears. Both of our trucks are very similar, same air filter, same program, I lost my muffler and he still has his... seems odd he would blow that much smoke at upper rpms...

My dad was in Island Park when I was talking to him earlier when he was testing smoke at cruise rpms...

I too have noticed that cold smoke is much greater than warm smoke... just the nature of the best... . But I do know that now it seems to smoke when a diesel should...

I do get the lightest haze in the headlights behind me when accelerating thru the gears, but nothing like the std software.

 

[MrFixit]

Maybe we passed each other on the 20.



We fished up at Lake Henry? today.



My pops and I are headed home to So. Cal tomorrow. I think I am going to turn the Jr off to see what our mileage is on our 900 mile run. We were impressed w/ the 22 and 23 we got coming up here on Beta 2. I want to see how much the Smarty Jr. contributes.



Fixit

 

[Marco]

Hey guys,

Thanks for all your feedback and help in getting this SW dialed in! Working together we can get it as close as possible to your needs!

It's time to let you know what's been going on with the different "smoke test" softares.

To start with, the reason for the smoke issue has been rather difficult to find since my truck does not smoke with the original tunes. No matter what I do, no smoke. Also, not all trucks are affected. A "few" seem to smoke worse than others. Only thing in common, all trucks no longer smoke once returned to stock SW. Can you see me sitting here scratching my head? #ad


So I started with different ways to modify the original SW; what COULD have reduced the smoke??? First attempt, modify the fuel VS. boost table. Reasoning was, less low boost fuel less smoke. Result, laggy throttle
response no change in smoke. HUH??? OK... .

Next attempt, back to the stock torque management. Result, same as above!
HUH WHAT????#ad


Next attempt, different duration tables. Results ? Same as above.
You're kidding me! Right? At least that's what I thought. #ad


Looong time tinkering with this and that... .

Fast forward to beta 3. After the very first reports from the field it became absolutly clear what causes the smoke!

Drums rolling... . don't laugh! It's the "high quality" fuel you have in certain
parts of the States!

No joke! The smoke is caused by poor fuel quality.

In poor words, the original timing that works perfectly with the fuel here in Europe ( No smoke ) smokes in the States. Yes but not in all trucks! At this point it seems to me that depending upon where you fuel up you get (or not) smoke.

In test software "Beta 3" I had greatly reduced the timing advance that I added over stock, yet it was still advanced over stock. Everything else in the SW remained the same! Bingo! Way less smoke but reduced throttle response.

At this point the solution was simple. In test software "Beta 4" I've raised the timing again to about half of what I had added in the original tune. Smoke is down, throttle response is back or possibly better than with the original tune.

Funny but expected... My truck has become a little laggy with the beta 4 while you see exactly the opposite! Again, the fuel quality! Our fuel "likes" a little more timing.

Maybe we'll need to do more fine tuning to beta 4, that I don't know yet. Anyway we're on the right track!

Again thanks for you support guys! I really appreciate!

Marco

 

[opjohnny]

I have a stock 4. 5 6speed and I noticed it is putting out good black smoke. I believe the fuel issue also!



It has never done that before.



John

 

[brods]

Hey guys,



Thanks for all your feedback and help in getting this SW dialed in! Working together we can get it as close as possible to your needs!



It's time to let you know what's been going on with the different "smoke test" softares... .....

Marco

Marco, thank you for sharing that information. Glad to hear you’re getting a handle on the smoke issue.



It is certainly no secret that US diesel is somewhat lesser in quality than Europe’s. Many magazine articles discussing why Europe’s high tech automotive diesel engines are not sold over here have brought up that fact. Same with biodiesel, the European spec is more stringent than the ASTM spec.



It is interesting that the Euro spec calls for a cetane number of 51 while the US is 40. Given that higher cetane fuels will have shorter ignition delay periods than lower cetane fuels, it would seem that the US fuels should do better with more advance, not the other way around.



Anyhow, keep up the good work!

 

[Matt400]

I was just reading this:

Diesel Fuel Quality: Engine Performance and Emissions

and began to wonder if dirty injectors may be why one user smokes and the other doesn't?



It would be interesting to know if there is any correlation between running easy on the throttle due to fuel costs and dirty injectors?

 

[MA2LA]

I was just reading this:

Diesel Fuel Quality: Engine Performance and Emissions

and began to wonder if dirty injectors may be why one user smokes and the other doesn't?



It would be interesting to know if there is any correlation between running easy on the throttle due to fuel costs and dirty injectors?

There may be something about that, Also what about our never ending quest for lower EGTs, could this be a reason for carbon building up on the injectors?

 

[MrFixit]

Thanks Marco for the update and what each Beta does... I have been asking Bob this for a while. I was thinking just today about fuel quality as I set mine back to stock yesteday for a 900 mile run. My last tank to get me home was from a station/brand I never use (Valero) and my truck smokes now on stock setting. What you say makes sense. I'll clear the rest of this tank out and fill back up with my normal station and then load Beta 4 again. My last test of 4 was at 6500 feet alt. and it smoked pretty good, however after returnning to stock, some smoke was still there at that altitude..... which makes sense I guess.



Thanks again for all you hard work.



Ramon

 

[FJfonda]

Marco,

Excellent info on the version levels and changes ---- possibly one day the MADS site will feature the full spectrum of revisions with descriptions of the changes/results for us to pick and choose from. I have beta 4 installed now but have not been able to get out for an extended drive to verify the results.



Thanks for all the work!!!

 

[ArthurMiller]

I tow RV's from Indiana to where ever and I love the Smarty Jr set on the tow mode, some smoke but not bad, keep the rpm's up helps, gpt's are dwn quite abit from stock, milage is much better than stock.

 

[MrFixit]

Beta 4 and backing up w/ door open

In the original version and maybe beta 2, the horn did not honk when backing w/ the door open, Tonight I was surprised when the horn started honking when I was moving the truck a few feet back in my driveway.



Bob/Marco. . did this feature get left out of this revision?



Thanks

Ramon

 

[zzman]

So what to do?

I've tried to read many of these remarks here, but I am really confused now.

Perhaps someone could school me on the jr. and the updates.

I tow many heavy loads and have a jr. to assist in pulling. It works very

well in level 2 but smokes like a tire fire. Level 1 is OK on light loads

(under 20k gross) with little smoke. Never seen level 3 yet.

I guess there is a way to update the jr. (I just don't read instructions).

What are the recondmendations with the added jr? Need to loose the

cat? Need a different air filter? what works best with this jr? I have

never tried to update the jr. It is still as it was when I bought it.

I have no muffler, have a large K&N air filter and thats it.

What do you suggest, (be nice now). :-laf

 

[AH64ID]

Went camping this weekend, pretty close so only about 40 miles of highway towing, but one GOOD hill in there. Power and EGT's when towing are unaffected but beta #4, smoke is WAY down. I really only saw smoke if I didn't downshift and was around 1K rpms... At upshifts just a light puff, towed great.

#4 is the shiz nit...

Bob/Marco, put a software # on it...


I talked with my dad who is currently between Bozeman, MT and Seattle towing his empty 16' stock trailer on beta #4, he sees the same EGT's he saw with the standard software, but he gets lots of smoke when he gets on it, just cruising and cruise controlling he gets minimal smoke but under hard accel and even when getting on the fwy empty he gets smoke. I am not sure why, I told him to clean his air filter, we will see.

 

[MA2LA]

I'm still on beta #2 runnning the 100hp. But I have found out something interesting. My MAP sensor is bad and reads about 8 to 10 psi above what I am actually getting. the wierd thing is that when running the stock software it didn't give any codes at all although I was seeing 44psi on my commander witch sees what the ecm is seeing. All i know is that with the ecm seeing that much more boost already I'm smoking like crazy so I have a new sensor on order. It just makes me wonder i others are having an issuse like this and don't even know it.

 

[AH64ID]

I'm still on beta #2 runnning the 100hp. But I have found out something interesting. My MAP sensor is bad and reads about 8 to 10 psi above what I am actually getting. the wierd thing is that when running the stock software it didn't give any codes at all although I was seeing 44psi on my commander witch sees what the ecm is seeing. All i know is that with the ecm seeing that much more boost already I'm smoking like crazy so I have a new sensor on order. It just makes me wonder i others are having an issuse like this and don't even know it.

The MAP sensor reads in absolute, so on a standard day at sea level your MAP reads 14. 7 with the engine off. . its normal, is that what your seeing?

 

[smitty3500]

Good to hear the most recent reversion is working well for some. I just ordered mine today from Bob and cant wait to give my truck a flash Wed. I will be heading West and towing all my race gear all with the 30' Enclosed trailer. I will report back with my impressions and the smoke level. I cant wait to loose the PUCK and not have to drive by the Pyro anymore!! :-laf

 

[FJfonda]

Setting # 1 with Beta 4, 85 deg 80% humidity, 700ft above sea level..... very little smoke non towing driving commuter style. Hard acceleration from a stop has a puff of smoke but it clears way quicker than previous releases.



zzman, stick with your current truck configuration and load the latest Smarty JR beta software before spending many more $$$$ on upgrades.

 

[Marco]

Thanks for your feedback guys!

We're going to publish this " Smoke test 4" software on our website. I want to keep it still in the testing status since I think we still need more feedback.
Yet, your reports sound almost all promising.

Thanks,

Marco