RV Towing and Smarty Jr.

[MrFixit]

Bob, I assume you are speaking of the 6spd guys? Some of us don't have that option you speak of



I think one problem while towing w/ the auto is that in tow haul mode, the transmission gets into 4th quick (at very low speed, then the rpm's are very low) and the smoke increase. I have yet to try OD off to see if that helps, then switch to OD when the speeds are higher.



Ramon

 

[Bob Wagner]

Bump... . Bob? Would that be Less torque?

Yes Stock torque management

 

[Bob4x4]

Bob, I assume you are speaking of the 6spd guys? Some of us don't have that option you speak of



I think one problem while towing w/ the auto is that in tow haul mode, the transmission gets into 4th quick (at very low speed, then the rpm's are very low) and the smoke increase. I have yet to try OD off to see if that helps, then switch to OD when the speeds are higher.



Ramon

Much easier for the 6spds but with the auto you can play with the pedal to some degree to play w shift points and the aftermarket vbs and shift controllers

 

[CFollett]

Van Akken c3.1

The c3. 1 is pressure only and I have been told only mild increases not up against the relielf. When towing I had to watch the temps on hard pulls. I never saw above 1250 F. I was out of the throttle at that point, when on the thrid C3. 1 switch. With the Smarty Jr on sw3 and the c3. 1 on 3, I never saw above 1250 F either, the engine never had to work that hard to get the same speed it seeems. I am normally on sw 3 on the Smarty and two on the c3. 1 and only use the thrid if i think I need more. The c3. 1 has a cab mounted swtich so changing on the fly is no problem.

I am going on another tripo next week to Felton, near Santa Cruz I havn't been there so long I don't rember the hills. I will watch the RPM and report back for that trip.

 

[kblranch]

I have no smoke with my 2004 towing my horse trailer on Jr. level 1. I have not tried the other levels yet because level 1 works so well.

 

[ronman]

I towed again tonight across town on level 2, and I'm smokin like a wild fire. Definately upshifting and a combination of high load, and low RPM is the situation. Happens when I slow down for traffic, and go from coasting to light throttle pressure at low RPM. It starts a'smokin around 1400 to about 1700 then light smoke until 2K or so, I upshift, RPM's drop to 1400 and she starts all over again.



I'm going to drop back to level1 and then stock and see how it acts. I never had smoke last year when I towed with stock program.

 

[MrFixit]

Ron, now that you put it that way, that was about how mine acted on level1. I drove it 6 miles before I went back to stock program.



My question for Bob W. is he told me the Jr was just 3 programs from the senior. In dec. of 07, was this the 3 programs from the latest beta on Sr. (less smoke one) or the previous version so many were complaining about?

Please let us know Bob.



Thanks

Fixit

 

[Marco]

Thus far it seems that the trucks affected by the excessive smoke are the 04. 5 and up manual trucks. It also seems that the warmer temps increased the problem.

We have already done a few tests to narrow down the research. As of today,
I think I've found the culprit. I'm working on the new SW version full steam. If everything works out, I should be able to deliver a new software by tomorrow for more testing.

I'll keep you updated.

Thanks,

Marco

 

[ronman]

Marco:



Thank you for your diligence. I hope the data I provided was useful, and not interpreted as a complaint which it was not!! I love the Jr, and want to help make it even better!!

 

[MrFixit]

Marco, I want to second what Ronman said. This is a great product and we just want to give you data to help solve a problem and make it better. I also want to point out the my truck is an Auto and I would like to be one of the testers for this new software.

MrFixit

 

[Bob Wagner]

I have the new beta software, please shoot me an email if you want to test and report back your findings.



Marco is the ultimate perfectionist and he takes all input to create a better product.



We appreciate your support.



Thanks

Bob





-- email address removed --

 

[DZLROKET]

And I will 3rd that sentiment. I love my smarty JR and as of tonight running that new software. I will report tomorow night after another 30 miles or so..... Auto trans. BTW

 

[ROGER/DODGER]

Just to chime in since I started this thread. My 06/auto has almost zero smoke issues when pulling my fiver. The only time I saw smoke was when going 20 mph and it refused to go down a gear. Giving it about 2/3 throttle just to make a fast lane change at a stop light.

 

[BHaden]

Thus far it seems that the trucks affected by the excessive smoke are the 04. 5 and up manual trucks. It also seems that the warmer temps increased the problem.



We have already done a few tests to narrow down the research. As of today,

I think I've found the culprit. I'm working on the new SW version full steam. If everything works out, I should be able to deliver a new software by tomorrow for more testing.



I'll keep you updated.



Thanks,



Marco

I agree. My 06/G56 smokes pretty good all the time on setting 1 or 2. I can see a haze in the mirror at night even when driving VERY easy on #1. On #2 it smokes too much for me just cruising around. I have not pulled with it on #2. #1 at 7000 feet altitude smokes like #2 at sea level. Is it possible the later trucks are retarded more than the pre-04. 5 and that affects the smoke level? Right now, I'm back to stock SW with my new AFE PG-7 and the Rocktek set at full advance (2 degrees?). No smoke. Haven't tried S Jr with the PG-7. I did notice that even after a 500 mile trip with at 16k gross weight and hitting 30psi a lot the filter minder hasn't budged at all since installing the PG7. Before with a fleetguard it would be half into the yellow

after a brisk freeway entry. I might try the Jr on #1 again and see if the extra air flow helps the smoke.

 

[MrFixit]

BHaden, let me know how it goes w/ the PG7 and the Jr. I am going to make this change not only for the Jr but for better flow as well, and I am curious of the outcome.

 

[DZLROKET]

Ok done with that next 30 mile testing. Results: tempeture=58 degrees, humidity=53% If I apply 1/3 to 1/2 throttle at anything below 1800 RPM I get a steady stream of med. black smoke untill RPM reaches 2000. Any hard acceleration produces a large puff of smoke and then runs clear.

Performance seems about the same or maybe slightly more responsive than stock JR sofware. I am running on flat ground in the tow (SW2) setting, unloaded.



If Marco is JUST after less smoke I guess he needs more testing/work (at least for MY truck) if there were other goals for this beta SW than I don't know. Just my opinion.

 

[AH64ID]

Ok done with that next 30 mile testing. Results: tempeture=58 degrees, humidity=53% If I apply 1/3 to 1/2 throttle at anything below 1800 RPM I get a steady stream of med. black smoke untill RPM reaches 2000. Any hard acceleration produces a large puff of smoke and then runs clear.
Performance seems about the same or maybe slightly more responsive than stock JR sofware. I am running on flat ground in the tow (SW2) setting, unloaded.

If Marco is JUST after less smoke I guess he needs more testing/work (at least for MY truck) if there were other goals for this beta SW than I don't know. Just my opinion.

I am on SW#1 with the same beta and I would agree... Smoke is down from the standard software, but no where near gone. I just drove home, about 50* out and under normal accel (about 20-30 on the TPS) I get a 2-3 second dark haze/light smoke at each up shift, shifting about 1600-1800... If I am in a gear and above 1600 and ease into the fuel I get a 1-2 second light haze and then its gone, and so is the truck ... . Of note thou, the wind was kicking this afternoon so it could have been messing with my ability to see the haze, it seemed like I had a little more haze/smoke driving around at lunch today...

 

[AH64ID]

Something else to note is that my EGT's are down even further with this beta tune, when I stop to park I am normally at about 300-325*, regardless of outside temp... Since I put this tune in I have been about 225* the few times I have come to a stop in my normal places... It also seems much cooler while driving, I was doing 40 in 6th today, 0-1 psi boost, 10-12 LOAD, and only 375-425* on the pyro... That seems really cold compared to the standard tune... . I wonder what Marco has done

 

[Marco]

If Marco is JUST after less smoke I guess he needs more testing/work (at least for MY truck)

Yup, less smoke, that would be the goal. What I'm doing here is to have the engine run "leaner" under low boost / low Rpm. Yet, we don't want to give up too much ( if any ) on the performance side of things, right? So to keep the performance up and cut the smoke down, we're searching for a very fine line in a very complex software. Looks like it will take more tests but on the bright sight it seems that with this last SW smoke is down some. Looks like I'm heading into the right direction, just need to find exactly that fine line...

News ASAP.

Thanks for your feed back guys, I really appreciate!

Marco

 

[MrFixit]

Marco,

You have a tough challenge ahead of you becasue it is very difficult to have the best of both worlds. At some point, will you be doing some Dyno runs with these new SW versions to see if we are still at 40/70/100 HP for the Jr. ?



Thanks again for all your hard work

Ramon