Settings Spotlight #4

Welcome back to another Setting Spotlight, Aces people! Today, we’re going to be going over another batch of settings to help you tune your build to your heart’s content. As always, these will be added to the Settings Glossary in full, searchable form soon.

Let’s get started!

• Nitrous Retard:
  Sets the amount of ignition timing removed when nitrous is active.
  More retard generally reduces detonation risk but also reduces power; set it according to nitrous flow, fuel, compression, and testing guidance.
• Nitrous Retard Enable:
  Enables ignition-timing retard when the nitrous input or strategy is active.
  Turn it on only after the retard amount and activation conditions are correctly configured.
• Nitrous Retard Ramp Time:
  Sets how quickly nitrous timing retard is applied or removed.
  Increase the time for a smoother transition or decrease it for a faster response, making sure full retard is present when nitrous flow requires it.
• Startup Base Timing:
  Defines ignition timing during the startup transition across temperature and RPM.
  Increase or decrease cells to improve starting and early running, while avoiding starter kickback, unstable combustion, and excessive exhaust heat.
• Static Timing:
  Sets a fixed ignition timing value used for synchronization or testing.
  Use it when checking commanded timing against a timing light, then return to normal mapped timing after the crank/timing offset is verified.
• Timing Offset:
  Corrects the difference between ECU-commanded timing and timing measured at the crankshaft.
  Adjust it during timing-light synchronization so measured timing exactly matches the commanded fixed value.
• WOT Ignition Timing:
  Sets the base ignition timing at wide-open throttle when the fixed WOT value is active.
  Increase only with controlled testing and knock monitoring; reduce timing if knock, excessive pressure, or unsafe combustion is detected.
• AC Fan On Delay Time:
  Sets how long the ECU waits after an A/C request before commanding the cooling fan.
  Increase it to soften the electrical or idle-load transition, or decrease it for faster condenser cooling.
• Fan Off Time After Engine Stop:
  Sets how long the cooling fan may continue running after the engine stops.
  Increase it for more post-shutdown cooling or decrease it to reduce battery draw; use only if the wiring supports key-off fan operation.
• Fan1 Off ECT:
  Sets the coolant temperature at which Fan 1 turns off.
  Raise or lower it with the on temperature to control cycling, and keep it below the Fan 1 on setting to provide adequate hysteresis.
• Fan1 On Delay Time:
  Sets the delay between meeting the Fan 1 activation condition and turning the fan on.
  Increase it to prevent brief temperature spikes from cycling the fan, or decrease it for faster cooling response.
• Fan1 On ECT:
  Sets the coolant temperature at which Fan 1 turns on.
  Raise it for later fan activation or lower it for earlier cooling, keeping the value above the thermostat's normal opening temperature and above the Fan 1 off setting.
• Fan2 Off ECT:
  Sets the coolant temperature at which Fan 2 turns off.
  Keep it below Fan 2's on temperature so the fan does not rapidly cycle, and coordinate it with Fan 1 operation.
• Fan2 On Delay Time:
  Sets the delay between meeting the Fan 2 activation condition and turning the fan on.
  Increase it to avoid unnecessary activation from brief spikes, or decrease it when faster secondary cooling is needed.
• Fan2 On ECT:
  Sets the coolant temperature at which Fan 2 turns on.
  Raise it for later secondary-fan activation or lower it for earlier assistance, normally setting it above Fan 1's on temperature and above Fan 2's off setting.
• CAM Type:
  Selects the base camshaft/VE profile used by the calibration.
  Choose the profile that best matches the engine's cam characteristics, then refine the fuel and idle tables from actual data.
• Distributor Type:
  Selects the distributor/crank-trigger operating mode.
  Choose the option that matches the installed distributor and ignition arrangement; the wrong mode can cause incorrect timing or no start.
• Dual WBOS (Wideband Oxygen Sensor):
  Enables a second wideband oxygen-sensor channel.
  Turn it on only when the second controller/sensor is installed and configured; use it to monitor or control separate banks as supported.
• Engine Displacement:
  Sets engine displacement used by the fuel model.
  Enter the actual total displacement in cc; an incorrect value shifts the calculated fueling across the entire operating range.
• Fan On Add Air:
  Sets the extra idle air added when a cooling fan turns on to offset the electrical load.
  Increase it if RPM drops when the fan starts; decrease it if RPM flares.
• Fan On IAC Loop Lock Time:
  Sets how long idle-control learning or correction is held after a fan turns on.
  Increase it if the idle loop reacts too aggressively during the load step; decrease it if recovery remains delayed.
• Idle Control Hold Time After Fan Turn-On:
  Sets how long idle-control learning or correction is held after a fan turns on.
  Increase it if the idle loop reacts too aggressively during the load step; decrease it if recovery remains delayed.
• Force TPS Zero Learn:
  Forces the ECU to relearn the closed-throttle/TPS zero reference.
  Use it after throttle-body, sensor, linkage, or calibration changes with the throttle fully closed; do not activate it while pressing the pedal.
• Hot Idle Speed:
  Sets the desired engine idle speed at the applicable coolant temperature.
  Raise it when the engine needs more speed for stability or accessory load, or lower it for a slower idle if the engine remains stable and oil pressure is adequate.
• Injector Flowrate:
  Sets the injector flow rate used by the fuel calculation.
  Enter the verified flow for the installed injectors at the configured reference pressure; an incorrect value causes a global fueling error.
• Key Off Clear Learn Data:
  Controls whether learned idle/fuel data is cleared when the key is turned off.
  Enable it for repeatable testing or when you do not want learning retained; disable it for normal operation where learning should persist.
• Number Of Injector:
  Sets the number of injectors controlled by the fuel calculation.
  Enter the actual installed quantity and injection configuration; an incorrect value changes calculated fuel delivery per injector.
• RPM To Killshot/Ign Type:
  Selects the ignition/trigger behavior associated with this product configuration. (NOTE: This setting is named “Killshot” on all systems. It will be changed in a future update to reflect the current system.)
  Choose the option that exactly matches the connected ignition hardware and RPM signal source; incorrect selection can cause loss of spark or timing errors.
• TPS Closed Hysteresis:
  Sets the hysteresis above the closed-throttle threshold before the ECU considers the throttle open again.
  Increase it to prevent mode chatter from signal noise, or decrease it for a more immediate transition.
• TPS Closed Threshold:
  Sets the throttle-position value below which the ECU considers the throttle closed.
  Raise it only enough to recognize a true closed throttle despite small signal variation; setting it too high can falsely enter idle or decel modes.
• Acceleration Correction vs TPS:
  Sets how much transient fuel is added for a given throttle-position change.
  Increase the values if the engine goes lean or hesitates during a quick throttle opening; decrease them if it becomes excessively rich.
• Acceleration ECT:
  Defines the coolant-temperature breakpoints for acceleration enrichment.
  Change the temperature breakpoints only when you need different cold-versus-hot tuning regions, and keep them in ascending order.
• Acceleration TPS Position:
  Defines the throttle-position breakpoints used by acceleration enrichment.
  Change them to concentrate tuning resolution in the throttle range where tip-in hesitation occurs, keeping the points in ascending order.
• AFR MAP:
  Defines the manifold-pressure/load breakpoints for the target-AFR table.
  Change them only to redistribute table resolution across vacuum and boost/load areas, keeping the values in ascending order.
• AFR RPM:
  Defines the engine-speed breakpoints for the target-AFR table.
  Change them to place more tuning resolution in important RPM ranges, keeping the values in ascending order.
• After Start Decay Cycle:
  Sets the time step used to fade after-start fuel enrichment after the engine begins running.
  Increase it to make the extra fuel remain longer, or decrease it to remove the enrichment sooner.
• After Start Decay Rate:
  Controls how quickly after-start enrichment is removed. Higher values generally make the enrichment decay faster, while lower values keep extra fuel longer.
  Change it when cold or hot restarts are briefly too rich or too lean.
• After Start Decay Rate:
  Controls how quickly after-start enrichment is removed. Higher values generally make the enrichment decay faster, while lower values keep extra fuel longer.
  Change it when cold or hot restarts are briefly too rich or too lean.
• After Start ECT:
  Defines the coolant-temperature breakpoints for after-start enrichment.
  Change them only to create different correction regions for cold, warm, and hot starts, and keep the values in ascending order.
• After Start Enrichment:
  Sets the extra fuel applied immediately after the engine starts, based on temperature and RPM.
  Increase cells when the engine starts but then goes lean or stalls; decrease them when it loads up, smokes, or runs overly rich after starting.
• Bat Vol:
  Defines the battery-voltage breakpoints used for voltage compensation.
  Change them only if the table needs to cover a different electrical-system range, keeping the points in ascending order.
• Clear Flood TPS:
  Sets the throttle-position threshold that activates clear-flood mode during cranking, typically reducing or disabling injector fuel.
  Change it only if the installed throttle calibration prevents the mode from engaging correctly; set it high enough to avoid accidental activation.
• Cranking Fuel:
  Defines injector pulse width during cranking across coolant temperature and engine speed.
  Increase cells when the engine cranks without enough fuel; decrease them when plugs foul, fuel odor is strong, or hot starts are overly rich.
• Cruise AFR:
  Sets the commanded air/fuel ratio used during steady cruise when the single-value cruise target is active. A higher AFR number is leaner and a lower number is richer.
  Change it only after confirming stable closed-loop operation and safe combustion.
• Decel Fuel Cut:
  Enables deceleration fuel cut, which stops or reduces injection during closed-throttle overrun.
  Turn it on to reduce fuel use and exhaust heat during decel; turn it off if it causes stalling, harsh re-entry, or drivability issues while the thresholds are being tuned.
• Default VE:
  Defines volumetric-efficiency/fuel-model values across RPM and load for the selected base profile. Higher values command more fuel and lower values command less.
  Tune cells from wideband data after injector, displacement, pressure, and sensor settings are correct.
• ECT AFR Offset:
  Applies a temperature-based offset to the commanded AFR.
  Use it to temporarily command richer or leaner mixtures as the engine warms; verify the sign convention before changing values.
• ECT Fuel Enrichment:
  Adds or removes fuel based on coolant temperature.
  Increase cold-temperature values when the engine is lean during warm-up; decrease them when cold operation is overly rich, and taper the correction toward zero at normal temperature.
• ECT x:
  Defines the engine coolant temperature breakpoints used by this table (°C).
  Change these points to place more table resolution in the operating range you need to tune; keep them in ascending order and then review the table values after changing the axis.
• ECT x Point:
  Defines the engine coolant temperature breakpoints used by this table (°C).
  Change these points to place more table resolution in the operating range you need to tune; keep them in ascending order and then review the table values after changing the axis.
• FPS:
  Defines the pressure values paired with the fuel-pressure sensor voltage table.
  Enter the installed sensor's datasheet values and verify the reading with a mechanical gauge; do not use this table to correct an actual fuel-pressure problem.

That’s all for now. Until next time,

Happy Tuning!