I'm a little blocked on a project car engine swap right now, so I'm looking for anything I can do, and have started digging into the tune for it. Engine is a 2001 LQ4 (6.0L Gen3 GM V8). This is the last year before GM just removed the EGR system. I am using headers on the new car, so don't have a provision for EGR anyway, and am trying to set up the tune for it.
It seems there are two elements - making sure the codes aren't triggered, and adjusting spark advance to compensate for the lack of EGR. The first was easy to deal with, the second has been problematic. Every tutorial/thread/HPTuners' own online documentation I found about it must be using an older version of the software (I've got 4.8.7), because most of them refer to an EGR table in the Engine -> Spark - Advance section, where I can zero out the values to compensate for no exhaust gases in the intake. There is a different section under Engine -> Exhaust called Gas Recirculation that has a parameter that can be marked enabled (default) or disabled. Does anyone know if this has the correct effect? I'd really rather not have to hunt down a model year 2002 ECM, and pay for the tuning credits just to not have EGR.
Haven't done HPT, but I have done this on an OBD1 car. Can you set the operational parameters to something it will never see? Such as the temp to activate EGR be 255° or something?
In reply to SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) :
On the same page as the enable/disable toggle, there is an option to to set the MPH diagnostics are enabled/disabled at, but I am assuming that is only whether or not it might do something to toggle the trouble codes, not actually operate the EGR valve itself.
Bumping this back to the front page once, before I give up and have to create a user id on the hptuners forum to ask the question 
Your question is pertinent to me also. I'm doing a swap and deleting the EGR also. I can turn the code off easily. It's the finer part of tuning without the EGR that I will have to figure out.
Is EGR activated at certain road speeds? If so, bump the activating road speed up to faster than you will actually ever go.
Does EGR have an extra spark advance table it uses when activated? If so, set it all to zero added advance.
SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) said:
Is EGR activated at certain road speeds? If so, bump the activating road speed up to faster than you will actually ever go.
Does EGR have an extra spark advance table it uses when activated? If so, set it all to zero added advance.
It's possible that EGR would be scheduled based on vehicle speed, but not all that likely. It's more likely that it's disabled above some speeds- but those would be well above legal speeds.
And, yes, modern EGR would have it's own spark advance modification table. BUT there will be two in almost all set ups- one that changes where MBT is (which is really important for the torque calculation) and one for some kind of base or borderline spark calculation. So one needs to set both to zero.
I'd be shocked if the tables were looked at if the EGR was just turned off with a simple calibration switch....
I turned mine off on the 2001 LQ4 I swapped into my C10. It's been a long time but I'm 99% sure I didn't do any recalibration other than flipping a switch. I'm curious to see what you come up with.
I'll try to add some links to some of the tutorials for the older version, plus screenshots of the version I have nice I'm at the computer I have the software installed on.
I'll look for it tonight, but I'm almost certain there's a function to switch to "Not equipped". GM had EGR and non EGR vehicles in that timeframe depending on GVWR.
In reply to eastsideTim :
Can you shoot me a copy of the calibration? I can't change it, since I don't have a license, but I can look at it, and all of the tables/functions. Although, much of that will be as good as the hack was to get to it....
In reply to alfadriver :
You can change anything you want without a license, you just can't write it, I think.
I know I've poked around changing things on unlicensed tunes.
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
In reply to alfadriver :
You can change anything you want without a license, you just can't write it, I think.
I know I've poked around changing things on unlicensed tunes.
I can't seem to change any of the numbers. But cutting and pasting into an excel spreadsheet, modifying it there, and sending it back is easy enough. Could be the set up loosecannon has- dunno. As long as I have the latest calibration, I can work around it.
Here's what I tend to see with every search that shows a recent (last couple of years) version of the software:
Clicking on the Base button under EGR is supposed to show a table with all the spark advance adjustments for EGR. I do not have an EGR correction area in my version of the software (or maybe it has to do with the actual program in my ECM).
What I was able to find is this:
My best guess is I can just set it to disabled, and it'll prevent any timing changes due to an EGR map, but I just can't find confirmation of this, or where I might be able to find the map, if it is still editable. I am noticing there is not an "Exhaust" section in the image I pulled from the internet, but I don't know if it is related to changes in the editing software, or if it is based on a difference in the program in my specific ECM.
Here's all I have when I look at Engine -> Spark -> Advance
In reply to alfadriver :
Would be happy to send you a copy of my calibration if you want to look at it, but I have a yahoo address, so I can't send an initial PM.
You can also change the enable/disable speed so it will never be actuated.
WillG80 said:
You can also change the enable/disable speed so it will never be actuated.
I am wondering about that, but since it includes the "Diag" in there, I am wondering if it is actually just a setting to keep it from throwing codes at a low speed, not for actually keeping timing changes from happening.
In reply to alfadriver :
I've got the address, go ahead and delete :)
File is sent, wouldn't be surprised if it ends up in your junk email folder.
FWIW, HPT does not have ALL maps available for you to tune. They're adamant about this, and Bill gets twitchy when he hears about people, say. trying to run a Trailblazer OS on a GTO engine so the cruise control will work in their street rod that they swapped, because there are some maps not available to you that may be different between the two.
So there are two other tables that can be used to insure it's not corrected for
And one for spark
I don't really think anything more than turning EGR off is really needed, but zeroing these tables will be some insurance.
One other thing to turn off- the OBD switches- P404 and P405. These are under Engine Diagnostics, DTC's.
In reply to alfadriver :
EDIT: Scratch any concerns I have. I just figured out why I can't see anything. There is a Basic and Advanced view for the app, and it apparently defaulted to basic when I installed it. Switching it to Advanced allows me to see the more detailed EGR data under Advance and Airflow.
So, the lesson I learned, I guess, is mess with the view settings in the app first
Thanks to everyone who has been helping!
