Pinging with UM software.

[Maxx-R32]

Just got my tune today! No issues here with running Shell. I will update if I experience any anomaly for the benefit of the forum though.

Big Thanks to FourSeasons

[Ryan E.]

Thanks for the update Jeff!

We have it sorted. Gabe has already tested.

The issue was this:
Colorado (as far as i've seen) is the ONLY state to run a full on exhaust sniffer on newer OBD2 cars.

I did some lean cruise mods for better mileage. This trips the NOx limit of the test.
I removed the feature. All good for emissions, and you lose ~half to 1mpg.

Pining is simply the ~low octane west coast fuel and now warmer weather in combination.
(notice this just popped up ~now, not in winter or spring)

I have made a file for the ping issue, specific for the west coast folks.

Other Ping fix: Call Gabe @ Bluewater and get yourself sorted with a FLEX FUEL kit.

Test Ping Fix #2: When refueling, do a 20/80 mix of E85/91 in the tank.

I'm busy these days, this is peak season. Keep poking me. I will reply/answer.

-Jeffrey Atwood

congrats, I got flashed there too. I don't have any pinging issues either

Just got my tune today! No issues here with running Shell. I will update if I experience any anomaly for the benefit of the forum though.

Big Thanks to FourSeasons

[VR64ANT]

Jeff you da man! When I go to Tomas Tuning tomorrow I assume the "west coast" file will be up on the server. I assume we will go that route as long as log files are showing pinging.

[motrrrpsycho]

Yes, thanks Jeff! Great to see the prompt response and action here!

I will be getting re-flashed Friday with the West Coast Tune™ Friday which sounds like should resolve both my ping and emissions test issues.

[VR64ANT]

I'm getting the "crap octane fuel" file right now. I installed my forge intake this morning. Should be a fun drive home.

[mfbmike]

Another reason why UM is FTW. Glad to see you guys on the West Coast are getting sorted out.

He's right though, it's much easier for you west coasters to get hooked up with the flex fuel kit.

[motrrrpsycho]

I would do Flex Fule kit fo sho if only E85 were more readily available in my area...

Ant - let us know! I should be getting it tomorrow.

[VR64ANT]

So I put a full tank of Shell in the R this morning. Pinged less. After the tune, no pinging at all. I even lugged the motor from 2000 rpms with about 80% throttle and it just pulled nice and smooth.

On a side note, I installed the Forge intake this morning. After driving in 85 degree weather I pulled over and felt the canister. It was just barely warmer than the UG paint on my car. After sitting for about 2 minutes the canister started getting much warmer. I think its safe to say the refresh rate on the Forge intake is pretty damn good. Maybe I'll thermal line the inside of the canister to help fight off heat soak even more.

UM + FORGE =

[LoyalSage]

So I put a full tank of Shell in the R this morning. Pinged less. After the tune, no pinging at all. I even lugged the motor from 2000 rpms with about 80% throttle and it just pulled nice and smooth.

On a side note, I installed the Forge intake this morning. After driving in 85 degree weather I pulled over and felt the canister. It was just barely warmer than the UG paint on my car. After sitting for about 2 minutes the canister started getting much warmer. I think its safe to say the refresh rate on the Forge intake is pretty damn good. Maybe I'll thermal line the inside of the canister to help fight off heat soak even more.

UM + FORGE =

I live in the same area, run a UM tune, and only pump 91 shell. I have yet to experience the pinging you mention?

[VR64ANT]

I live in the same area, run a UM tune, and only pump 91 shell. I have yet to experience the pinging you mention?

Do you drive mostly in the San Mateo area? Its much colder there than the east bay.

[rhcp4life]

i would also do e85 if i dindnt have to ship my ecu to colorado...

[Mr_Peach]

i would also do e85 if i dindnt have to ship my ecu to colorado...

I'd consider it, too. E85 isn't very common around here, but it's the "can't do this at a shop" part that throws me.

[VR64ANT]

I thought about doing e85. I'll probably wait until I do cams since I'll already have the front end off and the intake manifold off as well.

I assume a shop could do it. It would just be them shipping off your ecu and not you.

[Mr_Peach]

I thought about doing e85. I'll probably wait until I do cams since I'll already have the front end off and the intake manifold off as well.

I assume a shop could do it. It would just be them shipping off your ecu and not you.

Thats my thought too; I have cams in hand, thinking about install. My closest UM shop is in Portland, 3 hours away. If I could go there, maybe spend the night and return with cams and E85, that might work. But going there and leaving the car for a week or more is a PITA.

If there was a local UM shop, mailing an ECU would still be a PITA, but I could maybe wrap my head around it.

Love my UM tune, love doubleJmotorwerks in Portland, but the logistics of long distance surgery is tough.

[BetaOp9]

Thats my thought too; I have cams in hand, thinking about install. My closest UM shop is in Portland, 3 hours away. If I could go there, maybe spend the night and return with cams and E85, that might work. But going there and leaving the car for a week or more is a PITA.

If there was a local UM shop, mailing an ECU would still be a PITA, but I could maybe wrap my head around it.

Love my UM tune, love doubleJmotorwerks in Portland, but the logistics of long distance surgery is tough.

E85 requires your ECU be sent to Bluewater or a trip to Bluewater. Only they can do E85 software. The ECU is extremely easy to access as it's under the rain tray.

Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk 2

[motrrrpsycho]

Why wouldn't any UM dealer be able to do the E85 flash? I'm at my locale UM dealer (Double J) today getting re-flashed to address my ping and emissions test issue. I'll ask them - I think they've done it on other cars before, but not sure.

Mr P, I asked them if they could get cams and E85 done inside of one day, and Joey said cams alone take a full day, so sounds like prolly not. I'll ask him about the ECU when I'm back over there (across the street getting some lunch now).

[BetaOp9]

Why wouldn't any UM dealer be able to do the E85 flash? I'm at my locale UM dealer (Double J) today getting re-flashed to address my ping and emissions test issue. I'll ask them - I think they've done it on other cars before, but not sure.

Because it has to be done via Bluewater.

I'm a UM dealer...I know because I have asked Jeff about it for my personal car.

[VR64ANT]

when the time is right I'm just gonna do all the labor myself for the cams and the E85. I can rip apart the car while the ECU is in colorado. I guess this mod won't be a secret from the Mrs.

[motrrrpsycho]

Because it has to be done via Bluewater.

I'm a UM dealer...I know because I have asked Jeff about it for my personal car.

Oh, OK. Was not trying to disagree - was just wondering "how come???". I guess the answer is "because it does". If it's the case, that's cool - was just curious.

I guess this mod won't be a secret from the Mrs.

^

[Mr_Peach]

Because it has to be done via Bluewater.

I was aware of that, just venting, sort of.

I figure if B/W and UM continue to be made aware that this business model leaves money on the table, they *might* re-examine it.

[motrrrpsycho]

FWIW, DJM told me today that the software is UM, the hardware is BW, and that they (or any UM dealer) should be able handle the ECU flash. Not saaying who's right or wrong, just what I heard.

As to the thread topic, I got the UM West Coast Tune™ and according to vag-com and what our ears could detect, I should pass my next emissions test with no issues, and pinging is gone. Thanks Jeff + DJM!!!!!

[BetaOp9]

FWIW, DJM told me today that the software is UM, the hardware is BW, and that they (or any UM dealer) should be able handle the ECU flash. Not saaying who's right or wrong, just what I heard.

You have to purchase the kit via Bluewater...you can't just buy hardware or just software. I assumed the same thing and unless something has changed in the last 6 months, they have to be purchased together through BW. So you can not get your own injectors and buy the tune alone and visa versa. DJM is assuming as I once had.


Good to hear about the west coast tune!

[Fast1one]

I was hearing pinging when I fueled up at a cheap gas station but then I refueled and all seems well. Although it doesn't get all that hot here, I would like to get the West coast tune as a precaution.

Does the new tune remove the lean cruise feature as well? I prefer that it didn't since I won't need to do a sniffer test in California anymore and I like my increased mileage. Also, how would I go about getting the new tune? I used the loaner tool the first time since I'm four hours away from a shop, minimum.

[Stylist07]

I love my E85 tune!!!!!

i did the install myself and im not even a mechanic just a hobbiest.

My R32 feels like a Beast on the streets and on the track, I got to race a Porsche GT3 on a 1/8 mile track and the race was really close but at the end i was taken by a car length. Now i really wish i would have put a set of cams in but that is my next step before i go turbo. I think with the cams i should be able to hold my own pretty well and maybe beat that GT3 or 12' Evo....

I live in dallas and i have at least 3-4 E85 stations by me at $2.70ish a gallon, i can fill up at about $30 bucks or so

BTW.... I was kinda scared about taking out the ECU and mailing it to BlueWater but the removal was really easy and only took a few mins to remove and box up. The only hard part was removing the NO head bolts that VW put in but once u cut them to a square head to grab onto they come off rather easy, once they are off and the ECU mailed and returned back i replaced the NO head bolts with New Torx Bits that i had ordered from VW for a few cents. Now if i ever need to remove the ECU for what ever reason i can just unscrew them with a Torx 30 Bit.

Best up grade ever!!!!!!!

I BW + UM

[motrrrpsycho]

^ Cool man, I'm jealous... If I had E85 stations all over town I would totally go for it too.

[abeR]

i am gonna go E85.

its beeen decided.

[Chimera]

We have it sorted. Gabe has already tested.

The issue was this:
Colorado (as far as i've seen) is the ONLY state to run a full on exhaust sniffer on newer OBD2 cars.

I did some lean cruise mods for better mileage. This trips the NOx limit of the test.
I removed the feature. All good for emissions, and you lose ~half to 1mpg.

Pining is simply the ~low octane west coast fuel and now warmer weather in combination.
(notice this just popped up ~now, not in winter or spring)

I have made a file for the ping issue, specific for the west coast folks.

Other Ping fix: Call Gabe @ Bluewater and get yourself sorted with a FLEX FUEL kit.

Test Ping Fix #2: When refueling, do a 20/80 mix of E85/91 in the tank.

I'm busy these days, this is peak season. Keep poking me. I will reply/answer.

-Jeffrey Atwood

Jeff, will this new file work for a 2007 A3 3.2 in one pass/flash? I've had light ping under load since being flashed (already replaced plugs and tried various gasolines).

[motrrrpsycho]

I can't answer the A3 question (I assume it's the same, but don't know) but I can say that I have not heard any pinging since I was re-flashed on Friday. I still need to get my emissions test done again, but according to the VCDS readins at the shop, this should not be an issue again.

[Jefnes3]

Chimera,

short answer: likley.

If I recall correctly the A3 cars a ~slightly different than the mk5 r32. (This is config difference
not a tuning difference)

You're UM dealer is Double J in Portland?


-Jeffrey Atwood

[Chimera]

Chimera,

short answer: likley.

If I recall correctly the A3 cars a ~slightly different than the mk5 r32. (This is config difference
not a tuning difference)

You're UM dealer is Double J in Portland?


-Jeffrey Atwood

Yes

[Maxx-R32]

**Update on Tune Performance**

Per my previous post - I have now had the upgrade for about 5 days, and so far it seems to be problem free. I did not get the 'West Coast' version and have had no pinging issues running Shell 91.

I even made a trek to Vegas and since I've been out here, it's been an average of 105 during the day and even under load in the heat i have had no issues (that I have been able to detect at least).

The only problem is that I waited so long to get the upgrade

[motrrrpsycho]

Just to follow up - I passed emissions test yesterday, still have no further ping / knock issues (that my ears can detect) and can feel no loss of power. I think if anything it feels a bit healthier / stronger since I got the the West Coast Tune™. With my apparent ****e for fuel, I was prolly pulling timing and loosing a bit, so sure - with the standard tune and good fuel you might do a bit better, but I'm happy to get what I can out of the run-o-the-mill "premium" pump gas where I live. Thanks again UM + DJM

[Maxx-R32]

Now that I'm back from Vegas and out of the 100+ heat, I can really feel the difference that the tune makes. I guess the heat didn't play nice.

I never had any detectable pinging or less power by feel of foot out there, it's just that now I can really notice the increase in power and the shifting has been amazing since the first drive post-upgrade.

Decided to add 6 gals of 100 this afternoon to top off the tank and I am glad I did.

UM has done a great job of making these cars feel more sporty without sacrificing any daily drivability.

[mfbmike]

I often fill up at the Chevon and Shell stations by my house and have had no issues with either station. With that being said, I generally prefer shell gas in my car as the car feels quicker. May just be my mind playing tricks on me. lol.

I was under the assumption the pinging/chattering coming from the transmission side of my engine bay was a loose flywheel. Flywheel has since been replaced and aside from the car shifting much more smoother and less herky-jerky, the chattering persists.

Were you guys getting any sort of pinging or knocking at idle? I get this very peculiar pinging/knocking at low rpm's and it's driving me crazy. No issues with performance, car runs and pulls as hard as it ever has. The pinging/chattering subsides as the car climbs into the higher rpm range. The pinging/chattering also seems to increase in speed/occurence as the rpm's rise in the lower rpm range. ~1000-3000 rpm. Does this sound familiar to anyone in this thread?

Oddly enough, I was bragging about Shell. I never had this when I pumped Chevron. I did change plugs at 40k. About to eclipse 45k soon.

I've never used any sort of fuel conditioner or additive. Any suggestions?

This is really bumming me out. (aka I hope I'm not getting rod knock for whatever reason)

[Lolasaurus_Rex]

Rod knock would definitely be persistent and increase in volume as the RPMs rise.

Just FYFI, bad main bearings would be silent at idle but around 2500-3000 they would begin to sound.

It could be valvetrain related. Why not have Wolfcars give it a once over before the install?