Long term owners of BlackBear Autocal tunes.

[Rocket Man]

When you purchase a Black Bear Performance tune, you get free tune adjustments for the life of your truck, and this is especially handy, if you make future mods for which a tune adjustment would produce positive results. Last, if needed, you can have more than one custom tune for your truck, and with the AutoCal, it takes less than 15 minutes to change from one custom tune to another. So, if you choose to run E85, you can have a custom tune, built especially for that grade of fuel, for those times when you choose to run it.

Yes but you do have to flash it, it’s not like just flipping a switch. Myself, I wouldn’t continually flash my ECM because every time you do there’s a small chance something goes wrong. But that’s me. I have had modules brick. Every time I retune one of my truck it’s a great feeling when the process completes. I’m pretty sure the AutoSync from BT Dieselworks allows you to switch tunes using the DIC switches though. I’m not sure how that works. Plus it does a lot of other cool stuff. https://www.btdieselworks.com/collections/electronics/products/autosync

 

[George B]

Just be clear to Black Bear Performance on what your own specific requirements are for your tune (including your selected gas octane), when you send them your AutoCal collected data. Remember, this is a custom tune for your truck, and not some out-of-the-box, one-size-fits-all, canned tune. If @BlackBearPerf has any questions regarding your own specific tune requirements, they will get in touch with you to discuss.

I am not sure I want to switch tunes every time I choose to run E85 and I can’t always get the 88 or 89 so ai want t a tune that allows me to run on any of the three. I don’t expect the kind of performance I can get from a tune specific to 91 or E85. I am not opposed to having such a tune for fun times tho.

 

[gooffeyguy]

The system I have in my '95 mustang, while it's not OBD2, allows me to have 4 different tunes installed and has a dial switch mounted in a little black box that connects via a telephone type RJ11 cord, remotely mounted in my ashtray that allows me to switch between them on the fly. If the switch is unplugged it defaults to tune position #1. This kind of acts as a security device. I can have tune #1 with disabled fuel or spark so it doesn't start and just take the little switch box with me.

 

[gooffeyguy]

I am not sure I want to switch tunes every time I choose to run E85 and I can’t always get the 88 or 89 so ai want t a tune that allows me to run on any of the three. I don’t expect the kind of performance I can get from a tune specific to 91 or E85. I am not opposed to having such a tune for fun times tho.

I think E85 just uses different timing and fuel tables and can still be in the tune, but not used until the system detects the E85. I may be wrong.

The stock programming does this, can't see why a custom program couldn't

 

[George B]

I think E85 just uses different timing and fuel tables and can still be in the tune, but not used until the system detects the E85. I may be wrong.

The stock programming does this, can't see why a custom program couldn't

I think James "@swathdiver" Knows this answer.

 

[swathdiver]

I think E85 just uses different timing and fuel tables and can still be in the tune, but not used until the system detects the E85. I may be wrong.

The stock programming does this, can't see why a custom program couldn't

This is correct. There are E85 tables for different levels of alcohol content. @randeez Randy knows more about this than me.

 

[George B]

pretty sure I know the answer but… truck has 84,000 miles on it. Not sure if or when the plugs were ever changed. Do it now before a tune? I assume yes.

 

[randeez]

if truck in your sig, all of the tables are there on e38 ecm.
if your 5.3 wasnt flex fuel from the factory, it will have smaller injectors and pump iirc - gm leaves a good bit of head room on the oem stuff but i dont know how far they'll get you without looking into it.
i dont know if the virtual sensor would just work though, adding the physical sensor is easy but really not needed if the virtual works for a anything non boosted, any ethanol content over about E60 would provide just as much benefit as E80 - unless youre running ike 14:1 compression.
theres no swapping tunes, the virtual sensor works by seeing the fuel trims go way up (after a fill up) to determine content..not completely accurate but for how gm tunes them its close enough. the sensor is a lot more accurate but not needed. it just modifies what the stoich value the ecm looks for in closed loop ie 100% gasoline 14.7afr (10% ethanol standard i think 14.3afr is where it is on the stock tune) ethanol targets 9.8afr i think - but with gm using narrowband o2 sensors it really just targets a lamba of 1. over 1 is lean, under 1 is rich - thats all it knows, it doesnt care what fuel youre using. and theres just modifer tables to add timing when it sees higher ethanol content

 

[George B]

if truck in your sig, all of the tables are there on e38 ecm.
if your 5.3 wasnt flex fuel from the factory, it will have smaller injectors and pump iirc - gm leaves a good bit of head room on the oem stuff but i dont know how far they'll get you without looking into it.
i dont know if the virtual sensor would just work though, adding the physical sensor is easy but really not needed if the virtual works for a anything non boosted, any ethanol content over about E60 would provide just as much benefit as E80 - unless youre running ike 14:1 compression.
theres no swapping tunes, the virtual sensor works by seeing the fuel trims go way up (after a fill up) to determine content..not completely accurate but for how gm tunes them its close enough. the sensor is a lot more accurate but not needed. it just modifies what the stoich value the ecm looks for in closed loop ie 100% gasoline 14.7afr (10% ethanol standard i think 14.3afr is where it is on the stock tune) ethanol targets 9.8afr i think - but with gm using narrowband o2 sensors it really just targets a lamba of 1. over 1 is lean, under 1 is rich - thats all it knows, it doesnt care what fuel youre using. and theres just modifer tables to add timing when it sees higher ethanol content

Well, what you said…. Lol. Thanks. I am just ignorant of how a truck tuned on 88/e15 or 89/e10 would respond to e85. Like, would the tune still have a positive effect on performance as octane increases? Obviously not like If I had a tune specifically for 91 octane or E85 but somewhat anyway.

 

[CaptainAmerica1]

BBP tune for 91 octane works great on E85. I run premium only as I cannot find a reliable source for e85 near me. But the hunt is on…. You’d think in Dallas i could find something within 20 miles but it’s proven to be elusive. I tried some but after 3 tanks I was running 28% alcohol content. I hear it takes 5-6 tanks to get an accurate adjustment but I just couldn’t stomach whatever my octane rating was with 87/e85 mix so I’ll find a better source before I commit. I will say it was “sporty” with what little ethanol I could get…

 

[George B]

BBP tune for 91 octane works great on E85. I run premium only as I cannot find a reliable source for e85 near me. But the hunt is on…. You’d think in Dallas i could find something within 20 miles but it’s proven to be elusive. I tried some but after 3 tanks I was running 28% alcohol content. I hear it takes 5-6 tanks to get an accurate adjustment but I just couldn’t stomach whatever my octane rating was with 87/e85 mix so I’ll find a better source before I commit. I will say it was “sporty” with what little ethanol I could get…

Mine adjusts almost instantly.
BBP told me that I should run on 89 for tuning. I am going to do my log soon. I will be interested to see how it runs on E85 ( y me its 60%).

 

[CaptainAmerica1]

You are gonna be very happy.

 

[George B]

I

You are gonna be very happy.

hope so. She don’t go like I want unless I beat on her. Gave it a beating today.

 

[CaptainAmerica1]

That catch can fills up when you beat on em. Keep an eye on it.

 

[Charlie207]

Quick question for the price listed on the webpage: http://store.blackbearperformance.com/Tuning-and-Software_c_209.html

It shows a $649 (add to cart), but further down in the "Structure" paragragh I see:

"Additional vehicle tune purchase price is $400, which includes the tune service and software license."

Does this refer to a completely seperate vehicle/VIN, or a 2nd tune on the same vehicle?

 

[George B]

Quick question for the price listed on the webpage: http://store.blackbearperformance.com/Tuning-and-Software_c_209.html

It shows a $649 (add to cart), but further down in the "Structure" paragragh I see:

"Additional vehicle tune purchase price is $400, which includes the tune service and software license."

Does this refer to a completely seperate vehicle/VIN, or a 2nd tune on the same vehicle?

@BlackBearPerf

 

[Rocket Man]

Quick question for the price listed on the webpage: http://store.blackbearperformance.com/Tuning-and-Software_c_209.html

It shows a $649 (add to cart), but further down in the "Structure" paragragh I see:

"Additional vehicle tune purchase price is $400, which includes the tune service and software license."

Does this refer to a completely seperate vehicle/VIN, or a 2nd tune on the same vehicle?

That’s for a tune on an additional vehicle. Once you have the Autocal you can use it to tune many many vehicles for $400 each. Each tune is good for as long as you own the vehicle and they will retune it for free if something changes. Anything like power adders or change in wheel size , stall converter, gearing change etc can require a change in the tune and this is provided for no additional charge.

So basically you’re paying $249 for the Autocal and $400 for each vehicle you want tuned. If sometime in the future you decide to sell the Autocal you can recoup most of that $249, they generally go for $200 used.

 

[Charlie207]

I'm about to buy one, and curious if we get a discount or coupon code as a forum member?

 

[BlackBearPerf]

I'm about to buy one, and curious if we get a discount or coupon code as a forum member?

Unfortunately, we do not have any forum discounts at this time. We do offer an active duty military and law enforcement discount.

 

[BlackBearPerf]

@BlackBearPerf

The hardware, yours to keep, plus the custom tune and license is included in the $649. Each additional vehicle that you would want to tune would be $400.