Trans tuning

[Chris2144]

So I’m working with a 2007 Yukon Denali 6.2 awd.
Recently I replaced the torque converter because it was shuddering. No other symptoms or codes. Everything runs good with the trans but I want it to be as reliable as possible. I used the luk torcon converter
I’m wondering should I zero out the desired slip for tcc.

Also should I change any shift schedule or shift pressures.

 

[swathdiver]

The favorite part of my BlackBear tune was in the performance of the transmission afterwards. I was happy before and ecstatic after and since, love the way it runs.

@BlackBearPerf

 

[Chris2144]

I have hp tuners so I was going to do it my self, but I may give them a call.
What changes did you like?
Shift timing
Firmness.
Less torque mng

I feel like it runs and drives fine now. Shift firmness could be a little more.
With 161k miles on what appears to be a stock trans I don’t want to push it I just want it to be reliable.

 

[B-train]

I have hp tuners so I was going to do it my self, but I may give them a call.
What changes did you like?
Shift timing
Firmness.
Less torque mng

I feel like it runs and drives fine now. Shift firmness could be a little more.
With 161k miles on what appears to be a stock trans I don’t want to push it I just want it to be reliable.

I have the same vehicle, and HP Tuners. I've found that changing the shift speed (mph) throughout the range (up/down) has yielded really good driveability improvements. I cut the TCC slip in half of what it was. The truck isn't trying to dog through the gears now to get into the highest quickly - it's like 50% of what tow/haul feels like.

If you want, I'll share the file for you to look at if you like.

 

[SpareParts]

I tuned mine with a lot of help from THIS video and it also helped me understand what i was doing. Mine was not shifting bad to start with but i wanted to help it live longer. My trans shifts great i think after loading the trans tune.

 

[Chris2144]

I have the same vehicle, and HP Tuners. I've found that changing the shift speed (mph) throughout the range (up/down) has yielded really good driveability improvements. I cut the TCC slip in half of what it was. The truck isn't trying to dog through the gears now to get into the highest quickly - it's like 50% of what tow/haul feels like.

If you want, I'll share the file for you to look at if you like.

That would be awesome I just started messing around with it but not sure what will feel or work better.
it definitely does try to get into the next gear quickly

 

[Chris2144]

I tuned mine with a lot of help from THIS video and it also helped me understand what i was doing. Mine was not shifting bad to start with but i wanted to help it live longer. My trans shifts great i think after loading the trans tune.

Just watched that video im going to download the bluecat lot of good info there thanks.

 

[swathdiver]

I have hp tuners so I was going to do it my self, but I may give them a call.
What changes did you like?
Shift timing
Firmness.
Less torque mng

I feel like it runs and drives fine now. Shift firmness could be a little more.
With 161k miles on what appears to be a stock trans I don’t want to push it I just want it to be reliable.

Not knowing what those things mean, it has the feel of driving a manual transmission without having to push a clutch and row through the gears. Torque Management was almost completely eliminated. I chose to utilize BlackBear's decades of experience rather than use my only vehicle at the time for my learning curve. I'd done that decades earlier when I used to drag race.

 

[Chris2144]

My experience has been mainly with gen 3 nbs stuff and obs so the gen4 is a new step for me but I like being able to change things if I need or want to.
Sounds like you’re trans pretty dialed I hope to get mine the same way.
With the 4l60/80 I always felt it would be so nice to have a few more gears and the 6l80 def fills the gap.

Hopefully getting a 2012 2500hd 6.0 6l90 soon too.

 

[Chris2144]

here is a file i just got done with if anyone wants to look at it and tell me what they think.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

The important thing to remember here is that the stock GM tune is similar to driving on an all season tire. The manufacturer attempts to include characteristics that are acceptable to most users, and not include characteristics that are unacceptable to most users, but the end result not optimal for any user with a specific use case in mind. If I want to speed around the streets and track, I want a high performance tire. If I have lots of snow and ice to deal with, I want a winter tire. If I want to tow, I want a stronger load range tire.

The same principle works with transmission tunes. What is you major need ===== Mileage? Performance? Towing? All of these? Each need has a different set of tuning parameters, and if you plan to perform your own tune work to achieve the desired result, you need to know these parameters, and you need to know how to adjust the tune elements to achieve the desired result. Personally, I'm not up for this, when I can purchase and install a custom completed tune package from an expert. 5 years ago, when I installed my first BlackBear Performance tune (tuned for street performance with my specific personal wanted parameters), Justin had already assembled over 17,000 tune packages for customers. That's my path to success, without all the time, trial, error, correction, re-trial, etc.

 

[Chris2144]

thank you for the advice.
I do know that I want mild street performance nothing crazy.

I do not want it to try and allow slip on the new converter

I zeroed out the tcc slip and used the bluecat to make changes to the shift schedule.
As far as hpt layout I do know what I’m looking at and it all looks like it’s going to be good. I won’t be able to load the new file on for a few weeks when I get back home.

The changes are going to increase speed for each gear slightly and reduce the amount of throttle needed to downshift.
At least I think that’s what it looks like.

But if I don’t like it I can always go back in and change it. Or just throw the stock tune back on.

 

[mikez71]

The torque adders tables helped my 5.3 shift speed & smoothness. (In addition to adjusting shift schedule!)
Reducing the time in the torque adders map lets you dial in for certain torques/rpms, for each shift.
I don't speed up the negative torques much, so no abrupt upshifts when lifting throttle..

I currently use later ('15+) 5.3 tunes for torque adders and it's a solid improvement.
(stock feeling, but smoother/quicker shifting.. you can speed up more for 'crispness')
Don't forget the downshift torque adders too! Big improvement in getting a quicker & smoother downshift..
Haven't looked much into the 6.2 torque adder maps though...

Bluecat tool seems to be recommended by everyone!

I also mirrored '18+ TCC slip settings for my 5.3.
For the 6.2, it looks like a 2014 sierra has similar slip updates.
It's just a little tighter feeling when you lean into the throttle because it tries to zero slip around 165-180ftlbs..
It's reduced slip above 2k or so..
I am interested to hear your observations with 0 slip everywhere.
(The one time I tried it, I also adjusted regulator pressure. It felt sticky to me, I didn't like it)

 

[Chris2144]

I will try it like I have it then maybe adjust the torque adders. The bluecat tool didn’t make any adjustments to that but I’ll see how it feels.

It will be a few weeks before I get back home but I will def update this.

 

[SpareParts]

From what i understand you do not want to zero out slip in 5/6th.

 

[Chris2144]

Why not. I would think out of all gears you wouldn’t want any slip in the od gears.

I don’t have afm so it won’t need to slip in any of the od gears for that I know there was a thing with slipping the converter to help with vibration or harmonics something of that nature due to the afm

 

[Chris2144]

My tcc desired slip is all zero as well as dod.
I didn’t change the apply ramp.
I have it set in the apply release tables to lock up in 4th. I left tow haul mode alone.

 

[SpareParts]

I have read several threads on HP Tuners forum that say don't mess with 5/6 lockup as doing so will shorten convertor life. I did not change mine per the warnings i read.
HERE is another great vid. There is actually a few good vids to watch if you're interested in learning.

 

[Chris2144]

Ok I see what you’re you’re saying.
So I did change it but only an exaggerated amount of what it was.
So 5th apply wot was 156 which that Yukon will probably not see but it was changed to 318 if I get this thing to 318 I’ll be worried about a lot more than the converter lol.

So converter function remains unchanged there.
In that video he did the same thing I did and for desired slip he zeroed everything out.

 

[Scrappycrow]

Why not. I would think out of all gears you wouldn’t want any slip in the od gears.

For OE or OE-equivalent torque converters, some slip is required because they are designed to always have slip and not having it can damage the friction materials. From all that I've read about the Luk you installed (and which I intend to install in mine), you can zero slip without any concern.