Help with what to monitor for best tune.

[JSimcik]

After doing some research on the Ram 1500s and Hemi engines, I want to do some experiementing with different tuning and tweaks to the system, but I'm having trouble knowing with items to log to get the info I want/need.

I want to be able to monitor the following systems and parameters.

Vehicle Speed
Engine RPM
Throttle (%)
Engine Torque
Engine HP
Air/Fuel Mixture
MDS On/Off
Timing
Timing Being Pulled (Torque Management)
Gear (Transmission Range)

Some of these I am familiar with, but some I am not. And in some cases, multiple options seems to be given. I want to make sure I get the most accurate data possible.

To be clear, this is for a 2010 Ram 1500 4x4 with 5.7L Hemi V8 with 545RFE Mulit-Speed Transmission.

Also, are there any updates available for the DataViewer software? It is not the easiest thing to use or read [the multiple streams of data] easily.

Thanks.

[mikel]

Spped and RPM will be obvious, as will Throttle position.
Torque and HP are not measured by the PCM, thus cant be monitored.
You can see commander AFR, but you'll need a wideband to see actual air/fuel.
Not sure if there is an MDS status PID, I'll have to check it out.
Timing is listed as actual spark cyl 1 (- . LT KNK and ST KNK will show spark being pulled by the knock sensors.
I believe there is a PID called commanded gear, which will show the current gear.

[JSimcik]

Thanks Mike.

Couple questions though. I have multiple options for Thottle position. One is Throttle blade, one is TPS sensor, and I think there is a third. Which would be the most accurate for data logging reasons.

Also, I have Torque RFE and Torque RLE. Are these not a messured estimate of engine torque produced?

And, what is the difference between LT and ST KNK? Still trying to figure out all these accronyms and abreviations.

Thanks for the help!

[mikel]

Id use the TPS sensor PID, it will tell you where the throttle blade is. You can also log Accelerator pedal position to see if the TB is closing on its own.
Torque pids are estimated, rarely accurate.
LT Knock is learned, ST is instant.

There is some pretty in depth explanations of LT and ST KNK here if you do some searching.

[JSimcik]

Mike, I did a little tweaking to try to accomplish what I wanted, and it worked to an extent - but have a few questions.

I raised the fuel on the 1K-3.8K by 10%, which gave me some of the result I wanted, (more power at ~2K RPM), but I noticed that the ST and LT Knock were both present at times. Under loads, LT Knock peaked at just over 6, and ST climbed to about 3.5 at various times. Neither were there all the time, but this seems like a lot of Knock to me...

If it is, what do you suggest to remove the knock, and possibly boost the low-end even more?

2010 Ram 1500 Hemi 4x4, Perf. 93 tune.