Project Mustang 5.0: Data Logging, Tuning, and More with HP Tuners nGauge

Project Mustang 5.0: Data Logging, Tuning, and More with HP Tuners nGauge

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To change one of the PIDs being displayed, select “Signal,” which takes you to the following menu:

 

This menu lets you do two things.  First of all, it lets you select which PID will be shown on a gauge.  To scroll through all of the available PIDs, tap the left or right arrows.  When you find the one you want to display, tap on the check mark. The star on the left lets you flag those parameters that will show up on a data log. When first setting up the gauge, take a couple minutes to scroll through all the available PIDs and mark the ones you’re interested in logging. You can log up to 23 at a time, including the two 5-V analog inputs.

As I mentioned previously, there are several layouts of gauges that the nGauge can show. When on the menu, you can scroll through the different gauges. In addition to the Quad gauge, there is a 6-PID gauge:

 

This combination of PIDs we have here is very useful for dyno and tuning sessions, as you can monitor various spark and knock readings.

An analog gauge:

 

On a forced-induction motor, such as a Focus ST, we like the larger gauge to display boost and the smaller gauge to display measured AFR.

And, finally, the LED gauge:

 

At the top of the nGauge is a row of LEDs. This gauge panel lets you configure what PID those LEDs follow and what the threshold for each is. The LEDs will operate regardless of what gauge is currently displayed. In this example, I have the LEDs set up to be a rough tachometer, with each LED lighting up in increments of 1,000 RPMs. Another useful PID to monitor with the LEDs would be knock count or Air/Fuel Ratio.

Now that we’ve setup the different gauges how we like, it’s time to do some data logging!  Since HP Tuners has fully unlocked the Copperhead PCM, you can data log (or view on the gauge) almost any engine parameter, including:

  • RPM
  • Speed
  • Throttle Position
  • Battery voltage
  • Coolant Temperature
  • Current gear
  • Commanded AFR (both banks)
  • Measured wideband AFR (both banks)
  • Global spark advance
  • Knock count
  • Fuel pump duty cycle
  • Commanded cam advance (all 4 cams)
  • Measured cam advance (all 4 cams)
  • Throttle Position
  • Calculated engine load
  • MAF counts
  • Boost (on speed density forced-induction engines)
  • Output shaft speed
  • Transmission solenoid pressures (automatic transmission)

The ability to log all of these parameters is useful both for tweaking an engine’s tune and—my personal favorite use—data logging track sessions. You can select up to 23 PIDs to be data logged at once.

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