LMS vs Gearhead "Canned Tunes" Comparison

[OmaHahn]

I just had my car on an AWD Mustang Dyno with the newest LMS tune. I have the most current version: 93 V11, 3-bar, gapped plugs, Windstorm CAI, 160 thermostat. I also have Magnaflow cat-back. I've had LMS tune since about 1,000 miles. Car currently has 45,000 miles. *I've been extremely happy with LMS.* But I keep getting missed shifts between 2-3 (more often than not) and there's hesitation (minor sputtering) under WOT at highway speeds. The car is in perfect condition, very well maintained, I've overfilled (just barely) the transmission as advised, injectors been cleaned, etc. Car has a brand new PTU installed in 2017 under warranty, and all maintenance done more often then recommended. I don't know if it's the tune or the car...

BUT, we're going to find out. I'm going to install the canned Gearhead tune later this week. Same exact mods I have now but switching from LMS to Gearhead. I'm going to run the car on the same dyno after the Gearhead install and report back. And I'm going to see if the shifting issues go away.

Results on the Mustang Dyno for my 2014 SHO with PP with the mods listed above are: 333WHP & 390 WTQ

Gearhead = ....??? stay tuned.

 

[Kenpachi]

Following to see the results. Best of luck with the new tune.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MHW100]

Does it miss shifts when returned to stock?

 

[OmaHahn]

Does it miss shifts when returned to stock?

No.

 

[brucelinc]

I assume you have discussed the shift issue and WOT hesitation with someone at Livernois? What have they done to help with this?

 

[SM105K]

Those numbers are pretty good for a "plug, forgot about it, and play" tune. I have nothing bad to say about LMS. I am actually glad they are the way they are. They allow all walks of people to really enjoy the EB motors.

Your car is roughly making 430 ish hp and 480 ish TQ at the crank. I use a 20% drive train loss in my calculations. Some people would argue that 25% is more accurate which would make those numbers even higher. Nothing to sneeze about.

 

[76FoMoCo]

keeping a eye on this one.... I only had the gear miss 3 times and all cases the TC was on. never had it miss with it off with over a dozen times down the track.

 

[OmaHahn]

I assume you have discussed the shift issue and WOT hesitation with someone at Livernois? What have they done to help with this?

They say same thing - overfill tranny and they think my fuel pump or something might be faulting. But this doesnt make sense because when the car is flashed back to stock it's fine.

 

[OmaHahn]

keeping a eye on this one.... I only had the gear miss 3 times and all cases the TC was on. never had it miss with it off with over a dozen times down the track.

About 99% of the time when I start my car, I hit turn off the traction control - it's a habit now. So it happens all the time with TC off.

 

[krewat]

Since you have the PP, did you try "full off"? Hold the TC button down for 5 seconds with your foot on the brake until it says "AdvanceTrac Off"

 

[OmaHahn]

Since you have the PP, did you try "full off"? Hold the TC button down for 5 seconds with your foot on the brake until it says "AdvanceTrac Off"

I have done that but not all the time. And to be honest I don't know if it's done it with that off. It's easier to just hit the TC button real quick to turn off traction rather than sit there for over 5 seconds with foot on the brake, etc. The TC button I can hit that while I'M driving too. And the main reason I don't do full off is - all that does is also turn off the stability control like cornering/handling. Having TC off should be enough for the traction/accelerating/shifting....

 

[Johnbigdog]

I'm not sure of the word I'm looking for, but I'll explain my thought with an example. I remember reading about welders and them having a duty cycle when I was doing reserch into MIG units. The prices they got the more time you could spend welding. The duty cycle was time welding vs time letting the unit cool.

Everything is overbuilt. I don't think it's ever good to use something at 100% or it will usually break often.

In regards to your fuel system, it's run at say, 60 % of capacity. The tune now runs the pump at 80% capacity. Maybe there is a fault with it where It can't keep up to 80%, but the stock 60% it can compensate for with the 20% in between.

Sometimes things fail, but it's only failing at the higher limits of the item.

Does that kinda make sense?

 

[OmaHahn]

I'm not sure of the word I'm looking for, but I'll explain my thought with an example. I remember reading about welders and them having a duty cycle when I was doing reserch into MIG units. The prices they got the more time you could spend welding. The duty cycle was time welding vs time letting the unit cool.

Everything is overbuilt. I don't think it's ever good to use something at 100% or it will usually break often.

In regards to your fuel system, it's run at say, 60 % of capacity. The tune now runs the pump at 80% capacity. Maybe there is a fault with it where It can't keep up to 80%, but the stock 60% it can compensate for with the 20% in between.

Sometimes things fail, but it's only failing at the higher limits of the item.

Does that kinda make sense?

Makes perfect sense and an excellent point!! EDIT: But the weird thing is the car is a monster in gears 1-2 and if it shifts ok into 3rd, the car goes! But if I'm on the highway about 50mph+ and floor it, this is when I feel the sputtering.

 

[76FoMoCo]

wonder if there is a way to monitor fuel pressure?

 

[Johnbigdog]

wonder if there is a way to monitor fuel pressure?

With parameter I.D.s yes. Mechanically, you would have to get ingenious.

 

[CCXVI]

They say same thing - overfill tranny and they think my fuel pump or something might be faulting. But this doesnt make sense because when the car is flashed back to stock it's fine.

I've had the same missed shift issue too. LMS is useless when it comes to fixing it, blaming everything but their tune even though it doesn't happen stock, just like yours.

 

[76FoMoCo]

I've had the same missed shift issue too. LMS is useless when it comes to fixing it, blaming everything but their tune even though it doesn't happen stock, just like yours.

and what your cure? sounds like you have passed the fork in the road?

 

[brucelinc]

LMS is useless when it comes to fixing it, blaming everything but their tune even though it doesn't happen stock, just like yours.

With all due respect to the fine folks on the sales floor at Livernois, they are not calibrators and some of the guys who answer the phone may not have the expertise to help. Sometimes, issues need to be escalated. Just sayin'.......

 

[CCXVI]

With all due respect to the fine folks on the sales floor at Livernois, they are not calibrators and some of the guys who answer the phone may not have the expertise to help. Sometimes, issues need to be escalated. Just sayin'.......

So you're trying to say Anthony and Chris, both [email protected], are not calibrators?? Come on, of course I wasn't talking to salesmen about tuning issues.

 

[brucelinc]

So you're trying to say Anthony and Chris, both [email protected], are not calibrators?? Come on, of course I wasn't talking to salesmen about tuning issues.

YOU come on! You said "Livernois is useless when it comes to fixing...." How the **** would I know who you talked to when you make a blanket insulting statement like that? I am merely pointing out that unless your issue gets to the appropriate place, you may not get an appropriate answer. In my many years of using Livernois tunes on several different vehicles with 3 different tuning devices, I have found them to be quite helpful but the issue sometimes needs escalation.

Like any larger organization, there are varying degrees of knowledge with the people who work with customers. It is also quite common for the person who actually does the tuning and have the greatest knowledge to NOT be the person who fields incoming calls. I am not going to discuss the specific levels of expertise of personnel at Livernois....although they likely have one of the smartest tuners in the country.