[Terry @ BMS]

Hey guys,

Been spending the last few days working on improving JB4 E85 integration, and figured it's time for a little update on short and longer term updates. Although this post is specifically for N54 applications similar changes will be made across all JB4 platforms.

1) Added dedicated E85 parameter to interface. It's finally time for E85 to have a permanent home on the interface and datalogs which will become the basis for many E85 integration features to come. We've added it to the windows software and Donnie will be making similar changes to JB4 Mobile shortly. This new field will only fill in when using updated JB4 firmware.

If equipped with a hard wired flex fuel sensor then this field will show the actual reading off the sensor. e.g. true ethanol mixture.

If not equipped with a hard wired flex fuel sensor this field will show the output from our work in progress virtual flex fuel sensor.

Calculated torque is being returned to "DutyC" in the interface.



2) Port injection integration. We've reworked the JB4 port injection mapping so that it can now take in to account your ethanol mixture automatically. We've enabled it for those running a hard-wired sensor, but not quite ready to enable it for virtual sensor readings, since there is still some work to go on that development. But the logic is all in place to enable that as soon as we're ready. The benefit here is to eliminate users having to fiddle with port injection volume settings when making fuel mixture changes.

3) We're improving how the JB4 manipulates it's boost and timing profile based on varying ethanol mixtures. Expect to hear more on that in the coming weeks.

4) Taking advantage of new flashing developments. Inspired by MHD hijacking a voltage in to the DME we've learned how to hijack the DME DTML voltage input and then monitor it back out on CANbus using PID 0x5A, 0x17.

To confirm the voltage input works I patched the input wire over to the gas pedal as shown below. Worth noting the Fuel-IT analyzer uses a simple voltage formula like 0-0.1v = 0% E85 and .1v - 5v = 0-100% E85, which I expect will be compatible with any flash DME flex fuel sensor voltage input logic released.



This approach can be used to have the DME read the voltage of any ethanol analyzer or JB4 output, and when combined with MHD development rumored to be in the works for table blending based on a voltage input, would allow us to incrementally improve our JB4 back end flash maps.

On BimmerBoost I was asked how the new MHD flex fuel flash logic might apply to what we're doing with the JB4 back end flash maps:

Originally Posted by Sticky

I just want to understand this. Will the JB4 be able to use an ethanol sensor without a backend flash?

Originally Posted by Terry

The JB4 offers support for a hardwired ethanol sensor. In fact there are maybe 500 out in use. In addition we're developing a virtual sensor so the JB4 can get close on measuring ethanol mixture without the extra cost/headache of installing a sensor. We're also improving our flex fuel tuning as demand is heating up these days for it. I spent the last few hrs working on autoscaling JB4 port injection mapping as a function of a hardwired or virtual flex fuel sensor for example.

What is new is that MHD is releasing some new tables that on the flash end allow blending of a fuel scalar table, timing table, load table, etc, based on a voltage input. They were telling me the only way to get a voltage input in to the DME would be via their flex fuel hardware. Of course this made no sense to me and as you can see in my video above we have a voltage input in to the DTML parameter. There are other pins that can be used also like MAP IAT circuit, etc.

How it goes from here is unknown and really up to how MHD wants to release their new tables. My suggestion is they offer them as a pay per use option. Like MBOOST. So someone pays $25 or whatever to unlock the function when loading a MHD file or back end flash file. If they do it that way then we can add those tables to our JB4 BEF for interested customers to further improve their flex fuel tuning.

v32.8 Firmware Notes

1) Revised port injection mapping internal algorithm. Default values remain 50 across the board.
2) Added dedicated E85 logging parameter to interface, which will output actual ethanol content if equipped with a physical sensor or virtual content if not.
3) Added virtual flex fuel calibration field under ethanol setup on the methanol tab. Default value is 132 which we've found working well for our test cars running our E85 back end flash map (1.30 low load fuel scalar). Will publish new default values for factory flash and PUMP/RACE flash after more user data is collected.
4) Added user adjustable option for scaling port injection flow based on ethanol content, using either an actual or virtual flex fuel sensor.
5) Adjusted menu1 in dash so that a selection of 0 disables auto-clear in addition to selection 4. We will likely reassign selection 4 to another purpose in the future.
6) Relocated user adjustable WMI PWM mapping from FUA=60 to a dedicated option on the methanol page under ethanol settings.
7) Moved "calculated torque" back to "dutyC" logging parameter.
8) Added FUA=65 setting to disable fuel trim variance safety 5 in situations where you are already aware there is a hardware problem with the motor and just want to take your chances with it.

[fredcase]

Very nice work. Looking forward to some new features.

Keep it up jb4 gang.

[MalibuMafiaV]

That's awesome!
Finally a true way to fine tune our E85 mixture.

[Element]

Great news indeed!

#inbeforeJakeSh*tsAllOverIt

[CharliesN54]

Wait...Terry is this functional right now? or is this coming soon?

[Terry @ BMS]

Functional now if you have latest interface and JB4 firmware emailed over.

[alpinedevil335]

awesome work!

[Pure Turbos]

Sweet!!! Looking forward to playing with this!

[theredbird]

Originally Posted by Terry @ BMS

Functional now if you have latest interface and JB4 firmware emailed over.

Emailed over....Newer than the 32_6b then? How do we get ahold of this?

[Terry @ BMS]

N54 is v32_8

[Payam @ BMS]

I need my cars back on the road so I can test.

[theredbird]

Originally Posted by Terry @ BMS

N54 is v32_8

Okay. Will it be placed here?
http://www.n54tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10605
Or should I be looking somewhere else for it? Thanks!

[Terry @ BMS]

I have not posted it yet since we're still doing development, if you want to test just drop me an email, and I can send the current test version.

[theredbird]

Originally Posted by Terry @ BMS

I have not posted it yet since we're still doing development, if you want to test just drop me an email, and I can send the current test version.

Will do. What's your email address? Didn't see one in your contact info.

[PR3CI5N335i]

This is cool. Great work T. Little things like this make me miss my N54.

[Steve @ BMS/Fuel-It!]

Yes, this is a very nice feature that we've been running and testing for a while. It'll really help with the tuning for those of you that run various ethanol mixes.

[hondaboy450r]

I can't begin to thank you Terry, and all others such as Steve @ Fuel-It, and everyone else who continues to help make this a user-friendly platform. The amount of time and effort you all put in to help with logs, develop new FREE software, etc. makes me extremely grateful for you guys. I honestly do not see a reason why to upgrade to another vehicle when after two years of owning my n54 features are still pouring out. Thank you all for making the ownership of my car that much more enjoyable.

[TySky07]

I swear Terry's constant JB4 enhancements will ensure I never sell this car platform (even after all the maintenance nightmares). Keep it up!

[trebila]

and what about non US cars ?
DMTL is present only on US cars.
EU or AUS cars don't have DMTL system, so I suppose the DME doesn't monitor any DMTL input signal, or am I wrong ?

[Terry @ BMS]

Originally Posted by trebila

and what about non US cars ?
DMTL is present only on US cars.
EU or AUS cars don't have DMTL system, so I suppose the DME doesn't monitor any DMTL input signal, or am I wrong ?

The input is present on all DME's so it should work just fine for EU cars.

PS. I know you'll be happy to have calculated torque back where it was in logs!

[Terry @ BMS]

Originally Posted by Steve @ BMS/Fuel-It!

Yes, this is a very nice feature that we've been running and testing for a while. It'll really help with the tuning for those of you that run various ethanol mixes.

I'm pretty excited about the possibility too. The flex fuel sensor is the most accurate way to determine E85 mixtures but even for those who have it, having the virtual sensor running in the background for the JB4 to compare with, provides a nice safety backup. We've all seen this video by now showing how flex fuel sensors pickup water or anything that is not gasoline as ethanol.

[Terry @ BMS]

Adding in new interface settings for all the various ethanol related setup functions. There are a lot of bases to cover....

WMI
FlexFuel
WMI + Flex Fuel
WMI + Port Injection
Port Injection only
Port Injection + Flex Fuel
WMI+FlexFuel+Port Injection

Then of course the Virtual FlexFuel sensor running in the background providing either a safety system for a hardwired ethanol sensor or a "close enough" ethanol content reading.

With all this the extra DME voltage input is actually going to come in very handy here when running multiple items like PI + WMI or WMI + FlexFuel....

[Bryce 135i]

@Terry- Any way I could get that update file? You can PM it over to me and if you need any logs or anything let me know. I dont have the sensor but I do run E85 mixes usually 4-5 gallons and since at the pump it is usually E70 I am targeting to get like an E30 blend but really am shooting in the dark. This could be awesome for me to help keep a consistent eye on the mix.

[500hp500tq]

AWESOME Terry!!!

[ShocknAwe]

This is amazing. Definitely want to try it out.