Hey guys, im looking to buy tuning software, HPT. My question is: Is HPT properly used going to be as effecient as a dyno tune? I want to learn how to tune my truck either way, but need to know the most effecient way. Thanks

 

Yes it certainly should be, your using the same tools they use to tune it on the dyno..

 

Right but, is a street tune as effective? I would think it would be, but I don't know.

 

the Dyno SIMULATES real driving. Really driving IS really driving.

You do the math

 

Thanks, I never really thought about getting into tuning until now, I'm sure I'll have many more questions in time. Thank you for being so cordial with my dumb question.

 

We all have dumb questions. Just don't take people so seriously when they call you out for asking one. Gotta be able to laugh

 

An effective tune should be based on dyno-derived data . It is not possible to know if a 5.3L needs 28* or 32* of timing at part throttle at 3200rpm purely based on street-derived data.

 

Yes...in english: there is no way you can hold rpm and load on the street. For spark tuning nothing will work like a load bearing dyno. Buy the software and learn, then rent some dyno time.

 

The big key factor to using the dyno and an important one at that is having the good steady state conditions for airflow modeling (ve and maf) and for spark tuning. If you arent fighting transient conditions you can save a ton of time and gas when working on the ve and maf on the dyno as well as being able to hold the engine steady at certain load and rpms to dial in spark.

 

the main disadvantage to using a dyno would be $$ and dynos could cut the time used to tune a vehicle. On the other side of the coin $$ being a factor there is usually more ways to do something and there are good tunes that are developed by doing street tunes. I know of one very good professional tuner that has his own dyno and he told me he still prefers to do street tuning first then puts the car on the dyno to verify and tweek! He told me he prefers that because he can get a better feel for the driveability as he is doing the tune by driving.
On HP Tuners one can do a histogram and log for delivered engine torque and while it does not replace a dyno exactly in numbers it does provide an indication similar to a dyno as to the progress been made.
A professional tuner may not have the time to put into street tune then dyno tune every vehicle depending on his prices, but for a guy tuning and learning in his own vehicle time is not a factor while $$ may be.