Engine Diagnostics

Topic: Engine Diagnostics (Read 2653 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #25 – August 06, 2013, 01:18:32 am

Still agree on the MPH, to me is more vital than being off a few thousand miles per 100,000.0 miles, I call that nit pickin, now if my MPH read out was off by 2 or 3, would fix it. On flat land the VMSpc & GPS are in total MPH harmony, they disagree on mountains up/down a little, the steeper, the more they disagree.

Also feel the VDO speedometer is not as accurite as the VMSpc readout, old analog displays rarely are spot on correct.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #26 – August 06, 2013, 01:20:19 am

I am truly OCD - spent the last 4 hours setting up the screen. So cool. I can't wait to see all of the thingies move.

By the way- Does the program notify you re: diagnostic errors? If so, how is it done?

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #27 – August 06, 2013, 08:30:48 am

Dave, my mph, and speed match. It is just the odometer that is off by 400 miles and it never changes. I know you can go in and adjst Silverleaf for the initial difference but it does not matter and I thought I was the ony one. I wonder if foretravel tests them before hooking up the odometer. I doubt back and forth during construction is that big a difference.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #28 – August 06, 2013, 10:13:07 am

I was just looking at the manual last night and there is a section for displaying engine (and transmission, I guess) diagnostic messages. Be sure to download the manual from the VMSpc download page. It is a pdf file.

Agree on miles since new and speed. VMSpc is probably more accurate. The manual says tire changes can change what it reports. Same with MPH. A slightly bigger tire diameter will increase actual MPH and miles moved but VMSpc will not change what it reports unless you tell it to. Engine RPMs, transmission gear, final drive ratio and tire diameter are all part of these equations. VMSpc knows the engine and transmission you have but must be making assumptions about final drive ratios and tire size. They give all the directions you need to make both absolute and proportional changes to almost all of their gauges. Make 'em read whatever you want. Warp speed, Mr. Checkov. Engage!

Roger

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #29 – August 10, 2013, 01:45:21 pm

Current VMSpc screen design. Haven't driven with this design yet...... Anything else I should display that I don't have??? Thoughts?

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #30 – August 10, 2013, 02:25:35 pm

do you display what gear you are in? I like that on my display

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #31 – August 10, 2013, 02:45:55 pm

That is the key for the VMSpc, you can display what ever, any way you like, doubt there are two identical displays. Sone items are more important that others, so I have them displayed a little larger. Choices are endless.
One of the MUST have items to keep me smiling.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #32 – August 10, 2013, 04:25:45 pm

I keep calling but no apple till end of year.

Bob

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #33 – August 10, 2013, 04:32:54 pm

Good start. I keep fussing around with my display. I find the vertical bar chart and the horizontal moving line graph don't do much for me. I have the key things I look at stacked up on one side, oil pressure, engine coolant temp, turbo temp, battery volts, transmission temp. Minimized labels, red/yellow/green indicator lights. A quick glance, all green good to go. I also like the gauge that shows miles 'til empty, gallons left and recent mpg. This one is very useful and seems to be pretty accurate. A clock is good too.

When I first hooked mine up I was looking at it all the time. Now i can just glance at it an know my key indicators are OK. The two ?? will show range and gear. RPM and gear and speed make it pretty easy to find the sweet spots (around 1375 rpm for the ISM11) and recent and immediate MPG gives you a pretty good feel for what effects what.

Don't lose track of driving lookin at the display. Lights catch your eye pretty fast. I think you can set audible alarms as well.

Have fun
Roger

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #34 – August 10, 2013, 04:33:51 pm

Scott, yes you missed off the red light for when you want a coffee (or tea) that is supposed to blink in front of Carol!!
I have a few more things but my screen is bigger (netbook) but looks like you have the main things covered
John H

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #35 – August 10, 2013, 04:35:03 pm

Quote from: Home2fromHastings – August 10, 2013, 04:32:54 pm

Good start. I keep fussing around with my display. I find the vertical bar chart and the horizontal moving line graph don't do much for me. I have the key things I look at stacked up on one side, oil pressure, engine coolant temp, turbo temp, battery volts, transmission temp. Minimized labels, red/yellow/green indicator lights. A quick glance, all green good to go. I also like the gauge that shows miles 'til empty, gallons left and recent mpg. This one is very useful and seems to be pretty accurate. A clock is good too.

When I first hooked mine up I was looking at it all the time. Now i can just glance at it an know my key indicators are OK. The two ?? will show range and gear. RPM and gear and speed make it pretty easy to find the sweet spots (around 1375 rpm for the ISM11) and recent and immediate MPG gives you a pretty good feel for what effects what.

Don't lose track of driving lookin at the display. Lights catch your eye pretty fast. I think you can set audible alarms as well.

Have fun
Roger

Can you select round gauges with moving needles for any of the functions?

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #36 – August 10, 2013, 05:03:47 pm

Bob, since you're checking on it, please post what you learn about using Apple products for the readouts. We're all Mac here and will be doing some computer replacements/upgrades fairly soon and I'd like to get the right item for this.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #37 – August 10, 2013, 05:10:10 pm

I looked at the manual. I don't see any round gauges with wagging pointers. Looks like the glass panel displays in the new coaches have them but not with VMSpc.

The digital displays are so much faster to get info from. 1375 RPM doesn't take to much visual processing and interpolation. Most of the gauges can be configured with a bar across the bottom that will move left and right to give you an analog view. A couple of mine are that way but i don't "see" that part of the display. Transmission temp is 200, indicator light is green, all I need to know. I want to see at a glance that all is OK. If not I can pay attention to the exceptions.

I would like to add retarder temp and front and rear air pressure. All I have to do is figure out the PID # for those. Not sure i am going to find the air pressures.

It is sort of like TPMS. I look at it once in a while but want it to squawk when I need to pay attention.

Roger

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #38 – August 10, 2013, 05:21:08 pm

Is anyone running a Windows OS (7 or

using Parallels or Fusion5 to run VMSpc?

Lots of folks run Windows apps on their Apple computers. I don't have one to try but it might be a way for "all Apple" folks to have a go. We use several versions of Windows, OSX, iOS and Android in our world.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #39 – August 10, 2013, 05:35:24 pm

I just bought a netbook at Costco with Windows on it and use that only for the Silverleaf. Works well.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #40 – August 10, 2013, 05:59:06 pm

Quote from: Home2fromHastings – August 10, 2013, 05:10:10 pm

I looked at the manual. I don't see any round gauges with wagging pointers. Looks like the glass panel displays in the new coaches have them but not with VMSpc.

The digital displays are so much faster to get info from. 1375 RPM doesn't take to much visual processing and interpolation. Most of the gauges can be configured with a bar across the bottom that will move left and right to give you an analog view. A couple of mine are that way but i don't "see" that part of the display. Transmission temp is 200, indicator light is green, all I need to know. I want to see at a glance that all is OK. If not I can pay attention to the exceptions.

I would like to add retarder temp and front and rear air pressure. All I have to do is figure out the PID # for those. Not sure i am going to find the air pressures.

It is sort of like TPMS. I look at it once in a while but want it to squawk when I need to pay attention.

Roger

Long ago cruising in traffic with a 40' 8v92 bluebird and grooving on all the gauges and buttons I looked up and had a car stopped right in front of me. Woah baby. Distracted driving.

Sat in a f18 cockpit 30 years ago and the round gauges with red pointers were set so the correct position for that function had the needle vertical. Any deviation was where your attention was needed. Quick glance or peripheral vision. You died if too distracted.

Hope the apple version allows round rotatable Gauges with needles myself.

I am excellent at interpolation but the rate of change in digits will test anyone's abilities.

Multiply the numbers on the display and your brain may display the blue screen error 404 file not found message. Haha.

Interesting the glass dash has round gauges. Older rich guys need more help.

My buddy has the ability to build glass dashes in coaches. Fab and lazer or water cut whatever material panels are needed and can electro luminance them from the rear.

He showed me a 1991 Angola coach prevost with a custom dash yesterday.

I do like the 97's dash although the way it is.

I have a two screen display already with my Garmin nav and my iPad that I switch between maps and all stays and gas buddy and the weather channel and the weather radar.

Adding in the silverleaf iPad will be fun but I think it needs to be off to the side above the dash and closer to the drivers window. Big thick walnut shade frame to clamp a adjustable ram type claw mount to looks good. I use the small Garmin to keep a continual mileage and average mph and running times in total and never reset it till home. And it displays the mph in my off axis vision. Its main screen shows current speed limits.

Sure is fun. Works pretty well moving as far as data transfers and signal strengths. Need a multiplier maybe....

Bob

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #41 – August 10, 2013, 06:08:46 pm

Dave M - I like stuff too. Would love to be able to justify a resonator.

I was looking for a retarder temp too. Didn't see it so loaded trans temp. Thought that would do for now.

Good Idea about the RED or GREEN. Will keep that in mind going forward.

I'm sure I will modify the configuration of the gauges as I get to know how it works.

I think I will use all of the instruments on the coach as I did while flying.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #42 – August 10, 2013, 06:22:40 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – August 10, 2013, 06:08:46 pm

Dave M - I like stuff too. Would love to be able to justify a resonator.

I was looking for a retarder temp too. Didn't see it so loaded trans temp. Thought that would do for now.

Good Idea about the RED or GREEN. Will keep that in mind going forward.

I'm sure I will modify the configuration of the gauges as I get to know how it works.

I think I will use all of the instruments on the coach as I did while flying.

I think I am going to do the resonator also. I have the unit and need to get with Barry at his freight liner shop and install it.

My coach falls on its face to me at higher rpms. Never felt any DP that runs like this. Two shops checked it and I am sure its as ok as I can be. Plus Richard had a silverleaf hooked to it and said it showed everything was ok. Driven lots of DP Rvs and I really think this is choked off too much. Would be surprised if a big change was not the result. I can get the m11's program redone to fuel it up I find but would need an EGT gauge and monitoring for safety. Exhaust first. Then we will see.

Bob

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #43 – August 10, 2013, 06:26:07 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – August 10, 2013, 06:08:46 pm

I was looking for a retarder temp too. Didn't see it so loaded trans temp. Thought that would do for now.

It's not a default item; you have to define it yourself. Retarder Temperature on Silverleaf VMSpc

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #44 – August 10, 2013, 07:03:18 pm

That is news, concerning a retarder fluid temp sender, There is the sump temp sender, max temp at this point is 250f, so if there also has the retarder sender, would be good, so need verification on that one. Might be a derived reading as VMSpc has on some readings.
The retarder temp is much higher than the sump, why they want the sump limited to the 250 f..
Never a dull day

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #45 – August 10, 2013, 07:55:33 pm

Also should mention while discussing the Allison Transmission Fluid requirements with the former Allison Fluids engineer concerning the Transynd (?) ATF, the comment was made concerning the reason for limiting the sump temp to the 250 f because the temps at retarder discharge would be 50 f hotter than sump, and that was the limit.
"as I understand from our discussion"
Surely someone has a different take on this.

Also per Mark Harvey, there is only the sump sensor as I under stand from our talk on this subject.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #46 – August 10, 2013, 07:58:58 pm

Resonator easy to justify, pay for itself

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #47 – August 10, 2013, 09:18:35 pm

Michelle - again you are a wonder.

Thanks Tim - really needed to hear that.....

Went to - Advanced -> Parameter Editor -> New - entered PID 120 and added all values and erased Battery Volts. DUH

Any one know what the PID is for Battery Volts or where I can find them. I have applied for Silverleaf forum password but have not received it yet. ARGH.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #48 – August 10, 2013, 09:25:08 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – August 10, 2013, 09:18:35 pm

Michelle - again you are a wonder.

Nah, just plagued with an odd memory capability (all those things I want to forget from high school? Yup - vivid as the day they happened

)

Quote

Any one know what the PID is for Battery Volts or where I can find them. I have applied for Silverleaf forum password but have not received it yet. ARGH.

The Google says 168. Seached the Web for Cummins PID Battery Volts

-M

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #49 – August 10, 2013, 09:26:57 pm

There is a simple gauge for battery volts in the VMSpc selections.

I used a paint pen and put a green dot on the dash analog transmission temp gauge at 200 and at 180 for the coolant temp. Sort of like a rotatable target line.

Roger

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