Magnuson Supercharger Tuning Questions...

Sorry, I originally posted this in the Technical Chat. Performance & Tuning was the appropriate spot...



Hey everyone,

I have searched this topic heavily, and it has raised more questions than answers.

Here's where I'm at now...

I have a bone stock '12 Tacoma DCLB 4x4 with the 4.0L. Last week, I pulled the trigger on a Magnuson SC. I happened to be in SoCal and walked into the shop. Spoke with Dan, he offered me a good deal and I took it. It's being shipped to my place in Idaho and should arrive tomorrow. I plan on doing the install sometime later this month when I'm back home from work.

I got the SC because I want to pull a small travel trailer (around 3500lbs). The boost in power is nice, but just being able to have sea-level horsepower for towing in the mountains is the only reason I got it. I want to keep everything as reliable as possible. I'm not even planning on changing the intake or pulley.

At the time, I was aware that Magnuson supplied their tune, but not all the issues behind the Bully Dog Tuner. Now I am considering getting the TRD tune from the dealer, but the only issue (from what I've read) is that my ECU got the reflash to stop the pinging a few years back. I've also read that a few of you have had no trouble with the BD tuner. Are you running everything stock? From what I can tell, those who have the most problems with the BD are when things get modified. Then you're stuck with the BD.


My questions are:

-If I plan on keeping everything stock. The pulley, intake, exhaust and what not. Will the leaner BD tune be ok?

-Will the Leaner BD tune be safe for towing when on the boost under a load for long periods when climbing a hill with a trailer?

-Is the TRD factory SC tune even an option for me since the ping reflash? Will the BD tune work with the ping reflash?

-Does the BD tuner let you select different maps for stock/performance/towing?

-If the tune in the BD is from Magnuson, what's the deal with the other tunes available from BD?

-Is the main issue the Tacoma ECU not allowing you to readily switch back and forth between tunes? Or once the BD is installed, you can only switch between their tunes.


I though I had this all figured out... Spoke with a Toyota tech today, not much help. Still waiting to hear back from Dan at Magnuson.

 

I think you should still be able to get the trd flash. I would at least try.
Keeping everything stock helps maybe but BD is still a gamble.
Once you go bd your stuck with it. You can switch between tunes but typically there isnt a need and its not on the fly. It takes hooking up a battery charger and about 10 min or so.
There isnt a specific bd flash for towing.

 

I think that's what I'll do. At least try the TRD first. I just need to get a hold of Magnuson to make sure there are no hang ups with the BD and my ping reflash from the dealer. I mentioned the dealer reflash to Dan and he didn't seem to be aware of it? Sure would be a PITA to install everything to find out my ECU won't accept a tune.

I used to have an SVT Focus with a Diablo tuner. When you loaded the performance tune, your factory tune was saved in the tuner. I used to have to swap tunes every time I'd go to smog it. I just figured the BD tuner and Taco ECU worked the same way.

 

Lots of good info in here. @loginfailed should be able to answer some questions regarding the BD tune.
Some have had no issues and others not so lucky.
If i were to do it all over I'd have the dealer do the TRD flash. My advise would be to have the dealer do the flash. BD tune last resort.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-group-buy-2nd-gen-4-0-engine.454464/page-228

 

If the ping update is a later calibration ID than the TRD flash, then you'll have to replace the ECU to use the TRD flash.

If you've already bought the kit with the Bullcrappy Dog, just try it. If it doesn't work out, just replace the ECU. You can find used ECUs on eBay for under $200.

 

^ He is right. After ECU update (ping), the TRD flash is not possible.
See the TSB and the new calibration: https://www.tacomaworld.com/attachments/t-sb-0044-14-pdf.282174/
And target calibrations for the TRD flashes:


Sorry, the page for the manual is missing.

Dan should be aware about this, is he? No?

This could explain some bad experiences about the Bully Dog flash.

 

Spoke with Dan again he was able to answer my questions and he looked into the update a bit more. They didn't run into that issue with their 2015 they installed 0001 on. Yeah, looks like I'm SOL for the TRD tune unless I get another ECU without the update so I'll just go with BD and see how that works. I also asked Dan about the 2.85 pulley, and he sad with their tune he couldn't see it being an issue at all.

Thanks for all the info. Now I just have to wait a couple weeks to get off work before I can start on it. At least the two boxes are sitting in my garage, nice and safe!

 

FWIW, I'm now over 10k with the BD tune and no issues.

 

Good to hear! What intake and pulley are you running? I'm going to keep the stock intake. Just the secondary air filter is removed. I'm now thinking about the 2.85 pulley down the road. If it's safe, it would be a easy way to recover some power on the HOT days in the mountains.

 

Stock pulley and AFE dry air filter, in place of the K&N.

After the warranty expires, I'll change to the 2.85" or 2.82".

 

Worked fine in death valley

 

Summer or winter?

Death Valley is around 275 ft below sea level. On a 120f day that puts the density altitude at around 3600 ft. That's about where I'm at at home on a mild spring day. Ambient temp would have to be around 10f out at home for the air density to equal a standard day in Death Valley. It would be interesting to see how much boost you could get down in DV when it's below freezing! You won't find much drier air than that either.

 

August........ it was 110 most the time for that drive and passing thru areas we had some extreme altitude changes.

as for max boost, I have only seen 8.5
I hit that normally wether at home (800ft), or 20min away (sea level) and temps from 40s to 100. Peak doesnt seem to change much for me.

 

In the FS forum, someone just posted a '10 ECU with the trd blower program. For $100

 

I'll have to see if the '10 will work... I have a '12, and I know there were a few small changes like that stupid cold air pump.

 

*UPDATE*

Just installed my SC last weekend with the BD tune. After about 500 miles everything is good. Driveability is drastically improved. Just the throttle response while cruising between 1500-2000 RPM is like night & day. And power is just there when you need it throughout the rest of the RPM range. With an empty truck the engine hardly feels like it's working.

Unexpectedly, I have also seen a noteable increase in MPGs. Just cruising it to work I'm seeing over 19 (mixed traffic, hwy & freeway) and between 17 & 18 in traffic and city driving. I was getting around 17 and 15-16, respectively, before the SC. It's still not great on I-84 at 80 mph, but it no longer shifts in and out of OD with the slightest grade or headwind.

It took a couple hundred miles before it felt like the ECU had figured everything out. Every day it felt like it ran easier and pulled harder. Definitely worth it. Can't wait to get the 2.85 pulley on there.

 

Did you install an AFR gauge?

 

I have not. Not hearing any pinging under a load while in boost though.

 

I strongly encourage you to get a wideband afr gauge. Just because it seems ok doesnt mean it is. Mine was running crazy lean and if I didnt have an afr gauge I wouldn't have known otherwise.