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OBD Torque Phone App

PostPosted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:52 am
by Seany Orrsum
With the new car, I am using my OBD2 BT adapter to connect to my phone/tablet for the real time diagnostics.

Mainly to monitor the boost/airflow and a few other key things without installing gauges.

Currently my boost gauge is a circular dial with 0 at the bottom and the top is 20/-20.
The left side of the gauge is positive values and the right is negative.

At idle, it sits at approx -17.4, under full acceleration it goes to 0, and under downhill coasting is hits up to -20-22.

Is anyone else familiar with that app able to help me configure my profile so that it correctly displays my boost (if the above is not accurate).
There is a adjustment to account for atmospheric pressure, currently is set to 0.

New to turbo engines, so I am still learning how things work.

Re: OBD Torque Phone App

PostPosted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 10:01 am
by kiwigene
The negative numbers sound normal (usually a vacuum measured in inches of mercury - google is your friend if you want to know more about historical measurements of pressure).
On idle and cruising you will always be pulling a vacuum. The positive numbers are usually in Bar or psi (pounds per square inch) (1 Bar - 14.7 psi). The Torque app is probably in psi.
Turbo cars can create positive "boost" pressure. A stock GT will see anywhere from ~8 psi to ~14 psi on "full acceleration" (depending if you have SI-drive and which mode you're in).
The fact you see only "0" on full acceleration seems a little strange. Perhaps you have a boost leak?

Re: OBD Torque Phone App

PostPosted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 10:07 am
by Seany Orrsum
My units are in Psi.

So with my idle of -17.4, hitting 0 Psi under hard acceleration is, mathematically, generating approx 17psi of boost.

Based on that, I should change my offset/adjustment in the car profile page so that my idle boost is at 0, so when I accelerate it shows positive numbers from a base of 0, to indicate the boost pressure?

Edit: I do have the SI-Drive and generally use the S-Sharp when the turbo is at temperature.

Double Edit: Some exploring the app and found a setting to change how the 'boost calculation method'. Default is the MAP sensor, after a google, others have said that using the MAF is better. There is also a 3rd option to use the ALT.

Re: OBD Torque Phone App

PostPosted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 1:25 pm
by Seany Orrsum
Separate post, because I think I have this sorted.

I ended up changing the boost calculation setting from MAP to MAF.

Now on idle it sits at -10. Under normal acceleration it ranged from 1 to -3.

Under foot to the floor I get losts of positive boost pressure, usually from 5-10psi.

Re: OBD Torque Phone App

PostPosted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 1:34 pm
by kiwigene
Seany Orrsum wrote:My units are in Psi.

So with my idle of -17.4, hitting 0 Psi under hard acceleration is, mathematically, generating approx 17psi of boost.

Based on that, I should change my offset/adjustment in the car profile page so that my idle boost is at 0, so when I accelerate it shows positive numbers from a base of 0, to indicate the boost pressure?

Edit: I do have the SI-Drive and generally use the S-Sharp when the turbo is at temperature.

Double Edit: Some exploring the app and found a setting to change how the 'boost calculation method'. Default is the MAP sensor, after a google, others have said that using the MAF is better. There is also a 3rd option to use the ALT.


Idle will not be "zero". You don't want it to read zero on idle. The engine is running and sucking air, so there is a vacuum. Should be about -20 in/Hg on warm idle (~-10psi).

A "normal" boost gauge has the vacuum measured in in/Hg (inches of mercury). The Torque app allows you the "uncheck" the box to make sure the -psi readings are in in/Hg.

My boost adjustment is 0.0 - so there should be no need to have any offset. I am using the default MAP sensor. Positive boost is still measured in psi (or bar).
So even if your whole gauge is in psi you should see ~-10psi on warm idle and a positive boost of ~14psi on WOT in S#.

Edit: wrote this before your post above...

Re: OBD Torque Phone App

PostPosted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 1:41 pm
by Seany Orrsum
Thanks for the reply anyway.

So when is boost, too much boost?

In just a small test, the gauge peaked at ~21psi after flooring it from an on ramp.

Edit: As for Psi, I guess I use it because I am familiar with the measurement, I've never used in/Hg before.

Re: OBD Torque Phone App

PostPosted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 1:53 pm
by kiwigene
Seany Orrsum wrote:Thanks for the reply anyway.

So when is boost, too much boost?

In just a small test, the gauge peaked at ~21psi after flooring it from an on ramp.

Edit: As for Psi, I guess I use it because I am familiar with the measurement, I've never used in/Hg before.


No worries. You should use whatever units you prefer.

Stock car? 21psi should not be possible... either a dodgy reading or you are about to lift your heads and will need to rebuild the engine :shock:

In all seriousness, boost spikes are not what you want to see. If your car is not tuned I recommend you get a tune ASAP.
The stock tune is not very good. I've used Matt McLeod to tune my car (KiDo_Tuning on this forum).

Re: OBD Torque Phone App

PostPosted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 2:39 pm
by Seany Orrsum
Ok, cheers for the heads up.

For now I'm going to use the logging function and see if spikes occur often, or if it was just a once off spike.

Another forum member (ferret89) recommended a local place, Coyote Tuning, which is very close to me, so I'm going to contact them first and see what they offer.