DerHase
Drag Racing Champion
- Location
- Hampton Roads, VA
- Car(s)
- 2019 GTI Rabbit
So I've been to VIR twice with my GTI, and before I do much to it, I'm trying to gather data before throwing cooling mods at it.
I already have VCDS which is great, but I don't want to have a laptop in the car on track for obvious reasons. Also I'm not a big fan of logging with it in general.
I didn't want to drop coin on OBD11 because of the subscription model, plus it's redundant having a specialty VW scan tool that is potentially less capable than VCDS.
I just switched from Android to an iPhone so my OLD(like 2010 or so old) ELM327 bluetooth adapter is no longer useful to me along with Torque for Android which was my previous "generic" go-to.
What I wanted was to be able to log some simple OBDII parameters while on track, and have it done as easily and effortlessly as possible. And make it idiot-proof. The other motivation was to use it on my other vehicles (2005 Sequoia and wife's 2022 Kia Niro EV) just for general monitoring and for the Sequoia, clearing a CEL that pops up and throw it into limp mode because of a failing secondary air injection system
After way too much time of scouring Youtube and forums, I think I found what looks to be very promising: OBDFusion ($9.99 in the app store) with a VeePeak BT 4.0 OBDII adapter ($30 on Amazon).
What I like MOST about this app... is that whatever logging parameters you want to have saved... it saves the list of them (which was a big gripe of mine with OBD11 according to users... you have to select everything from the list of ALL of it every single time you hook it up).
You can configure it to start logging automatically... so basically as long as my phone is nearby, and the adapter is plugged into the car... it is logging. There's no screwing around with my phone before heading out on track. I have to do that enough with my old Gopro Hero 3 and AIM Solo. Only downside is however you have your logging preferences set up... it will log these same items for ALL of your vehicles. So I can't watch fuel system items on my Sequoia, and IAT/ECT/etc on the GTI (automatically). Gotta go into the logging preferences and change them each time.
You can monitor live data on gauges and stuff if you want. Frankly it's not as good as Torque Pro with regards to the gauge interface/editing/options, etc. but it gets the job done. For these, they DO save your preferences on a per-vehicle basis.
Everything gets saved in a .csv file so you can upload to datazap... or even use the data on a video layover in Racerender which I verified does work (I just grabbed a random video and attached the test data file to ensure it works for the screenshot below). I do need to upgrade to one of the paid versions of Racerender to be able to edit guage faces and stuff, but that's OK. It'll make it neat to see where the ECT and IAT fluctuates, plus log throttle position.
I have a screenshot attached of the logs made. My phone isn't on/app not opened/etc for half of those. It's great because you just plug the adapter in, turn the car on and it's done in the background.
Note that the OBDII TPS runs from like 13 to 83% or so, not 0-100. I haven't messed with it yet, but I should be able to write a custom PID that will convert it to 0-100 scale. I've done it in the past with Racerender using data from Racechrono(app I used when I had Android).
I am not sure if anyone has really played with these generic OBDII scanners much on these cars because of the OBD11 and VCDS availability and functionality... but I haven't figured out how to log engine oil temp or DSG temp yet. Those are the two other things I'd *like* to log.. but realistically oil temp can at least be monitored on the dash and it's easy enough to remember the highest temps seen.
Attached are a few screenshots from the app from screwing with it the last few days in my limited free time... and a screenshot messing with Racerender to confirm the csv is useable. IATs are stupid waiting in line for Chic Fil A with the stock intercooler FWIW.
Also here is my test file uploaded to datazap:
https://datazap.me/u/derhase/obdfusion-log-testing?log=0&data=1-2-3-4-5&solo=2
If anyone has any insight on adding custom PIDs that would be great. Not sure if there is capability of pulling stuff from non-ECM modules (DSG oil temp, steering angle, brake pressure, etc), but I know that engine oil temp at the very least should be doable.
I'll be running this setup at VIR next weekend, so hopefully within the next couple weeks I'll have a video together.
In the meantime, if you're interested in screwing with this same setup... this video was probably the most helpful in setting it up to log how I want, etc.
I already have VCDS which is great, but I don't want to have a laptop in the car on track for obvious reasons. Also I'm not a big fan of logging with it in general.
I didn't want to drop coin on OBD11 because of the subscription model, plus it's redundant having a specialty VW scan tool that is potentially less capable than VCDS.
I just switched from Android to an iPhone so my OLD(like 2010 or so old) ELM327 bluetooth adapter is no longer useful to me along with Torque for Android which was my previous "generic" go-to.
What I wanted was to be able to log some simple OBDII parameters while on track, and have it done as easily and effortlessly as possible. And make it idiot-proof. The other motivation was to use it on my other vehicles (2005 Sequoia and wife's 2022 Kia Niro EV) just for general monitoring and for the Sequoia, clearing a CEL that pops up and throw it into limp mode because of a failing secondary air injection system
After way too much time of scouring Youtube and forums, I think I found what looks to be very promising: OBDFusion ($9.99 in the app store) with a VeePeak BT 4.0 OBDII adapter ($30 on Amazon).
What I like MOST about this app... is that whatever logging parameters you want to have saved... it saves the list of them (which was a big gripe of mine with OBD11 according to users... you have to select everything from the list of ALL of it every single time you hook it up).
You can configure it to start logging automatically... so basically as long as my phone is nearby, and the adapter is plugged into the car... it is logging. There's no screwing around with my phone before heading out on track. I have to do that enough with my old Gopro Hero 3 and AIM Solo. Only downside is however you have your logging preferences set up... it will log these same items for ALL of your vehicles. So I can't watch fuel system items on my Sequoia, and IAT/ECT/etc on the GTI (automatically). Gotta go into the logging preferences and change them each time.
You can monitor live data on gauges and stuff if you want. Frankly it's not as good as Torque Pro with regards to the gauge interface/editing/options, etc. but it gets the job done. For these, they DO save your preferences on a per-vehicle basis.
Everything gets saved in a .csv file so you can upload to datazap... or even use the data on a video layover in Racerender which I verified does work (I just grabbed a random video and attached the test data file to ensure it works for the screenshot below). I do need to upgrade to one of the paid versions of Racerender to be able to edit guage faces and stuff, but that's OK. It'll make it neat to see where the ECT and IAT fluctuates, plus log throttle position.
I have a screenshot attached of the logs made. My phone isn't on/app not opened/etc for half of those. It's great because you just plug the adapter in, turn the car on and it's done in the background.
Note that the OBDII TPS runs from like 13 to 83% or so, not 0-100. I haven't messed with it yet, but I should be able to write a custom PID that will convert it to 0-100 scale. I've done it in the past with Racerender using data from Racechrono(app I used when I had Android).
I am not sure if anyone has really played with these generic OBDII scanners much on these cars because of the OBD11 and VCDS availability and functionality... but I haven't figured out how to log engine oil temp or DSG temp yet. Those are the two other things I'd *like* to log.. but realistically oil temp can at least be monitored on the dash and it's easy enough to remember the highest temps seen.
Attached are a few screenshots from the app from screwing with it the last few days in my limited free time... and a screenshot messing with Racerender to confirm the csv is useable. IATs are stupid waiting in line for Chic Fil A with the stock intercooler FWIW.
Also here is my test file uploaded to datazap:
https://datazap.me/u/derhase/obdfusion-log-testing?log=0&data=1-2-3-4-5&solo=2
If anyone has any insight on adding custom PIDs that would be great. Not sure if there is capability of pulling stuff from non-ECM modules (DSG oil temp, steering angle, brake pressure, etc), but I know that engine oil temp at the very least should be doable.
I'll be running this setup at VIR next weekend, so hopefully within the next couple weeks I'll have a video together.
In the meantime, if you're interested in screwing with this same setup... this video was probably the most helpful in setting it up to log how I want, etc.
Attachments
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1D3E062C-B312-49AE-9367-DB3A1896FD40.PNG -
383CC19A-E7E1-4120-8A91-AE51E5BC48D2.PNG -
37BFFE2E-1192-40BD-BA8E-566ECEE2C559.JPG -
racerender csv test.JPG
