Megasquirt ECU Tuning with TunerStudio

Guidance for tuning Megasquirt engine management systems using TunerStudio software.

Core Concepts

Required Fuel Equation

Megasquirt calculates fuel delivery using: CODEBLOCK0

Required Fuel is the base injector pulse width at 100% VE, 100kPa MAP, standard temperature.

Key Tuning Tables

Table	Purpose	Typical Resolution
VE Table	Volumetric efficiency vs RPM/MAP	16×16 or 12×12
AFR Target

Desired air-fuel ratio vs RPM/MAP | 12×12 | | Spark Advance | Ignition timing vs RPM/MAP | 12×12 or 16×16 | | Warmup Enrichment | Fuel correction vs coolant temp | 10-20 points | | TPS-based Accel | Accel enrichment vs TPSdot | 10-20 points | | MAP-based Accel | Accel enrichment vs MAPdot | 10-20 points |

Tuning Workflow

1. Base Configuration

Before tuning, verify:

• - Engine displacement and cylinder count
• Injector flow rate (cc/min or lb/hr)
• Injector staging (simultaneous, alternating, sequential)
• Required Fuel calculation matches injector size
• Ignition input/output settings match hardware
• Trigger wheel and ignition mode configured

2. Sensor Calibration

Calibrate sensors before tuning:

• - CLT (Coolant Temp): Set resistance values at known temps
• IAT (Intake Air Temp): Similar to CLT
• TPS: Set closed and WOT positions (0-100%)
• MAP: Verify atmospheric reading at key-on
• O2 Sensor: Calibrate wideband controller output range

3. VE Table Tuning (Speed Density)

Method 1: Wideband O2 Feedback

1. 1. Enable EGO correction with moderate authority (±15-20%)
2. Set realistic AFR targets
3. Run engine at steady state (fixed RPM/load cell)
4. Allow EGO to correct, note correction percentage
5. Adjust VE by inverse of correction (if +10% correction, increase VE by 10%)
6. Save and move to next cell

Method 2: Calculate from Measured AFR
CODEBLOCK1

Tuning Order:

1. 1. Start with idle region (600-1000 RPM, 30-50kPa)
2. Light cruise (1500-2500 RPM, 40-60kPa)
3. Part throttle acceleration
4. WOT high load
5. Transition regions

4. AFR Target Table

Set targets based on application:

Condition	Target AFR	Lambda
Idle	13.5-14.5	0.92-0.99
Light Cruise

14.5-15.5 | 0.99-1.06 |
| Part Throttle | 13.5-14.5 | 0.92-0.99 |
| WOT Naturally Aspirated | 12.5-13.0 | 0.85-0.88 |
| WOT Turbo/Supercharged | 11.5-12.5 | 0.78-0.85 |

5. Ignition Timing

Base Settings:

• - Set cranking advance (typically 10-20° BTDC)
• Set idle advance (typically 15-25° BTDC)
• Build spark table following engine-specific guidelines

Typical Spark Advance Table (Naturally Aspirated):

• - Low RPM/High Load: 10-20°
• Low RPM/Low Load: 25-35°
• High RPM/High Load: 25-35°
• High RPM/Low Load: 35-45°

Knock Considerations:

• - Reduce timing 1-2° at a time if knock detected
• Add more fuel in knock-prone areas
• Use knock sensor feedback if available

6. Idle Control

Idle Valve PWM Settings:

• - Closed position: PWM at hot idle (typically 20-40%)
• Open position: PWM for cold start (typically 60-80%)
• Cranking position: PWM during start (typically 50-70%)

Idle Target RPM Table:

• - Hot: 700-900 RPM
• Cold (0°C): 1200-1500 RPM
• Interpolate between

7. Warmup Enrichment

Afterstart Enrichment:

• - Duration: 30-200 cycles (engine revolutions)
• Amount: 20-40% additional fuel
• Taper to zero over duration

Warmup Enrichment Curve:

• - -40°C: 150-200%
• 0°C: 120-140%
• 70°C (operating): 100%

8. Acceleration Enrichment

TPS-based (Alpha-N blending):

• - Threshold: 5-10%/sec TPSdot
• Enrichment: 10-30% added fuel
• Decay: 0.5-2 seconds

MAP-based (for MAP-dot systems):

• - Threshold: 10-30 kPa/sec
• Enrichment scales with rate of change

Cold Multiplier:

• - Increase accel enrichment when cold (1.5-3× at -20°C)

Advanced Features

Boost Control

Open Loop:

• - Duty cycle table vs RPM/target boost

Closed Loop (if supported):

• - PID parameters for wastegate control
• Target boost table vs RPM/gear

Launch Control

• - Set RPM limit (typically 4000-6000 RPM)
• Configure retard timing during launch (0-10° BTDC)
• Set fuel/ignition cut method

Flat Shift

• - Maintain throttle during shifts
• Brief fuel/ignition cut at shift point
• Retain boost between gears

Datalog Analysis

Key Parameters to Log

Parameter	What to Watch
RPM	Stability, limiter hits
MAP

Response to throttle, leaks | | AFR (wideband) | Deviation from target | | EGO Correction | Should stay within ±10% | | CLT | Reaches operating temp | | IAT | Heat soak effects | | Spark Advance | Matches table | | Injector PW | Headroom, max duty cycle | | TPS | Smooth operation, TPSdot |

Common Issues

Lean at Tip-In:

• - Increase TPS-based accel enrichment
• Check MAPdot sensitivity

Rich at Decel:

• - Enable deceleration fuel cut (DFCO)
• Set appropriate TPS threshold (typically <10%)
• Set RPM threshold above idle

Idle Hunting:

• - Check for vacuum leaks
• Adjust idle PID gains
• Verify TPS closed position
• Check ignition timing stability

Knock at High Load:

• - Reduce spark advance in affected cells
• Enrich mixture (reduce target AFR)

TunerStudio Specific

Project Setup

1. 1. Create new project → select firmware (MS1, MS2, MS3)
2. Load base tune (.msq file) or start from default
3. Connect to controller (serial, USB, or Bluetooth)
4. Sync with controller to load current settings

Tuning Interface

• - Basic/Customize Tuning: Navigate tables
• Table: View/edit individual tables
• Runtime Data: Real-time monitoring
• Datalog: Record and playback logs

Auto-Tune

• - Enable VEAL (VE Analyze Live) with wideband
• Set acceptable AFR range
• Drive through as many cells as possible
• Review and accept changes
• Disable when done

Safety Limits

Rev Limiter:

• - Soft limit: retard timing
• Hard limit: fuel/ignition cut
• Set 200-500 RPM above max desired

Overboost Protection:

• - Fuel cut above target pressure
• Ignition cut option

Lean Cut:

• - Disable injectors if AFR exceeds safe threshold
• Typically 15:1+ under load

MSQ Tune File Analysis

The skill can analyze .msq tune files to identify safety issues, optimization opportunities, and configuration problems.

Using the Analyzer

Run the analysis script on any MSQ file:

CODEBLOCK2

Or provide the tune file content directly for analysis.

How to Provide the MSQ File

Option 1: Paste the file content (Recommended)

• - Open the .msq file in a text editor (it's plain text)
• Copy the entire content
• Paste it directly into the chat: "Analyze this MSQ file: [paste content]"

Option 2: Upload the file

• - If your chat interface supports file attachments, attach the .msq file directly
• The skill will read and analyze it

Option 3: Provide a file path (if running locally)
CODEBLOCK3

Security Restrictions for Script Usage:

• - Only files with .msq extension are accepted
• Path traversal sequences (../) are blocked
• Symbolic links are not allowed
• File must be a regular text file (not binary)

Option 4: Share key sections
If the file is large, paste specific sections you're concerned about:

• - [veTable1] section for fuel map review
• INLINECODE6 for ignition timing
• INLINECODE7 for AFR targets
• INLINECODE8 for safety limits

Example Prompts

CODEBLOCK4

What Gets Analyzed

Safety Checks:

• - 🚨 Critical: AFR targets that could cause engine damage, excessive ignition timing
• ⚠️ Warnings: Rev limiter not configured, suspicious VE values, high injector duty

Configuration Review:

• - Required fuel calculation sanity check
• VE table range and smoothness
• AFR target appropriateness for NA vs forced induction
• Ignition timing ranges and knock risk assessment
• Cranking pulse widths
• Warmup enrichment curve
• Safety limits (rev limiter, overboost)

Optimization Opportunities:

• - Injector duty cycle headroom
• VE table smoothness (sudden jumps)
• Conservative vs aggressive timing maps

Interpreting Results

Example Analysis Output:
CODEBLOCK5

Common Issues Detected

High Priority:

• - No rev limiter configured
• Lean AFR targets under load (>14.0:1 at WOT)
• Ignition timing >45° (severe knock risk)
• Estimated injector duty >90%

Medium Priority:

• - VE values <20 or >120
• Large jumps between adjacent cells (>30%)
• Missing warmup enrichment taper
• Cranking PW too high/low for conditions

Low Priority:

• - Conservative timing that may leave power on table
• Overly rich AFR targets
• Excessive injector headroom

Tune Review Workflow

1. 1. Before First Start:

CODEBLOCK6

1. 2. After Changes:

CODEBLOCK7

1. 3. Before Dyno/Track:

CODEBLOCK8

Reference Materials

For detailed documentation, see:

• - references/tunerstudio-reference.md - Full TunerStudio documentation
• references/megasquirt-tuning-guide.md - Comprehensive tuning procedures

Quick Reference Formulas

Injector Duty Cycle:

DC% = (Injector PW / Injection Period) × 100

Keep under 85% for safety margin.

Required Fuel Calculation:

Required Fuel (ms) = (Engine CC × 5) / (Number of Injectors × Injector CC/Min) × 2

(The ×2 accounts for 2 rotations per cycle)

Airflow Estimation:
CODEBLOCK11

Safety Checklist

Before starting engine:

• - [ ] Injector flow rate correct in settings
• [ ] Ignition timing verified with timing light
• [ ] Fuel pump primes and holds pressure
• [ ] No fuel leaks
• [ ] Wideband O2 sensor warmed up
• [ ] Emergency fuel/ignition cut accessible

During tuning:

• - [ ] Monitor EGT if available
• [ ] Listen for detonation/knock
• [ ] Watch AFR on transitions
• [ ] Keep VE table changes conservative
• [ ] Save tune frequently with version notes