Unlock EcoBoost Performance: Advanced Knock Sensor Monitoring with Torque App Custom PIDs

For EcoBoost owners seeking a deeper understanding of their engine’s performance, especially when pushing boundaries with modifications or tuning, relying solely on factory gauges can be limiting. Enter the world of custom PID (Parameter IDs) and the Torque Pro app, a powerful combination that transforms your smartphone and an OBD2 adapter into a professional-grade car scanner. This guide will walk you through harnessing the power of custom PIDs, with a particular focus on the crucial knock sensor, to gain unparalleled insights into your EcoBoost engine’s health and performance.

Diving Deep into OBD2 PIDs and Engine Monitoring

Modern vehicles communicate a wealth of data through their OBD2 (On-Board Diagnostics II) system. PIDs are codes used to request specific pieces of information from your car’s computer, ranging from basic engine temperature to more intricate parameters like knock sensor readings. While standard OBD2 scanners provide access to generic PIDs, the true potential unlocks with custom PIDs, especially for performance-oriented engines like Ford’s EcoBoost.

For enthusiasts and DIY mechanics, tools like the Torque Pro app paired with a reliable OBD2 adapter (like the recommended MX adapter for its speed and multi-bus access) offer a cost-effective way to tap into this data stream. By adding custom PIDs to Torque Pro, you can create personalized dashboards displaying real-time data tailored to your monitoring needs.

The Crucial Role of the Knock Sensor PID

Among the numerous parameters you can monitor, the knock sensor PID stands out as exceptionally vital, particularly for turbocharged engines like the EcoBoost. Engine knock, or detonation, is a destructive combustion phenomenon that can lead to severe engine damage if left unchecked. It occurs when the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder ignites prematurely and uncontrollably.

Monitoring your knock sensor readings allows you to detect potential issues early, such as:

• Low Octane Fuel: Using fuel with an octane rating too low for your engine’s demands can induce knock.
• Overly Aggressive Tuning: Performance tunes that push the engine too far can increase the risk of knock.
• Engine Issues: Problems like carbon buildup, overheating, or faulty spark plugs can also contribute to knock.

By proactively monitoring knock, you can make informed decisions about fuel selection, tuning adjustments, or necessary maintenance, safeguarding your engine from potential harm.

Unlocking the Knock Sensor PID for EcoBoost Engines

Here’s how to integrate the knock sensor PID into your Torque Pro setup, allowing you to monitor this critical parameter in real-time:

Understanding the Knock PID Logic:

The knock PID for EcoBoost engines typically reports values ranging from negative to positive. A negative value generally indicates the ECU (Engine Control Unit) is adding timing in real-time, which is a desirable adaptive behavior to optimize performance. Conversely, a positive value signals that the engine is experiencing knock and the ECU is subtracting timing to protect the engine.

While minor knock readings (under 2-5 degrees) at part throttle might be normal, significant knock, especially at Wide Open Throttle (WOT), warrants immediate attention and investigation.

Knock Sensor PID Details for Torque Pro:

Here are the settings you’ll need to input into Torque Pro to add the knock sensor PID:

• OBD2 Mode and PID: 2203EC
• Long Name: Knock (or similar descriptive name)
• Short Name: Knock (or a shorter abbreviation)
• Minimum Value: -7.5 (adjust as needed based on your observations)
• Maximum Value: 7.5 (adjust as needed based on your observations)
• Scale Factor: 1
• Unit Type: degrees (or deg)
• Equation: ((signed(A)*256)+B)/512

Alternative Equation for Intuitive Knock Readings:

Some users find the default logic counterintuitive and prefer a positive value to represent timing addition (good) and a negative value to indicate timing subtraction (knock – bad). If you prefer this logic, use the following equation:

• Equation: ((signed(A)*256)+B)/-512

Choose the equation that aligns best with your understanding and monitoring preferences, but ensure you remember which logic you are using for accurate interpretation.

Important Note on “Per Cylinder” Knock:

It’s crucial to be aware that some tuners might configure knock readings to be “per cylinder” instead of “global.” In such cases, this global knock PID might always read zero. If you suspect this is the case, and you don’t observe timing adjustments (negative values) during light throttle, consult with your tuner to confirm your knock monitoring setup.

Alt text: A Bluetooth OBD2 adapter plugged into a car’s OBD2 port, with a smartphone displaying the Torque Pro app dashboard.

Expanding Your EcoBoost Monitoring: Additional Custom PIDs

Beyond knock monitoring, Torque Pro and custom PIDs empower you to monitor a wide array of other crucial parameters. Here are some valuable PIDs for EcoBoost engines, categorized for clarity:

Transmission Monitoring:

• Transmission Temperature:

  • OBD2 Mode and PID: 221E1C
  • Equation: (((signed(A)*256)+B)*(9/8)+320)/10
  • Unit Type: deg F

• Gear Selection Indicator:

  • PID: 221e12
  • Equation: A
  • Unit Type: Gear

• Gear Ratio:

  • PID: 221E19
  • Equation: ((A*256)+B) / 4096
  • Unit Type: Ratio

• Transmission Gear State (Park, Drive, etc.):

  • PID: 221e23
  • Equation: No equation needed, interprets raw data (70=Park, 60=Reverse, 50=Neutral, 46=Drive, 10=Manual)
  • Unit Type: State

Fuel System Monitoring:

• High Pressure Fuel Pump Desired Pressure:

  • PID: 2203dc
  • Equation: ((256*A)+b)*10*.145
  • Unit Type: PSI

• High Pressure Fuel Pump Rail Actual Pressure:

  • PID: 22F423
  • Equation: ((256*A)+b)*10*.145
  • Unit Type: PSI

• Fuel Pressure Differential (Virtual PID using Desired and Actual):

  • Equation: (VAL{High Pressure Fuel Pressure Desired})-(VAL{High Pressure Fuel Pressure Actual})
  • Unit Type: PSI

Temperature Monitoring:

• IAT1 (Intake Air Temperature – Pre-Intercooler):

  • PID: 22F40F
  • Equation: (A-40)*1.8+32
  • Unit Type: deg F

• Intercooler (CAC) Temperature (Charge Air Cooler – Post-Intercooler):

  • PID: 220461
  • Equation: (((signed(A)*256)+B)/64)*1.8+32
  • Unit Type: deg F

• IAT2 (Intake Air Temperature – Post-Throttle Body/Manifold):

  • PID: 2203CA
  • Equation: (A-40)*1.8+32
  • Unit Type: deg F

Boost and Turbo Monitoring:

• Wastegate Percentage:

  • PID: 220462
  • Equation: A/128*100
  • Unit Type: %

• Desired Boost:

  • PID: 220466
  • Equation: ((256*A)+B)/128*.145-14.7
  • Unit Type: PSI

• Throttle Inlet Pressure Sensor (Tracks Desired Boost):

  • PID: 22033E
  • Equation: ((256*A)+B)/128*.145-14.7
  • Unit Type: PSI

• Intake Manifold Pressure (Boost Gauge):

  • PID: 22F40B
  • Equation: A*.145-14.7
  • Unit Type: PSI

Other Useful PIDs:

• Learned Octane Ratio (LOR):

  • PID: 2203E8
  • Equation: (Signed(A)*256+B)/16384
  • Unit Type: Ratio

• ACC Pedal Position Percentage:

  • PID: 22032B
  • Equation: A/2 (Adjust as preferred for 0-100% range)
  • Unit Type: %

• RPM (Engine Speed):

  • PID: 22F40C
  • Equation: A/4
  • Unit Type: RPM

• DTC Count (Diagnostic Trouble Code Count):

  • PID: 22D137
  • Equation: A
  • Unit Type: Count

Alt text: Screenshot of Torque Pro app showing the custom PID settings screen with fields like OBD2 Mode and PID, Equation, and Units filled in.

Adding Custom PIDs to Torque Pro: Step-by-Step

You can add these custom PIDs to Torque Pro using two methods: bulk import or manual entry.

Method 1: Bulk Import (For Multiple PIDs)

1. Connect your Android phone to your computer via USB cable.
2. Locate the Torque Pro directory: Use a file explorer on your computer to navigate to your phone’s internal storage (or SD card). Look for a directory named .torque (you may need to enable “show hidden files” in your file explorer settings).
3. Find the “Extended PIDs” directory: Inside the .torque directory, locate the “ExtendedPIDs” folder.
4. Copy the CSV file: Download a pre-made CSV file containing EcoBoost PIDs (search online forums for “Torque Pro EcoBoost PIDs CSV”). Copy this CSV file into the “ExtendedPIDs” directory.
5. Import in Torque Pro: On your phone, open Torque Pro, go to “Settings” -> “Custom PIDs” -> “Import PIDs.” You should see the name of the CSV file listed. Select it to import the PIDs.

Method 2: Manual Entry (For Individual PIDs)

1. Open Torque Pro: Launch the Torque Pro app on your Android device.
2. Go to Settings: Tap the menu button and select “Settings.”
3. Navigate to Custom PIDs: Scroll down and tap on “Custom PIDs.”
4. Add a Custom PID: Tap the menu button again and select “Add custom PID.”
5. Enter PID Details: Carefully enter the “OBD2 Mode and PID,” “Equation,” “Units,” and other parameters as provided for each PID in the lists above.
6. Save the PID: Once you’ve entered all the details, tap the back button to save the PID.

Adding Gauges to Your Torque Pro Dashboard:

1. Go to Realtime Information: From the Torque Pro main menu, select “Realtime Information.”
2. Long Press to Add Gauge: Long-press on an empty area of the screen where you want to add a gauge.
3. Select “Add Display”: Choose “Add display” from the pop-up menu.
4. Choose Gauge Type: Select the type of gauge you prefer (e.g., Dial, Graph, Digital Display).
5. Select Custom PID: Scroll through the list of parameters and find the custom PID you added (e.g., “Knock,” “Trans Temp”).
6. Position and Customize: Position the gauge on your dashboard and customize its appearance as desired.
7. Repeat: Repeat steps 2-6 to add more gauges for other custom PIDs.

Conclusion: Unleash the Power of Data-Driven EcoBoost Performance

By integrating custom PIDs into your Torque Pro app setup, you transform your smartphone into a sophisticated car scanner capable of providing invaluable real-time data about your EcoBoost engine. Monitoring parameters like knock sensor readings, transmission temperature, and boost pressure empowers you to proactively maintain your vehicle, optimize performance, and gain a deeper understanding of your engine’s intricate workings. Start exploring these custom PIDs and unlock a new level of insight into your EcoBoost driving experience.