Fuel Nanny FAQ

by Bill #1031, additional comments by DHP#711
Please read the Disclaimer before attempting any work in this FAQ.
updated & edited by Kristian #562

 

The Fuel Nanny (FN) is produced by Techlusion, http://www.techlusion.com. It is now called the Techlusion "Power Box". The purpose of this page is to NOT act as an endorsement for nor to provide advertising for their products, simply information. You make your own mind up! The analog version of the FN is the 83i, the new digital version the TFi-1030i.

The NEWEST version is (will be) called the R259, but no-one has one yet as Techlusion are still sorting out problems with it. It has OEM (Bosch) Connectors so you do NOT have to splice the Wires (i.e. you can remove it without trace when you take the bike to the Dealer, just do a BMW Reset after Removal and Before you take it to the Dealer). With The R259 you also do NOT have to disconnect the O2 Sensor, so it is supposed to be better than the 83i or the 1030i in the Cruise Range.

What could the cause of the Stall and Surge symptoms be?

See also Custom Fixes for s & s

 

Sometimes at constant cruising speeds where low throttle is required I experience a slight surging? Is this a Stall and Surge problem symptom?

 I am looking for the wires leading to the fuel injector. Where are they?

 

   

 

Is there a non-destructive way to hook up the wires without using the Wire Taps. i.e. I don't want BMW to see it.

 

Version 1:

by Haakon #626

My non-destructive wiring is not something I am proud of. I just used stuff I had lying around. The narrow red connector that I use on the injector is widely used but I do not think you can get that type at a car accessories shop. That type is more commonly used on audio equipment and such. I will try to find both the male and female original connectors as used on the bike. With those, I could make a real nice extension wire to hook up the FN.

 

 

 

Version 2:

by Haakon #626

 

The Bosch dealer had a big box labeled "Bosch Motronic". It was filled with all sorts of connectors but the female one (to be used on the injector) was out of stock so he promised to order some. I got a couple of males, and he did not even want me to pay for those before I got the females too. He did not usually sell them, the box was to be used by the workshop when they had to change damaged connectors on cars - so he did not know the price. He was absolutely sure all Auto-electric workshops doing service on cars with Bosch electrics had the same box, as they all too often had to do service on the connectors.

 

The "writing" on the plug is: 09-4404-01 01 = Code 1 (there is a list of numbers, with just the last one changing, from ...-01 to ...-04 but this one is a "Code 1" -whatever that is).

 

OR

 

Where is a good point on the bike to ground the black wire.

 

Any other Grounding Points.?

 

Kristian #562 put it here, on the bolt, by adding a nut and a Spring Washer. Scrape the point off the ground point first though.

 

What about this “Control Mode” that Techlusion suggests.

Where is the oxygen sensor? How do I disconnect it?

 

What about Error Codes?

by DHP#711


The error codes are caused by a BMW sensor reading and are not true "errors" but code comments. The existing Fuel Nanny is analog and as such doesn't adjust for where BMW has these set which are apparently too low or high (whatever). You can ignore these codes as they shouldn't do anything. Personally, I think that 10.x is too rich at low settings and overcompensates changing idle and other things. Give me 9.x plus Fuel Nanny any day. There will be an upgrade program to the new all digital fuel nanny so if you have one now, I'd keep it and upgrade when available. It does much more than just S&S as it helps performance as well (like existing FN).

 

What do the NEW TFi-1030 box settings look like, from the Factory, before any changes?

 

Here's the Older 83i Settings, for various Airbox Mods, from Techlusion:

Any Installation Tips.?

Sure.

What about more information from/about Techlusion that's not on their site.?

 

What about Idle Adjustment?

This section by Brad G.

 

From the responses below it would appear that idle is either slightly higher with the FN, or takes longer to come down to idle. Here is what their web site says about that.

"Idle/Cruise: As fuel injection is very efficient, it considers idle and cruise to be virtually identical as far as their A/F ratio requirement goes (as opposed to carburetion), so the low speed adjuster (Green Adjustment Screw) can be set similar to an idle mixture screw on a carburettor. As the motorcycle accelerates under light to medium load, the ECU maintains an A/F ratio consistent with its emissions focus, and the TFi box makes slight modifications to that focus based on your drivability requirements."

They relate that green pot to the idle mixture screw on a carb. It has been so long since I had a bike with a carb I can't remember for sure but it seems like that adjustment will affect idle speed on a carbed bike so I guess the same could be true here. Next I pasted their instructions for setting the green pot.

"GREEN FUEL POT (functions like a fuel mixture screw on a carburettor) adjusts for the motorcycle's fuel requirement during light throttle operation from idling through highway cruising and steady throttle. To adjust this pot, make sure the bike is up to a full operating temperature, then while in neutral, pick a fast idle where it is not easy to hold a steady R.P.M. (about 2500-3000 R.P.M. on multi cylinder, 1800-2000 R.P.M. on twins), then slowly and evenly turn the green pot while listening to the exhaust note. You should hear the exhaust sound change from an irregular, uneven note to a even and smooth one. You may also see an increase in R.P.M. If you continue to turn the pot past this point to where the idle R.P.M. starts to drop, you can then return the pot setting back to a point half way between where the idle first smoothed out to the idle fall off point. "

I'm thinking that if not done just right this adjustment might result in higher than normal low idle RPM. They do say RPM may rise but this adjustment is not done at low idle. It is done at FAST idle. Of course they don't mention a good RPM for a single here. I used about 1800-2000. I would not be happy with an idle RPM of nearly 2000.

Can I disconnect the Oxygen Sensor even if I do NOT have a Fuel Nanny?

 

How do I remove the TFi box (and the little splice tap thingies)?

Q. If I upgrade to the latest TFi box with the OEM style connectors (i.e. the R259), I'll obviously be pulling out my original 83i. My question is, how do I 'repair' the stock wires if I pull off the splice taps? Won't there be a real weak point in the wires where the tap was? Should I just leave them in there and tape over the whole thing? Seems like a hack to undo a hack.

Any Feedback from Users.?


(Most recent info at bottom of list.)

What about Freeway "Cut-out" WITH the Fuel Nanny and what about the NEW Fuel Nanny?

What about Warranty issues ?

 

Of all the research I did on the Techlusion TFi box (aka Fuel Nanny) before I installed it, I have never encountered any definitive answer to whether or not it will cause BMW warranty problems. (i.e. getting hassled by the dealer when you need warranty work on the engine.) Have any Techlusion users had any problems/hassles along these lines ? DakotaDakar#1198

Fuel Nanny (Power box) Settings Database:

Please Contribute!

User Power Box Snorkel Mods Exhaust Air Filter O2 Sensor Green Yellow Red RPM Comments

Kristian #562

TFi-1030

Stock

Stock

Stock

Disconnected

4

3

1

5.5

Still testing, but stumbles all gone, more even low-end power on throttle roll-on

Dakota Dakar#1198

TFi-1030

Cut at Air Sensor

Stock with pulled baffle

 K&N filter

Disconnected

4

3

3

6

I am still fooling with settings. My red was too rich at 4, and may still be too rich at 3. I seem to still have a little midrange roughness, but it is subtle, and may be nothing more than drive lash. This uncorking has MUCH improved the Dakar. It is now a wheelie monster, crisp, smooth, far more fun to ride. Yes, I rode it with the open baffle alone, then added the K&N. The filter is a noticeable improvement...but not a dramatic one. And I had to tweak the pots on the Techlusion to get the gains I did. (Note: I did NOT use the "restrictor" foam that comes with the K&N filter.)

VRago # 328

TFi-1030

Cut Airbox

Sebring pipe, No Cat.

Stock

Disconnected

3

3

2

5

No s/s, not yet optimal, brisk, better fuel delivery, but not earthshaking improvement.

BradG #1002.

TFi-1030

 

Stock

K&N filter with no sponge insert

Disconnected

4

2

1

5.5

I had an analog model and removed it when I got the 10.x software. It ran better with the new software but it still had that slight surge under light throttle so I upgraded to the newer model box. The new software felt flat in places too but the extra fuel added by the box has solved that one too. Surging & Stalling. 01/01 GSA. Had both problems - Techlusion FN fixed it. New 10.x software was much better so I removed the FN, but after a few hundred miles I got tired of the remaining surge under light throttle and upgraded to the newer FN. All is good now (Techlusion recommends disconnecting the O2 sensor). Not one stall since 10.x and the bike is very smooth at all RPM settings. 10% lower fuel economy at present settings. After opening up the snorkel some I should try putting the Red back up to 2. If I ever get an exhaust I'll for sure bump it up to 2 or maybe 3. My feeling on this is that without a Dyno the best strategy is to tune for smoothness and tend to the lean side. Running too rich will just waste fuel and leaner is cleaner (but overall the bike is richer than stock any way, which is why the surge has disappeared).

Haakon # 626

83i

Removed

Stock

Stock

Disconnected

0

N/A

3

2.5

Snorkel completely removed, just used some plastic pieces to be sure the air filter was tightly in place. v 10.1 s/w, With the STD settings of the FN the red light was on at ALL times. Probable cause is that they do not use military specification components. Then all component values can vary quite a bit, but the price of the components are 1 tenth of the mil spec components. No big deal except that std settings may not be accurate.

Kristian #562 (2)

TFi-1030

Slight 3cm x 2 cm Cut-out at  inside of Intake

Stock

Stock

Disconnected

4

3

1

5.5

Noticeable increase in low-end, Throttle Roll-on Power just from the Small Snorkel Mod.

Dakota Dakar#1198( 2)

TFi-1030

Cut at Air Sensor

Stock with pulled baffle

 K&N filter

Disconnected

4.5 3 1 6

Any other comments: I have futzed with these settings a lot, and am pretty confident this is the best tune. I have had some hard-starting problems when the bike is cold, especially if it has not been started for several days. It acts
like it is flooded. Your current s/w: 7002/9.3.

Steve

83i

Stock

Stock

Stock

Disconnected

0

N/A

3

2.5

My fuel nanny is the older one. My bike is totally stock. No running mods except the Nanny. The settings are as it came except the last one (bottom
right) I forget the color. It is at 3 o'clock about a quarter of a turn leaner than stock. Runs like a top. About 55 mpg always. Bike has 16k miles on it.

Andre

TFi-1030

Cut at Air Sensor

Stock

Stock

Disconnected

6 3.5 2 5.5

Still messing with these settings. I am confident the Red is good. Any more than just above minimum and it cuts out near redline. Starting to wonder if I have gone too far with the Green. May be a tad rich at 5. Also think the RPM setting may be too low. Eager to see what others are running.

BradG #1002.

TFi-1030

 

Staintune

K&N filter with no sponge insert

Disconnected

4

2.5

1.5

5.5

An update to the info I already have there. I have recently enrichened the Y and R a 1/2 point. Just removed the majority of the snorkel. Previously I had only opened up the end some. Still using the K&N. Added the Staintune. At just over 12K miles it is running quite well. The valve adjustment may have resulted in a slight improvement as well but that could just be euphoria from having pulled it off without screwing anything up.
 

Jim #1022 83i Cut the snorkle back to the air sensor.  Stock Have a K&N filter. Stock 8

N/A

2

2

I did this last fall because I got tired of the stalling in traffic. The stalling is cured. The only problem is occasional "fuel starving" at freeway speeds which goes away with a throttle roll. I don't know if this is from the fuel injection or not. I have about 4500 miles on the bike and about 1000 miles of that is on dirt.

Dakota Dakar#1198( 2)

TFi-1030

Cut at Air Sensor

Stock with pulled baffle

 K&N filter

Disconnected

5 3 1 6.5

If anyone is reading this trying to decide if they should do it...DO IT. It REALLY improves the bike. Also: I have the "freeway sudden death" too. On a hundred-mile ride this week, it happened 3 or 4 times. Whacking the throttle open and closed a couple of times clears it. About the RPM setting: Still tweaking this since I dropped a tooth on the countershaft sprocket. May be too high now.
 

Kelly #1005 83i Stock Stock Stock Stock        

'01 GS, 7800 miles, 83i, stock FN settings from web page, no mods to snorkel nor exhaust, runs slightly worse than my carbed '96 Suzuki DR350ZS and a lot worse than my carbed '98 Honda XR400 (and BMW says I don't know how to ride a thumper, ha!) kelly1005

Andre

TFi-1030

Did the snorkel mod.

Stock

Stock

Disconnected

6 3.5 2 5.5

I put the Nanny on my 2001 F650GS at 14,000 miles. I am very impressed. My motorcycle did not have any surging after the injector change/V10 sw upgrade (this was done around 1000 miles) but it did make little popping noises and would die at stop signs once in awhile. I always thought the low-end power should be more as I had other thumpers. Well, with the fuel nanny the popping is all gone now, more low-end power with very smooth delivery all the way to max RPM and no stop sign dying. Idle is very smooth and I can start from a dead stop letting out the clutch slowly and no gas if I want. After I installed the nanny and played with the setting I was able to do some wheelies. First gear only. I then removed the snorkel and did some more adjustments and noticed even more low-end torque. So I did the snorkel mod. I am very happy with this device. I will do the exhaust mod next week. IMHO: The snorkel mod will add more to your low end and exhaust mod should improve top end.

 

What about Other Solutions like the Power Commander?

 

Q. Is there anyone that would consider to install a Power Commander in their F650GS ? Just imagine, more power... you can change mappings to your bike by using your laptop... Change the pipes and update the mapping...I think this might also be cure to surging and stalling... ? ... I know this is not available to BMW yet, but what you think, would you be interested to have this in your bike ? Check their homepage at http://www.powercommander.com/ Friend of mine just installed powercommander to his Suzuki DL1000 VStrom. Really wiiiiide smile told everything, he said that surging between 3000-3300 rpm was gone and engine feels much stronger.  I do not know basically anything about powercommander (except what my friend told me). He said that he can download maps to his VStrom from internet, these maps are optimized in Dyno. He also mentioned that powercommander comes with a basic map (standard VStrom ran in Dyno and tuned to optimum (no flat spots)). He tried this map and said that it removed vibrations from his bike in 3000-3300 rpms etc. He also mentioned that if he changes for example Remus pipes, he can download map which is optimized to Remus pipes and checked in Dyno. If it would be so easy, at least I would be very interested to try this system. (I do not get any money from this...). I do not have stalling in my 2001 Dakar, maybe a bit surging, but I would be interested to see what this system makes to my bike... Better throttle response ? More power ? More torque in lower rpms ? I do not know what it does for fuel economy. Maybe it gets a bit worse ? Is the reason for surging because bike is too lean ?Marko, Dallas, TX (orig Finland)