I am looking long and hard at the AEM EMS, and I am wondering how effective it is at controlling boost and how it can handle cold and warm air spikes from the seasons and if there is a way to make it run as well as it does with a Hallman MBC.
Also what would be the proper way to set it up?


Thanks for any and all input.

 

It will handle the boost spikes marvelously should you decide to use the closed loop control. If you want to set it up like that I would use a perrin/gm boost solenoid. BUT I honestly would reccomend the hallman, its just easier.

 

Hmm, I am using that setup, I just thought the car would run better allowing the AEM to controll everything. How well does the GM solenoid work and how much are they?

 

I'm not sure about the GM I used the perrin for a while I think it was a little over 120? I cant really remember. I hear the GM works just as well. But with the AEM you'll also need the IAT and MAP sensors as well to get the max effect.

 

Yeah I know that, Just wondering if it is a GOOD idea to use the AEM EMS to control boost.

 

It's a good idea to control boost using the EMS. Using the boost solenoid will allow you to keep the wastegate completely closed until you reach target boost. The Hallman is much simpler and allows easier fien adjustments on the fly but in my experience it allows the wastegate to open a lilttle too early, especially if you're using a weaker WG spring.

 

i am using the gm solenoid...works great and was cheap. the solenoid and pigtail were under 50 bucks. it holds boost rock solid.

 

The only reason to not use AEM for boost control is if you don't want to be bothered with getting out the laptop to change boosts all the time. It does have a hi/lo switch, but if you change boost frequently, then its a PITA. Other than that, it definitely works great with closed loop tuned!

 

This is the only gripe I have about it as well, hopefully in a later version they will allow us to wire in a control knob for adjustments to max boost w/o having to change maps or adjust the closed loop max boost. Right now I am using 3 different settings with the AEM as I have a switch to the positive side of the wastegate to turn on and off. Off is for wastegate pressure and on is for what the AEM has programed for the hi/lo switch as well.

 

It's nice havin aem control boost - but you have to set it up all right. The correct way. It can work in conjunction with air temps and knock activity. I use the Apex aVCR selenoid to control boost via the AEM. Seems to be workin good so far

 

I always thought you'd just change maps for what boost ya want and tha'd be all there is to it

 

I have one with pigtail, $40 shipped if interested.

 

If that's how your tuner set it up. With the vehicle speed based you can choose based on speed how much boost you want (most common type). Changing maps won't change boost on an AEM EMS equpped car unless you have a boost control solenoid hooked up and the AEM is controlling it in the first place.

 

Only thing about the GM solenoid, is that if/when it fails (and the GM's do fail) that it will give max duty (and max boost), sometimes you won't realize it until it's too late.

I run a pump gas map, and a race gas map, with the AEM BCS, and each map controls the boost.

 

The EMS boost control for me is highly dissapointing. I'm using the MAC solenoid, I'm thinking its identical to the AEM solenoid.

The car is a lazy spooler at low boost(will hit 19-20 real fast and then slowly creep on up to my target of 23.5) and will never hit a consistent target on high boost. Sometimes 26, sometimes 30, all with same settings and less than 10 minutes apart. I have not setup the error feedback yet, but I can't see it helping THAT much if I can't get it consistent on standard terms.

This is using the VSS method, 50%(i've played with the numbers down low and some up high to try and help make it spool faster...to no real benefit), and using the boost comp graph to tweak.

I'm thinking I'm just going to use the solenoid to switch between two MBC's.