BlueDriver Bluetooth OBDII scanners have become an essential tool for car enthusiasts and DIY mechanics. These compact devices provide access to a wealth of live data from your vehicle’s onboard computer, empowering you to diagnose issues, monitor performance, and understand your car better. This article explores the extensive range of OBDII live data accessible through BlueDriver, categorized for easy navigation. Remember that specific data availability depends on your car’s year, make, and model. Use the BlueDriver Compatibility Tool to confirm which datapoints your vehicle supports.
Vehicle Operation Parameters
Understanding your engine’s vital signs is crucial for optimal performance and maintenance. BlueDriver offers insights into various operational parameters, including:
- Engine RPM: Displays the engine’s current speed in revolutions per minute.
- Vehicle Speed: Shows the vehicle’s speed as reported by the speed sensor.
- Engine Coolant Temperature: Monitors the engine’s coolant temperature, often measured at the cylinder head or before the radiator. Some vehicles might report a second coolant temperature sensor (ECT 2) at a different location.
- Engine Oil Temperature: Tracks the temperature of the engine oil, typically measured near the oil filter.
- Ambient Air Temperature: Measures the air temperature surrounding the vehicle.
- Barometric Pressure: Provides the local atmospheric pressure around the vehicle as an absolute value.
- Accelerator Pedal Position: Shows the position of the accelerator pedal, potentially from up to three sensors.
- Relative Accelerator Pedal Position: Displays the accelerator pedal position adjusted for the vehicle’s learned behavior over time.
- Commanded Throttle Actuator: Indicates the throttle position requested by the Engine Control Module (ECM) based on the accelerator pedal position.
- Relative Throttle Position: Shows the throttle position relative to the learned or adapted closed position, compensating for changes due to carbon buildup.
- Absolute Throttle Position: Displays how open the throttle is, ranging from 0% (fully closed) to 100% (fully open).
- Control Module Voltage: Shows the input voltage at the ECM, reflecting battery voltage when the engine is off and alternator voltage when the engine is running.
- Hybrid Battery Pack Remaining Life (State of Charge): Indicates the remaining charge in a hybrid vehicle’s battery pack as a percentage.
- Hybrid/EV Vehicle System Status: Reports the hybrid/EV charging state, battery voltage, and battery current. A negative current value indicates charging.
- Calculated Engine Load Value: Represents the current engine load as a percentage of maximum available torque.
- Absolute Load Value: Represents the air mass intake per intake stroke as a percentage of the maximum possible at standard temperature and pressure.
- Driver’s Demand Engine – Percent Torque: Displays the percentage of maximum torque requested by the ECM based on accelerator pedal position, cruise control, and transmission.
- Actual Engine – Percent Torque (Indicated Torque): Shows the current percentage of total available engine torque, including net brake torque and friction torque.
- Engine Friction – Percent Torque: Represents the percentage of maximum torque required to run the engine at no load, including internal components and accessories.
- Engine Reference Torque: Indicates the engine’s torque rating, serving as the 100% value for torque-related data points.
- Engine Percent Torque Data: Reports changes in the reference torque due to varying vehicle/environmental conditions. Up to five different maximum torque ratings can be specified.
- Auxiliary Input/Output: A composite datapoint that can report Power Take Off status, transmission status, glow plug status, and recommended gear.
- Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT): Displays exhaust gas temperature from various sensors, potentially including post-turbo, post-cat, and post-DPF locations.
- Engine Exhaust Flow Rate: Shows the exhaust flow rate in kg/hr or lbs/hr, averaged over the last 1000ms.
Fuel & Air Data
Monitoring fuel and air parameters is vital for diagnosing engine efficiency and emissions issues. BlueDriver allows you to analyze:
- Fuel System Status: Indicates whether the engine is running in open or closed loop mode, determining how the air-fuel ratio is controlled.
- Oxygen Sensor Voltage: Displays the voltage signal from the oxygen sensors, crucial for analyzing air-fuel mixture.
- Oxygen Sensor Equivalence Ratio (Lambda): Represents the air-fuel ratio as a lambda value.
- Oxygen Sensor Current: Indicates the current flow in the oxygen sensor, providing information about the air-fuel mixture. Zero current signifies a balanced ratio.
- Short Term Fuel Trim: Displays short-term adjustments to the fuel injection rate based on oxygen sensor data.
- Long Term Fuel Trim: Shows long-term adjustments to fuel injection learned by the vehicle over time.
- Commanded Equivalence Ratio: Indicates the desired air-fuel ratio requested by the ECM.
- Mass Air Flow Rate: Measures the airflow through the intake in g/s or lb/min.
- Intake Air Temperature: Shows the temperature of the intake air.
Emissions Control Equipment Information
Modern vehicles utilize complex emissions control systems. BlueDriver provides data on various components, including:
- Commanded EGR: Shows the desired opening of the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve.
- EGR Error: Represents the difference between commanded and actual EGR valve opening.
- Catalyst Temperature: Measures the temperature of the catalytic converter.
Utilizing BlueDriver’s comprehensive live data capabilities allows for in-depth vehicle analysis and diagnostics. Always refer to your vehicle’s service manual for specific sensor locations and data interpretation. BlueDriver empowers you to understand your car’s performance and address potential issues proactively.
