Torque App

Torque is an OBD II performance and diagnostic monitoring tool that deploys to the Android Operating System (sorry Apple users). There is a free and a professional version. The professional version costs $5 and is available on the Android Market Place. I wouldn't bother with the free version.

Torque Pro main screen.

I am using the Corvette as a Torque test bed. The entire set up costs under $40. I can keep Torque loaded into memory on my Android tablet (Samsung Galaxie II). It would work just as well on an Android smart phone. You can set up virtual sensors based on sensors available to the ECU. These can be set up as dials, graphs, digital displays and/or bar charts.

Real time virtual gauges.

Most cars built since 1995 have a OBDII plug (On Board Diagnostic II). This is the interface between a manufacture and/or aftermarket scanners to access the ECU. The Corvette C5 has a plug tucked under the dash board about dead center under the steering column.

This is a bluetooth enabled scan tool. It is designed to work with Torque. It is plugged into the OBD II socket and receives power form the car. 

One of the goals for the GTM is to monitor engine performance. The requirement is twofold:

• To debug problems that occur pre/post build. There is no Mr. Goodwrench to help out. I need to understand what is happening inside the engine.
• The Engine Control Unit that comes with the LS376/525 engine is fantastic, and I need a reliable method to monitor the ECU.

Torque uses the tablet's GPS signal to record speed and direction for any given trip.  This is then plotted against a Google map display. This is my ride to and from a local deli. This chart is built into the app and just requires an Internet connection.

Data logging is the most intriguing aspect. A specific metric (in this case RPM plotted against speed) can be logged to a file on the device. Later this file can be uploaded to a web server and plotted against Google maps and the specific metric displayed in a dual chart. Torque provides access to its web server for registered users. Data logging is managed by setting up the preferences under settings.

This is the data logging plotted out after my trip to the deli. It is the same trip as displayed in the previous display. (Before anyone gets on my case, speed was recorded in KPH not MPH, so I wasn't really speeding). The line chart shows speed (x axisi) against time (y axis) and the bottom shows RPM (x axis). This chart requires access to Torque's web server.

To demonstrate Torque's data logging capabilities, I took a run in the Corvette from my house to a local deli for a bagel run. You can clearly see the shift points in the charts, the route and the low to high speed (green to red) relative to top speed achieved during the trip (in case about 50 mph).

Torque allows you to set up profiles for different cars. Right now I have one set up for the Corvette. I plan to add one for the Boxster and the GTM. This entire platform can be moved from car to car. This is an incredible flexible product and I have only skimmed the surface.