What's a good ODB2 dongle to display data on phone?
 

There's all sorts of opinions on various race/track forums about what works but I thought I'd come to the real internet brain trust, Pelican, for the best answer.

I'd like something to record standard RPM, temps, etc on my phone but also display engine temp which modern Porsche's seem to fudge on the dash display (it always shows 194° unless something goes really wrong).

I use Torque Pro for my vehicles. Mainly for my diesels. Uses a obd bluetooth adapter. Works great very happy with it. you can download the profile for your vehicle and set with parameters you want displayed.

.https://www.powerstroke.org/attachme...s2-jpg.413826/

Most of the dongle's work about the same. Its the software that really makes the difference.

^^^This. And the Torque Pro is what I use.

This is the one I use. Cheap and small. You can leave it in the port all the time.

https://amazon.com/Panlong-Bluetooth-Diagnostic-Scanner-Android/dp/B00PJPHEBO/ref=sr_1_17?keywords=odb2+scanner+bluetooth&qid=16 41567173

^^^ Same one I use. Have a couple. Advanced Auto sells a similar one. ( I'm pretty sure they all probably come from the same factory in china...

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Agreed.

Wow, that Torque Pro looks amazing. It ought to be a lot more popular. I never understood why all of the valuable data such as oil pressure, head temp, etc are not displayed in factory gauges. You can query the ECU with a Durametric for over-rev history. It will tell you how many over rev rotations were made in each rpm range.

I just added a third radiator to my Cayman but unfortunately didn't check Durametric engine temps until after the work was done. Now the Durametric is showing really high engine temperature of 114°C (237°F) which can't be correct. I say can't be correct because supposedly the dash always shows a temperature of 194°F if the temperature is between 185-215°F. Here's my dash and the Durametric readings when driving on the highway with a full warmed engine:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641654216.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641654216.jpg

Are the two readings in the same place? What are the specific instruments being used? In regular automotive applications, thermistors are used. 4 wire RTDs are more accurate in the temperature range. Thermistors are "good enough" for most things, are cheaper and only require 2 wires.

One reading is in F, and the other C. Maybe they're close enough?

102C = 215F

219F = 104C

I should also offer my own experience with adding a third radiator. I had an air bubble that caused scary high temperatures. I got an Airlift vacuum filler, and now no more air bubble.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641716878.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641716561.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641716561.JPG

Dashcmd if you have an iphone. It's the equivalent to torque pro for IOS.

I would do a vacuum fill on your cayman. It's worth the $100 to buy an airlift system and you will never have to worry about bleeding it.

I have an OBDLinkMX and it works great.

https://www.amazon.com/OBDLink-Bluetooth-Professional-Grade-Diagnostic-Performance/dp/B07JFRFJG6/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3JBEIG926DKU5&keywords=obdlink+mx& qid=1641739653&sprefix=obdlink+mx%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-2

There are many phone apps you can use it with. OBDLink's own, Torque Pro, etc.

Wow that got expensive.

Bought mine right at the end of 2019 and paid half as much.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641741091.jpg

Wow. Mine is actually the older MX model (Before the "plus") and if I recall yes it was about $60 a few years ago.

It is the one recommended by many of the apps out there.

When I search Torque Pro, I don’t see anything with that exact title in the iOS App Store.

Anybody have a link?

Edit: I’ve been using OBDLink and a Bosch app.

Try Google Play

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Looks like a android based app and not iPhone compatible.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641749404.jpg

Torque pro isn't on iOS. The closest app is dashcommand.

https://bimmercode.app/adapters/

If bimmercode supports em, they'll be pretty good
Cause they code bimmers with it, and well, it's the more fancy work you would do with an odb adapter


why is everybody talking about apps when the question is bout hardware?

Because the hardware is only as good as the software you use with it and there are bigger differences in the apps in terms of features than the hardware.

Well, sure, but you without the good dongle you can't use the good soft, and the question was what is the good dongle.

This thread went like
Question "what is a good laptop"
First answer "use Red had Linux"
Second Answer "the laptop doesn't matter much , it's the OS that counts"


To be clear.. The dongles are not all the same, cause the cheaper ones have slow transfer speeds.
And they will not work with apps that code.. So no , they are not the same at all.

IF you want to do serious things with the software, you'll definately need a good one or you might actually mess up the the car if you do anything with coding.. I've seen a Bimmer get all out of whack from using a bad dongle.


so you have it reversed : The Software can only be as good, as the Dongle you use with it.
And you can delete software and get another app instead
you cannot simply buy a dongle and then 3 months later decide you'll just send it back and get another one. the one you buy you are stuck with, if it's no good, you'll have to spend more to get a new one.
And you might blame the softwares along the line if they don't work well over that cheap dongle you have.

So step 1 : get a good dongle , because there are chitty ones out there.

To give you and idea :

Both bought on amazon
Top one is good, made in Germany
Bottom one will brick the software and you are off to the dealer to get the car reprogrammed SmileWavy
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641752638.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1641752638.jpg


Top one has way higher transfer/sample rates, which is what you need for diagnostics as well.

I went through all that but I am a little suspect. I’ll get it plugged into a shop’s PIWIS to check it out.