I received an email and video from Trailer Life about Bully Dog GT tuners for diesel engines. It all sounds good but I have been warned that the warranty would be voided if I use a tuner. Now I wonder if this is true. If so then I guess I will have to wait until my warranty is up. It is 699 bucks and I wonder if there is enough of a fuel economy savings to ever break even?

Every time I hear of one of these 'tuners', I have to wonder this: As stiff as the competition is between the big three manufacturers, and despite the multiple millions they spend on developing one of these trucks. Why didn't they tune the truck to save the most fuel in the first place? They fight over fuel mileage in their adverts. They have hundreds of engineers. It seems like they would have found this miracle tuning themselves. Have you heard what Ford did to get an extra 40 or 50 HP out their 6.7L engine? They changed the shape of one of the pipes to the turbine--flattened and widened. Giving it a cobra head shape. Now if they are working at that level of detail how could they miss something that a couple of guys discovered in their garage?

I can't see what your driving, but get the Cummins and you wont need one.

You can guarantee Ford didn't miss the tune these guys discovered in their garage. The big three diesel truck manufactor's could tune these trucks to produce much more power than we see today. Trying to meet emissions would never happen if they turned them up.

I sure see a power difference but at what cost to items downline :W Been lucky so far on the lowest setting, on the high setting ( 100HP) would surely destroy my tranny. MPG increase just ain't happening with me but it is about the same as stock tune. Not sure what kind of truck your talking about but most Ram guys use Smarty ( Madds) former Ram technicians and programmers at Cummins. And yes the manufacture can trace your power levels since about 2008 or so and tell if it was tuned or not, if so your warranty would be void.

On the older 5.9L Cummins and the Ford 7.3L, the tuners did really give them more punch, but you needed to monitor exhaust temperature.With the newer engines and all of the emissions controls, I would not mess with the factory tuning. They have pretty much pulled what they feel is safe for the engine.As for warranty, the Magnuson-Moss Act (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson%E2%80%93Moss_Warranty_Act) prevents manufacturers from denying warranty based on the addition of something to a vehicle. The added equipment must be proven to damage the vehicle. Now comes the problem.The manufacturers have deep pockets and lots of lawyers. If you are denied warranty, you have a broken vehicle and you have to hire an attorney to take on the massive corporation. They can beat you down until you are broke or simply give up. The government will not go to bat for your case.I am leaving my 6.7L Ford bone stock. It has the power to do the job I need done. Ken

Diesel Tuners | Good Sam Community

2oldman
Explorer II
Nov 16, 2014
Bionic Man wrote:
You can do a lot if you don't pay attention to EPA regulations.
Amazing.
AH64ID
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
ol Bombero-JC wrote:

No need for "tuners".
Improve air in and air out, sure!

~

That hasn't been an issue for over a decade, or more.

When Dodge went HPCR the intake/exhaust were oversized, enough that substantial hp can be added with stock intake/exhaust. The 03-04 exhaust and intake are slightly lower flow than the 04.5+ stuff, but none the less in and out is the last thing to worry about.

When cruising, where good mileage is had, the airflow in/out is a fraction of pulling a 6% grade at GCWR so how is a improving airflow going to do anything for mileage?

I have a far from stock motor with a bigger cam and turbo, but my intake basically stock with a baffle removed and a extra 3" inlet. The air filter is stock and with over 100rwhp more than stock I don't need more intake air. The exhaust is just the stock 4" with a different muffler setup, again plenty of air.

Modding the intake/exhaust for flow on a stock, or even +100-150hp tune, is a waste of money. Modify it for volume/tone or leave it stock.
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
2oldman wrote:
wintersun wrote:
It is not credible that some guy has discovered something about how to change the tuning of an engine that escaped the hundreds of professional full time engineers at the auto and engine manufacturers.
It's only credible to those who believe in conspiracies.

Actually, it makes sense to me. Tuners play by different rules. "Offroad use only". You can do a lot if you don't pay attention to EPA regulations.
buddyIam
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
I've got a little over a year before I will buy.

I have found buying new isn't going to be a magic pill. It just comes with good health insurance.

If I would buy 1997 and older. I can avoid any smog testing. I just have to make sure the tuners don't make smoke.

Compared to a new truck 1500 bucks is cheap. ;)

I haven't seen any posts on the banks 6 gun or the like. Anyone have one. Are they Calif. Street legal? They claim they were the first street legal. Is that just a selected few parts?
2oldman
Explorer II
Nov 16, 2014
wintersun wrote:
It is not credible that some guy has discovered something about how to change the tuning of an engine that escaped the hundreds of professional full time engineers at the auto and engine manufacturers.
It's only credible to those who believe in conspiracies.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Nov 16, 2014
Bob Vaughn wrote:
I guess my quest for a tuner has been answered.......NOT

Well after 2 months of not replying to the thread you started prolly doesn't help.....
Without getting into all the "opinions" of how diesels operate and respond to mods, I'd suggest you query a more knowledgeable group.
Go do some reading on the diesel pickup website of your choice and filter that info. It will be generally more informational.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
Bob Vaughn wrote:
I guess my quest for a tuner has been answered.......NOT

See post 16 on page one. Your quest will be over. :B
neil57
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
Good to hear from some real world experiance users,my PPE tuner on a 2003 Duramax towed my 5er and had 250k without breaking anything and yes got better mileage. The 2001 to 2004.5 LB7 version has no EGR or cat except in California. The bullydog and H&S tuners are the smoke tuners the hot rodders all love. ATP tuner, Rob Coddens has an emmissions compliant tune for all Duramax, Duramaxtuner is another. EFI live is the best way to tune,as it is custom designed to your individual truck. There is a lot of******info. out there, do your research on what you have,most tuners specialize on one engine.Phone them and ask questions,ask owners who have the same setup. Kenworth trucks did indeed find in a study that the biggest changes in mpg were driver related. If you set the cruise at 75 mph, accelerate like a car and late brake, you will get crappy mpg. There are tuners for big truck engines as well, Pittsburgh power has hot rodded diesels for years!
Bob_Vaughn
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
I guess my quest for a tuner has been answered.......NOT
davisenvy
Explorer
Nov 16, 2014
EFI Live from Nick at Duramax tuner and I get additional 2mpg on economy tune and tow tune Mt EGT's are lower than stock. I have had the tune for 60k miles without problem. If you want real world info go to a forum for your truck and ask there. Talk to the guys that design and actually use a tuner.

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