Today's Tuners

cekkk wrote:
I have babied my 7.3 since I bought it, but even with the simple additions to it I still felt it was not providing sufficient power on the long steep pulls we have near our home as well as those heading north out of Phoenix's valley.

I finally purchased a Superchips Flashpaq tuner not yet in my signature, a couple weeks ago and found a great improvement pulling our TT up Ute Pass last weekend and even showed increased MPGs on that 250 mile round trip over past trips without the tuner.

We'll be leaving on a longer trip next week where the numbers will have more meaning.

If I don't begin to push the engine hard and just take benefit from the increased hp and torque on hills I don't anticipate any negative effect on the engine.

There will not likely be a negative impact on the engine however don't be surprised if there is a negative impact on the transmission.
The trans. is the weak link in the 7.3 drivetrain. If you have problems down the road, a rebuilt tranny by Brian's Truck Stop BTS will give you a bullet proof drive train.

Ok since yu said 7.3 that helps in the discussion. As I said look at the diesel magazines, I think it was an issue or 2 ago in DP or DW that they discussed upgrades on a 7.3. If you need me to I will try to find the issue or just go to the web sites for each magazine as they have many on file to view. The weak links in a 7.3 supposedly are the air intake and the exhaust systems which tend to leak and hurt performance. Look for carbon/soot build up at the Y pipe where it attaches and where the bellows are. They supposedly used a brittle donut to seal and it deteriorates with time and the bellows leak. I just saw an ad for a new turbine wheel which is lighter and more efficient for the 7.3 in DP for this month. As has been said the trans is a weaker link, but only if you are really trying to push the hp button. again look at the 2 magazine websites to read up on what they say.

I dunno....seems like the Ford, GM and Dodge engineers are a lot smarter than I am. They design the tow vehicles, and I suspect they try to squeeze out a much power as they can, due to the market competition. Then we try to exceed the limits of the vehicle by adding tuners, exhaust, etc., etc., and wonder why the warranties are smoked and the trannys fail.....

I have babied my 7.3 since I bought it, but even with the simple additions to it I still felt it was not providing sufficient power on the long steep pulls we have near our home as well as those heading north out of Phoenix's valley.

I finally purchased a Superchips Flashpaq tuner not yet in my signature, a couple weeks ago and found a great improvement pulling our TT up Ute Pass last weekend and even showed increased MPGs on that 250 mile round trip over past trips without the tuner.

We'll be leaving on a longer trip next week where the numbers will have more meaning.

If I don't begin to push the engine hard and just take benefit from the increased hp and torque on hills I don't anticipate any negative effect on the engine.

Thanks, everyone for the responses. Other than a Ford Severe Duty AIS system and a Brian's Truck Shop built transmission, our 20002 Ford 7.3 with 180K is stock. It has been a wonderful, trouble free truck.

However, it sure would be nice to have a little more power towing our little 5500 lb travel trailer and have no downshifting on small hills.

Guess me and my bride of fifty years will be looking into a tuner at some point.

The modern diesel engine puts out ample power stock from the factory. In the early days the 7.3 PSD and 5.9 Cummins owners really benefited from using tuners.
However diesel technology and performance have greatly improved since then making tuners obsolete in my book.
Unless you are into racing your truck or have an older model tuners are unnecessary.
Sure the tuner industry will market their product and try to sell it to you but you really don't need it.

A better question might be are today's diesels reliable and trouble free? You'd better hope so because in most cases, if the dealer knows you added a tuner, and they will, you warranty will be void on engine work.

Aside from that. I personally wouldn't use one. Trucks are expensive and I want mine to last as long as possible. It's got so much power stock I don't see the need to increase it at the possible expensive of shorter engine life and/or broken pieces.

Costom tunes are much better & safer than a tuner. One size fits all doesn't apply here. I've had tunes for 50K towing the mtns in Az heat and it gets better mpg and have had no issues @ all. A good tuner + a good valve body will enhance it without harming it. Most tuners do not have enough control of the trans stratagies. Mind you you will need to tell the tuner what you want the truck to do and if towing heavy be conservative. My tunes extend the redline of the eng, different conv lockup timing & shift points are speed controlled not throttle position.

My particular chip can be shifted on the fly. On the flats I run in my 20 Tow tune, when hitting more grade I just lift and switch to my 40 tune and go on up the hill. The eng will make power more efficiently

Look @ my sig. Everything was done to enhance my towing experience. Been happy so far.

Now this is just my preference and decision. Do some research on the tuners sites, call & talk to them. They will be glad to explain the difference better than I.

When I first started I ran a Hypertech programmer. My custom tunes are quieter & my 40tow tune makes more power than pos 3 on the Hypertech that was supposedly a 100hp setting.

it all depends. What vehicle you are trying to put it on, what you are looking for. Tuners by themselves are not a good idea. 1st is a better air intake, 2d a better exhaust system to let the engine work its best. Tuners generally add more fuel to let the engine develop more hp so it is a wash on better milage. Tuners can add some good aspects but will possibly bring out shortcomings that are in the system. Get some copies of the better magazines, diesel power, diesel world, if a cummins get diesel tech. They will give ya some ideas on what are available plus they have lots of ads to sort through. I run a hypertech economiser on my truck, supposedly gives 30 hp 50 lbft of torque? It hasnt hurt milage and even with it on I pass my emmisions tests with only 1% of particulates. I also run a 4 inch turbo back exhaust with stock air cleaner.

If an engine or transmission is pushed beyond its limits yes longevity can be impacted.