Tuners

M.R.E. wrote:
DP tuner is the best tuner for the 7.3. Research it, with that trans you can pull anything.

I agree the DP tuner is the way to go, ran one in my 99 7.3 for several years, it woke up the 7.3, they are pretty much a dog stock.

If the OP goes a good tuner like DP, as said he will need at least an ETG gauge , I ran ETG, Turbo, and transmission gauges. If he has the BTS tranny then he mostly likely has the 6.0 cooler, I also added the 6.0 intercooler, a little bigger gave me a little lower ETG's . With what he has all he needs to add with the tuner is 4" exhaust turbo back, and the gauges. This is a good setup for the 7.3.

The only thing with a tuner, is you have to drive by the gauges, especially watch the ETG's ,many times towing the mountains I had to back off some when the ETG's got too high, I always limited mine to 1250 degrees.

Or just a suggestion to the OP, go get a new Ram cummins, and have all the performance you need :B

I tuned my last two diesels, ran them a total of 9 years (one after the other) and never had an issue.

You have to buy the "right" tuner though. Some are made for pulling, some are made for racing. Buy the wrong one and you can cause yourself some issues.

I ran Edge, Superchips, and Hypertech. I liked the Hypertech and Edge products the best.

I'd be willing to bet most of the "naysayers" on these forums haven't ever used a tuner on their trucks.

Make sure your cooling system is up to par and even over par

Wouldn't over par be bad and under par good :H :B
Other than that OP, that post is spot on.

45Ricochet wrote:

Make sure your cooling system is up to par and even over par

Wouldn't over par be bad and under par good :H :B
Other than that OP, that post is spot on.

LMAO, you know Rick I don't play golf so I pondered that for about 30 seconds before I hit the send button. :B It just sounded weird to say make sure your cooling system is under par. :h

Here, let me say this OP: Make sure you cooling system is in damn good shape and you will be in good shape! LOL :)

I forgot to add up above, the 7.3 evidently has issues with the Y manifold connections (donuts), so make sure you also check/replace these. Supposedly cause loss of power etc due to leaking exhaust system to turbo. These are a bellows design and the factory are supposed to be lame. There are AM products so again do your research. Lots of folks go to stainless (hi dollar) exhausts but unless you live in a salt rich enviro the standard aluma coat exhausts are just as good. I run a Gibson with the cat still installed (annual inspections here). 4" from turbo back, the downpipe is also a big restriction on the 7.3 from what I have read.

3oaks wrote:
Not to start an argument, but to satisfy my own curiosity. If "tuners" are so great and improve performance, why don't they come standard or at least as an option right from the vehicle manufacturers? I have absolutely no dog in this fight one way or another. Just asking out of plain curiosity.

Some do with the tow/haul mode! Yes it doesn't add HP, but the improved shift strategy makes the available power much more usable. The reason manuf. don't increase the power is because they are keeping it safe from the 1% of the people that would break the truck under warranty. Once you get a tuner from a reputable company you will see the difference. I am very happy i have mine and wish i would've got it when i bought the truck!

ib516 wrote:


I'd be willing to bet most of the "naysayers" on these forums haven't ever used a tuner on their trucks.

Your right. I never had a tuner. I bought a truck with enough power and therefore have had no need to tune it. I figure if I can pull the hills on the West Virginia Pike in cruise control without down shifting I don't need one.

M.R.E.:

The tuner I was planning on buying was the DP Tuner and was going to put a Walker Big Truck Muffler on my truck just as you have done.

Do you notice any "drone" when towing with the Walker BTM? Thanks for your response.

Mike

powderman426 wrote:

ib516 wrote:


I'd be willing to bet most of the "naysayers" on these forums haven't ever used a tuner on their trucks.

Your right. I never had a tuner. I bought a truck with enough power and therefore have had no need to tune it. I figure if I can pull the hills on the West Virginia Pike in cruise control without down shifting I don't need one.

Same here never ran out of power yet.

chevman

There is no drone, otherwise I would have changed it. I also added EGT, boost and trans temp gauges. Dp Tuner will tell you to do so also.