Hi all. I'm wondering if anyone is running a transmission tune. It's a 2012 2500 6.7 cummins with the 68rfe. It's running fine but the slow sloppy shift drives me crazy. Do you like the performance? Is shifting any better? Can you tell any appreciable difference in temp? What programmer do you run?Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks!

From what I have read, you order the TCM, replace and send back your original TCM. It technically is not a tuner, but rather a totally new program.

No, you don't have to order a new TCM. Just find a reputable custom tuner such as Calibrated power solutions or Double R diesel if you want to retain your emissions equipment. If you want to delete then there is Hardway Performance, PPEI, and Anarchy Diesel just to name a few. Just give either one a call and they will point you in the right direction. I am partial to EFI Live as a tuning platform, but there is also EZ Lynk and MM3. I would not ask too many tuning questions in this forum. Most of the old geezers here are anti-tuning and the next thing you know you will get bombarded with the "why would you want to void your warranty' or "the truck makes plenty of power, why do you need more" questions. I would go to to Cumminsforum.com. Not only are they more knowledgeable about tuning than this forum, but most will not hassle you about it like they do here.Oh, and yes, a custom tune will be a night and day difference when it comes to the 68RFE shifting and acting like it should. You will not be disappointed with either of the tuners named above and their trans tuning.

Yea got ya on the deletes. Looking for folks with experience towing with a tranny tune. Thanks!

ShinerBock wrote:No, you don't have to order a new TCM. Just find a reputable custom tuner such as Calibrated power solutions or Double R diesel if you want to retain your emissions equipment. If you want to delete then there is Hardway Performance, PPEI, and Anarchy Diesel just to name a few. Just give either one a call and they will point you in the right direction. I am partial to EFI Live as a tuning platform, but there is also EZ Lynk and MM3. I would not ask too many tuning questions in this forum. Most of the old geezers here are anti-tuning and the next thing you know you will get bombarded with the "why would you want to void your warranty' or "the truck makes plenty of power, why do you need more" questions. I would go to to Cumminsforum.com. Not only are they more knowledgeable about tuning than this forum, but most will not hassle you about it like they do here.Oh, and yes, a custom tune will be a night and day difference when it comes to the 68RFE shifting and acting like it should. You will not be disappointed with either of the tuners named above and their trans tuning.Anarchy Diesel.......LMAO :B

I have an efi live tune from anarchy. They have excellent service and great tunes. It does smooth the 68rfe out. There is still a small shift flare into 4th, but it doesn't bother me. It doesn't bog as bad as it did when it was stock.

Ram 68rfe tune? | Good Sam Community

NWKomfort350
Explorer
Sep 14, 2017
PPEI for me....
ShinerBock
Explorer
Sep 14, 2017
These two are your options if you want to keep the emissions system intact.

Calibrated Power Solutions 13-16 Cummins

Double R Diesel 13-16 Cummins

They can make a tune that does not increase power over tock, but I would at least go with their tow tune. I does not add much power, but it does alter the power band a little which makes a big difference when towing.
campigloo
Explorer
Sep 13, 2017
SweetLou, reasonable question. I always tow with t/h on. It does keep the engine from bogging down, activates e/b more effectively and reduces gear search. All very good things. What I'm looking for is a quicker shift, particularly on the upshift.
I'll research some of these, just wondering if someone has noticed an appreciable difference in the tranny performance. I'm not uptuning the engine. Two very different components.
ShinerBock
Explorer
Sep 12, 2017
If you are running an H&S or Smarty tune, then I would recommend head studs ASAP. Those two were notorious for blowing head gaskets with even mild tuning because their fuel maps were like the bad ones in the article I posted earlier. A bad timing and fuel pressure spike causing too high of cylinder pressures and it is bye bye head gasket.

EFI Live was definitely a game changer smoothing out the fuel maps keeping cylinder pressures in check. You can run a lot higher powered tunes with EFI Live than you could with H & S/Smarty without needing head studs.

One of the tuners on the Cummins forum ,who has been around since the beginning with H&S, told me that they have ran many miles on 525 rwhp trucks without needing head studs with EFI Live. He admitted that you couldn't even come close to those power levels with the H&S without needing studs due to the limited perimeters they had available back then.

As far as the trans, now that EFI live has given the tuners the ability to tune the trans with increased line pressures, they are able to hold higher power levels if driven right and not abused. I for one am slapping a Suncoast M3ga in this thing as soon as the stocker goes.
Redwoodcamper
Explorer
Sep 12, 2017
I am on stock tranny and no head studs. I run on 125 and 150 tune only. 30k miles of this without any problems. Learn to be gentle and don't let it spool hard in 5th or 6th gear with the programmer turned up. Those gears don't like abuse.
Wild_Card
Explorer
Sep 12, 2017
Stock tune or 25hp tune for towing and you will not hurt the engine or trans. Go up 75-100hp and tow bye bye trans. Go up 125-150 and bye bye head studs
ShinerBock
Explorer
Sep 12, 2017
Me Again wrote:
Still a slippery slope. Got the hat, t-shirt and merit badge with my 2001.5

Exhaust
Transmission
Injectors
Box/chip
Lift pump
Exhaust brake
Turbo

But that is not what the OP is talking about altering. He is only talking about trans tuning. Many tuners offer trans tuning without any or little power increase over stock. All you are doing is altering shift points, converter lock up, and line pressure to your liking with little or no added stress to transmission. Other things can be changed too like keeping the exhaust brake on in the last setting you had it at when you shut off the truck or not allowing the fog light to turn off when the bright lights are on.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Sep 12, 2017
Still a slippery slope. Got the hat, t-shirt and merit badge with my 2001.5

Exhaust
Transmission
Injectors
Box/chip
Exhaust brake
Lift pump
Turbo
Transmission again 8 years later
ShinerBock
Explorer
Sep 12, 2017
Me Again wrote:
Slippery slope!

http://www.monstertransmission.com/68RFE-Transmission_c_5753.html

That is not entirely true. You can just get an optimized stock tune that does not add any power to engine but alters the trans tuning for longevity and better driving habits. The smooth shifts that the OP is talking about with his actually worse for your transmission that quick more firm shifts that create less heat. You can also alter shift points so that the truck does not shift into higher gears too soon like the stock trans does to save fuel.

Customized tuning does not automatically mean breaking parts or adding high horsepower like many here believe. There are many people that leave their tunes on a low power tow tune and get many miles out of their transmission. There also also those who can get many miles out of their stock trans with a +200 hp tune because they drive smart rolling into the throttle when needed instead of pushing it to the floor instantly. Then you have those who like to take off like a bad out of hell all the time, take their truck to the track all the time, do donuts in parking lots or go wide open throttle at highways speeds. Those people generally have transmission issues stock or not.

Although, if someone is afraid of the "slippery slope" then they should stay on the porch. However, they shouldn't hassle those willing to pay to play. I have seen people spend their money on far stupider things, yet never say a word because it is none of my business to nag someone on how I think they should spend their money.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Sep 12, 2017
Slippery slope!

http://www.monstertransmission.com/68RFE-Transmission_c_5753.html