TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
Senior Member
Joined: 11/17/2000
View Profile
 Offline
|
Chips and tuners improve performance and power. To get more power, it takes more fuel...so don;t expect an increase in fuel economy.
Ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
|
wittmeba
Roanoke, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 02/02/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Fully agree with Biggrigg.
The tuner is just a means of communication with the power module of the vehicle. The 'tune' or 'program' is what is most important.
Jody of DP-tuner (North Carolina) has the reputation for developing the best 'tunes' of anyone Ive heard. He can provide the tunes in an SCT tuner (the hand-held device) and likely others too. Jody writes tunes for casual towing to sled pulls and many serious 'diesel smokers'.
You can buy the 'tunes' separate which is just an electronic file and provide your own programmer or tuner. The nice thing about using a tuner rather than a new chip is the truck remains stock. You can always put it back how it was in minutes.
He apparently has lots of equipment to do all the testing needed to keep EGT's (exhaust gas temperatures) to a minimum, improve mileage and will offer tunes that will fit your driving needs.
I have an SCT tuner with tunes from Jody (DP-tuner) 40/80/120 HP tunes and it is incredible how much difference it makes.
We went to Lake Rawlings scuba diving 2 weeks ago, 9000# 5th wheel, 14 full diving tanks and gear for 4 people and got 11.6 mpg. I was using the 80HP tune. I leave it on almost all the time.
I do need to contact him and see if he can adjust my shift points which I understand he will gladly do.
This is a Ford based site but you can learn lots.
http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/
Jody is here:
http://www.dp-tuner.com/
Hope this helps.
* This post was
edited 08/01/08 08:02am by wittmeba *
Bruce & Carolyn Wittmeier
Viet Nam Vet 1968-69
I was born in Great Falls, Mt. My parents moved when I was 5.
I found them when I was 10 - they were in California.
|
brighteyes818
New Britain, CT
Full Member
Joined: 06/22/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
millertime wrote:According to the profile he has a Dodge Durango with a 4.7 v-8 gasser. I don't know if an Edge or Bullydog will help.
Nope boyfriend has a 2002 Ford 250 7.3 Diesel. He pulls a boat and we interchange pulling the small trailer with either the Durango or the Diesel. Sorry for the confusion.
|
Turbys_03_Stroke
Maiden, NC
Full Member
Joined: 01/07/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I am running an Edge programmer on my 7.3. It is set on the 80 HP setting. I have a complete set of guages along with a high flow intake and exhaust. Your EGT's must be monitored so guages are a must on most programs unless you are running a mild tow program.
I've not run any of Jody's programs from DP Tuner but he is regarded as the best in custom tunes for the 7.3.
TurbyJr
03 F350 Crew Cab 4x4
92 Prowler 305X Fifth Wheel
|
LarryJM
NoVa
Senior Member
Joined: 11/09/2007
View Profile
|
wittmeba wrote:Fully agree with Biggrigg.
The tuner is just a means of communication with the power module of the vehicle. The 'tune' or 'program' is what is most important.
Jody of DP-tuner (North Carolina) has the reputation for developing the best 'tunes' of anyone Ive heard. He can provide the tunes in an SCT tuner (the hand-held device) and likely others too. Jody writes tunes for casual towing to sled pulls and many serious 'diesel smokers'.
You can buy the 'tunes' separate which is just an electronic file and provide your own programmer or tuner. The nice thing about using a tuner rather than a new chip is the truck remains stock. You can always put it back how it was in minutes.
He apparently has lots of equipment to do all the testing needed to keep EGT's (exhaust gas temperatures) to a minimum, improve mileage and will offer tunes that will fit your driving needs.
I have an SCT tuner with tunes from Jody (DP-tuner) 40/80/120 HP tunes and it is incredible how much difference it makes.
We went to Lake Rawlings scuba diving 2 weeks ago, 9000# 5th wheel, 14 full diving tanks and gear for 4 people and got 11.6 mpg. I was using the 80HP tune. I leave it on almost all the time.
I do need to contact him and see if he can adjust my shift points which I understand he will gladly do.
This is a Ford based site but you can learn lots.
http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/
Jody is here:
http://www.dp-tuner.com/
Hope this helps.
I agree that Jody is the cream of the crop, but several others get really high marks for tuning the 7.3L. Not that it matters, but Jody is now in Ga.(north part IIRC). Any of these folks IMHO do a better job than the mass produced standard programmers/chips.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
|
|
|
ckrumm
Cumming, GA
Full Member
Joined: 02/06/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
Another vote for Jody. Had the 40tow, 80econo, 120 race. I used the 80e all the time and it really wakes up the truck and shifting is great. Used the 40t for towing my Toy Hauler with great shifting. You HAVE to put gauges in first. Get gauges for EGT, Trans, and turbo boost. I would also change the intake with the Ford Heavy Duty intake and put a better exhaust on. Do all the mods you want to the truck FIRST, then call Jody and let him know what you have so he can tune the chip just for your truck. As far as mpg, I can't really say that I got better mpg but this could be due to the grin factor and heavy foot. Good luck.
|
kc8yhk
Marblehead Ohio!
Full Member
Joined: 06/17/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I use a hypertech programmer on my 7.3 and LOVE IT. other programmers will give you a hotter tune but you can set the hypertech on the highest setting and leave it there. Others like superchips tell you NOT to tow in the highest setting.
along with the programmer I straight piped the exhaust, upgraded the intake, and changed out the compressor wheel and compressor housing on the turbo and my truck is SMOKIN QUICK! But if im really really light on the go peddle I do see a small increase in fuel mileage over stock. Not enough to make up for the cost of all the mods though.
If you do get a chip or programmer MAKE SURE you get a set of gauges, EGT at a minimum.
Me 27, Class A CDL Freight Relocation Specialist
Wife 23, Nuclear power plant quality control inspector
146.52 Listening while on the move!
2002 F-350 CC SRW 7.3 Powerstroke
2008 Jayco G2 31RKS
|
Two As One
S.E. Iowa
New Member
Joined: 11/21/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I have '01 with the 7.3, these motors are bullet proof,
but your tranny isn't. You should upgrade your tranny cooler first.
The 6.0 tranny cooler will bolt right in with twice the cooling.
I switched my motor and trans. to ams-oil lot cooler.
Put on 4" MBRP exhaust from the turbo back, helped some on power.
Cold air intake (Volant) both together very pleased. More power
and 3-5 mpg gain. Good Luck.
|
rolnrolnroln
WA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/15/2004
View Profile
|
"Chips and tuners improve performance and power. To get more power, it takes more fuel..."
Not necessarily. I installed a Dr. Performance chip 3 weeks ago. The chip does not increase the amount of fuel. It changes the timing a tad and increases the force of the plume from the injector. (As I understand the theory.) No pyro needed as no additional fuel is added. (I'm gonna put one in anyway.) They have 3-4 different chips for the 7.3 PSD. I got the model that increases HP by 90 and torque by 180. Takes <10 mins. to install. I have towed with it and it really does add a lot of torque. I have considerably more power at lower RPMs in all gears. I have the 6-spd so I don't have to worry about tranny trouble. As for mileage, my last tow was in the mountains so hardly a fair check. I am running a non-towing check right now. I put in the Dynaflow 4" and the Ford monster filter system that pulls air from inside the fender. That was last year and I have seen no change in mileage. But I suspect the 4" lowers my EGTs.
|
racechaser
Collierville, Tennessee
Full Member
Joined: 02/27/2005
View Profile
|
I too use Hypertech's programmer in my 7.3 and have had no problems.My mileage is the same but the power is night and day.
2003 F-250 PSD with Hypertech Power Tuning
2006 Pilgram 310RBDS with 2 slides
Twin Honda 2000's generators
|
|
|
