Looking through classifieds on used Super C's I've seen some that say they've chipped there duramax diesel. I have a cummins diesel pick up truck and previously had a powerstroke. I've never chipped either of mine but have several friends who have, and have had to do other modifications so the additional power wouldn't damage the engine like larger exhaust, more cooling, transmission coolers, some times even better transmissions and clutches, air intake and then a pile of gauges so you could monitor everything.
What have you been hearing about chips on these motors? Good or bad and what additional work shoud be done?
They can be refashed at dealer or do it yourself. The dealers usualy have updated reflashes to improve MPG's. But power reflashes can be done at speed shops. If you want to get the inside dope on Duramax's go to The Diesel Place web site, they are the Duramax experts.
Usually but not always the guys who flash or chip are looking at performance and lets just say better fuel mileage (wink wink).This isnt all of them of coarse some programs are great for improved mileage in empty and towing conditions.I myself stay away from these mods as I really don't trust them yet.Plus the piece of mind I have knowing that I in no way am jepordizing my warranty is valuable for me (not all).
This is my second Diesel and I notice fuel mileage is all over the place if you ask around and I think much of it has to do with your right foot, regen and that these engines get better as they get miles on them.Some say 30k is break -in,I'm not an expert on these things but have done my fair share of research and looking around and talking to people.To each there own but my gut feeling if I was going to buy a used truck from someone who had vast amounts of mods would be to stear clear.Give me a stock truck and let me do what I want with it.
Thats always been my feeling as well. I've always thought I got around okay with my diesel as stock. I don't need to be hauling up any canyons at Mach1. If they're making modifications like that maybe there really overloading it, or abusing it.
My nephew's son is part of the new Mod (modification) Squad (chipping or new programming for diesel pickups). The people I know doing this are NOT doing it for better fuel economy, better acceleration and hill-climbing ability for towing, etc. They are doing it to race, or otherwise abuse these trucks. And yes, if many of the extra modifications listed above are not done, in addition to the reprogramming, you can end up with an expensive boat anchor under your hood or transmission hump. My nephew's son has already "totalled" his diesel and trans more than once each. His only salvation has been his father's wallet, and the fact that he works at a speed shop which sells and installs this performance programming and does "performance" rebuilds on engines and transmissions.
We have 6 Duramaxes, 2 Powerstrokes, and one Cummins in my extended family at this time. I've ridden in all these trucks, and see absolutely no reason why any of them needs more power, except to race, either on the strip, the dirt(sled pulling), or the street. My nephew's son's truck is the only one which has been reprogrammed (many times, with different programmers), and is the only one which ISN'T used to tow large trailers. It might explode like an atom bomb if an RV was hitched to it, which is unlikely, because it sits about 6 inches off the ground and it's tire sidewalls look to be only about 4" tall.
He says no one wants the Hypertech reprogrammer any more, because it doesn't make "enough" power. That's probably the reason that it's the only one the shop has ever sold and installed that has never broken something or another on someone's truck while racing.
I'm with jim87vette, if I were ever fortunate enough to be able to afford a diesel TV, I would keep mine stock, and DEPENDABLE.
EDIT: The manufacturers spend millions to find out just how far they can stress these trucks without sacrificing dependability, and that's where they draw the line on factory horsepower and torque.
* This post was
edited 08/11/08 07:51pm by campercajun *
2003 GMC Sierra Crew HD; 6.0L; Prodigy
2006 Thor Tundra 30RL-DSL; Reese Strait-Line & Dual-cam HP
2001 Honda Elite Scooter
Jim & Gayle Bryant
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