Engine programers

[southern thunder]

With the threat of higher priced diesel fuel and a desire to do some long range traveling, I am considering the addittion of an engine programer to my 2011 Ram 2500 Cummings. Is anyone using one? If so, what brand? And what are your real fuel savings. I belive I need about 4 mpg to make it pay for itself.

[bigmurf]

Stand clear. Let the comments begin. G

[Clyde n Deb]

Never get 4mpg. Voids warranty.

[H. John Kohl]

I will not recommend my Banks for fuel savings. This topic came up a little while ago and got me to thinking about my driving style. Last tank the computer said 19 mpg and the miles/gals said 17.5. With that said my driving style was to accelerate and observe about 10 to 12 lbs of boost. This tank I have been more concious of of my acceleration and drive as if there is an egg under my toes on the throttle. Right now the truck computer says 20.3. It will be a few weeks before the fill up really tells the story. With that thought I feel your best MPG savings is to be "GRANDPA" and accelerate with less throttle.
Good luck.
EDIT - filled up at 423 miles and took 23.841 gals. MPG was 18.359. These miles were driven with the egg under my throttle foot. Grandpa starts with slow deliberate acceleration. Computer showed over 22 mpg. I know it is generous.
For 1.01 mpg more I a not up to driving this way all the time.

[southern thunder]

I believe also that driving style is the best way to get better fuel economy. I am new to diesels, this is my first, and know that I do not want to void my warrenty.I only have 8K miles on the truck. A 2mpg increase at todays diesel prices would not pay for a $600 programer on a 6000 mile trip. The venders just make them sound as if they are the best thing since RV airconditing. But that's their job.

[mhs4771]

On any of the Forums I vist the topic of Programmers and Chips come up all the time. Most agree you can get more pull power, but they all pretty much agree that Fuel mileage doesn't change or if they claim it does, it's only 1/2 to maybe 1 MPG. My GM has plenty of power so I'm not about to upset the apple cart.

[08UltraRider]

I've got an Edge tuner where it doesn't do anything for mileage. I didn't get it for mileage increases and no it doesn't void the warranty.

The best device (as stated already) is your right foot. I believe one of the best gauges I have is the pyrometer and use it for the hills. The more heat means more fuel consumed, simple as that. Constaintly running the exhaust temps up over 1300 degrees will damage the turbo as well.

When I see the temps climb over the 1000 degree mark I back off usually dropping a gear... I could easily keep the speed up but I have seen a noticeable increase in mileage by keeping the speed down to 100 kms (63 mph) and taking it easy up the hills. 63 in fifth gear is about 2000 rpms in my Chevy... the sweet spot for the Duramax.

[mlh]

I get about 1 MPG better fuel mileage. My lieometer says I get 3 or 4 but thats why they are called lieometers after you tune your truck. I don't say not to tune your truck but don't tune it to get better fuel mileage.
Lynwood

[Champ_49]

As has been stated before. Don't look for increase in fuel mileage, but look for more power! More power requires more fuel! Plain n simple!

Dave

[Phil P]

Hi

Our Duramax got around 8 MPG pulling the Montana until about 30,000 miles. At 30,000 miles the MPG began to increase. Now at 65,000 we are getting 12 MPG with the Montana in tow and 16.5 MPG without the tow. We tow at 60 MP.

Phil P

[RickW]

In 2005 I installed a tuner on my 2001 Ford 7.3L. Comparing fuel receipts for the 1 year prior to the install and the 1 year following the install I saw a increase of 8%. At 15mpg before the tuner I saw a increase of 1.2mpg. No where near 4mpg. In addition at the cost of fuel at the time of purchase of the tuner I figured I would have to drive 80k miles just to pay for the tuner with the savings from the tuner in fuel economy. Now I will say that the additional power provided by the tuner did make it worth the expense.

[richfaa]

Strange.My Lie O meter and hand figures are always very close.Of course I fill to the very brim between fill ups when checking MP

If I thought a tuner would give better MPG I would have one. We do not need any more power.We do have external gauges and drive by them.Observing boost and EGT's will improve MPG. Many of us are pulling 23K or More GCWR what kind of MPG do we expect.

[TAKPAK]

When I see the temps climb over the 1000 degree mark I back off usually dropping a gear... I could easily keep the speed up but I have seen a noticeable increase in mileage by keeping the speed down to 100 kms (63 mph) and taking it easy up the hills. 63 in fifth gear is about 2000 rpms in my Chevy... the sweet spot for the Duramax.

DOWN to 63 MPH??? I'm keeping my Duramax UNDER 63 MPH, usually around 60-62. On level ground, I take it out of tow/haul, and it cruises right at 1600 RPM at 62 MPH, which is the peak torque output for the DM. IF I am in traffic, or approching a hill, either up or down, then I kick in the tow/haul for the shifting and the braking. Otherwise, I cruise at about 62. At that point, I'm averaging between 11 and 12 MPG, with the 3400 behind.

It's like they say, if you want to find out what pulling the 5'er is like, hold a piece of 4X8 plywood flat on into a windstorm. You'll find out real quick......!!!!

[Clyde n Deb]

[quote]Originally posted by 08UltraRider

I've got an Edge tuner where it doesn't do anything for mileage. I didn't get it for mileage increases and no it doesn't void the warranty

This from another post this morning:


"told me the Banks system compromised the GM OEM electronics, and there will be no warranty work performed. Charged me $105.00 and noted it in GM records with my VIN. This truck only has 18k miles plus I had bought an extended warranty when new."

[mlh]

Rich when you tune a truck your throttle position is different injector timing is different and that I think is why the lie o meter is so far off on a tuned truck. I would like to get 3 or 4 more miles per gallon, but I'm afraid that is not going to happen. I got 99.9 MPG one time, then I got to the bottom of the mountain and had to go back up. In the real world pulling 20'000 + pounds getting 10 or 11 REAL miles pre gallon ain't to bad.
Lynwood

[richfaa]

I have got nothing against tuners it is to me a cost vs benefits issue. They will not improve MPG much and we do not need more power so it is of no benefits to us. Nearing 50K this 08 Ford is getting better MPG solo than it ever got.We were advised when we purchased it that MPG would improve with milage and that seems to be the case. The Ford does not do as well as the GM or Dodge but then they are much heavier.

[RickW]

The weight is not what is killing your mileage, it is the height of the trailer. Get a trailer that is shorter but weighs the same and you will see an increase in your mileage.

TAKPAC mentioned above he gets 11~12mpg @ 60~62mph. I get 10mpg @ 60mph. This is with a 12L motor and at 40k# gross, but I still have the same amount of air to displace. With out the trailer I only see a increase of 1mpg but my truck is the same height and width as the 3400.

I also have a 5x8 enclosed utility trailer. It is 7' tall. I see a decrease in mileage of 10%~15% when pulling this behind my pickup. This trailer is light enough I can move around by hand. It took forever for my neighbor to understand why he was getting worse mileage pulling his toy hauler than his flat bed. Loaded his flatbed was 4k~5k# heavier than his loaded toyhauler but he never loaded his flatbed over 6' from the ground.

[richfaa]

Sure Rick there are many things that effect MPG including weight and aerodynamics.For a few months before we got the 3400 we pulled a 30 foot TT lower and and about 7K loaded.Got way better MPG.

[mlh]

Rich does your truck have the long or short air dam on the front? I think your truck may be a little older than mine and may have came with the short version. I understand the long one will help fuel mileage a little. If you changed it did you notice any difference?
Lynwood

[richfaa]

We did change it out and noted no difference.