Dp Tuner F5 Chip in E350 Van - Review

[Justin@DP-Tuner]

Originally Posted by sedonasunrider

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for the info on the DP tuner SirVive, I too have a '99 E350 Powerstroke, but mine is a 14' box van, (like a ryder truck, with a roll up rear door).

I have an early model 60hp/100 lb. Superchip that I put in it when it was practically new, which does help the turbo lag immensely. I haven't been able to break 11mpg since they messed with the diesel fuel years ago and took the sulphur out. (only got an occasional 12-13mpg before though, usually lower) I have a 4.10/4.11 rear for towing, so I cruise @ only 60mph.

I'm really intrigued about a tuner that can actually give better fuel economy, since at typically 9-10.? mpg on the high side I can't afford to drive it.

It's got a Jasper rebuilt powerstroke with only about 30K miles on it, along with Jasper's heaviest transmission rebuild for towing. I had hoped when I put in the new engine that the mileage would increase, but no such luck.

I hear mentions of powerstrokes actually getting better mpg's than a farm tractor, but unfortunately I haven't been able to personally verify that..

Does anyone know if there is a tuner that is specifically designed to increase fuel economy? Or, which ones are especially good for that?

I don't tow anymore, and I've got so much invested in it that I'll never come out if I sell it, so I'd LOVE to be able to find a way to afford to drive it if possible... Any hints or tips are VERY appreciated!

There is a lot more to fuel mileage than what a chip can do. Things such as boost leaks, worn injectors, a weak HPOP, etc. all play a part too.

Have you done any diagnostics to see if everything is running up to par?

[SirVive]

Originally Posted by sedonasunrider

I hear mentions of powerstrokes actually getting better mpg's than a farm tractor, but unfortunately I haven't been able to personally verify that..

Even my friend's D9 Dozer gets 20 GPM (Read carefully)

[sedonasunrider]

Hi Justin,
Thanks for your reply.

I just put a new HPOP and one injector in it 2 months ago, the truck hasn't been driven much over the last couple of years and it ended up getting towed into a shop because it wouldn't start. I told them to thoroughly go over it and find anything that it needed. They checked everything out, and aside from the above, two new batteries and one injector wiring harness it got an otherwise clean bill of health. (although I was $2000 lighter...) When I picked it up it had never run so smooth and started so immediately when you hit the key. (although I did take it back to them a couple weeks ago, because it was taking longer & longer to crank, but they had it for 2-1/2 weeks and said it always started great for them, they couldn't find anything at all so I got it back today ($n/c)

The rest of the engine is still basically new, Jasper replaced the injectors along with everything else when it was done 6 years and 30K ago (turbo too).

If there was anything wrong with the first engine, I would have expected it to have better fuel economy when the second engine was installed, but unfortunately nothing changed. Is there perhaps some part in particular that would have been switched over from the original engine to this rebuild, that would have "transferred" the poor fuel economy to this engine that you can think of? How would I have the shop check for it?

I really appreciate your time, and any help you can offer - Thank you very much!

[DA BUS]

Originally Posted by gbono2

I have a 2001 Excursion that's running a DP Tuner. For the most part we like his tunes. The performance is great. Yes, we have about a 2mpg increase.

Now for the bad side w/his tunes. It makes the accelerator pedal so stiff that taking off from a complete is hard to do smoothly. Most of the time the resistance will cause the X to lurch. The other down side is the transmission shift. At 45 mph, the upshift & downshift is pretty noticeable. Also, when using factory setting in 1, there is such a loss of power it will barely do 70 mph on the highway.

Would I do another DP Tuner? Probably not. I think I'd be better off to try another brand. I know my wife would be happier.

UUUUHHHHHH, I am pretty sure the TB on a 2001 Excursion is NOT fly-by-wire but cable driven. Someone with FACTUAL knowledge please correct me if I'm wrong but IIRC I saw a cable running to my TB on my 2002. They wouldn't have gone backwards for a year so any 2001 should have a cable too.

FWIW I also had a DP chip in my 2002 Excursion and I think Jody (it was Jody then) did an excellent job programming mine to my liking. I never experienced anything Mr. 5 Posts gbono says so please don't take his slams as credible. DP Tuner is a stand up company in this industry. I would receommend them to anyone and use them again should the need arise. Hey DP, you do Audi's?

[sedonasunrider]

Forgot to mention that I have an Autometer boost gauge, and with the superchip installed the max boost displayed is about 20psi, without the chip if I recall it drops to about 12psi max.

The truck also has the stock 3-1/2" exhaust, with a 4" aeroturbine straight-thru muffler.



20GPM - There have been times I almost feel like I can relate... especially when towing! I have seen the high side of 4mpg, but I was hauling a-- and the time saved driving was spent at fuel stops...

[RT]

Originally Posted by DA BUS

UUUUHHHHHH, I am pretty sure the TB on a 2001 Excursion is NOT fly-by-wire but cable driven. Someone with FACTUAL knowledge please correct me if I'm wrong but IIRC I saw a cable running to my TB on my 2002. They wouldn't have gone backwards for a year so any 2001 should have a cable too.

If you have a throttle body on a diesel, you are already in trouble...

The DIESEL Excursion is fly by wire - I promise. I don't know about the gasser...

[Stewart_H]

Originally Posted by RT

If you have a throttle body on a diesel, you are already in trouble...

Homebrew mod?

The DIESEL Excursion is fly by wire - I promise.

Stewart

[mws]

Originally Posted by Justin@DP-Tuner

Your lowered fuel economy may step from other things such as worn injectors, a boost leak, etc.

Have you done any diagnostics to look for the problem?

Have the Wildman chip on my 7.3L excursion. Have had an email response from Tony once, on the subject, but have not heard back on this additional question.

I just figured out that "Economy" doesnt really give any better economy but that "Street" is really quite good for better MPG as well as performance. Does that mean that "Extreme" will also give me better than Street MPG? I know the Extreme provides more boost, but I am curious about how it will perform MPG wise when cruising at 2000 RPM?

[Justin@DP-Tuner]

Originally Posted by sedonasunrider

Hi Justin,
Thanks for your reply.

I just put a new HPOP and one injector in it 2 months ago, the truck hasn't been driven much over the last couple of years and it ended up getting towed into a shop because it wouldn't start. I told them to thoroughly go over it and find anything that it needed. They checked everything out, and aside from the above, two new batteries and one injector wiring harness it got an otherwise clean bill of health. (although I was $2000 lighter...) When I picked it up it had never run so smooth and started so immediately when you hit the key. (although I did take it back to them a couple weeks ago, because it was taking longer & longer to crank, but they had it for 2-1/2 weeks and said it always started great for them, they couldn't find anything at all so I got it back today ($n/c)

The rest of the engine is still basically new, Jasper replaced the injectors along with everything else when it was done 6 years and 30K ago (turbo too).

If there was anything wrong with the first engine, I would have expected it to have better fuel economy when the second engine was installed, but unfortunately nothing changed. Is there perhaps some part in particular that would have been switched over from the original engine to this rebuild, that would have "transferred" the poor fuel economy to this engine that you can think of? How would I have the shop check for it?

I really appreciate your time, and any help you can offer - Thank you very much!

What parts were switched over from the first engine? There are a lot of different parts that can cause your fuel mileage to drop. It could be something as simple as a EBP sensor or a boost leak.

Have you checked fuel pressure?

You really need to monitor things such as ICP, and IPR duty cycle. I think this is what may be causing your longer crank and possibly even the drop in mileage.

How does the truck run overall performance wise? Is it a dog or does it get up and go when you tell it to?

Originally Posted by sedonasunrider

Forgot to mention that I have an Autometer boost gauge, and with the superchip installed the max boost displayed is about 20psi, without the chip if I recall it drops to about 12psi max.

The truck also has the stock 3-1/2" exhaust, with a 4" aeroturbine straight-thru muffler.



20GPM - There have been times I almost feel like I can relate... especially when towing! I have seen the high side of 4mpg, but I was hauling a-- and the time saved driving was spent at fuel stops...

That is definitely low on boost. You can do a boost leak test to check for air escaping. Just pressurize the system(with the CCV disconnected if it is still intact). Then spray soapy water on all of the boots and connections. If it starts to bubble up then you have found a leak.

Also, check the up-pipes for soot around the donuts at the collector. If there is soot on the up-pipes by the connector then you have a leak there also. You will either need to replace the donuts, get a new up-pipe kit, or buy the International bellowed up-pipe kit.

Low boost will cause a definite drop in fuel mileage.

[Justin@DP-Tuner]

Originally Posted by DA BUS

UUUUHHHHHH, I am pretty sure the TB on a 2001 Excursion is NOT fly-by-wire but cable driven. Someone with FACTUAL knowledge please correct me if I'm wrong but IIRC I saw a cable running to my TB on my 2002. They wouldn't have gone backwards for a year so any 2001 should have a cable too.

FWIW I also had a DP chip in my 2002 Excursion and I think Jody (it was Jody then) did an excellent job programming mine to my liking. I never experienced anything Mr. 5 Posts gbono says so please don't take his slams as credible. DP Tuner is a stand up company in this industry. I would receommend them to anyone and use them again should the need arise. Hey DP, you do Audi's?

The accelerator is not cable driven. It is all electronic.

Yes, Jody is still the tuner. Thanks for the compliments

Nope, no tuning Audi's for us

[Justin@DP-Tuner]

Originally Posted by mws

Have the Wildman chip on my 7.3L excursion. Have had an email response from Tony once, on the subject, but have not heard back on this additional question.

I just figured out that "Economy" doesnt really give any better economy but that "Street" is really quite good for better MPG as well as performance. Does that mean that "Extreme" will also give me better than Street MPG? I know the Extreme provides more boost, but I am curious about how it will perform MPG wise when cruising at 2000 RPM?

Some people have better luck with different tunes as far as MPG goes. A lot of people actually prefer performance tunes for daily driving because it can yield better mileage. This all depends on how the tune is built, along with the transmission tuning.

Most of the time fuel mileage comes from your driving style. If you have a heavy right foot then your mileage usually isn't too great. If you drive conservatively than mileage usually better.

Everyone's tunes are different so I can't really answer for Wildman tunes. The only way to find out if one tune works better than the other for mileage is to try it out.

[sedonasunrider]

Hi Justin, I just spoke with the shop that worked on it. My notes are in between your lines in the quote:

Originally Posted by Justin@DP-Tuner

What parts were switched over from the first engine? There are a lot of different parts that can cause your fuel mileage to drop. It could be something as simple as a EBP sensor or a boost leak.

They checked the EBP, it was good, but didn't check boost pressure because it wasn't there for the fuel economy issue

Have you checked fuel pressure? They did check fuel pressure, it was good

You really need to monitor things such as ICP, and IPR duty cycle. I think this is what may be causing your longer crank and possibly even the drop in mileage.

They did check the ICP, it was good, and the IPR was replaced

How does the truck run overall performance wise? Is it a dog or does it get up and go when you tell it to?

It's a heavy truck (12,000+ lbs.), so performance isn't in the cards, and I've trained myself over the years to have a really light foot to try and save fuel. Even when it was new, without the chip it's always been a dog, with the chip it's much better. I did get on it hard a few times yesterday, and the highest boost I could get with the Superchip was about 15-16psi max, (revving hard in 1st just before it upshifted to 2nd) which the shop said is basically the stock pressure. I told them that without the chip it drops to 12 or less, and they agreed that was definitely low.

That is definitely low on boost. You can do a boost leak test to check for air escaping. Just pressurize the system(with the CCV disconnected if it is still intact). Then spray soapy water on all of the boots and connections. If it starts to bubble up then you have found a leak.

Also, check the up-pipes for soot around the donuts at the collector. If there is soot on the up-pipes by the connector then you have a leak there also. You will either need to replace the donuts, get a new up-pipe kit, or buy the International bellowed up-pipe kit.

They also said they would check for an exhaust leak, and I mentioned what you had said (above) and he said "exactly".

Low boost will cause a definite drop in fuel mileage.

Thank you very much for your help Justin, and if you or anyone else has any other ideas of specific things for them to check, please let me know. It will probably be after the first of the year before I can get the truck back to the shop, since they're busy and I'm over an hour away.

[gbono2]

Hey Folks

I made a post about a year ago regarding our DP tune. The folks at DP tunes are great people!! In my post, I wasn't intending to slam them. I wasn't trying to be personal ,but was just stating facts we experienced w/our tune on our vehicle. There was nothing personal intended.

Yes, the accelerator pedal is "fly by wire". There is no linkage.

If Jody can do a different tune on my EX to eliminate these nuisances, I would love to get my hands on a revision. I was just stating we find the stiff accelerator pedal annoying. And yes, the transmission shifts hard from 3rd to 4th when using the chip.

Yes, the chip does give us about 2 additional mpg's vs factory settings. Yes, the chip does make it run like a scalded dog!
Yes, we do like these facts.