[MTUser]

I own a low mileage 02 F350 dually king cab, 65k. I bought it from the original owner in 03 with 10k miles. We use it with our slide in camper. We often tow a small trailer with a couple of small ATVs. Everything is stock.

I just had the front end done, everything except the steering block. I found this forum when I was researching adjusting the steering block.

My son keeps in encouraging me to get a "chip." He tells me it will increase performance, not really important to me, and improve fuel mileage, important to me. I get about 13.5 unloaded and about 10.5 loaded - it is the biggest slide in camper made.

I've read as much as I can about tuning. I'd like some help understanding what my costs would be, equipment, and labor, what I could reasonably do myself, and benefits. I'd like to figure out how long it would take to earn back the capital costs in terms of better mpg. For example, I am not sure if all I want is the mileage improvement with no loss of power, a small gain would be fine, if I need gauges. I understand EGs kill engines. I don't want to kill mine. My son hopes to inherit this truck from me when I am gone.

I've tried to put everything I can think of in this post. If you need more info to help me, please let me know.

 

[bugman]

Adding performance tuning is a double edge sword. For economy a engine that is producing more horsepower will use less fuel to get it moving down the road and keeping it at speed, that is unless you put your foot into it and then you can watch the mileage go downhill quickly.

You really need a couple of gauges even if you don't go to a chip or programmer. A exhaust temperature gauge will help you as you are going up hills with your camper on the back of your truck and a transmission temperature gauge will help in the longevity of your transmission if it is a automatic.

As far as a mpg boost I think that the most that you will see is only a couple of mpg and nothing drastic so just do the math. For me a increase of mpg would help in the range of a drive between fill ups. But if you get a increase of even 2 mpg that is not really going to help the pocket book that much.

So for gauges and a chip or programmer you are going to be looking at around $700+ depending and if you have to have someone install them for you figure another $300. The installation of everything isn't hard but it does take time. So it will take you a while to recoup the money spent.

 

[MTUser]

Thanks for the advice. Your 1st paragraph is what I have always believed. To paraphrase, there is no free lunch, tuning will get me better performance, but lower mpg. However, my son who works at an RV place keeps telling me all these stories of guys coming in with big 5th wheels who added chips and now get 18mpg according to them. If it is true that you could do some tuning and get that I think I would try. I've never got better than 13.5mpg and that is 2200rpm max driving going down the highway at 70mph or so.

Adding performance tuning is a double edge sword. For economy a engine that is producing more horsepower will use less fuel to get it moving down the road and keeping it at speed, that is unless you put your foot into it and then you can watch the mileage go downhill quickly.

You really need a couple of gauges even if you don't go to a chip or programmer. A exhaust temperature gauge will help you as you are going up hills with your camper on the back of your truck and a transmission temperature gauge will help in the longevity of your transmission if it is a automatic.

As far as a mpg boost I think that the most that you will see is only a couple of mpg and nothing drastic so just do the math. For me a increase of mpg would help in the range of a drive between fill ups. But if you get a increase of even 2 mpg that is not really going to help the pocket book that much.

So for gauges and a chip or programmer you are going to be looking at around $700+ depending and if you have to have someone install them for you figure another $300. The installation of everything isn't hard but it does take time. So it will take you a while to recoup the money spent.

 

[bugman]

The ones towing a 5th wheel and getting 18mpg sounds like the Dodge crowd.

Just remember that a tune adds more fuel to the engine and that equals better performance but 18mpg towing a 5,000-10,000 lb brick with a pickup I would love to see.

 

[blue99stroker]

Bugman is right..it's hard to justify fuel Savings unless you keep the truck for a long time.

Their is a few mods that must be done to safely take advantage of aftermarket tuning.

My dad has picked up 1-2 mpg unloaded and towing on average.

He has the basic mods done to achieve some gains but also stay reliable.

My mpg is all over the place because my driving style is all over the place.

For example say you want to run tuning. Well before you even plug a chip in you need an egt gauge (pyrometer), trans temp and boost.

There is 350-450 bucks right off the bat.

All trucks that tow heavy need a better Trans cooler. The stock cooler is tiny. Most popular are the 6.0 trans cooler or try cool max. 140 for the trucool 200-300 for the 6.0 cooler.


Then you will need a larger diameter exhaust and better intake kit to keep egts in check since you have a large trailer.

Then you need some tunes. The most popular is a ts chip with php tunes tunes or the hydra. The ts chip with 6 php tunes is 250, the hydra is 400.

After all that you might hook up the trailer and get turbo surge! Well then theirs another 200 bucks for a billet compressor wheel to eliminate surge and lower egts.

Depending on what you get it's going to cost 1100-1500 for the basic mods and to keep it reliable.

 

[MTUser]

Thanks. This is a great overview of everything. I can see clearly how one thing leads to another. I think for now I'll pass. I have a couple of other automotive projects. I'll finish those first and think about coming back to this next summer.

Bugman is right..it's hard to justify fuel Savings unless you keep the truck for a long time.

Their is a few mods that must be done to safely take advantage of aftermarket tuning.

My dad has picked up 1-2 mpg unloaded and towing on average.

He has the basic mods done to achieve some gains but also stay reliable.

My mpg is all over the place because my driving style is all over the place.

For example say you want to run tuning. Well before you even plug a chip in you need an egt gauge (pyrometer), trans temp and boost.

There is 350-450 bucks right off the bat.

All trucks that tow heavy need a better Trans cooler. The stock cooler is tiny. Most popular are the 6.0 trans cooler or try cool max. 140 for the trucool 200-300 for the 6.0 cooler.


Then you will need a larger diameter exhaust and better intake kit to keep egts in check since you have a large trailer.

Then you need some tunes. The most popular is a ts chip with php tunes tunes or the hydra. The ts chip with 6 php tunes is 250, the hydra is 400.

After all that you might hook up the trailer and get turbo surge! Well then theirs another 200 bucks for a billet compressor wheel to eliminate surge and lower egts.

Depending on what you get it's going to cost 1100-1500 for the basic mods and to keep it reliable.

 

[yan7gin]

I would recommend installing the gauges sooner than later. EGT and Trans are really important when you are towing. chip or not. you really want to keep a eye on your vital so nothing bad and expensive happen to your truck