[Bowhunter47575]

I am getting ready to do the Zoodad mod, install a Ford AIS and Walker BTM to my truck (described in my sig below) and I want to add a chip at the same time. I have no experience with chips, and I'm overwhelmed with all the different options available. Here is a list of programs available from one highly touted tuner:

Stock
No-Start
Valet
High Idle
20, 40, & 60HP Tow
80HP Econo
100HP Performance
120HP Race
140HP Extreme

I want to go with a 6 position chip, but of the options above, am not sure which ones to go with. I could do without the 140 hp Extreme because I don't want to tear anything up. I could probably do without the No-Start because I live in an area with a low crime rate. Now some questions.....

What does the Valet program do?

Which tow program (20, 40, or 60hp) do you recommend?

What does the 80 hp econo program do?

Sorry for so many newbie questions, but I'm lost when it comes to this.

 

[Pocket]

Valet - I think it limits speed and/or rpm's (I don't have this one)

Tow programs - These are designed to increase HP enough to tow safely. If you don't have any gauges or intake/exhaust upgrades, then a lower HP setting will still be safe enough for your truck without destroying anything. A higher hp tow setting might put exhaust temps at redline or even above without some mods if you are towing heavy. Many of these tow settings also adjust shift points for better performance and cooler tranny temps.

80 Econo is still a performance setting, just so happens that most trucks get better milage on this setting as long as you keep your foot out of it. Some report better milage on the highway with the 80 econo setting, and better city milage with a tow setting.

100 hp and higher settings will give you real seat of the pants peformance. Depending on your mods will determine which one you want to get. For basic mods that you are planning on doing, I wouldn't go any higher than the 120 hp setting. Beyond that power returns are limited based on the stock HPOP. Some trucks even struggle with the 120 hp setting if they have a weak HPOP.

 

[gregrob]

No problem noob /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif JK

Stock is Stock
No start won't let the truck fire
Valet can limit speed and power output, like 70 mph top speed, etc
40 tow is the safest tow program, towing really heavy may need this to manage egt's, best mpgs in town
60 tow is a hotter tow program, good for most loads, egt's shoot up quicker
80 econo good for best all around usable power (may fav setting), best mpgs on interstate or cruising
100 race, power doesn't come on as quick on my truck, and made less hp than the 80 setting, have used it a few times, but not much
120 extreme this is the all out tire shredding, smoke belching, tranny breaking, law enforcement notifying, smoke ricer setting, use this any time you need a little pick me up, if you're feelind down or draggy, flip it over to 120 and floor it, you will immediately get this rediculous stupid grin spread across your face and start hopping up and down from sheer glee
140 a stock truck's HPOP (High Pressure Oil Pump) usually can't support the ICP (Injection Control Pressure) that this settings requires.

 

[Pocket]

[ QUOTE ]
No problem noob /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif JK


120 extreme this is the all out tire shredding, smoke belching, tranny breaking, law enforcement notifying, smoke ricer setting, use this any time you need a little pick me up, if you're feelind down or draggy, flip it over to 120 and floor it, you will immediately get this rediculous stupid grin spread across your face and start hopping up and down from sheer glee


[/ QUOTE ]

I LOVE that explaination. You did forget to mention the couple of drops of pee that usually showes up on your pants the first time you flip to this setting.

 

[Bowhunter47575]

LMBO. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Thanks guys for the info, and for the laugh. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[drmiller100]

what GREAT explanations!!!!

in addition, high idle for jump starting, cold warm up, and if you don't have a true stock setting on REALLY cold days.

40 around town. No smoke whatsoever, fairly user friendly.
80 for open road. some smoke. In a small town, ANY smoke is too much for my business truck.
120 for smoking out your buddies, and showing the edge boys what for.

 

[FireHunter]

Agreed, good reading so far!

40tow = all of the above plus it is safe to cold start and use during very cold temps; below zero even.

60tow = what I use for 90% of my daily driving and towing. With my 6-speed this program has more SOTP "torque" or "pull" through the 1400 - 1800 RPM range than the 80econo and I spend most of my time in this RPM range both accelerating and cruising. I rarely hit 70mph and 2000 RPM.

80econo = My opinion is this program works extremely well from 1800 RPM and up which is where most of the automatic trannies live during acceleration. If you cruise at 70+ MPH then this is your program! Some guys use this program exclusively but it is a little bit "focused" or "narrow" for my uses. Just my opinion and I use this program but only for long trips on open road with little or no load.

I have no experience with any of the higher programs as long mechanical life was the highest priority for me. Some guys get no benefit on the dyno from the higher programs because some of the other engine systems (air, fuel, oil) couldn't keep up.

Everything depends on your inteneded use. Get what fits. Leave the rest.

 

[gregrob]

Yep, forgot about Hi Idle, a setting I like too.

It has a dual purpose for me, when COLD, I can use it to help the truck warm up and keep warm when idling.

When HOT I can use this setting to draw cool air in quicker and expidite cool down times.

 

[Bowhunter47575]

Thanks everyone, you've been a huge help.

 

[jimmyendicott]

I have the high idle setting (1350 rpm) for two reasons. One for warming up the truck and the other for keeping the cylinders from getting washed with fuel. If I am going to idle the truck for more than a couple of minutes, I will flip it up on high idle summer or winter.

 

[DarthSurplus]

[ QUOTE ]
80econo = My opinion is this program works extremely well from 1800 RPM and up which is where most of the automatic trannies live during acceleration. If you cruise at 70+ MPH then this is your program! Some guys use this program exclusively but it is a little bit "focused" or "narrow" for my uses. Just my opinion and I use this program but only for long trips on open road with little or no load.

[/ QUOTE ] I've been trying to learn how to shift with this program for the last few weeks, and it isn't easy. There is a "pocket" in the 1800-2200 rpm band that operates differently, which provides a non-linear feel. I've also had to get used to the new throttle sensitivity. There have been a few times when I've switched to 40 Tow or 60 Tow when the engine was cold because I was getting tired of the irregular shifting. This, of course, won't be a problem with an automatic. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Jody told me that the 80 Econo program is set up for the most efficient burn possible in that range at light throttle. At middle to heavy throttle positions, the program is more linear through the rpm ranges. And more powerful. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif

I got a 6 position, and I'm glad I did, but if I had an automatic I would get the more-reliable 4 position - this program is simply that versatile. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

It seems to be improving my mileage over and above the Quadzilla Stealth Module on 40, but it is a little too early to offer anything akin to data. I'll post a write-up on my experience with the DP-Tuner after I've u$ed a few more tank$ of Die$el Fuel. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I'm interested in this theory about the 40 Tow setting providing better city mileage. I've read this two or three times now, each time merely an anecdote. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I'd like to know if there is any truth to it, so I'll know if I should alter my habits.

Is there anybody who has any mileage data to post to back up this notion? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif
Something along the lines of three tanks of mostly city driving in 80 Econo vs. three tanks of mostly city driving in 40 Tow?

I'm coming along with my shifting in 80 Econo, but it's definitely easier to shift gears smoothly in 40 Tow and 60 Tow. In 80 Econo, I either shift very gingerly or buck and jerk. My current experimental coping stategies include shifting before 1750 rpm while accelerating at a pace that would be thought too slow for Farmer Brown and Great-Granny Gertrude, or shifting at 2200 rpm.

 

[Pocket]

Darth, I was in the middle of testing the 40 hp city mileage vs. 80 hp mode. But now I have to start from scratch since I just added some new mods the past few days. I was almost through the first tank on the 40 tow setting, and I was on par with the 80 hp setting as far as mileage goes. I'll have to run through a few tanks on each setting to see for sure. With the 80 hp setting I averaged 16.1 mpg in the city through 4 tanks. My first tank on the 40 setting was going to be somewhere above 15 mpg, not for sure though since I lost some diesel the past few days upgrading.

 

[DarthSurplus]

[ QUOTE ]
With the 80 hp setting I averaged 16.1 mpg in the city through 4 tanks. My first tank on the 40 setting was going to be somewhere above 15 mpg

[/ QUOTE ]
You'll not like hearing from me when I post my mpg improvement, then. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I was getting 19.5 - 20.0, and with the DP Tuner it appears to be headed upwards of 21. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

 

[Thumper723]

Which Chip/Box has this? I am interested in the 80HP, NoStart, HiIdle, and 40/60 tow.

Kinda new to the computer controlled Diesel thing in small trucks. I grew up making GM 5.7 & 6.2's run harder than they should. Have worked with electronics in gassers, but just bought my first "Modern" diesel truck.

 

[jorbin21]

Give Jodi a call at DP Tuner http://www.dp-tuner.com/

 

[DarthSurplus]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm interested in this theory about the 40 Tow setting providing better city mileage. I've read this two or three times now, each time merely an anecdote.

I'd like to know if there is any truth to it, so I'll know if I should alter my habits.

Is there anybody who has any mileage data to post to back up this notion?
Something along the lines of three tanks of mostly city driving in 80 Econo vs. three tanks of mostly city driving in 40 Tow?

[/ QUOTE ]

Anyone? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif

 

[drmiller100]

5,000 miles. if i switch to 40 in town, and 80 on the open road, i get MAYBE a mile per gallon better then leaving it in either.

40 is nicer to drive around town with a a 6 speed IMO as well.

 

[Pocket]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'm interested in this theory about the 40 Tow setting providing better city mileage. I've read this two or three times now, each time merely an anecdote.

I'd like to know if there is any truth to it, so I'll know if I should alter my habits.

Is there anybody who has any mileage data to post to back up this notion?
Something along the lines of three tanks of mostly city driving in 80 Econo vs. three tanks of mostly city driving in 40 Tow?

[/ QUOTE ]

Anyone? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm starting over again on my mileage quest. I've finished my next round of mods, so I'll get a baseline again on the 80 econo setting. I've run this setting the most and I want to see what kind of improvement I've gained. After about 3-4 tanks, I'll switch to the 40 tow and see what happens to city mileage. I'm currently on my first tank and I'll fill up again in the next couple of days. Shouldn't take me but a few weeks to test both.

I have a feeling with my current setup (bigger tires with the stock 3.73 gears) that I'll probably get lower mileage with the 40 tow. If someone without a lift could also test this out, we might get a baseline of what setting works best with which lift/tire mods. Just some food for thought.

 

[FireHunter]

I have done informal fuel mileage tests in 40, 60, and 80 econo and honestly I get, within .5 mpg, the same mpg in all three settings almost no matter what I am doing with the truck. While towing in the 40tow I would get the exact same mileage as the 60tow while pulling the same trailer and load over the same road. The 60tow had noticably more power and boost but the mileage worked out to the exact same - 12.3 MPG.

I have made long, open highway, while empty, trips in both 60 and 80 and again I get about the same mpg on the same roads. In 60 I got 17.8 mpg and in 80 I got 18.0 mpg. Actually my best mpg came when I had about 1200 lbs of stuff in the bed of the truck (no trailer) and I got 18.1 in the 60 setting. I think this was becasue of the better aero profile due to the stuff in the bed acting, basically, like a toneau (sp?) cover.

Around town I get 17.0 mpg no matter which setting I'm in. 60 has more power than 40, and 60 is easier and smoother to drive than 80 so I use 60 for almost all of my driving. I have the 60tow on my PCM with the 40 and 80 on the chip and I am seriously considering just selling the chip and running 60tow exclusively. The way I understand it, the 60tow doesn't have the timing advance that the 80econo does which makes the 60tow a relatively viable setting for the cold temps around here in the winter.

Want to know the irony of all this?!?!?!? Jody himself told me the 60tow would work best for me and he told me this over a year ago when I started this whole mess!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

 

[jamjriii]

[ QUOTE ]
Darth, I was in the middle of testing the 40 hp city mileage vs. 80 hp mode. But now I have to start from scratch since I just added some new mods the past few days. I was almost through the first tank on the 40 tow setting, and I was on par with the 80 hp setting as far as mileage goes. I'll have to run through a few tanks on each setting to see for sure. With the 80 hp setting I averaged 16.1 mpg in the city through 4 tanks. My first tank on the 40 setting was going to be somewhere above 15 mpg, not for sure though since I lost some diesel the past few days upgrading.

[/ QUOTE ]

What gear ratio are you running? I am running 3.73 in the X and I am having a HORRIBLE time breaking 10 mpg. I am thinking of getting 4.10 put in. Towing I get about 7, empty I get about 10-11.