[Snail it]

I haven't read much, or spoke with anyone who has a tune in their truck and am wondering if anyone has had any issues, and what they think of their tuned truck versus stock over the long term of a few months or more.

I had a 3.6 gas truck for 8 months before I traded it in for my diesel. I definitely like the torque of the diesel over the horsepower of the gas. It is much more relaxed to drive, and seldom downshifts when climbing hills unlike the gas truck. However, obviously, it lacks the top end punch the gas motor has. I have a Duramax Tuner from Calibrated ready waiting to go, and am hoping it will make the truck a little more exciting to drive. I'm not expecting a hot rod, just something a little closer to the V6 in the acceleration department. Anybody's info on their experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Burgess159]

DuramaxTuner posted a video a few months ago after they had tuned a 2.8 and they said in sport economy it made it much more enjoyable to drive. And that was just tuning it, no other modifications. I can't tell you how it will perform in the long run, but if you keep it out of the race tune, you should be just fine with tunes from them.

 

[Snail it]

Thanks for the feedback that's what I was thinking.

 

[Burgess159]

Here is the video I was talking about. They drive it stock, then turn on the tuner and drive it that way. I think it's about halfway through the video when they do that.

They have transmission tuning as well, so it tunes your ECM and TCM to get the best possible outcome. I didn't do the TCM tuning on my 6.6 when I had it, but I will on my 2.8. All of their tunes (for the 2.8 at least) are transmission safe, so that you don't go putting a whole bunch of power to a transmission that can't handle it. I think the race tune is very close to the max the transmission can handle, but like I said, if you don't run the race tune all the time, you are fine.

 

[mrbones]

I got my tuning from All in Truck performance. He has about 16k on his tuned 2.8 and he has abused it, trying to see how far he can push it before something breaks. He has even fogged it and made 440/600. After all the abuse he put his through, he finally broke a rod in it at idle, when he tore into the motor everything else looked perfect,except for that one rod, so now he is developing a basically drop in rod kit for these motors. I have his tuning with the trans tuning and the largest tune is 85hp over stock which would push it way over the factory specs on the trans and mine is holding just fine. I don't keep it on that tune, but played around with it enough to know with the right tuning the trans is doing just fine.

 

[Snail it]

Thanks for the info all. I have a tuner from Duramax Tuner already. I just wanted to hear from others before uploading the tune. Thanks again for the feedback.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Quick faux tune:
While stopped, Press and hold the exhaust brake button for 6 seconds, then press and hold the traction control button for 5. Your intelitrac and stabilitrac lights will illuminate. Shift to M (or L), and back to drive.

Torque management will be disabled till you release the gas pedal, or till you reach 60MPH.

 

[Burgess159]

Quick faux tune:
While stopped, Press and hold the exhaust brake button for 6 seconds, then press and hold the traction control button for 5. Your intelitrac and stabilitrac lights will illuminate. Shift to M (or L), and back to drive.

Torque management will be disabled till you release the gas pedal, or till you reach 60MPH.

What will that do for you then?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Without faux tune, 0-60 is 8.5 seconds
With faux tune, 0-60 time is 6.2 seconds.
Not too shabby.

 

[Burgess159]

Guess it just makes the vehicle quite a bit quicker. Would like to know if it would help on fuel economy too.

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

Sounded like it only worked for one press of the gas for a 0-60 run?

I'm more interested what it would do combined with my "race tune" may try it on a lower tune and work up lol

 

[Turbowyo]

I'm interested in added fuel milage.....anybody ?

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

I gained a few mpg around town. interstate is the same, as expected.

 

[mrbones]

I'm interested in added fuel milage.....anybody ?

I got 38.4 during the last 6 hour trip that I took.

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

Without faux tune, 0-60 is 8.5 seconds
With faux tune, 0-60 time is 6.2 seconds.
Not too shabby.

Dude, thanks for that. I had lots of fun on the way home

 

[AndyZ71]

Dude, thanks for that. I had lots of fun on the way home

I'm going to have to write this down so I remember to try it one day.

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

I was able to hit the exhaust brake, then just push and hold the traction button until the other light comes on. I was in M already and left it there.

To clarify, you have to be stopped, When you push traction button one light comes on, after a few seconds the other light comes on. You'll have three yellow lights then (trailer light, wiggly trac and Trac off) then you'll know you have the nannies off.

Like chicken said, if you let off the gas or hit 60 the other (trac off) light goes off. Meaning the traction control comes back on at 60 or if you get out of the fuel completely.

I'm assuming the traction control is mitigating torque and isn't giving you all the available torque when it's on. The truck pulls noticably harder with all the nannies off.

 

[AndyZ71]

I've actually been driving with the traction control off for the past few weeks, when it isn't raining that is. I think there is a ever so slight difference even with just that. It's too bad they have to dumb the cars down so much with all this behind the scenes crap. I like the tech, but it should be something that can be switched on and off.

 

[Rockcrawlerdude]

that is where we differ, I turn the traction control off in the rain. lol.

 

[AndyZ71]

funny back quite a few years ago I was driving a Silverado crew cab and for some reason one rainy day I decided hey I wonder what would happen if I turn the traction control off. I made it about halfway across the parking lot before I gained traction, I turned it back on before getting on the main road. Now that was me mashing the gas, but it's funny how much power these vehicles have that are trapped behind all the electronics.