Question for Tuners regarding tuning methodology....

[08-450dually]

So, while snooping around and asking questions, I've been made aware that some, if not all tuners use a STOCK truck (with stock airbox and exhaust) to develop tunes. If most, if not all customers are going to delete entire exhaust system from turbo back and apply a cold air intake and 4-5inch exhaust, wouldn't it behoove Tuners to develop tunes based on aftermarket air box and turbo back, DPF/CAT delete exhaust??

I am aware of gasoline engine ecu tuning taking a variety of variables such as engine temp, ambient temp, manifold pressure, air/fuel mixture, rpm's and engine load to name a few. The more variables taken into consideration and tested for optimum performance, the better the tune is.

Why would Diesel tuners NOT develop tunes with aftermarket products installed as is the final intention of us customers???

enquiring minds like to know

[08stroker250]

Our tunes are made on trucks with full exhaust systems and intakes....and I am sure most others are as well. You couldn't make a DPF delete tune without a DPF delete, the DPF would clog and could cause other issues to occur. Of course, a tuner could sit at his computer and make a tune, but when initial testing began it was all done on a truck with an exhaust and intake.

[suban]

the 3 big tuners around here(sct, h&s, spartan) dont tune for stock pickups. its pointless. they tune for dpf delete and with the big tunes you need intake period. im not sure who you are talking about though

edit: jeff beat me to it

[InnovativeDiesel]

When our tunes are created, we actually use a truck with the specific mods installed that the programs are being built for. This is how it's done on diesel and gas vehicles.

For instance, with almost all newer gas vehicles(05+), a simple air intake system swap will skew the air/fuel ratio and will require a tune change. So, there are either options built into the tuner or a new tune would be installed.

For Diesel trucks, they aren't as sensitive, but do require some tuning for major changes like Off Road systems. EGR Delete, DPF Delete, upgraded injectors, turbo's, etc.

Basic bolt on's in a diesel won't require a tune change. So, tunes built for a bone stock truck will work perfectly fine on the same truck with an intake or exhaust(DPF Back on newer trucks) install.

[08-450dually]

Hmmm........ I talked to one of the top three listed, an up and coming and quite popular tuner, spoke to the actual manufacturer who said their tunes are done on a bone stock truck A little concerning for me as I would like to have heard otherwise.....

[InnovativeDiesel]

Just curious, why would you want a tune built for a stock truck on a modified vehicle?

Base tunes are always built on a stock truck. For instance, we built the tunes for the 6.4L and 6.7L before any aftermarket parts were available. However, we had to build new tunes once injectors, pumps, and larger turbo(s) were available.

If you added a supercharger to a vehicle with a tune built for a stock vehicle, you'd have a big hole in your block.

[08-450dually]

Hi. No, That's just the issue, I was told the diesel engine does not care if it has a better airbox or bigger exhaust. What he said is "once we tune the engine, it will deal with what ever changes you make to the airbox and exhaust properly, it's not like a gasoline engine".

maybe he meant stock downpipe??

It wouldn't make sense to develop tunes with DPF/CAT on. That would be

[rdwngs444]

Originally Posted by 08-450dually

Hi. No, That's just the issue, I was told the diesel engine does not care if it has a better airbox or bigger exhaust. What he said is "once we tune the engine, it will deal with what ever changes you make to the airbox and exhaust properly, it's not like a gasoline engine".

maybe he meant stock downpipe??

It wouldn't make sense to develop tunes with DPF/CAT on. That would be

that's just crazy.

the best tune would be a custom dyno/road tune for your specific application but even temperature, barometric pressure, humidity changes and can cause problems so im going to make n assumption that even the race tunes are somewhat mild because they have to satisfy such a wide variety of applications. I bet with a custom aggressive tune, our trucks can make crazy power, but then again you risk putting whole in your block or broken tranny.

[08-450dually]

agreed, I think it would be awesome if Tuners disclosed what specific bolt-ons were used when developing the tunes; what brand and model cold air intake, what brand and diameter size exhaust, etc., In my opinion, at least we could replicate their efforts and know that this is as good as it gets without going to customer specific custom tunes.

[Beatngu]

I think the average guy thinks intake and exhaust are major mods (DPF delete I guess is) but muffler and cat removal are not.

Tunes can be made perfectly fine with stock muffler,cat and intake, and removing these are not significant enough to alter the tuners base tune