MPG & My Chip

[Woody_PSD]

I just bought an '01 Ex PSD Limited that came with a Diablo Chip. I have no idea what this chip does, other than the original owner said it was 100hp+ and that he got great mileage on the highway (22-24), but around 12 in town.

I've now had the truck for 4 days and put some miles on it around town and just checked the mileage with my calculator after topping it off and sure enough, I'm getting 12mpg. I do a bit of in town driving and want to get this number back to around 15mpg if possible.

When I drove it home, which was mostly back roads highway with hills, the lie-o-meter said 18.4 (probably closer to 17 in reality).

Now, I have no interest in smoking the tires, I want to get the best mileage I can, and still have a little more power, though 100+ is probably a little much.

He also gave me a superchips 1705 tuner that he said he used when he would tow.

My understanding is that the 1705 has 3 tunes on it, is that correct? I'm pretty sure the tuner was purchased new when the truck was pretty new so I'm guessing the tunes might be different than what is listed on there web site.

PERFORMANCE LEVELS

* Performance Tune: 80 HP and 115 ft/lbs torque
* Performance Tow: 50HP and 85 ft/lbs torque
* Tow Safe: 40HP and 70 ft/lbs torque

So my questions are the following:

1. Do chips make the vehicle harder to start?
2. Will the 1705 on a different tune make better mileage in town?
3. If so, which tune should I run, or should I just try them all and see?
4. I already plan on dumping the K&N stock replacement intake filter, so will going to a DIY Intake (the one listed on this site) help with Mileage?
5. How do I switch from the Diablo to 1705? Just remove the chip, plug in the tuner, and go from there?

Thanks for your help. I'm new to Diesels, but I'm LOVING this bugger.

[Raul@Stealth Automotive]

hey bud welcome to the Org as far as your questions the chips shouldnt make the truck start harder. the 1705 might get you better MPG around town... the greatest factor is your right foot... i have heard that running the higher tunes give you a better MPG if you can keep your foot out of it.... good choice going with the DIY intake... and you would just remove the Diablo and plug in the 1705.... also would like to add that you should get yourself a set of gauges to monitor whats going on.... another suggestion would be to dump both of those chips/programmer and get yourself some custom tunes by Tonywildman... we could do a some good things to try to improve your MPG and it would be shift on the fly..... let me know if you have any questions

-Raul

[Woody_PSD]

Thank you for the quick reply.

I've got these already:



I'm not really interested in paying for a new chip, unless I can get some $$ out of the two I've got. My understanding is that the 1705 is "married" to my truck now though, so parting with it might not be an option.

As far as keeping my foot out of it, I drive it like a baby. I use it when I really need it, but even then I don't push it more than 15psi of boost. I just hate the idea of replacing the tranny any sooner than I have to... I'm getting older too, and hot rodding just isn't in my blood any more. I save that for the dirt (2 wheels).

[Raul@Stealth Automotive]

your best bet is run each tune in your truck every fill up.... so since you have 3 settings top off your truck to the same exact point when you fill up every time and hand calculate what each tune gives you.... i highly doubt the previous owner was getting 20+ MPG city driving will also lower the MPG and the winter blend fuel will lower it as well....

[Woody_PSD]

I doubt he was too. I think he was just going off the lie-o-meter for sure.

Ok, I just topped it off, so I'll make the changes and go from there.

Thank you for your help.

Do you know if there is any validity to the superchip being married to my truck now? I would love to sell both of them and get me 1 different chip/tuner or whatever that would better meet my needs.

[Raul@Stealth Automotive]

i believe once you take off the tuner from your truck it can be used on any other truck.... it is locked to your truck when the tune is on your truck.....

[farmboy99]

Go with the tony wildman burns they are awesome, and tony is a great guy to deal with.

[Woody_PSD]

Originally Posted by Raul@Stealth Automotive

i believe once you take off the tuner from your truck it can be used on any other truck.... it is locked to your truck when the tune is on your truck.....

Ahh, okay, thank you. Wonder if I can find a buyer for either of my chips/tuner.

Tell me more about the tw chips.

How do they work. I see that they have 6 slots, which I'm guessing you can fill as many as you want?

How do you switch between tunes?

Any issues with the Ex Security that the trucks don't have?

I still need to give the SC1705 a shot though and see if it meets my needs.

[Raul@Stealth Automotive]

Originally Posted by Woody_PSD

Ahh, okay, thank you. Wonder if I can find a buyer for either of my chips/tuner.

Tell me more about the tw chips.

How do they work. I see that they have 6 slots, which I'm guessing you can fill as many as you want?

How do you switch between tunes?

Any issues with the Ex Security that the trucks don't have?

I still need to give the SC1705 a shot though and see if it meets my needs.

its a six position chip that you can add various tunes too.... price depends on how many positions you want... it plugs directly into your PCM and it has a lil knob you turn to switch into the diff positions.... here is a link: Stealth Automotive. Tony Wildman Chip

[Woody_PSD]

Ahh okay. Do his tunes change tranny shift points, etc too?

Ok, so here's the no-nonsense person in me coming out. I've read that TW is great to work with. What does that mean?

Does that mean if my tunes don't perform optimally with my setup he'll make me a custom tune? or He's great to drink beer with and shoot the breeze?