chip that goes on pcm vs the programmer style tuners?

[Soundguy]

while reading and searching the internet and talking to my diesel mechainc ( who also owns a 7.3psd ). we began talking about tuners.

his truck, ( 99? 2000? ) has a chip that plugs onto a slot on the pcm.

He says he prefers this to a hand held tuner setup. ie.. like superchips.. etc.

what ar ethe pro / con and differences.

On the superchips. I see it saves your stock program, then repalces it with one of its own. ie.. performance, towing, economy..e tc. ( i also see.. depending on the tuner you buy.. soe are code readers,a dn some do other things like recalibrate speedo fro tire size changes..e tc. som do real time data.. etc..e tc... )


have heard if you have a performance tune in and you go to the dealer they can't or won't scan your computer.. has to go back to stock for the dealer to scan it.

what about the chip? chip have to come out for a scanner to work?

just curious as to what ar ethe benefits of one over the other.. do the chips work better? were they an older option ? etc..


thanks

 

[JJZ 109]

I've got a 4 position chip from DP Tuner ( https://www.dp-tuner.com/ ) on my '97 F Super Duty. One position is stock. Then there's a high idle (1200 RPM) for warm up and then a 60 HP econo tow and 80 HP max tow.
It's my understanding that I'm probably not getting either 60 or 80 extra horses with stock injectors. But I can tell you that when I click up the the 80 HP tow mode it makes a substantial difference when I'm towing a trailer uphill or if I need to get away from an intersection a tad quicker.
If I remember correctly, I filled out a form on DP's website outlining my needs. Then Jody will burn the chip for your truck and send it to you.
I normally run stock, but it's nice to have the extra there when it's needed. The biggest pain on the OBS was loosening and flexing the driver side wheel well out of the way to get at the PCM. The instructions were good as far as opening the PCM and installing the chip.
I can't speak on a handheld tuner. Never had one and don't know anyone who does. Also no idea about having it scanned by a dealer with a chip installed. Haven't had any issues to take to a dealer in the 2 1/2 years I've had the truck.

 

[dodge man]

In theory, the tuners are better. I'm not sure how the tuners relate to a 7.3 Ford, but I know how they work on my Cummins.

My truck came with an Edge chip. It has 5 settings, no increase in power up to number 4 which is something like a 50 hp and 100 ft-lb bump. There is no doubt it increases the power. A lot of people call this a "pressure box". What it does is increase rail pressure and boost pressure and makes the power come on sooner in the RPM range. A lot of people say this will wear out your injectors sooner, while others say it won't. What its doing is increasing the fuel and boost to the engine. My chip doesn't put out very much smoke, but I'm sure you have seen pictures where some will "roll coal".

A tuner can do much more. It depends on the unit, but some come with screen that can display gauges, such as boost, temps, oil pressure, EGT's etc. They can also alter boost and fuel, but also alter timing, shift firmness the number of injection events and maybe some other things I can't think of. Many of these parameters depend on the truck and the programmer on what is available. Some of the programmers can get pretty pricey, and most of them come with "canned tunes". What this means is you don't have to think about all the things being changed and altered, it does it for you, such as a tow tune, drag race tune, mileage tune etc.

Either way, you bump up power, things wear faster. The transmission is usually the first thing to fail with a large power increase. As far as fuel mileage, people claim they can increase you mpg's, but a lot of people say they don't get better, but don't get worse either.

This is my understanding, I'm not 100% on this issue. I've got a tuner on my Challenger also so some of this info comes from that. With a tuner, they don't want you to have one and use it to tune all your buddys trucks, they want them to buy one too. Once you install a tune, it locks you out from doing anymore tunes. If you take your truck in and the reflash your computer you lose your tune and your tuner is locked out, your are screwed. Not a big deal, just take the tune out before you take it in. If you have a chip, I don't think there is an issue with that being over written by a reflash.

 

[RDrancher]

I have a Hypertech programmer in my wife's 7.3 F350 that used to be my work truck. It's been in there for eight years. Using the same 1/4 mile hill (from a dead stop) pulling a four horse GN, the programmer added 15 mph at the top. Rolling coal all the way too. I like the ability to plug it in, return to stock and read codes.

Like dodge man mentioned, any tuner or chip that increases power will eat a stock auto transmission if you're not careful.

I'm driving a Cummins for my everyday work/load towing truck now and won't be adding a tuner or chip.

 

[bucktaker]

depends on the chip first out were the chips then the tuners....I had a Western Diesel chip for my 00 7.3 then a tuner for the 6.0 decided to stay stock with the duramax for longevity...

 

[Soundguy]

my 99 450 is for pulling a trailer and heavy loads.. I don't do any racing so no need to make smoke.. however.. having a tuner that would let me set it in a fuel eco mode when empty would be nice.

IE. run out a state or 2 empty in eco, then step back up when loaded on the way home.. might be nice.

i've been reading up on the superchips flashpad. it says it will do 2 vins, ( 1 at a time ). ie. tune one vin, then return to stock to tune the other vin.

Since both my trucks are 99's and 7.3's ( 350 and 450 ) I figured this might be a good split investment.

If I'm taking a road trip not hauling.. I'd take the 350 and could also tune it eco.. etc.

that's my plan so far.

 

[RDrancher]

Don't discount the smoke...tailgaters back off pretty quickly! So my wife says.

 

[Soundguy]

well it's a diesel. when you gas on them they make some smoke no matter what.. turbo or not.

not to mention not many tailgate my 450. it's bumper has plenty of clearance.. and there is usually a tounge with a 2 5/16 ball in it as while it may not haul long trips like the 450. it does haul short trips every few days... not many people get too close to that rear prod...

 

[dodge man]

Don't expect an improvement in your fuel economy. I'm not saying you wouldn't get an improvement, but I doubt you will earn back the money you spent for it. The biggest reason to get one is the power gains.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am a big fan of chips, not tuners. Mine has 4 pistions. Stock, 80 HP, 120 HP, and 160 HP. I don't like anything that takes out the program and "stores" it.

As for MPG I got 2 mpg with mine and both my neighbors Dmax and his brother saw the same.


Chris