Considering a tuner

[URdone21]

I've been researching getting a tuner for better MPG. I told my wife that I may get a tuner that will give my truck better performance and 2-5 better MPG. She said, "why wouldn't the truck come with the best MPG possible from the factory?" She stumped me. Obviously, every manufacturer of trucks wants to give it the best MPG and performance they can. The performance matters less to me. I care most about the increase in MPG.

 

[BIRDMAN]

I've been researching getting a tuner for better MPG. I told my wife that I may get a tuner that will give my truck better performance and 2-5 better MPG. She said, "why wouldn't the truck come with the best MPG possible from the factory?" She stumped me. Obviously, every manufacturer of trucks wants to give it the best MPG and performance they can. The performance matters less to me. I care most about the increase in MPG.

Assume for a minute that's actually true, most tuners don't net you the type of mileage that they claim if any at all. But, again, assume it's actually true and the answer is emissions. You can increase an engine's performance and efficiency at the same time but the idea of making your truck faster so you can go slower doesn't sink in with many owners and usually results in the opposite.

 

[URdone21]

Assume for a minute that's actually true, most tuners don't net you the type of mileage that they claim if any at all. But, again, assume it's actually true and the answer is emissions. You can increase an engine's performance and efficiency at the same time but the idea of making your truck faster so you can go slower doesn't sink in with many owners and usually results in the opposite.

Sooooo you're saying that if I'm considering a tuner for an increase in MPG, just save my money?

 

[Power247]

Echoing Birdman, adding a tuner will had power. You can use that power to try and save fuel but it takes a lot of miles to = $500 worth of savings.

Adding a tuner might add you 2 mpg if you can stay out of it. But with a tuner you will likely find you truck is much more fun to drive and not really seeing the MPG gains you might expect.

Plus with the ECM changes RAM recently made adding a tuner will likely void your warranty should you have any problems with your engine or tranny. Just something else to think about... As you will find, its just not a easy as it use to be

 

[URdone21]

Echoing Birdman, adding a tuner will had power. You can use that power to try and save fuel but it takes a lot of miles to = $500 worth of savings.

Adding a tuner might add you 2 mpg if you can stay out of it. But with a tuner you will likely find you truck is much more fun to drive and not really seeing the MPG gains you might expect.

Plus with the ECM changes RAM recently made adding a tuner will likely void your warranty should you have any problems with your engine or tranny. Just something else to think about... As you will find, its just not a easy as it use to be

I was ensured today by Jeremiah from Bully's Performance that the tuner will not void my warranty as long as I return the truck to stock tune before taking it to the dealership. Your thoughts?

 

[fastNugly]

I was ensured today by Jeremiah from Bully's Performance that the tuner will not void my warranty as long as I return the truck to stock tune before taking it to the dealership. Your thoughts?

I'm sure he meant your warranty should not be voided by the dealer vs will not be voided.
There is always the slightest chance depending on the dealer.
However, these tuners DO NOT leave an imprint on your truck when reverted back to stock...BUT, it does show that your truck has been flashed.
But a flash can happen by many things...

This is why we strongly urge our customers to find a tune that works for them and stick with it.
A few flashes and the dealer will probably look the other way.
100 flashes and they will have questions.
But dealers or most dealers are not out there to get you and some dealers are mod friendly.

I'd say, stay on the cautious side and revert back to stock and remove the tuner from your truck before heading into the dealer.

I'm sure there was a misinterpretation somewhere or I'm sure he meant what I said above.
Hope this clears it up.

 

[URdone21]

I'm sure he meant your warranty should not be voided by the dealer vs will not be voided.
There is always the slightest chance depending on the dealer.
However, these tuners DO NOT leave an imprint on your truck when reverted back to stock...BUT, it does show that your truck has been flashed.
But a flash can happen by many things...

This is why we strongly urge our customers to find a tune that works for them and stick with it.
A few flashes and the dealer will probably look the other way.
100 flashes and they will have questions.
But dealers or most dealers are not out there to get you and some dealers are mod friendly.

I'd say, stay on the cautious side and revert back to stock and remove the tuner from your truck before heading into the dealer.

I'm sure there was a misinterpretation somewhere or I'm sure he meant what I said above.
Hope this clears it up.

That clears it up. Thanks.

I am considering the Diablo InTune DCX. With that tuner, can I load a canned or custom tune and then remove the tuner from the truck?

Is there anyone who has a diablo tuner using a canned tune, 5.7L, 6spd that can weigh in on this thread with their real world city MPG after adding the tuner?

 

[fastNugly]

That clears it up. Thanks.

I am considering the Diablo InTune DCX. With that tuner, can I load a canned or custom tune and then remove the tuner from the truck?

Is there anyone who has a diablo tuner using a canned tune, 5.7L, 6spd that can weigh in on this thread with their real world city MPG after adding the tuner?

I am personally a user of the tuner.
Now I do run this among other parts we carry (TB, Vararam, etc) and have seen MG increase....it's hard to pin point which one, but them all together did improve my MPG
Mind you, I'm always on the pedal, so its about the same.

Regarding the DCX or Trinity, you can load can tunes or custom tunes and remove from your truck once the tune is loaded. When you want to change it or revert back, all you need to do is plug the tuner back in and change it.
If this is the route you'll take....then the trinity has no value to you and no reason to pay more. The DCX does everything the trinity does minus the real live monitoring and on screen displays.

 

[URdone21]

I am personally a user of the tuner.
Now I do run this among other parts we carry (TB, Vararam, etc) and have seen MG increase....it's hard to pin point which one, but them all together did improve my MPG
Mind you, I'm always on the pedal, so its about the same.

Regarding the DCX or Trinity, you can load can tunes or custom tunes and remove from your truck once the tune is loaded. When you want to change it or revert back, all you need to do is plug the tuner back in and change it.
If this is the route you'll take....then the trinity has no value to you and no reason to pay more. The DCX does everything the trinity does minus the real live monitoring and on screen displays.

What's your opinion on this: why wouldn't the truck come with the best MPG possible from the factory?

You think I would see an MPG increase with my mods? I have a S&B CAI with the extra scoop, magnaflow y-pipe and a flowmaster dual out muffler.

 

[HLram]

Emissions. That's the simplest answer to why the factory doesn't make them that way. Has been that way for a long time. With my truck, with 3.55s, 305 Coopers, I was getting around 16.5 easily -maybe 18 mpg on good day stock. Since BD came out with the tunes for the 12 models late last year, it started getting a little better mileage. With S&B, Bully Dog, Mufflex, 180 TS, catch can, it now can easily get at least 18 on a bad windy day (hand calculated) and I have seen up to 20 several times. When hand calculating my evic is usually about a half mpg off of the hand calculation. I actually saw 22 mpg for 20 miles coming home the other night. I do NOT believe that. lol. I might have had a good tail wind. But I have never changed my driving style at all, and the truck was already well broken in before I started modding it. So, I actually believe you can see a mileage improvement with mods like these because I have seen 38,000 miles of driving with probably 75 percent of those miles being highway travel with the cruise on. I run premium tune with 93 octane all the time. I even had a bug shield on it for 35,000 of those miles. Go ahead and mod your truck. When you need warranty work done, have your dealer do some work like tranny fluid change or oil change or such at the same time. If you are spending money there on occasion I'd bet they will be a LOT more forgiving of flashes. Also I don't mean to be too critical of the flowmaster (I LOVE the sound of them) but I think a Magnaflow or another straight thru type muffler will net you more flow and performance / mpg. Plus they don't rot out like the FMs do. Enjoy your modding

 

[URdone21]

With my truck, with 3.55s, 305 Coopers, I was getting around 16.5 easily -maybe 18 mpg on good day stock. Since BD came out with the tunes for the 12 models late last year, it started getting a little better mileage. With S&B, Bully Dog, Mufflex, 180 TS, catch can, it now can easily get at least 18 on a bad windy day (hand calculated) and I have seen up to 20 several times. When hand calculating my evic is usually about a half mpg off of the hand calculation. I actually saw 22 mpg for 20 miles coming home the other night. I do NOT believe that. lol. I might have had a good tail wind. But I have never changed my driving style at all, and the truck was already well broken in before I started modding it. So, I actually believe you can see a mileage improvement with mods like these because I have seen 38,000 miles of driving with probably 75 percent of those miles being highway travel with the cruise on. I run premium tune with 93 octane all the time. I even had a bug shield on it for 35,000 of those miles. Go ahead and mod your truck. When you need warranty work done, have your dealer do some work like tranny fluid change or oil change or such at the same time. If you are spending money there on occasion I'd bet they will be a LOT more forgiving of flashes. Also I don't mean to be too critical of the flowmaster (I LOVE the sound of them) but I think a Magnaflow or another straight thru type muffler will net you more flow and performance / mpg. Plus they don't rot out like the FMs do. Enjoy your modding

Ya those are hwy MPG numbers. I get 20 MPG hwy currently. 99% of my driving is city stop&go 25-40 MPH so that's all I'm concerned with in regards to getting a tuner.

 

[HLram]

I still think you will see an improvement in town. More torque equals less throttle input. Throttle response is so much better and truck gets up to speed easier even in normal driving.

 

[Etroze86]

Last I look and I don't look very often because I have 3 stop signs between me and my place of work but it was 13.5 on my evic. I wouldn't attribute mpg increase to the intune but I will say that it made the pickup way more drivable.

 

[audio1der]

Have any of you InTune users ever had an issue loading/reloading/unloading a tune because of the smaller size of the screen, compared to the Trinity?
I've read a couple folks say it can be more cumbersome to use because of the screen size, but even if I bought the Trinity I have no intention of leaving it inthe truck, making the Trinity a waste.
That being said, software is the bane of my existence so if the Trinity DOES make life easier to load/reload/unload tunes I would pay for it.
Thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Etroze86]

I have not had any problems at all. The only complaint I would have is the sensitivity on the screen could be better. Meaning I have to press a little harder than you would with your smart phone. Honestly it is a great product if you don't intend to use the screen on the trinity.

 

[naturecannon]

I'm sure he meant your warranty should not be voided by the dealer vs will not be voided.
There is always the slightest chance depending on the dealer.
However, these tuners DO NOT leave an imprint on your truck when reverted back to stock...BUT, it does show that your truck has been flashed.
But a flash can happen by many things...

What are the many things to tell the dealer when they say " hey, why was your truck flashed 30 times? "

Thanks, I need to be prepared with a handful of excuses when/if the day comes.

I Must of flashed mine 50 times now trying different setups and as BD keeps coming out with updates and fixes. I'm F'ed huh? And if you take it to the wrong dealer once (Unknowing their ****** about mods).. is your truck branded in the dodge database when you try to scoot off to the next dealer???

I am not angry or bitter. Just concerned if the day comes.

 

[that white kid]

i have the bully dog and i did see a little performance gain but i also saw a mpg gain of like 4mpg and i get 16 or 16.5 driving around the small town i live in and my truck is lifted and i have mud terrains its the best mod i have done yet

 

[fastNugly]

What are the many things to tell the dealer when they say " hey, why was your truck flashed 30 times? "

Thanks, I need to be prepared with a handful of excuses when/if the day comes.

I Must of flashed mine 50 times now trying different setups and as BD keeps coming out with updates and fixes. I'm F'ed huh? And if you take it to the wrong dealer once (Unknowing their ****** about mods).. is your truck branded in the dodge database when you try to scoot off to the next dealer???

I am not angry or bitter. Just concerned if the day comes.

This is all relevant to the year of your truck too and how long you have had it.
I mean, if its 1 month and 30 flashes....then it looks fishy. 1 year and 30 flashes, maybe fishy...but its not as bad.

Keep in mind, that the dealer does not always check or connect to your trucks computer unless they have to.

These are worse case examples. Majority of us will not always be at the dealer and time will pass.
Just had to make sure all were aware of what the tuner does.

But again, the dealer would need to prove that the tuner was there in the first place and that is if and when something messes up and they choose to try and blame something.

 

[Jerseymike]

It looks like he has a 2013. Is the Intune out for the 2013? I am thinking of selling my BD to get custom tunes.

 

[fastNugly]

It looks like he has a 2013. Is the Intune out for the 2013? I am thinking of selling my BD to get custom tunes.

At this point no Diablo tuners are available for the 2013 Rams.
We did receive word from our Diablo rep that they are about 30 days out.

I know there is other info stating within weeks.

But at this point, it will be a waiting game as delays always arise.