School Me On Tuning

[Quint]

Those two conditions will conflict a bit but ask him what he can do to optimize a tune for you.

Yup sorry, I meant for it to read so that you can choose either or....

Tune it to get maximum mpg for daily driving but then hit a switch on the tuner while at a light and have it ready for party time.

 

[BigSloth]

Can Sean do custom tunes that are more geared for getting maximum fuel mileage as well as maximum hp and torque?

I've found on both of my rams, that sean's tunes get better mpg than the mpg booster canned tune or any canned tune I've tried. I'm not saying that you can't tune the truck for max mpg, I'm saying that you can tune the truck for max power and it gets better than stock mpg. Have your cake and eat it too, I Suppose. In my 14 with the 8 speed, I see around 20 mpg average mostly highway. That's pen and paper calculations, and it's within .3 of the meter. On highway running 65 I can get 25.

When I put his 93 tune on my 06 that was the only way that truck ever saw the north side of 15mpg.

I had questions about this topic. What a great thread and the responses were great!! Thanks for enlightening newbies like me

So what about when getting service do you keep the tune in place or do you swap it back to stock configuration. Would the dealership know that it was changed around?

Legally, you're fine. They won't do anything.
BUT, don't leave it on there. Revert the truck to stock before giving it to them, simply because they like t reprogram ECMs if there's an updated file available, and if they do that while your tune is on it, it will lock up your tuner. Basically the truck goes back to stock, but the tuner still thinks you're tuned so you can't tune it again without calling diablosport and spending days on the phone, faxing RO's, and waiting on hold for them to unlock the tuner.

Yup sorry, I meant for it to read so that you can choose either or....

Tune it to get maximum mpg for daily driving but then hit a switch on the tuner while at a light and have it ready for party time.

Doesn't quite work that way on these trucks or tuners. You can have multiple tunes, but it's not something you can just switch between at a redlight. The first time you tune the truck it takes a while as it conditions the ECM, but after that it takes about 5 minutes to change tunes on my 14.

 

[NorthTexasHemi]

Thank you BigSloth for taking to time to answer.

 

[BigSloth]

no problem, been there done that with the dealer flashing over my tune. Diablosport reset it for me for free(because this happens a lot) but it still took weeks of me trying to get the dealer to fax me an RO showing they reprogrammed the ECM, then faxing it to diablosport, then having to call and wait on hold with tech support to unlock the tuner.

 

[fondupot]

Can MDS be disabled in a tune like in GM trucks?

 

[BigSloth]

Yes. You can have a custom tuner write it into the tune, or you can do it yourself with a trinity.

 

[rduchateau2954]

Unclear w/RAM, but some manufacturers ECU's / diagnostic tools can tell if you've changed tunes, even if you reload the OEM tune before you go to the Dealer.

Didn't used to be a problem years ago, but unclear what the exact status/capabilities are today.

I played around with a few basic SC tunes in my 09. Yep, more power, but not interested in those things today. I can see where others might enjoy it.

(Basically lost my lust for 'tuning/haulin ass' after I got pulled over while trying to beat my 'personal best' on a public road,,, Sold the tuner shortly thereafter,,,)

I'm with you there. That's why I wasn't planning on go fast parts. From what I've been reading though, the OEM setup is far less than ideal. Hence me starting the thread. A tune is a no brainer for those go fast guys, wasn't sure about the rest of us.

 

[rduchateau2954]

Can MDS be disabled in a tune like in GM trucks?

Why would you want to do that? Just curious.

 

[BlownGP]

Why would you want to do that? Just curious.

Because running MDS makes trucks with exhaust sound bad. I don't notice it but a lot people claim it. That and it feels less sluggish when accelerating.

Some people have said they get better MPG with it off too.

 

[rduchateau2954]

Because running MDS makes trucks with exhaust sound bad. I don't notice it but a lot people claim it. That and it feels less sluggish when accelerating.

Some people have said they get better MPG with it off too.

It's definitely noticeable with my new carven exhaust, drops the tone down a few octaves, makes it a bit drone-y. Only noticeable lag is if you try to lighty lean on the gas. Any more than that and it kicks off.

I'll have to look into the mpg thing, that would be odd since the whole purpose is to save gas is it not?

 

[chefred112]

yup...with mds, a truck sounds like a boat (in a bad way) with aftermarket exhaust.. I keep 5 different custom tunes in mine...just to play it safe in case my tune starts to act funny as well as compare sometimes... mine is mainly to have different rpm idling choices..

 

[mxerchris]

Installed my Vararam CAI, Magnaflow and Billet Catch Can (from Moe's) last Friday and drove it home and then Saturday got a chance do load the Diablosport I1000DCX, love being able to disable the MDS. It makes a big difference with everyday driving. I love my truck but always hated the feel of the throttle having to push it so far to get the truck moving when you know the power is there just not tuned to give it to you, I've owned 5 Ram with Cummins and instant throttle/torque response is what I missed the most about having a heavy truck but with DS you can increase the throttle boost for that quick throttle response. I got my Hemifever tune yesterday and loaded in the 93 Octane tune and really noticed the difference over canned tune interstate driving seems so much more effortless now very little throttle input to maintain speed even on hills which in my opinion makes the expense worth it. I really probably will never be "racing" my truck but the new feel with add-ons "priceless" Now the truck seems like a complete package, looks, ride, now the power and with my Longhorn Edition all the amenities I should ever want.

 

[rduchateau2954]

Now that I've had my exhaust my a bit yea, that MDS is annoying.

Questions:

So you have to use a Diablosport tuner? I'm seeing tuners for sale popping up all over.

Also, since I'm rooting around in there, is there a way to keep the fogs on with the high beams?

 

[cableguy_hd]

diablo is preffered here due to custom tuning options but you can also use Superchips and Bullydog. just check there website and confirm model #'s that will work on your truck

 

[rduchateau2954]

Then I would have to use one of their canned tunes correct? I'm taking about something that would work with Hemi fever

 

[MADDOG]

If you get your tuner from anyone but Hemifever, you start with one of the canned tunes loaded by Diablosport.

Then you will log some things Hemifever wants to have logged.

Then you send him the log files and he builds you a tune.

He sends the tune file to you by email and you load that tune on to the programmer, then on to your truck.

If you get your InTune from him he already has a tune loaded on the programmer, in addition to Diablosport's "canned tunes" and you start with that tune, then follow the process above.

 

[BigSloth]

Yes, the trinity will turn off MDS. not sure of others. No, you cannot set the fogs to stay on with the high beams using a tuner. I'm pretty sure that you can't do that at all even with bypassing a relay with the IPDM these trucks have.

And to touch on what ^^ he said, unless he has changed something, hemifever doesnt send you a tuner with a tune file already loaded, because you have to save the original backup from your truck and load a canned tune in first. then get that tune file as the "last tune written" and he takes that and tweaks it and sends it back.

 

[chefred112]

this will probably work with 4th gens as well..

in the 3rd gens, you had to jumper a relay in the fuse box and it would turn on the fogs whenever you turned the lights on...

Just add a jumper wire between the park lamp relay (pin 85) and fog lamp relay (pin 86)