tuner choice

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ndblack3893

New member
Jul 31, 2012
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Homer City, PA
I see a lot of people that say the best way to go is EFI live tuning (from using the search feature and reading all the other posts) and I was just wondering, is there something wrong with using a plug in tuner? like the bully dog triple dog gt? I have really been wanting this and was about to pull the trigger tonight because I have the cash built up. But if it's no good I don't want to buy it. I don't do any racing and don't plan on it. And the only thing I tow is a 20' Supra Ski boat.

I've got 5" exhaust by Magnaflow on it's way and the K&N intake system.
 
McRat

McRat

Diesel Hotrodder
Aug 2, 2006
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www.mcratracing.com
What year is your truck and how much HP are you looking for?

Any stock Duramax will have no problem towing a 20' boat at 96mph where the speed limiter cuts in, or 55mph up steep mountain passes.
 
H

Hot COCOAL

May the farce be with you
Jun 9, 2012
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The edge insight cts seems to be a site favorite. I like banks software for the average joe, it is really really safe(gaurded) but expensive. EFI live is the best, you can get plug and play autocal's to upload efi programs at home. Try adrenaline truck performance(ATP idaho rob, duramaxtuner,moonshine tunes) and stick with a stock trans tune, unless you want to spend over 10g to beef up the rest of the truck. Fyi 5" is a pretty big exhaust, and the k&n is not a sealed air box, do a little bit more reading before you spend your precious mula, good luck and welcome to DD.
 
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S Phinney

Active member
Aug 15, 2008
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Quncy, Fl
The reason EFI Live is the best is that with the proper tuning it will have the manners of a stock type vehicle but the power of a sports car. All precanned tuners have some particular quirk that makes it not as good as EFI Live. Cost of custom tuning usually is as cheap or cheaper than the precanned tuners. With that being said why not go with the best? There is not an advantage to using a precanned tuner unless it is the need to have it immediately and not go through the trouble of waiting a couple days.
 
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ndblack3893

New member
Jul 31, 2012
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Homer City, PA
i didn't mean on it's way, it's already installed. had the k&n on when i bought it and the 5" exhaust too. i'm not looking for tons of power, more mpg's is really all i care about. if you get efi live, and change something later, don't you have to go and pay for another tune? every time?
 
Harbin_22

Harbin_22

Active member
Dec 4, 2010
3,858
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Southern Indiana
ndblack3893 said:
i didn't mean on it's way, it's already installed. had the k&n on when i bought it and the 5" exhaust too. i'm not looking for tons of power, more mpg's is really all i care about. if you get efi live, and change something later, don't you have to go and pay for another tune? every time?
Click to expand...

Even if you did have to pay for it, at least the option to change is there. Most won't charge for little changes. Now if you change turbos, injectors, build trans, or any other major thing, some may charge for new tunes but usually not much.
 
H

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May the farce be with you
Jun 9, 2012
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ndblack3893 said:
i didn't mean on it's way, it's already installed. had the k&n on when i bought it and the 5" exhaust too. i'm not looking for tons of power, more mpg's is really all i care about. if you get efi live, and change something later, don't you have to go and pay for another tune? every time?
Click to expand...
What do you mean? Change something? Yes, if you do egr delete after efi live you would need an update to the tune, but not a whole new tune, you would just need to have the sensors turned off, can usually be done through a email and is really cheap. Does this answer your Q? The only time you need to change a tune is for major upgrades, like turbo, injectors, cam etc. You should prolly get a few things in line first, it they are not done already. McRat has a list that should get you going, its in todays posts, it for lly upgrades, buts pretty universal for the dmax line up.
 
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ndblack3893

New member
Jul 31, 2012
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Homer City, PA
well i was looking to go and get either a programmer or tune, but if I went the efi live way, then should i consider beefing my tranny first? I posted in the BPU lly section, but nobody answered my question on the trans, i've been searching around a lot, but i couldn't find what to do to the trans before i start getting more hp to the wheel.
 
H

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Trans go shift kit is a manditory upgrade even for stock power levels imo, it makes your shifts crisp and short
 
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S Phinney

Active member
Aug 15, 2008
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Quncy, Fl
ndblack3893 said:
well i was looking to go and get either a programmer or tune, but if I went the efi live way, then should i consider beefing my tranny first? I posted in the BPU lly section, but nobody answered my question on the trans, i've been searching around a lot, but i couldn't find what to do to the trans before i start getting more hp to the wheel.
Click to expand...

If you want to use all the power of a hot tune then it should be upgraded. I have a truck with 351k on it and it still has the stock tranny in it. It has also had some kind of tune almost it whole life. Currently I run tuning that can fry it fairly easy but I drive it with sense. Engine is all original too.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
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ndblack3893

New member
Jul 31, 2012
29
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Homer City, PA
S Phinney said:
If you want to use all the power of a hot tune then it should be upgraded. I have a truck with 351k on it and it still has the stock tranny in it. It has also had some kind of tune almost it whole life. Currently I run tuning that can fry it fairly easy but I drive it with sense. Engine is all original too.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...

what all did you do to the tranny? is it stock completely or did you beef certain parts?
 
ChevyTruckGuy78

ChevyTruckGuy78

Twins done Now for trans
Feb 7, 2010
694
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look im running twins and i pull a 10k enclosed trailer daily city driving with efi live i drive kinda rrough but i know when and how to use it i keep it in a low tune and i never limped it till i turned it up and i have 181k on the truck and the trans is stock but if i turn it up i can do damage its all on what u want it to be with a box tuner ur limited to future upgrades efi live you limit is ur bank account
 
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