Best Programmer 2000 7.3 Powerstroke?!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, Florida
I love my SCT Tuner , it is the 3rd one I have owned , one for my 2010 mustang gt , one also for a 2012 cobra I have owned , and this one I have for my 2002 F350 ! It had diagnosed my ICP valve was bad and the truck has alot more power now with the tune Lomatta Performance (Longwood , Florida) had given it !
New User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Pacific NW
Great advice from many of you. Thanks you guys. I'm new to owning a diesel, 7.3L early 99 F-350. Just getting started on my projects of making it run better and get better mileage. Just changed the exhaust back pressure tube. It was almost completely rusted through. Couldn't see the bad spot next to the block until I removed it. Replaced it with a stainless steel tube. I intend to put a chip in it sometime soon for improve mileage and occasional towing.
Will
Will
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
I've thrown a lot of money at fuel economy and I'm satisfied with my results. The rules:
- Nothing you add is going to assure fuel economy - with exception of proven aids to aerodynamics.
- Sometimes different injectors help, but there are many variables at play.
- A healthy engine will assure better fuel economy
- Economic driving habits have to be paired with a healthy engine to get the max bump in MPG
New User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Pacific NW
Improving mileage with common sense approach
Good info TUGLY.
Thanks for your added comments from your personal experiences. I will heed your advice as it appears to come from balanced common sense.
I figure a healthy engine comes from proper maintenance. Once that practice is in place, then it's time to learn more from others who have more knowledge/wisdom and are willing to share it here in these forums.
Always willing to learn more.
Will
Thanks for your added comments from your personal experiences. I will heed your advice as it appears to come from balanced common sense.
I figure a healthy engine comes from proper maintenance. Once that practice is in place, then it's time to learn more from others who have more knowledge/wisdom and are willing to share it here in these forums.
Always willing to learn more.
Will
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
What "fun" tune would you recommend? The 120? Or should I just go with the 140 in times of future injector upgrades? Also, would I still be able to read engine codes with a DP?
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New User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Pacific NW
Chip vs. Tuner
Thanks Tom for pointing out the difference. I'm so limited on my knowledge of upgrades that I didn't even know that there is such a difference.
I'm riding down a slow and wide river of knowledge. Got to see both banks so I don't miss anything.
Will
I'm riding down a slow and wide river of knowledge. Got to see both banks so I don't miss anything.
Will
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,910
Likes: 2
From: Hat Creek Ca
I have DP tunes on my 01' 60/80E high alt. 40/60 tow high alt & decel. 3.5" DP to 4" turbo back magnaflow, AFE intake & manifold. Waaaay more power especially with the "E" tunes. I am quite certain not near as much as the guys with turbo & injector mods ETC. But the "butt dyno" shows me a huge increase in performance and only minor smoke in 80E at full throttle. I know, some of you WANT lots of smoke. Just wasted fuel to me, but I am just a short, fat, old, grey-haired ugly guy.
Mike
Mike
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
I have DP tunes on my 01' 60/80E high alt. 40/60 tow high alt & decel. 3.5" DP to 4" turbo back magnaflow, AFE intake & manifold. Waaaay more power especially with the "E" tunes. I am quite certain not near as much as the guys with turbo & injector mods ETC. But the "butt dyno" shows me a huge increase in performance and only minor smoke in 80E at full throttle. I know, some of you WANT lots of smoke. Just wasted fuel to me, but I am just a short, fat, old, grey-haired ugly guy.
Mike
Mike
For those (with stock systems) wanting to have the biggest, baddest tune - remember you can't drive it like that all the time... so it becomes a "tool" tune. A tool tune can be really beneficial (like a decel tune while towing downhill), or fun (like a race tune), but you don't drive in either for long. Save your money on tunes and use it to get a consumer uploadable chip (I make words up as I go). I have the F6 (TS-style chip has its own version of this) and I started with fewer tunes than I have now. It's so easy to change/add tunes - get online, order the tune, it's emailed to me and I upload it to the tuner with my netbook. Ta-daah. I didn't like the sequence of the tunes on the selector, so I re-arranged them. I didn't like the shifts with my HD transmission, so Jody dialed my tunes for the HD and emailed them to me. I bought injectors and a turbo, so Jody is customizing my tunes for me. No yanking it out, no shipping, no waiting for the mail with a limp truck in the driveway, NO EXPENSE! If your tune isn't correct out of the box, you get free tuning tweaks for a while. I bought my injectors from DP after I had my F6 for a while, and all my tune upgrades are free. Because my truck now has custom components, I work directly with Jody while dialing the tunes in for a custom truck.
This isn't a sales pitch just for DP Tuner - it is a demonstration of the type of service and hardware you would want from whichever vendor you choose. There are many great vendors out there with TS-style chips, I chose DP for my own reasons.
Advice: Get more info, never just trust any one member here (including me) because we all make mistakes and we all have different trucks (they behave differently after many miles and years) with different uses for them and different driving styles.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,481
Likes: 5,542
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i have noticed better times, power, and fuel economy in 80 E than i get in 120 aggressive, but i still have stock injectors.
the only thing 120 does is blows a lot of black smoke.
once i talk to Jody and upgrade to whatever larger injectors he recommends, than maybe the 120 tune may be an option for use. but for now 99% of the time my truck is in 80E tune.
the only thing 120 does is blows a lot of black smoke.
once i talk to Jody and upgrade to whatever larger injectors he recommends, than maybe the 120 tune may be an option for use. but for now 99% of the time my truck is in 80E tune.