I have an unhooked Edge Evolution tuner that came with my truck. It had been hooked up.
Apparently, not the most desirable tuner on the market.

I only tow occasionally, I'm not looking for performance, I'm not sure that I have a need for it, but there it sits. Like a siren on a rock, I'm tempted.

Should I be using it?

 

Use it if it's there. There's nothing wrong with it. What model is it? Heck, your pickup may already be running one of the calibrations since it doesn't have to be "hooked-up" to do what it does (provided it is an Evolution and not a Juice).

EDIT:

The reason for the bad rap has little to do with how good or bad it is but instead with what people - who have no experience with one or the calibrations and how they're written have read about them on an internet forum just like this one - continue to regurgitate when threads like this come around.

If you have it, use it. If you don't like it you can take it off and resell it.

 

I have an Evolution and use it instead of adding a load of gauges. I only run in stock mode, not because I fear the Edge, but simply because that is my preference. You can find mulitple posts on the Internet that give a far more positive slant to owner satisfaction with this product. Not attempting to say here other programs are better or worse.

The underlying issue you raise is, in my opinion, really important because so often it seems to me the evidence underlying many sources of information essentially boils down to personal opinion or a single example that gets repeated multiple times.

I can always tell you why I do the things I do, but I can never tell you what you should do!

My two cents worth

Steve

 

I put an Evolution CS in my '02 F250 about 3 years ago. The truck is basically stock except the AIS intake. It made a world of difference when towing - which is what I had gotten it for. I no longer have the tuner - it went missing when my truck was stolen. I got the truck back the next day minus the tuner and a couple wothless things. But, I still have the tow program in the truck's computer.

I use(d) the tow mode for a daily driver and have had zero issues with it. I agree with cleatus in that people just repeat what they read with no real experience. If you do use it towing, use the tow mode only. I tried the level 2 one time towing the 5th wheel and didn't like the way it shifted up the hills. I did get a couple of more MPG though.

I say give it a shot. You can always take it out. Hook it up to your desktop/laptop and make sure you have the most up to date programs loaded first. You won't be disappointed.

 

How did that affect your EGTs while towing?

Steve

 

What model is the programmer?

 

Mine is a CS as was the one preceding.

Steve

 

EGT's stayed in the high 900's to low 1000's. The trailer's about 7500# dry and that's on your normal 5-7% grades. Flats stay in the 800's normally. I don't recall it ever going above 1100. We did go up a short (~3 miles) 10% grade with no issues. The one thing i do like about the Edge's tow mode is the way it uses EPBV as a quasi-jake-brake. I still have to hit the brakes a little or shift down on steeper longer grades, but I can feel BPV working to slow me down a bit.

That's all in tow mode. The performance seemed about the same , maybe a few degrees higher. But, I wasn't going up hills with any significant grades when I did that. The performance mode seemed to shift too quick when pulling the trailer up the hills that I was going up. I imagine that would explain the better mileage, but it does tick you off when it's in the higher gears.

 

How new is your programmer or the latest "update"? Something isn't stirring the Kool-aid.

 

I didn't realize it would control exhaust braking. I thought the tow was just fuel adjustment and transmission line pressure.

 

My tuner was about 3 years old but I updated regularly. Last time I updated was around May '16. There's nothing on Edge's site that specifically talks about it except "tow mode." But, I read somewhere a while back that said all 3rd generations and the new updates included it. You can tell If you unplug your EPBV sensor and run with it in tow and then plug it back up and run the same load. I can hear the difference all the way to a stop. I'm not sure if it's only in tow or in any of the other modes.

 

I know one of the programmers does that, I just didn't know the Edge did it, but I am not saying it doesn't. I find the information Edge provides to be pretty darn sparse in terms of actual function. I think it is great if it does that as I have use for that feature in some areas we travel. I think it should be locking up the torque converter at the same time, otherwise it would not offer much resistance.

I have been searching, but finding out specifics on anything the Edge does is a bit challenging. I guess the easiest thing for me to do is just call them. I update mine routinely, but I can't recall an update in a while.

 

It is interesting to me that while Edge never directly states it, if you read enough posts on the Internet on various sites, you do find the exhaust braking feature mentioned, but very seldom. I can't figure out if folks don't know they have it or if is simply the case some do and some don't. I see it mentioned as far back as 2013.

 

I know what you mean about their site - not too much on the techie side. Maybe, I'll drop them an email and see if I can get a definitive answer. I can definitely feel it going down the hills, especial, the lower grades. It keeps me about 40-45 MPH with no shifting or braking. Now, I have to decide whether to replace it or go with the Hydra or a 6 positiin chip. I like the Hydra for the updating feature, but I'm not crazy about their selector. I prefer the tried and true mechanical switch. And I really don't think on my stock truck that I need 17 different tunes. Plus, the mechanical is easier to hide/operate.

 

I have personal experience with the Evo CS, came with my '01 Ex PSD. I like the gauge functions (prefer it over the tri-gauge A-pillar setup my '00 had) and I even added Evo's EGT to it.

The tune are "less than optimal". I tow a 28' 10k enclosed auto trailer and I've tried "stock" (barf), "tow" (better, but still lethargic), and I now tow in "Race" (much better power, hard shifts). EGTs can easily punch 1300+ in hard climbing but I drive to the EGT when that happens. However, get a good incline and you'll run out the pump and get the P1210(?) error or whatever it is.

I especially don't like that it actually flashes the ECM and is not switchable on-the-fly; changing programs requires 10 minutes or so to reflash, then I have to go through a 2-3 minute procedure to turn key on for a minute, turn key off for a minute, turn key on for a minute to reset the anti-theft PATS system (which I wasn't aware of and learned the first time I stupidly decided to reflash the program on the trip home from purchase while I was out in the middle of f*****g NOWHERE...on a Sunday...)

My prior '00 Ex had a 1-position chip with a switch; best I could tell (I did not remove it) it was a Diablo Flip Chip. I **much** preferred to tuning on that one. Better power, lower EGTs, better shifting, no codes on long hills. However, the ECM also had a much better-than-stock tune to begin with, so if these chips "add onto" the stock programming (as opposed to bypassing it) then that's something to consider.

It's highly likely that in 2017 I will be using a different tuner but keeping the Evo head as gauging only. DP Tuner is well-regarded but they're quite spendy proud of their products (and everything is a la carte). I'm told that the TS Performance switchable ones would well for lightly-modded trucks, and they're affordable.

Summary: Evo gauges are good, especially if you want to add more. PID selection is decent (but no ECT? Really?) Display is nice and sits right there on top the dash. However, Evo tuning less-than-optimal so you'll likely want some other tuner for power/performance/trans safety.