Hydra vs CTS3 Evolution
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Hydra vs CTS3 Evolution
The time has come for a tuner of some kind. I am stuck between a hydra and pods or a CTS3 evolution. I like that the evolution can run tunes and be a monitor. I'd love to hear what you guys or gals are running and what you like about them.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Hydra, 100%, without a doubt, no question.
Look back over the past year just in this sub-forum regarding the CTS3.
If you want to monitor things, gauges and/or FORScan Lite will get you there.
EGT is a must and will need to be a gauge.
Look back over the past year just in this sub-forum regarding the CTS3.
If you want to monitor things, gauges and/or FORScan Lite will get you there.
EGT is a must and will need to be a gauge.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Sedalia, CO
The Hydra is just a circuit board and switch, and is a *lot* newer than the PCM. What matters is the software - tune(s) - that are running on it.
Mark
Mark
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From: N.GA Mountains
The Hydra has a nearly unlimited number of options for tuning, but the PHP library of tunes that comes with it is better than the Edge tunes available for CTS3.
In a nutshell, people have been writing tunes for these trucks for over 20yrs. They’ve gotten much better. Lower EGT, less smoke, better performance, better shift strategies (preserving transmission integrity), etc. The Edge tuning is just way out of date/behind the times. With Hydra you have the option to customize tuning. Are your shifts too firm? Don’t like the way it shifts too early or too late? Throttle touchy? You can get tuning revisions to ‘fix’ these issues.
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From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Yes they do.
A lot of people post online to complain. A lot of those people are infrequent visitors to sites like this, I get it. Although, over the years, I have noticed a sharp decline on the satisfaction of the CTS3 when compared to the legacy versions.
This is solely my opinion though. I asked that you perform a search to see for yourself and make an informed decision. Although, since you asked me directly, I have posted one link to a regular FTE'rs thread below.
Good luck with your choice.
Link: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...highlight=Cts3
This is solely my opinion though. I asked that you perform a search to see for yourself and make an informed decision. Although, since you asked me directly, I have posted one link to a regular FTE'rs thread below.
Good luck with your choice.
Link: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...highlight=Cts3
Laughing Gas
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With the CTS3, you are stuck with the tunes on it for perpetuity. If you go for a Hydra, you have the full library of tunes, plus the option for custom tunes in the future if you upgrade injectors. I get what you are saying about the Hydra being long in the tooth...it is an "older" platform, but it is an older platform that can have ever changing software.
Lead Driver
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From: WV
Hydra is THE thing to buy if getting a new tuner. It is extremely versatile (for the 7.3) and like others mentioned you can add/remove/move the free tunes (stock injectors) or order custom tunes from various vendors and load yourself. It can grow with you. And has a resell value when you’re done with it.
Nothing wrong with CTS being used for gauges. I use the original CTS Insight in conjunction with some pillar gauges. Some people have been seeing random varying issues with the CTS3 and 7.3 though, at least from what we see on the forum.
If you want to monitor using the CTS then just get the Insight version (if they still offer such a thing) and leave the tuning aspect to the Hydra.
Nothing wrong with CTS being used for gauges. I use the original CTS Insight in conjunction with some pillar gauges. Some people have been seeing random varying issues with the CTS3 and 7.3 though, at least from what we see on the forum.
If you want to monitor using the CTS then just get the Insight version (if they still offer such a thing) and leave the tuning aspect to the Hydra.
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