2002 F250 Supercab SWB 4x4
295/75/16's no lift.
4" Dynomax Stainless Exhuast including downpipe
AFE Intake
Western Diesel Guages
Pyro probe is mounted Pre-turbo

I used a Diablo Predator to tune my truck and they say that to run the 85 hp setting, that you need a 4" exhaust and high flow air intake.

I put the 60hp tune on the truck and either my EGT gauge is not accurate or the EGT's are a lot higher than I expected for the mods that I have. If I floor it from a dead stop, by the time I get to 65-70mph, I have to let out of it because I'm pushing 1250 degrees according to my gauge.

Does this sound normal?

From reading several posts on this topic, I didn't think I'd have to worry about high temps with that tune and the setup I have on my truck.

Should I try to get the gauge recalibrated?

Also, they say the latest version of code on the predator is supposed to help EGT's? Does anyone know about this?


Thanks in advance,
Neil

 

Your readings are identical to mine. I am back to the stock tune while the Predator is being updated at Diablosport. I expected my 4" stainless exhaust to help, but it gets to 1200+ in record time with the 60HP tune. I hope the new programs do lower EGT's or I will be selling the Predator. My truck is too expensive to kill just for the added HP.

 

I agree completely. I've just kept it on the 40hp tune. Let me know how the upgraded code works out for you.

 

Hey Guys

I have a 2002 with ecm code VDH4. I also have the Predator and I just got back the update. You can see my post in Computors and Tuner section under Re Program. I have had all kinds of problems. I have only tried the 60 horse briefly because I dont have guages yet. I just wanted to briefly check the power increase. I am only using the High altitude new program because its the only one that works for me. I will tow nothing until I get my guage package from Ken at MotorHaven. Anyway, I would be interested what you guys find out when you get it back with the update. On the old programs my truck would only smoke a little upon heavy throttle. With the update it smokes ALOT and the shifts are super Mushy. The High Altitude, which is the safest of all the programs, is the best tune its ever had. The shifting is really crisp and the power is similar to the 40 horse tune and my smoke is minimal. The other tunes are useless at this point. I am very dissapointed so far with the update. Ken is working on it to see if Diablo has an issue.
Ken might be able to answer your question on calibrating the guages. I know that can be an issue. Anyone with any information on the Predator with or without the update that uses this forum please post what your experience has been using it along with your ecm code etc.....Its a neat upgrade but If I cant solve my issues I also am going to get rid of it and get a flip chip or something made specifically for my ecm and set up.

 

I agree with your temps and comments. I have been contemplating selling my Diablo as it is practically useless for anything over the 40 hp tune. The egt is what I would consider way high. I would hate to actually tow anything with the Diablo. The only reason mine is not gone right now is because I want to see if the update was worth anything. Sounds like it might not be and possibly even worse. I have had a feeling of buyer's remorse ever since the initial adrenaline shock wore off and truck preservation kicked in. I would be interested what his report is from Diablo.

 

I have an RMA # and will be sending mine off tomorrow for a code update. I'll post a reply of my results as soon as I get it back. Hopefully it won't be more than a week or so. If anyone has already done this please post your results in case the new code makes things worse.

 

It took about 3 weeks, but I got the Predator back Friday.

I didn't see any improvements in my EGT's. I still hit 1250 degrees at around 70 mph if I floored it from a dead stop. It did seem to be leveling off a little, but I wasn't willing to stay in it to see for sure. I didn't think it was worth losing a turbo over it.

I'd be curious to hear from people that have chips or other brands of tuners to see what temps they get at full throttle.

I think my next mod will be what's known as the "Zoodad" sp? mod. Basically cutting a hole and running some duct work to flow outside air into the airbox. It makes a lot of sense, so on the next pretty weekend I'll see if it improves the temps.

 

I am glad that yall posted this info. on Diablo Pred. I was going to get one next week. I am going to do some heavy research before I buy anything. What is the best?????????

Thanks MAC

 

I have a Super Chip Micro Tuner set on the 60hp mode and from a stop to wide open, my EGT's will go over 1250 before shifting from drive to overdrive. I think a chip would be better since it could be custom programmed for your truck, and the egt's should be lower that way. The problem with tuners is, they are generically programmed so they can be used on everyones truck. JMO

 

Mac,

Not to take all the fun out of it. But the first thing I would recommend (if you don't already have them) is a set of gauges. Pyro in particular, otherwise you may not know that you are doing damage to the engine.

Now with that being said, I would do like you mentioned and just search around and see what people like. I have a friend that has the Diablo flip chip, and there are some advantages to a multibank chip. You can go to no tune if you tow very often or all the power at the flip of a switch. And they can be tuned for whatever mods you have made to your truck.

I went w/ the Predator so i could have the capability to read any error codes or diagnostics and also upgrade it myself(which they aren't letting us do at the moment).

I'm not going to quit on it just yet. I'll still want to see what piping some fresh air into the filter will do for it. I don't see how those trucks can breathe they way they are set up.

Grizz_chaser,

Thanks for your input. I wondered if it was just the Predator or if other's were having the same issue. Maybe I'm just trying to do something that I shouldn't be doing.

 

nhancock,

If you are I am too. After the engine warranty runs out I plan on going to a 3 or 4 position chip, until then I'll just have to try and get by with what I've got.

 

this is interesting, i have a 3 pos. westeren diesel chip set,
tow +50 hp
econ + 70hp
high output +100hp
i have never done the 0-70 test but i will do it and see what i get. i have run the truck in the h.o. mode pretty hard (unloaded) and never seen much higher than 1050 pre turbo for farily good bursts(i would guess up to 80 or so). on the other had while loaded(lance camper and 20ft boat) and pulling mountain passes here in colorado i have to keep a close eye on the pyro. i found that if i keep my foot out of it and keep the boost at no more than 20 psi its pretty good.
4 inch ats exhaust
airraid intake
and a" zoodad" as you call it i did this, as i did on my '95 bronco to vent fresh air into the air intake

 

For day to day driving, I haven't gotten close enough to the 1250 mark to worry about it. But every now and then I have to merge onto the 70mph interstate, and to keep from getting run over you better be going 75-80 at the end of the on ramp. That's the only necessary reason I would stay in it for that long.

The rest is just for fun. But of course that's the reason I bought all of my accessories.

 

i did a little test on my truck for this thread. i have the westeren diesel 3 pos chip, i put the chip in the "highoutput" mode + 100hp
from a rolling start 15 mph i floored it to 90mph egt was 1050 pre turbo. the outside temp was 50 degrees, egt was 450 when i started, alititude was about 5400ft which could make a differance less air=less power=lower temp?. i also have a 4" exhaust and a airaid intake with a zoodad. hope this helps

 

Here's the latest in my quest for lower temps.

Started running Diesel kleen grey bottle two tanks ago. It seemed to help cold weather starts and feels like the throttle response is better, although it didn't help the EGT's. I can't say if it helps the mileage, because i have been keeping my foot in it a lot lately.

This weekend was nice and I performed the Zoodad mod. I found a vent in the heating/cooling section at Lowe's that with a little modification made a nice air deflector to force more air into the opening. Throttle response "seems" to be better at highway speeds and I have less black smoke when I get in it. It did not improve EGT's 0-65, and I can't say if it helped EGt's at cruising speed because I had never checked that. Maybe I'll cover the hole one day and take some readings.

Overall, the two changes didn't help my EGT's where I wanted it, but I feel that both of them have made my truck run better and I'll continue to use the Diesel Kleen.

If it continues to bother me, I may switch to a chip and see if the temps go down. But I don't have that much spare cash laying around, so I may just have to deal w/ it.