Ah...yet another subject someone tries to simplify with a prompt for a simply black/white answer.
Nothing is so simple in the tuning world.

The shortest answer possible:
Propane is a burn accelerator; a different type of fuel with an effective octane rating or 104-105 (slow burn).
It allows you to run less diesel injector timing, and less smoke results from the change in injector timing.
If you run the same fueling/injector timing with the propane as you do without propane...no, it will not reduce smoke, (but nitrous will...howver it requires special fuel and injection timing maps for safety and max power)

Now, I can't make this clear enough:
The 1704 was not meant to be stacked with propane or nitrous (definitely not nitrous).

You can probably get away with the MSD digital propane kit, but we all know the coolant puking issues and headbolt issues these engine have.
Superchips will not promote or condone any of this behavior, so if you choose to do so, it is entirely at your own risk.

Propane, nitrous and a propane/nitrous stack (very effective, since nitrous provides "air" for the fueling beyond the efficiency of the turbocharger and allows you to run more fuel) requires special tuning of fuel and injector timing maps to make the most power and to run safely.

Out of the box tuning is meant for "stock" trucks.

 

Words never spoke truer.

 

After reading half the pages I decided to chime in while my brain and eyes are still pastially working.

In the first page power is stated...tow=80/120, econow=120/180, performance=150/225. When I called superchips, they said that for my 05' F550 It would be tow 48/70, econ 100/147, per 112/162. Is this correct? Is it wheel hp gains and the other flywheel hp?

 

I believe the original hp/tq numbers were for the '03's which make the most power on the tuner.

I have read through this quite a bit and the programming seems to be a little more complicated to unlock all the power on the '05's.

 

The 03 models (well, more correct: The 03 ~strategy~ trucks, which includes early 04 models) definitely make the most stock and modified power.

The 04 strategy is not quite as strong as 03, and 05/06 aren't quite as strong as 04.
05 and 06 are nearly identical.

 

Why is that..What is the 05' lacking, or have that is blocking the full potential of the SCMT?
I've pulled+carried in upwards of 15t in my F550 up hills and such even floored for a good solid 5min just to keep the truck from falling below 65mph, and the engine temp only slightly went up and with the fan came right back down, trannie temp never went up from mid point. Would it be safe to say that on my truck I can tow 1/2-1/3 that amount on econo tune? Or is that pushing it?

I'm so close to buying one of these thing(tuner), and am probably going to go with SCMT instead of SCT, because I don't really care for having different tuning capabilities(to be added). SCMT I can get today and install, where as SCT I'll have to wait for it. Thanks for the info

 

It's not "blocking" anything.
Every vehicle has many different sets of base files, different "operating system" etc...
For instance, the 05 and 06 trucks use a different type computer than 03-04.
The base files in 04 are different than 03 (along with some minor hardware changes).

Some trucks have more tunability than others.

 

15 tons is nearly 30,000 LBS.
Are you sure?

 

Vic,

Do the 05/06s have a wider power band and lower peak #s? (tuned and untuned)

What years have the most area under the curves? tuned and untuned

 

Nearly? LOL

What was I thinking.
It is 30,000 LBS

 

This is something that really can't be generalized.

It doesn't only vary by year, but by box code, gear, transmission, tire, iat, ect, load, dyno temp, engine oil temp, boost, calculated fuel, minor differences in engine build tolerance, stock calibration, etc...

There are TRENDS for each year, but there are also many power fluctuances from truck to truck within each year.

In other words, it's all relative.

It's quite common for two trucks of the same year to make different stock power and different modified power, even when all else appears the "same".

nature of the beast....

 

Yes, I was pulling 13t with trailer weight plus carrying another 2t on the truck!

 

Well, that is more weight than even Ford recommends (what is it, 19,200 lbs?)
I would use tow only.

 

Yes tow only, but it amazes me how well this F550 is with the weight.
I can't wait to see what the SCMT will do with my truck. I'm not expecting alot because I have a 3000pound dump box on it with 4.88rr so It will not smoke the tires even on wet roads turning a corner, hehe.
If I gives me better than my 7mpg(unloaded).. bonus. Thanks for the info.

 

Your mileage should go up.

In your case, it may even be as much as 3-4 MPG.
You can almost count on 2.
The F550's made less stock power (at the tire), and with all that load they need more power.