Does anyone know if the Diablo chip for the PowerStroke is a 4 bank chip? I see a lot of hype on sites for thier chips which brag that they are 4 bank style. I see the benefits of this 4 bank design (when Ford updates your computer when it's in for service, it doesn't disable your chip). Any help would be good.

Thanks guys (and girls)

 

Yes, the Diablo chip is a 4 bank for the vast majority of the diesel ECU codes. Many 4 bank Diablo codes are coming out for the gasers too. It has another advantage which is a BIG one when ordering over the Internet: you don't have to worry about your truck not starting if your dealer previously reflashed it without putting on the decal. It sucks to get a new toy only to have to wait another week while the programmer sends another chip.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-Feb-02 AT 10:46 PM (EST)]Still learning....What is a 4 bank Chip????...Guess it is better than a 1 blank chip!!!! Richard

 

Its not better, per se, its easier. A 1 bank Diablo contains the same kind of tuning as a 4 bank.

Your Ford computer contains 4 banks of memory (actually 8 but only 4 matter for this case). 1 of those banks contains the tuning info. When you plug in a 1 bank chip it overrides the tuning bank. When you plug in a 4 bank it overrides all 4.

The advantage of this, from an ease of use standpoint, is that Ford dealers and service techs often "reflashes" your computer with new/different ECU code. With a 1 bank chip the chip will not work if the computer has been reflashed because all 4 banks must be from the same code family. With a 4 bank, it doesn't matter since all 4 banks are in the chip. You won't get a chip and install it only to find it doesn't work because your truck has been reflashed. Then you end up going through the hassle of returning it, working with us either on the phone or via email to determine the correct code and then waiting for the chip to be sent back out. It costs you time and the programmer time and money. Funny thing is that Superchips touts their chips as being superior because they are 1 bank. That's a load of bunk because their new Microtuner is a 4 bank tuner! (We've got them in stock and they are GREAT products.)

Fortunately most, but not all, diesel ECU codes have 4 bank Diablo programs available. Many of the gas applications, especially the new ECU codes, also have 4 bank codes.

My opinion, based on A LOT of chips sold, working daily with them, is:

1. The Diablo is the better chip for most gas applications. Its more agreesive tuning but you have to use good quality gas.
2. The Superchips is the better chip for older gas applications.
3. The Diablo offers more bang for the buck with the V10 because Superchips prices the V10 chip the same as their diesel chips.
4. The Diablo has better diesel programs for power, shifts, towing, etc.
5. The Superchips is more likely to work right out of the box. This is because they've been doing it longer. You trade off slightly less performance but the odds that its going to take more than one programming to "get it right" are lower.
6. The new Superchips Powerstroke Microtuner is superb. It works right out of the box, regardless of your ECU code (it figures it out by itself) and it gives you a choice of a tow file and a high performance file.
7. The new Diablo Delta (now in production and we'll have it in our hands real soon) is going to offer features no one else has, like being able to switch between three programs on the fly at any RPM and using it as a kill switch (cool).

 

>7. The new Diablo Delta (now in production and we'll have it
>in our hands real soon) is going to offer features no one
>else has, like being able to switch between three programs
>on the fly at any RPM and using it as a kill switch (cool).

I want THAT!
Now if only it will show me how to hook up my car trailer ......."on the fly"

What's the E.T.A. for this product?

 

We were initially told early January, then early February. Then mid February. Then early March. This time its for real because Diablo's national distributor placed a large order for them yesterday. The very day they get them in, we'll place an order for a batch. We know the distributor reps on a first name basis and several of the Diablo team, and we keep in contact daily so we'll let you know the very day they're here!

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-Feb-02 AT 06:19 AM (EST)]The explaination was long but very good. Thank you for it and all the time you spend teaching dumbies like me. I am still learning so I can buy the right chip. This new chip sounds good. ETA is soon but what is the cost going to be? Also in the past posts the ECU code had to be known when ordering a chip. It sounds like this is not the case with 4 bank chips. Just "throw it in and go"....? Thanks...Richard

 

No costs yet. As to knowing whether the code needs to be known, yes it still does.

But.... with a 4 bank if your truck says TDE0 and its actually TDE1 our TDE1 4 bank will work with either. Ford has several hardware revisions and several software revisions for each hardware platform. The 4 bank allows us to supply 1 chip for each hardware type instead of dozens of chips for each hardware type.