Just a little info, incase my sig is messed up (I haven't been to this site for a while now, at least since I bought my new truck). I can't even remember if I have a signature, I guess I'll see after I post this

I drive a 2003 6.0L F250. I purchased the Diablo tuner for it from Motorhaven.com about 8 months ago or so. Before that, I did a lot of research on tuners and brands and specifications, but now I dont really remember and I just need a little jump start on my memory.

The thing I am wondering about is this... I'm driving from Alaska to Texas and then back to Alaska at the end of March. It will be about 10000 miles, and for the drive back up, I'll be pulling about 2,200 lbs of horseflesh and a 2 place horse trailer which I estimate at about 5000 lbs. With gear and everything loaded up, we've got to haul water and gas and such, I'm figuring on it being about 8000 lbs total.

Now, I've always ran the Dialbo tuner on the 65hp setting, but I haven't needed to tow anything since I got it installed. I remember reading that the 45hp setting was OK for hauling up to 8000 lbs, without any other upgrades? Is that correct? Otherwise the EGT's get too high and you can fubar your turbo.

I THINK that is what I remember reading, and I got on Diablo's site and I cant find the info.

So to sum it all up, I'm in a 2003 F250 6.0L with about 30k miles and NO other mods than the Diablo sport tuner. I've got to do a long haul with about 8000 lbs worth of trailer behind me, can I safely run on the 65hp setting? The 45hp setting? Or should I set it back to stock for the haul?

I dont feel like riding the edge of safety, either. If the answer is "you CAN run the 65hp setting but it MIGHT fry your turbo" then I'd rather just run without the tune.

Hope someone can help me.

 

Just a little addition, I can see on Motorhaven it states the 45hp tune is used for heavy towing, but what exactly is "heavy?" That could mean 20,000 lbs to one person and 4000 lbs to the next...

I know the 65hp tune is supposed to help with mileage, but only with light towing... so does the 45hp tune help mileage at all? Or would I be better off going back to stock tune and just not having the power I am used to, but having better mileage.

My main concern is mileage, if the 45 hp tune kills my mileage and only gives me a little more power, I'd rather just run stock... hope this clarifies what I'm asking for in my first post.

 

Heavy towing is over 8000lbs. Its in the manual and over here in their faq: www.diablosport.com. 45HP may help mileage just as the 65HP may.

 

That was a nice non commital answer to my mileage question

I think I'll end up running in 45hp mode just to be safe. I'm not sure exactly what my trailer weighs, maybe I'll stop at a weigh station and see if they can weigh it for me. Still, just to be safe and not burn out my turbo, I'll probably stick with 45

Thanks...

 

The mileage answer can't be answered with 100% certainty. It depends on the factory PCM code, your driving habits, altitude and fuel cetane rating. I won't commit that type of question because some guy with a lead foot will invariably hassle me because he didn't gain mileage.

 

That makes sense... lets suppose that I gained some mileage from the 65 hp mode, which I did. So with the same driving characteristics, would the 45 hp supposedly increase mileage too? Or is that a property only of the 65 hp mode?

 

Yes, the 45HP typically gains as much as the 65HP mode, given the same driving conditions, unloaded. Once you get up into the higher than 65HP modes it the mileage gained from the power is defeated by the fact that you get more unburnt fuel (black smoke).

 

Thank you, that was exactly the answer I was looking for. Now I have no problem with tuneing down to 45 for the tow. I was considering staying in the 65hp mode just for the mileage benefits, because when driving 10,000 miles, another 2 miles per gallon makes a difference

However, the money I would save using the 65 hp tune IF the 45 hp tune didn't increase mileage, would probably not pay for a burnt out turbo

Thanks again.