First I wold like to apologize for not responding to members regarding my posting of a Vibration problem. I had problems with my old server, and I purchased a new computer and had some issues with that.


Now my question is, I am confused on what upgrade do do on my 2001 F-250 Power Stroke Diesel 100K miles. I am looking for increased mileage (like everyone else) and an increase in power, I tow a tractor occasionally about 3000lbs. About 90% of my driving is highway miles, what is the best upgrade????

 

hi there johnski, and welcome to FTE.... as you already may have read.... there afe a few things you need to do to ready your truck for a chip.... 1 is nessicary and 2 and 3 are optional... but a good idea to optimise the chip as well as save the life of your psd....

1) Get a set of gauges... At least Pyrometer (measures your Exhaust gas temp, so you don't melt a piston) and a boost and trans temp would also be helpfull

2) swap out intake for a tymar or open air style one to let your stroker breath better

3) less restrictive (a.k.a no cat or muffler) exhuast w/ a larger diamater

Once you have filled these requirements... then you are ready to go w/ a chip or tuner...

-Robb

 

i do mostly highway also... after i get the guages in... the intake on... and the exhaust hooked up... i am going with a diablo predator tuner... will probably run the 2nd level... (60hp i think), for daily driving... but might have to go to the 40 hp/100ftlbs torque (tow) setting when i pull the 5ver... i'll have to watch the pyro and tranny, then decide... btw... i like the predator because in addition to giving you the power, it also lets you improve tranny performance, and...it reads and clears codes..

 

HI Johnski,

Just for reference purposes, this last weekend, I finally was able to fully test my 99' F 250 PSD running on 35s, 4" exhaust system, stock intake (which I am planning on changing to a tymer style system, with a Diablo Predator set on high. I have a fan assisted tranny cooler. I was pulling a 30' triple axel toy hauler loaded with quads estimated weight at about 8500 lbs. Outside temp was over 80 degrees. Pulling on a modest extended hill, I was runnning about 25" (She can do 30) passing a motorhome at about 75 mph and my tranny got to about 165-170 (hard to read precisely since there are no calibration marks between 140 and 200) and the EGT was just under the yellow (900 degrees) which immediately went down as I eased off the peddle after passing the motorhome. Wow it was so cool to have that much available power. I used to own a motorhome hauling a 19' boat, and on the same hill, I would be white knuckled trying to keep it at 65.

I drive my truck daily, and once in a while I will pull out the Diablo just to remember what stock feels like, and I do not like it, so I keep it in. Once, I had it set in tow mode, and it just did not have the power I wanted, and it made the transmission shift incredibly hard. Although I should say that my tranny has been built up and it is not at all stock. My brother has a 2003 f-350 7.3 PSD said he had his Diablo set for tow pulling a similar trailer load as I have and said he did not like that setting at all and now runs his on the high setting for towing also.

Chips2000

 

chips... just wondering... how is your mpg on the high setting..? have you tried the second setting to compare performance and mpg...? is your 4" exhaust turbo back...?

 

I have a 2001 F350 dually quad cab..30Kmiles
Ok I have the diablo also I started at the 60 mark and wow what a differance..got almost 3.5 MPG better..Stock was 13.8 no load.with 60hp bump I got 16.7.Then I bumped up to 85 2 weeks later.
Now I am getting 20.1 MPG WOW!!!These are all readings from my overhead trip reader.I want to go to 100 bump but I dont have exaust down pipe yet...
All I can say is this thing has paid for itself ..I have a 30 Gallon tank if I stuff it in there and I am gettinfg 450 miles to a tank..Dont have any tow measurements as of yet..all these are true facts and without a load...I will keep you posted when I start towing 9000lbs around next week...

 

Mental-

The way I understand it (and somebody chime in if i'm wrong), the tune screws with the math the overhead does.

450mi/30gal=15mpg.

Now also 20.1mpg*30gal=603mi

Not trying to burst your bubble, but don't trust the overhead.

Hand is the only way of really knowing.

 

Johnny8,

I have never ran it in the 2nd setting, just had it set in the towing mode once and the rest of the time in the high setting. I bought this truck from my son who put the gauges and chip in when it had 109,000 mi on it in Sept. of '03, and I now have 128,000 mi. I have replace the waterpump, steering pump ( my son had the truck lifted 8" and was on 44" tires) 2 weeks ago replace the cps as it went out. The tranny went out just before I bought it, but again, this was when it had 44s and it was raced a lot.. I do not think it has 4" from the turbo, my son was told it did not need it. As far as gas mileage, I get between 12 to 14 mpg stop and go around town all day with ac on and off, but on the road where I usually do around 85 mph, I get a consistant 16-17 mpg. Once not too long ago on a 300 mile trip to California on I-10, the traffic was moderate and slower than normal at about 65-70 mph and I got 22 for half the distance, fueld up and got 23 the next 150 mi. Speed was close to same, but tank may have not been filled to the same level. To me, anything over 16 mpg in a big truck like this is awesome! I have had F 150s that did not do any better than this. A brother of mine with a 2004 8.1 Suburban never got more than 12 mpg, mostly 10.

I just love the power when I need (or want) it with the high setting. Normally, I pretty much baby the truck.

Chips2000

 

Who knows just reporting what I see..I also hit trip OD when I fuel and its pretty dam close between fill ups?I will let this tank run low for a real accurate reading

 

I have the Diablo Predator on 100hp, and this is true. Don't believe it. Mine read 24mpg and I hand calculated only 15mpg. But it will settle down after a few fillups. Seems the overhead meter relearns itself. But still is high compared to hand calculations. Maybe after even more fillups it will get closer to reality.

 

like I said just a quick obsevation by me..does this mean the trip ODometer is off also..
Because the over head thing said 339 left and I hit trip on speedo and it is showing 98 miles traveled...??Whatever I am happy...

I know you are correct in your math....I just didnt to the math just posted what I saw

 

No you're cool.
The trip meter is base on tire revolutions. If the tires are stock, or correctly programmed it's fine.
I think the overhead bases in part some of it's math on the injector open time, but it can't figure out the increased pressures on the injectors. The 10K MOD will screw it up because it tricks the PCM into delivering higher fuel pressures.

 

Its interesting to see how many are using Programmers..over chips!

I suppose it depends on the truck owner, and how far he wants to get into "mods", but I've always preferred chips over programmers personally.
As most know, the programmers (and some chips) change the line pressure for tranny shifting (auto's). I believe your better off to go with the sonnax valve/tricumulator springs in the transmission, and even a Transgo type shift kit over the line pressure type of shifting changes.

I also like the "shift on the fly" with the chip, in that I can change to four seperate programs whenever I like while I'm driving.

For those eventually willing to get to the higher reaches of the Power spectrum with their engines with future mods, you will find that the Programmers just won't get you the results your looking for, as a custom programmed chip will be much more beneficial for the mods you've just added.

For every day driving, and for those that only wish to increase their power incrementally, the Programmers can do a great job for these minimumal increases, but for higher end power with possible future upgrades, the chips will give you the edge.

There have been enough folks now, that have started with minimal chips/programmers, who can tell you, that if you plan on increasing your mods as time goes on, and you plan on keeping your truck for the long term, the majority of 7.3 owners have gone to multi-position chips. They now come in SIX positions for those that want several programs...from a high idle, to a valet setting, many different tow settings, fuel economy setting, and many high power rubber burning setting for those in need.

Dale

 

I am a Noob to diesel's...Chips sound nice..where do you get these and what are cost diff between chip and programmers?

 

[QUOTE=Chips2000]HI Johnski,

"I have a fan assisted tranny cooler."

Chips2000,

Can you tell us more about the fan assisted tranny cooler?