Help a newbie out, here...

Been reading a little about switching the stock chip for the "enhanced" ones.

Let me know if I have some of these things right.
DP and Tony Wildman's chips seem to be the favorites around here with them both being pretty close in quality, etc. It seems more people have DP installed. Are there other chips that people are using? Anything good or bad?

It is obvious that installing one would probably ruin any sort of aftermarket warrentee. I am wondering if someone installed one, had a problem, and then put back the factory original, is it possible for a dealership to know or see it had been switched?

I am going to wait to change my chip since I have 50K left on my 100K aftermarket warrentee but must admit that seeing the difference in performance, intrigues me. Due to the large miles I drive each day, the economy setting seems like it would be equally valuable to me as the performance boosting settings.

What is the purpose of the "high idle" setting? Can't you just do the same thing with your foot?

How do you change settings? Is this built into one of the column mounted gauges?

What gauges are recommended?

My truck is currently stock. No performance mods yet.
What chip settings might be the right ones for an unmodified truck?

Have any of you done any serious damage to your truck with performance chips?

Thanks.

 

chips are great your gonna get a bunch of DP love around here.. but if your worried about dealership finding out you may just wanna check out like a diablo. they got your economy setting to use for milage and up to like 100hp. im gonna go that route till i can afford the DP that i really want (settings). there's so many options out there its crazy. it just depends really on what you want to do right now. you can mount gauges on the pillar under dash or elctronic. you need a pyro(egt),trans temp, boost and a 3 gauge pod that setup will run about 300 +/-. before any mods i would do some exhaust and intake mods.. hope this helps if not some1 else will chime in

 

How is the Diablo different? Does it look like a stock chip or something?
Or is it tuned down so that it might not destroy stuff?

My aftermarket warrantee allows me to take it to non-dealership mechanics. But I figure there must be something that protects them if I go putting in all sorts of mods.

Changing out a chip would be the easiest way for me to get performance or economy without making lots of mods that might void the warrantee.

Just for my own knowledge, is there some sort of tamper-proof seal or indicator that would show if a chip has been swapped?

 

Don't do the Diablo. Many people here have had them and a few call them paper weights. The DP fits on the trucks PCM and it is removable. The dealership will have a very hard time telling that you have done it if you remove it. Besides, it's a used truck before you got it. Maybe the previous owner had a chip on it. The only way they could tell is the coating is removed on the PCM. circuit board in order to put it on. They would have to remove the PCM to do it and they wouldn't f do it just to do it.

You will want some gauges-Boost, Exhaust gas temp and transmission temp. A better intake, and probably a better exhaust although I am running stock exhaust with a muffler delete. Eventually you will want to put an improved transmission Valve bodyin too. I ran stock exhaust for over 6 months with no muffler delete and only saw my EGT's get above 1200 degrees once when I was towing amy horse and passing a guy at 65 MPH.

 

Welcome to guzzle's DP Tuner's Chip Installation Web Page Read this write-up. Very easy install 45 minutes or so. An hour if you really take your time.
Don't get the Diablo or any other off the shelf tuner. They are way down on performance and certainly are harder on the tranny. Dp and TW's tunes are custome tuned to your trucks programming.

 

Dptuner offers a new PCM flash for your truck, you could go this route and only get the 80 econ setting( you can only get one setting with the reflash i believe) but you will not be able to switch in between setting. And then you just keep your old pcm and swap them out when you have to take it in for anything. this way your old pcm that they would see wouldnt show anything if they checked it.

heres the link for it and they run about the same cost as a off the shelf tuner. DP-Tuner Supplied PCM

A intake and exaust would help out with some MPG increases as well. the 6637 filter is the cheapest and most effecient filter i have seen.

 

So I think I am following this a little better now.

When the PCM is taken out, it is opened so that the terminals can be cleaned.
Nothing inside is being removed or replaced. The terminals get cleaned an a small programmable chip snaps onto the the cleaned terminals and taped to secure it along with the wire that leads to the controller that allows you to choose between settings.

Do I have this right?

If so, if someone needs to bring their truck into the dealer for service, he could simply, remove the tape, pull out the chip and the stock settings are back in place.

Yes?

Thanks for the explanations and links.

 

For a quick overview of what a DP Tuner is and does... Take a look at April edition of Diesel Tech Magazine. There is an article about Jody when he was in Colorado doing some live tuning.

 

The issue with that, I believe, is that you have to supply your own PCM. So you wouldn't be switching back and forth. I may be wrong on that. I don't have time right now to check the link. Getting ready to leave for Smokin' in the Smokies!!

Yes, you have it right. You could just take out the PCM, remove the chip and re-install the PCM. Viola, the dealer has no idea there ever was a chip there.

 

ok a diablo is a programmer you plug it into your OBDII port install the tune an then unplug it. a chip is when you put it IN your pcm.. how would it be easier changing out the chip everytime you wanted to take it to a dealer? everything depends on how much you wanna spend whether its spend it now or later. you run the risk with any chip of blowin sumthin i think anytime you modify anything your takin a risk some brands are more well known for doing it then others.

 

You can get a "DP-Tuner Supplied Remanned PCM" for $325, I dont know what the diablo runs but im sure its close to that and this is wayyyy better for your truck.

The dealer can tell if the pcm has been re-flashed thus knowing that something was done to the pcm. Even with the diablo. taking out the pcm and reinstalling a new one takes about 30 min if you dont know want you are doin....but you would be putting back in you STOCK pcm with the silicone still intact and it not showing any reflashes.

 

that dp for 325 is just 1 setting correct usally the economy mode... oh and the 300 +/- for gauges.. cant you get a dp with like 5 choices for like 400 dpendin on selections?

 

I like the DP-Tuner chips because they are push button instead of turn switch. You can go up to 15 tunes on the F5 instead of the 5 or 6 with the turn switch.

It is always possible. How much warranty would you have left? Probably not much otherwise I'd suggest getting a core PCM and running your tunes thru that and switch back to the OEM PCM if you need service.

Yes you could. However that means you are in the truck. The purpose of the high idle is so that you can leave the truck unattended in that mode during winter so you don't get wet stacking.

On the F5, you would push the button to go up or down.


Pyro, trans temp and boost.

Get your Valve Body from BTS and an after market exhaust. Run it with the gauges and see what your baseline is. Then you can get say a 60HP Tow tune, 80 Econo and high idle if you want it.

Only to my wallet.

 

Everything in my signature as far as the DP tunes goes, was $426 shipped to my door. It is the best $426 I have ever spent in my life.