Truck Programmers

[BigRichard]

Bowser was kind enough to delete my other thread with the not so descriptive title. Try this again...

Anyone know much about the programmers for Trucks? I have a few questions about them if anyone knows the answers. These are a couple I have been looking at:

https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Products...ustomerReviews

https://jet.com/product/Bully-Dog-Tr...bb832b7464f547

I am currently driving a 2004 f150 5.4L Truck. I have been pulling my 7000lb camper with said truck. I was considering upgrading to a diesel down the road but wanted to put it off for a year or two.

1. I understand they are worth the money for diesels but I find conflicting reports on if they would help with a gas truck when towing. Would it be worth it to purchase for a gas truck to help with towing?

2. They supposedly have different programs for when you are towing vs fuel efficiency vs performance. Are these programs included with the device or do you have to buy separately?

3. If you do mods do they have options for adjusting the programs for the mods or does that require someone reprogramming them?

4. Would they have programs for different trucks or would I need to purchase specifically for my truck? So if I do purchase a diesel down the road would I be able to just use the same programmer in the new truck?

I may have some additional questions once these are answered.

Thanks for your guidance.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by BigRichard

Bowser was kind enough to delete my other thread with the not so descriptive title. Try this again...

Anyone know much about the programmers for Trucks? I have a few questions about them if anyone knows the answers. These are a couple I have been looking at:

https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Products...ustomerReviews

https://jet.com/product/Bully-Dog-Tr...bb832b7464f547

I am currently driving a 2004 f150 5.4L Truck. I have been pulling my 7000lb camper with said truck. I was considering upgrading to a diesel down the road but wanted to put it off for a year or two.

1. I understand they are worth the money for diesels but I find conflicting reports on if they would help with a gas truck when towing. Would it be worth it to purchase for a gas truck to help with towing?

2. They supposedly have different programs for when you are towing vs fuel efficiency vs performance. Are these programs included with the device or do you have to buy separately?

3. If you do mods do they have options for adjusting the programs for the mods or does that require someone reprogramming them?

4. Would they have programs for different trucks or would I need to purchase specifically for my truck? So if I do purchase a diesel down the road would I be able to just use the same programmer in the new truck?

I may have some additional questions once these are answered.

Thanks for your guidance.

I'm not a car guy. And to the extent that I am a car guy, I'm a stock car guy.

If I were doing it, I would leave it alone. I think you can monkey with the computer to change the shifting pattern, but I wouldn't mess with the motor.

[notorious]

I have a new Chevy Diesel and am pondering the same. Does a programmer void the warranty?

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by notorious

I have a new Chevy Diesel and am pondering the same. Does a programmer void the warranty?

Another good question. Not necessarily for my old truck but when I buy a newer diesel I would want to know this. Might need to ask the dealership on that one.

[Dunerdr]

Programmer does void warranty. And I've had two diesels and two gas rigs programmed. Diesel= take my money!. Gas not so much the ability to change your shift points and keep trans fluid pressure up is nice but the power outputs pretty meh. I did have a flashpaq tuner on my trailblazer ss and the shift point and timing features for higher octane did make a difference but that's a high compression aggressive motor from the factory a 5.4/5.0 whatever motor you have probably doesn't have the same hidden horsepower to be unlocked.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Dunerdr

Programmer does void warranty.

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by Dunerdr

Programmer does void warranty. And I've had two diesels and two gas rigs programmed. Diesel= take my money!. Gas not so much the ability to change your shift points and keep trans fluid pressure up is nice but the power outputs pretty meh. I did have a flashpaq tuner on my trailblazer ss and the shift point and timing features for higher octane did make a difference but that's a high compression aggressive motor from the factory a 5.4/5.0 whatever motor you have probably doesn't have the same hidden horsepower to be unlocked.

Good information to know. Can you answer some of those other questions I had?

[MTG#10]

I have a tuner for my F150. I didnt get it to save gas though, more for performance. I have a fuel saving tune but it doesnt really help much. There's a huge difference in performance from my towing and race tunes.

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by MTG#10

I have a tuner for my F150. I didnt get it to save gas though, more for performance. I have a fuel saving tune but it doesnt really help much. There's a huge difference in performance from my towing and race tunes.

I am not necessarily looking for better gas mileage but just better towing performance. You say you got that from yours? What about some of my other questions I asked. Can you answer some of those?

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by notorious

I have a new Chevy Diesel and am pondering the same. Does a programmer void the warranty?

Yes it will, but it takes them to another level.

[LOCOChief]

Originally Posted by notorious

I have a new Chevy Diesel and am pondering the same. Does a programmer void the warranty?

yes

[LOCOChief]

Bully dog on my 2014 cummins tuned for economy, I get 17mpg pulling a 10,000 fifth wheel and 21 mpg hew when not under load. If I did it over I'd just delete egr valve and california emission bullshit, no more DEF and the deletes only cost maybe $600.

[MTG#10]

If you buy a tuner from Amazon or something they will come with "canned" tunes. You may see mild performance increase from these "generic" tunes but honestly I wouldn't waste my money. I ordered my SCT tuner from http://www.stage3motorsports.com/ and have lifetime tunes provided from 5-Star tuning (Stage 3 is kind of a "middle man" but you can order directly from 5-Star too). They have you fill out some information from your truck and create custom tunes for you, then anytime you upgrade a part on your truck as long as its purchased from stage 3 they'll rewrite your tunes to match.

Here's where I would start for your year/engine:

http://www.stage3motorsports.com/701...ar-Tuning.html

This comes with 3 custom tunes which should be plenty, but if you want more they're an extra $10 a piece. Word of advice, the fuel economy tunes are worthless. I'd get 87 octane performance/tow, 91 octane performance/tow, and 93. If you cant find/dont ever use 93 octane go with 87/89/91. I noticed your year/engine do not have race tunes available, which is strange.

If you buy a diesel down the road you will have to purchase a new tuner to match that truck.

[BigRichard]

Originally Posted by MTG#10

If you buy a tuner from Amazon or something they will come with "canned" tunes. You may see mild performance increase from these "generic" tunes but honestly I wouldn't waste my money. I ordered my SCT tuner from http://www.stage3motorsports.com/ and have lifetime tunes provided from 5-Star tuning (Stage 3 is kind of a "middle man" but you can order directly from 5-Star too). They have you fill out some information from your truck and create custom tunes for you, then anytime you upgrade a part on your truck as long as its purchased from stage 3 they'll rewrite your tunes to match.

Here's where I would start for your year/engine:

http://www.stage3motorsports.com/701...ar-Tuning.html

This comes with 3 custom tunes which should be plenty, but if you want more they're an extra $10 a piece. Word of advice, the fuel economy tunes are worthless. I'd get 87 octane performance/tow, 91 octane performance/tow, and 93. If you cant find/dont ever use 93 octane go with 87/89/91. I noticed your year/engine do not have race tunes available, which is strange.

If you buy a diesel down the road you will have to purchase a new tuner to match that truck.

That last part is a little discerning. I hate to spend that kinda dough on something I might only use a year or two.