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Before you spend hours trying to make your diesel truck perform like new, you might consider trying a diesel tuner, sometimes also called a diesel programmer. Diesel truck tuners can help you customize how your engine runs and increase your control over it. Tuners are also often essential when it comes to modifying your truck with upgraded diesel parts.
You don’t need to be an expert or a programmer to use a tuner either. Most tuners for diesel trucks are incredibly easy to use and require very little input to run simple programs.
What Is a Diesel Tuner?
A diesel tuner is a small, computerized device that plugs into your truck’s OBD2 port or connects to your wiring harness. You’re probably familiar with how an OBD2 port works and that it’s often used for diagnostic equipment.
Essentially, the tuner accesses your truck’s computer systems. A tuner or programmer allows you to run programs that fine-tune your engine and other aspects of your truck to fit your needs.
Tuners or programmers come in a few different types, but what you generally want is a tuner that doubles as a gauge monitor and a diagnostic tool.
A tuner can increase your engine’s power, give you better fuel economy, reduce throttle delay, and give you a clear picture of what’s going on in your truck’s system.
How Do Diesel Tuners Work?
Tuners come in three main types: monitor tuners, handheld tuners, and plug-and-play tuners. Plug-and-play tuners are usually small devices that offer specific modules. For example, they might improve fuel economy or increase your towing power.
Monitor tuners are more complex. These tuners come with a monitor that you can mount in the cabin to see in real-time what your engine is doing. Monitor tuners give you a large degree of control over your settings. Handheld tuners go through your OBD2 port and connect to a handheld device that often resembles a smartphone.
These systems often come with preprogrammed settings that you can use to customize your truck.
In all cases, tuners or programmers change your engine’s settings or tuning to fit your needs. In the case of a monitor tuner, you can monitor what this looks like in real time, but with other devices, it’s more like setting it and forgetting it.
Benefits of a Diesel Tuner
There are many benefits to using a diesel tuner. The most common purpose for using one is to increase horsepower and torque. There are many diesel tuners out there that focus strongly on this specific benefit. If you regularly tow or haul heavy loads, a diesel tuner can give your truck extra power without much additional work.
Another common goal for using a diesel tuner is to increase fuel efficiency. Most tuners have an option for increasing fuel economy. The economy mode generally shows you how to save gas through real-time feedback about your driving habits.
Tuners can also help you catch problems with your truck before the check engine light comes on. These devices can alert you to issues before they become major problems.
Diesel trucks often experience a certain amount of throttle delay. Tuners are a common way to solve this by increasing throttle sensitivity and making it quicker to respond to the gas pedal.
How To Use a Diesel Tuner
Diesel tuners are generally easy to use, but it’s important that you read and follow all the instructions before you get started. All tuners are somewhat different in terms of what they do, their features, and their default programs.
If you’re also planning to install aftermarket diesel truck parts, it’s important to set your tune first before you add the parts. Many popular diesel truck upgrades require tuning before they will work properly.
Always make sure that you’re using the right tune for your situation. For example, don’t run a race tune on your truck when you want more power for towing. Most tuners include some form of tune specifically for towing and that’s the one you should use.
When you tune, it’s important to let your truck’s systems relearn the new settings. It’s also a good idea to perform your tune when the manufacturer of your tuner is open so that you can get customer service if you need it.
Best Diesel Tuners
Now, let’s get into some of the best diesel tuners on the market. It’s always important to get a tuner that’s compatible with your truck and engine.
Powerstroke Diesel Tuners
Some tuners are made for specific engines, such as the Powerstroke, but others can be used on a range of different trucks and several different engines.
Banks Power Derringer Tuner GEN2 For 2011-2019 6.7L Powerstroke
The Banks Power Derringer Tuner can be used on trucks with the 6.7-liter Powerstroke made between 2011 and 2019. Depending on which model year in this range you have, different power results are possible.
For the 2011-2014 models, you can get up to an additional 72 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. For 2015-2016 models, you can get up to an additional 61 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque. For the 2017-2019 models, you can get up to 59 horsepower and 106 pound-feet more.
Banks diesel tuners are quite popular for their feature-rich designs. This one has six switched settings and can use multiple inputs, including throttle position, RPM, vehicle speed, and coolant temperature among others.
Edge Products 85400-200 Evolution CTS3 Tuner
Edge diesel tuners often fit multiple trucks and this one is no exception. Fitment for this tuner includes:
2001-2016 Duramax LB7 LLY LBZ LMM LML
1994-2019 Powerstroke 7.3L 6.0L 6.4L 6.7L
2003-2012 Cummins 5.9L 6.7L
As you can see, that’s most of the diesel trucks out there from the Big Three. You can load any of the Edge tunes that you want and still save the factory tune if you decide to return to stock settings.
Duramax Diesel Tuners
Make sure to check your specific Duramax engine and model year to get the correct fitment for these tuners.
TS Performance MP-8 Pro Tuner
The TS Performance MP-8 Pro Tuner works with all Duramax 6.6-liter engines made between 2001 and 2019. Different model years and engines all have different power potentials. The engine with the most to gain is the 2011-2016 LML engine at an additional 100 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque. The MP-8 tuner installs easily by connecting to your factory wiring harness.
PedalMonster for 07-19 6.6L Duramax LMM LML L5P
This version of the PedalMonster fits 6.6-liter Duramax engines between 2007 and 2019. It works much the same as the PedalMonster listed for the Cummins engine and is not a true tuner, but instead, a module to help you get better throttle sensitivity from your truck.
Cummins Diesel Tuners
As with Powerstroke tuners, you can get tuners and modules only for Cummins engines or those with broad compatibility.
Edge Products Insight CTS3 Digital Guage Monitor for 96+ OBDII Vehicles Pre-96 With EAS
The Edge Insight Digital Gauge Monitor fits 1996 and newer OBD2 vehicles and pre-1996 vehicles with EAS. Features on this device include a digital gauge display and scan tool. It can be used with other performance products to read and monitor data. You can adjust settings, but this is not a true tuner in that it does not reprogram your vehicle or add power.
PedalMonster for 07-20 6.7L Dodge Cummins 24V and 11-19 6.7L Powerstroke
The PedalMonster works on both Cummins and Powerstroke engines with the model years listed above. This is a throttle sensitivity controller that connects to your OBD2 port. This isn’t a full-function tuner, but instead, a module specifically to improve throttle response.
Visit ProSource today to find the diesel tuners, modules, and gauges listed here, as well as a wide range of other tuner options and aftermarket diesel truck parts and upgrades. ProSource is where the diesel repair shops shop for diesel parts.
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The post Diesel Tuners – A Guide for Improved Performance appeared first on Prosource Diesel.
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