Today’s programmable tuners have advanced to the point where they even provide safety alerts and allow users to read and erase diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). This saves them money, but at the expense of creating an optimized engine management system for every application, according to Bully Dog Technologies. To stay competitive, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) often produce only a few engine designs, which are used in a wide range of models and platforms, allowing them to sell trucks in a greater number of markets. If programmers are so good, why don’t truck manufacturers put them in first? “I’ve had people who’ve been driving for years, who told me they were good drivers, but they’ve come back later and told me that it has actually educated them,” said Piedmont Peterbilt’s Brown.Ĥ.
#Truck tuner driver
The driver said he’s pulling hills better.” “We’re definitely seeing a performance boost.
#Truck tuner drivers
“The Bully Dog unit helps newer drivers by telling them where your power is at and when to shift,” said Pilot Transport’s Parks. The “driving coach” function can also provide feedback to optimize performance. Part of the beauty of using programmable tuners is that each driver is able to modify his or her own performance needs according desired operating conditions by choosing from available tunes, noted Bully Dog Technologies. Perhaps adding a little more valve lift at high RPMs for maximum top-end speed, or a little less lift to maximize torque when more pulling power is called for. Programmers extract this power by adjusting the operating conditions of the engine toward increased performance. of torque on a diesel truck depending upon the model, said Bully Dog Technologies. Using a programmer, it’s possible to increase diesel engine performance up to 120 HP and 240 lb./ft. According to Edmunds, driving habits can increase economy by up to 37%.ĭid you know that we have fresh truck stories and equipment insight served up on our website every day? Click here to sign up for our newsletter to have the latest delivered straight to your inbox.ģ. Some of the latest gauge tuners even have a built-in driving coach that offers tips that help develop positive driving habits to improve fuel economy. In the particular model tractor that we have, it would be worth the expense to mount these units in all the trucks with that engine.” Since we run about 600,000 miles a month, potentially the monthly savings could be huge. “We mounted a Bully Dog programmer on one truck and saved about 8 cents a mile. “Right now, our fuel costs are about 72 cents per mile,” said Joe Parks. “Our customers who have installed the tuners tell us there’s a 90-day payback on them.”įor a fleet like that of Pilot Transport, which operates several trucks, the savings add up quickly, according to Bully Dog Technicians. “These tuners boost power and torque, but improved fuel mileage is the main advantage up to more miles per gallon,” said Dave Brown of Piedmont Peterbilt LLC in Greensboro, N.C.
These devices operate by monitoring turbo boost pressure, engine RPMs, coolant temperature, airflow, fuel rail pressure and other operating considerations such as trailer load and then balancing these parameters by changing the electronic tuning characteristics of the engine management system to yield optimized performance. Purchased as an aftermarket item, a programmable tuner is essentially a single-purpose mini-computer that includes an on-dash or window-mounted monitor and control panel, along with the necessary leads to connect with the stock engine control module. Some models offer a “gauge” that the driver can view while driving to see exactly how the device is helping.
“Programmer” refers to the ability to go beyond the vehicle’s firmware to adjust the engine’s “tune” to the specific needs of the driver. The term “chip” references the silicon integrated circuit at the heart of the device. A diesel truck engine tuner is used to manage and optimize engine performance on diesel trucks. Whether known as programmers, engine performance tuners, chips or gauge tuners, these are small electronic devices. What exactly are these things and how do they work? Given today’s price of fuel and the escalation of power outputs, do engine programmers really deliver the goods? Bully Dog Technologies answered some frequently asked questions about diesel truck engine programmers to help fleet owners make an educated decision.ġ. “I have seen a notable increase in fuel economy with the gauge tuner unit we have about 15%,” said Joe Parks, general manager of Romulus, Michigan-based Pilot Transport-a division of United Road Services Inc.
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