7.3L Powerstroke tuner?

TacomaJD · Jul 2, 2014

Tuner for 7.3L Powerstroke?

What are you guys running on your 7.3's? My partner at work is starting up cattle farming on the side and just bought a 2001 F-350 Powerstroke dually to pull cattle trailers and he's interested in a tuner. I don't know much about older stroke tunes, all I hear about is what my buddies do to their newer model d-max's. He's not interested in drag racing or showing off, but who doesn't enjoy a little extra power. He's mostly curious about increasing fuel economy when not towing and better power for towing. I also assume he'll leave the stock exhaust on it too.

Also, is it a chip style or handheld tuner type? Any info would be appreciated, he's in his 50's and not very internet savvy, so I'm trying to help him out.

Thanks :dblthumb:

ibrokeit · Jul 2, 2014

Depends on how much money he is wanting to spend. Best bang for you buck, get the PCM flashed by DP Tuners. I had the 80e tune (which they say is around a 100hp boost) for a year or so and I was very happy- never had any issues with it. My BIL and a friend also both have the 80e tune.

http://www.dp-tuner.com/ford-powerstroke/ford-powerstroke-7-3l/tuning/pcm-flash.html

If the budget is a little higher, give Matt a call at Full Force Diesel and get set up with a 6 position chip with whatever tunes he wants flashed onto it. This is what I have now. It is awesome to tune on the fly and the hot tune is NASTY, but I only really use 2 or 3 of the tunes on it.

http://shop.fullforcediesel.com/

TacomaJD · Jul 2, 2014

I doubt he will want to spend much. I wasn't sure how the tuners worked with the old strokes. I was telling him about how the ones for d-max's work and cost (handheld type) and he was interested.

So how does the DP Tuners thing work? Take your **** off, send it to em, they flash it, send it back?

ibrokeit · Jul 2, 2014

Yup. Takes about 5-10 minutes to pull the PCM, mail it to em, they flash it and send it back, reinstall and drive.

edit- and I don't know who yer callin "old stroke". I drag yer chebbie around town any day of the week. :driving:

Pumpkin · Jul 2, 2014

Re:

6 position chip from full force is where it is at. Gives you choices for empty and loaded

TacomaJD · Jul 2, 2014

ibrokeit said:
Yup. Takes about 5-10 minutes to pull the PCM, mail it to em, they flash it and send it back, reinstall and drive.

edit- and I don't know who yer callin "old stroke". I drag yer chebbie around town any day of the week.

Man you don't want none.... I gots that Diablosport Predator tune on the 6.0L gasser... I've got it set on the 110 octane with NOS tune so I can squeal tires, ride wheelies, and stuff. :flipoff1:

Pumpkin said:
6 position chip from full force is where it is at. Gives you choices for empty and loaded

If it were me, that would be the way I'd go....I'll let him know these details. What kinda mpg's y'all pulling unloaded?

ibrokeit · Jul 2, 2014

TacomaJD said:
What kinda mpg's y'all pulling unloaded?

(In before "yer a liar". I dont care if people believe me or not)

2003 7.3 4 door 4x4 with 250,000 miles on 315/75R16 Cooper STT's. Full Force Stage 1 Injectors, 6637 filter, straight (no cat/muffler) stock size exhaust, and 6 pos tuner.

Unloaded, 70-75mph, I get 22mpg on the hot (150hp?) tune. Great.
Unloaded, 100% around town stop and go, I get 11ish mpg on the 100hp daily driver tune. That dropped severely when I went from 285/75 highway tires to the 315/75 diggers Sucks.
Pulling my 1200lb RZR on a 6x12 single axle trailer drops my highway mileage down to 12mpg-13mpg. Sucks.

TacomaJD · Jul 2, 2014

Hmm... So really a tune probably wouldn't help fuel economy just a whole lot on these? I know my buddy says his LLY D-max gets way better fuel economy on a certain setting, can't remember which programmer he uses.

Are there any handheld options for the strokes, or is there just not a place to plug up and do it yourself like the GM's offer with the OBD-II port?

ibrokeit · Jul 2, 2014

TacomaJD said:
Hmm... So really a tune probably wouldn't help fuel economy just a whole lot on these? I know my buddy says his LLY D-max gets way better fuel economy on a certain setting, can't remember which programmer he uses.

Are there any handheld options for the strokes, or is there just not a place to plug up and do it yourself like the GM's offer with the OBD-II port?

A tune absolutely helps mileage. The hotter (higher HP) the tune, the better fuel mileage you will get. 22mpg out of a lifted, 250,000 mile, 7500lb truck on 35's isn't too shabby.

There are handhelds, but they are all junk and will KILL the transmission. If you see him with an Edge, take it away and bash it into the asphalt.

TacomaJD · Jul 2, 2014

ibrokeit said:
A tune absolutely helps mileage. The hotter (higher HP) the tune, the better fuel mileage you will get. 22mpg out of a lifted, 250,000 mile, 7500lb truck on 35's isn't too shabby.

There are handhelds, but they are all junk and will KILL the transmission. If you see him with an Edge, take it away and bash it into the asphalt.

Ahhh, gotcha. Was wondering what was up with that. Aight, I'll relay the info. Sounds like a DP Tune would be right up his alley.

jccarter1 · Jul 2, 2014

ibrokeit said:
(In before "yer a liar". I dont care if people believe me or not)

2003 7.4 4 door 4x4 with 250,000 miles on 315/75R16 Cooper STT's. Full Force Stage 1 Injectors, 6637 filter, straight (no cat/muffler) stock size exhaust, and 6 pos tuner.

Unloaded, 70-75mph, I get 22mpg on the hot (150hp?) tune. Great.
Unloaded, 100% around town stop and go, I get 11ish mpg on the 100hp daily driver tune. That dropped severely when I went from 285/75 highway tires to the 315/75 diggers Sucks.
Pulling my 1200lb RZR on a 6x12 single axle trailer drops my highway mileage down to 12mpg-13mpg. Sucks.

Did the injectors help your fuel economy that much? If so I really need to look into upgrading

I have a DP tuner six position chip on my personal truck and love it I really like the options for towing as well as the economy tunes it is a 2001 4x4 dually with 4.10 gears pulls strong and keeps the temps at a reasonable range

I also have an edge programmer on my work truck I like the power output but I think they allow little too much freedom on how much you can tune you can get some very high egt's if you don't watch it

ibrokeit · Jul 2, 2014

jccarter1 said:
Did the injectors help your fuel economy that much? If so I really need to look into upgrading

To be completely honest with you, I don't remember. I don't remember what I was getting before. That was not the reason I got them, though. My truck would not crank if it got below 50 at night and wasn't plugged in. When it would crank, it had no power until it warmed up. I got the injectors in November and havn't plugged the truck in once since, even in the single digit nights.

See this thread- http://www.hardlinecrawlers.com/forums/index.php?topic=29952.0

marczuk · Jul 2, 2014

Re:

Pumpkin said:
6 position chip from full force is where it is at. Gives you choices for empty and loaded

This is true an Matt Is great to deal with

lowbudgetjunk · Jul 2, 2014

ibrokeit said:
To be completely honest with you, I don't remember. I don't remember what I was getting before. That was not the reason I got them, though. My truck would not crank if it got below 50 at night and wasn't plugged in. When it would crank, it had no power until it warmed up. I got the injectors in November and havn't plugged the truck in once since, even in the single digit nights.

See this thread- http://www.hardlinecrawlers.com/forums/index.php?topic=29952.0

Same set up minus injectors and muffler delete and I get 15 unloaded @ 70 w/no A/C running. I am hoping to gain 7 mpgs with the mods I am doing and I think it is well within the limits of the engine tranny combo.

I may be running 285's. Sad that I don't even know

Mattman347 · Jul 2, 2014

Josh, give me a shout if you want to get more in depth with it but in my opinion there is no comparison to a tuned TS chip. Having the PCM flashed is ok but your stuck with what they send you. The chip is easy to install and allows you to go from "stock" to tow to hot with a flip of a switch depending on situation or power demand you are wanting. Mpg's should go up, especially if being driven by an older gentleman VS a 20year old. Lol. Let me know, I'll hook you guys up if you want to give me a call!

TacomaJD · Jul 2, 2014

Mattman347 said:
Josh, give me a shout if you want to get more in depth with it but in my opinion there is no comparison to a tuned TS chip. Having the PCM flashed is ok but your stuck with what they send you. The chip is easy to install and allows you to go from "stock" to tow to hot with a flip of a switch depending on situation or power demand you are wanting. Mpg's should go up, especially if being driven by an older gentleman VS a 20year old. Lol. Let me know, I'll hook you guys up if you want to give me a call!

It may be more than he's wanting to fool with it. Soon as I mentioned the option about mailing his PCM to DP Tuners, he said, then my truck will have to be down until I get it back...lol. Who knows, he may surprise me. I'm relaying all the info.

Mattman347 · Jul 2, 2014

Either way, avoid "downloaders" at all cost such as the edge/bully dog ect. He will be way happier with a chip!

ibrokeit · Jul 2, 2014

rednecklights said:
... may just be a short drive away instead of pulling ecm and shipping it off
[/quote
DP is east of ATL.

ibrokeit · Jul 2, 2014

Mattman347 said:
Either way, avoid "downloaders" at all cost such as the edge/bully dog ect. He will be way happier with a chip!

Troof.

nealcj8 · Jul 3, 2014

I just put a chip on mine. It is a TS 6 position chip with custom tunes from PHP I think I ordered it from KT performance, It was right at $300 shipped.