Duramax owners

[bbritt18]

Originally Posted by jevanb

Your autocal is married to your ECM , nobody can use it. And only the V2 that loaded the tunes can load other tunes. When I went from the autocal to the V2 I asked Rob if he wanted it back for a discount, he said their is no market for a used autocal and if somebody wants to clear codes or data log that is all it is good for

I believe you can now do 2 vins with a single auto cal.

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by fvstringpicker

Thanks,

I'm assuming you have to have a device, such as a laptop, to download the tunes from the provider and some way to plug into your truck. Is there a cable you have purchase to do this. Unless I want to drive a couple of hundred miles, I'm a DIY with a long learning curve on this.

the autocal comes fully installed with tunes of your choice, and with the cable to connect into your OBD2 port for loading. if you get multiple tunes then the DSP switch needs to be installed in the ECM, that requires running the switch from the cab and putting the pins into the empty sockets of the ECM, their are plenty of videos out their on doing this. It took me about 1hr to install my switch but my connectors were clean and I did not have a hard time removing the 2 ECM connectors. on another note if you require other tunes the tuner can email you the tunes then you would need a computer to load them into your autocal or V2.. Here is my picture of the DSP5

[Helmsey]

The process for me was:
Order AutoCal, tunes, and DSP5 switch from ATP Trucks
AutoCal arrived with instructions on how I can take my current settings from my truck and email them back to ATP for modifications.
wait impatiently for a few days
ATP trucks emailed me my tunes back (with great directions) and I was able to load the tunes from the AutoCal onto my trucks ECM.

The only other part as jevanb mentioned is installing the DSP5 switch if you decide to go that route. And that itself is pretty painless.

[jlbreaux]

Originally Posted by DaveSchwartz

You might also want to look at Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums - Duramax Diesel Discussion Forums where there are a lot of tuning and towing fanatics. There are a number of other highly rated tuners on the market.

As you have probably read from the site you referenced, the factory tune is optimized to meet emissions standards, not to provide best mileage. However, beware of installing a higher HP tune... much more than about 40HP and you can smoke your transmission.

If you're getting only 12-14 without towing it sounds like something is already wrong. I have an '05 LLY with the 5-speed and 12 is about what I get towing a 24' TT (or in the dead of a Canadian winter when everything is stiff and my tranny takes a long time to lock up). I can get around 20 in non-towing highway driving when it stays relatively flat. My buddy has an '06 LBZ with the 6-speed and he gets about 13 towing a pretty big TT.

All I am looking for is better fuel mileage, don't need the HP. I do not want to burn up my torque converter. Usually the torque converter is the first to go. When I bought the truck it had 38000 miles on it and it was bone stock. I added torsion keys to level the front end and I put bigger tires and added a K&N air filter. A retired diesel mechanic had the truck before me and it was kept up to pristine condition. He ordered it to his specs, no steering wheel controls, no on star and if I remember correct he had it tuned/fuel pump turned up from GM? I believe that is why the fuel mileage is not so great. I cannot remember everything he told me, it was a few years back. I will have to try to find his # and call him again.

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by jlbreaux

All I am looking for is better fuel mileage, don't need the HP. I do not want to burn up my torque converter. Usually the torque converter is the first to go. When I bought the truck it had 38000 miles on it and it was bone stock. I added torsion keys to level the front end and I put bigger tires and added a K&N air filter. A retired diesel mechanic had the truck before me and it was kept up to pristine condition. He ordered it to his specs, no steering wheel controls, no on star and if I remember correct he had it tuned/fuel pump turned up from GM? I believe that is why the fuel mileage is not so great. I cannot remember everything he told me, it was a few years back. I will have to try to find his # and call him again.

for milage you need HP, and the TQ converter can stand up to 200 hp over stock, with a tuned engine you have to watch your 4-6th WOT shifts as you will burn up the clutches at anything over 100-150hp over stock, just ask Cajun Po-Boy about limping the trans. as for turned up fuel pump that is not going to happen since you cannot command the pump (CP3) over 26k psi the ECM will only command what the desired pressure wants and their is no external fuel pump (lift pump) installed on these trucks. The problem happens when the rail pressure drops below the desired level then you start popping the dreaded p0087 this happens because of the big HP tune leaves the injectors open longer, this code also happens even on a factory no tuned truck as the cp3 gets worn or the fuel lines start to collapse from vacuum... For starters remove the K&N oil filter as this is the worse thing you can put on this engine as it kills the MAF sensor and then it does not know how much air it needs and then kills the milage

[jlbreaux]

I will dig for that phone # and try to call him to find out exactly how he ordered it. I will wright it down this time because I suffer from CRS. When I got the truck I don't remember if I checked fuel mileage or not(CRS probably due to too many ice cold Shiner Bock's). I will remove the K&N air filter and replace with stock on my next service.

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by jlbreaux

I will remove the K&N air filter and replace with stock on my next service.

do this to your air box, Pacific Performance Engineering - Diesel Specialists, takes about 20 minutes and lets the factory filter breath, if you install a aftermarket cold air system your MAF needs recalibrated, and the factory air system is great in the 06 (LBZ)- to 10.. when I ran a factory filter I got replacements from these guys http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/do...-p-w26-p610875
BTW if you go to http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/vin-check/ give them the vin and they will give you the build sheet and every service history

[jlbreaux]

Originally Posted by jevanb

do this to your air box, Pacific Performance Engineering - Diesel Specialists, takes about 20 minutes and lets the factory filter breath, if you install a aftermarket cold air system your MAF needs recalibrated, and the factory air system is great in the 06 (LBZ)- to 10.. when I ran a factory filter I got replacements from these guys Air filter GM duramax diesel, P610875, Donaldson - Ryder Fleet Products
BTW if you go to VIN Check - Chevy and GMC Duramax Diesel Forum give them the vin and they will give you the build sheet and every service history

Awesome, thanks for the info!!

[jlbreaux]

what is the difference between the K&N air filter for the 6.6 LBZ and the Donaldson Air filter? If I install a Donaldson Air filter will it "kills the MAF sensor and then it does not know how much air it needs and then kills the milage" as jevanb stated above? I am assuming the Donaldson is made per GM specs, but the K&N is not? I saw the breather box upgrade, but it states it is to be used for Xcelerator tunes 4 and above. If this were to be done on a stock 6.6 LBZ would it "kill the MAF sensor" also? Man all this reading and research to improve fuel mileage is driving me to drink! LOL

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Originally Posted by jlbreaux

what is the difference between the K&N air filter for the 6.6 LBZ and the Donaldson Air filter? If I install a Donaldson Air filter will it "kills the MAF sensor and then it does not know how much air it needs and then kills the milage" as jevanb stated above? I am assuming the Donaldson is made per GM specs, but the K&N is not? I saw the breather box upgrade, but it states it is to be used for Xcelerator tunes 4 and above. If this were to be done on a stock 6.6 LBZ would it "kill the MAF sensor" also? Man all this reading and research to improve fuel mileage is driving me to drink! LOL

I have been told by the performance diesel mechanic I use that the air filter upgrades/mods, etc are not noticeable in your mpg's until you are pushing more HP from the engine (around 500 hp or greater)...with that said, IMO, don't sweat the air filter work thinking you will gain anything noticeable when around stock engine output #'s

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by jlbreaux

what is the difference between the K&N air filter for the 6.6 LBZ and the Donaldson Air filter?

The Donaldson is what is installed at the factory, it flows and filters the best, the K&N is covered with oil that makes it into the MAF sensor which screws up the readings it is sending to the ECM. As for the air box mod it removes that fan looking thing and let's cold air from the fender make it in the box eaiser. A aftermarket cold air system do not add HP, just let's the eng breath better, as I can see it when I did my first dyno run with the factory box then the AFE system, but spool up time seemed shorter or I thought it did