Hi Mike

A friend of mine has a 02 F250 SD Diesel that he has a Microtuner for (1705?). He runs the max performance program all the time even when he is towing his BobCat and trailer. As he is in construction this means he tows on a regular basis. He also tows his 28 ft. boat or his jet boat. I told him he was nuts not to use the tow program as he could do serious damage to his motor and drive train by leaving the max tune in all the time. He says he can run that tune because he is careful about not going WOT. Of course I'm skeptical. Any comment from you that I can show him would be greatly appreciated.


regards

 

One of the rules I try to follow is to not get involved in arguments between "friends."

You are always going to find some people that are hard-headed and/or think they know better, etc. Then of course there is also the old axiom that can be REALLY aggravating, that says even a broken clock is exactly right twice every day - so it's hard to hear something you don't want to hear from someone you're convinced doesn't know squat - we deal with it every day.

All that being said - the reality is, you can get away with SOME things if you have an ACCURATE EGT (exhaust gas temperature) gauge and know what temps are safe. Without that, anyone towing anything more than 6K lb on the "performance" tune in the diesels is taking big chances.

It all gets down to load & what happens to the EGT's as a result of engine load.

The vast majority of our customers who use their vehicles for construction do the smart thing and leave the towing tune loaded up all the time, as it already gives huge gains, and that way you haver the full rated towing capacity - but then we also have some clowns who will take a 1998 7.,3 PSD, load up the max performance tune and go tow 25K lbs - some people never learn until they actually blown up the engine , and if it doesn't actually blow up, then they figure they know better - you won't change the minds of people like that, so don't waste time trying. Tell 'em once and then it's up to them. You're probably not going to convince someone who hasn't actually blown up their engine, and we also really don't know just how much load & what his EGT's actually are getting up to, either - maybe he's "OK," and maybe he's not.

My recommendation is to use the towing tune - otherwise, get a good EGT gauge on board, learn what temps are actually safe & keep your eyes peeled on that gauge at all times - but using the towing tune is so much easier & safer.

Good luck!

 

thanks Mike

BTW, I've been saving my pennies and plan to order the 6600 chip, e-fans and u/d pulleys from you mid to late July....


regards

 

You're very welcome, & good luck in your discussions with your friend on his Powerstroke diesel -

He probably doesn't want to have to change tunes frequently, and that is understandable. What you might want to do in talking with him is try to see if you can get an idea as to how much weight he's actually pulling, over what kind of terrain, and for how much distance, etc. On the performance tune in the PSD, usually you can tow about 6K lbs & be OK on virtually any terrain, for example - just a few things to discuss with him that might help him out and/or help you explain it to him, etc, for what it's worth -

Like I said, he *might* be OK, then again, he might not - it's just a matter of how much load is really being put on that motor, for how long, and what the EGT's get up to, etc.

 

well, he does have the biggest BobCat you can get as well as the trailer to haul it on, so I imagine he's well above 6000 lbs and we live in a valley in the Rockies so there is a lot of up and downhill travel. He is the type of guy who has the attitude " It hasn't blown up so I must be right", LOL! I'll probably just suggest that he get a EGT gauge and monitor it closely as I'm not into creating hard feelings by arguing to much about it. After all, it's his truck and he can blow it up if he wants to.
thanks again...

regards

 

I hear you!

All you can do is try to help by warning them - it's up to them what they actually do from there. Let's just keep our fingers crossed hoping that he doesn't end up in a classic "I told you so" kind of situation!

 

Arrbilly, once you get all that stuff let me know how big of gain you notice :thumpsup:

Ive been wanting to get the 6600 for awhile, a pair of those Derale fans Mike sells with a thermastat, and some U drive pulleys.