Tow/ No tow ?
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From: NJ
Tow/ No tow ?
I recently got the Xcal II w/89perf, 93 perf and 93 perf tow (03 Expy, 4.6l). the instructions clearly state "no towing" in the 89/93 perf tunes.
Just wondering what the difference is that makes towing a no-no. What does the tune adjust differently?
Just wondering if you could do a moderate tow, such as a small trailer with a lawn tractor or small fishing boat (2-man bass boat). I don't have either, or anything that needs towing. But I do have a Class III hitch and could reasonably expect that I might be called upon to tow something while I do not have the Xcal II handy for a re-tune.
So I was just wondering how much room there is to "wiggle" on the "no-tow" mandate?
thanks.
John
Just wondering what the difference is that makes towing a no-no. What does the tune adjust differently?
Just wondering if you could do a moderate tow, such as a small trailer with a lawn tractor or small fishing boat (2-man bass boat). I don't have either, or anything that needs towing. But I do have a Class III hitch and could reasonably expect that I might be called upon to tow something while I do not have the Xcal II handy for a re-tune.
So I was just wondering how much room there is to "wiggle" on the "no-tow" mandate?
thanks.
John
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Hi.
In short - if you are towing anything, use your tow tune, or return to stock.
If you just have some stuff in the bed ( up to rated load), you should be fine.
There isn't much wiggle room in the perf tunes for towing of any description ...
Just carry your X2 with you - only takes a few/couple minutes to change tunes
Search for more info, but here's one:
Cheers
Grog
In short - if you are towing anything, use your tow tune, or return to stock.
If you just have some stuff in the bed ( up to rated load), you should be fine.
There isn't much wiggle room in the perf tunes for towing of any description ...
Just carry your X2 with you - only takes a few/couple minutes to change tunes
Search for more info, but here's one:
Originally Posted by Superchips_Distributor
We do not go over in detail exactly what we do differently between those 2 types of tunes, as that is proprietary information our competitors would just love to have - so we will not discuss that in detail.
Just very briefly in general, a towing tune requires some differences in shift characteristics, as well as some difference in engine tuning.
Towing is a unique type of situation, where the engine is under vastly increased loads, and must pull hard for longer periods of time - so therefore it requires different tuning in several ways to insure a proper tune that is actually appropriate for towing.
In short - if you need to tow, use a towing-compatible tune - if you are not towing, you can still use our towing tune, that will not hurt anything - but more people prefer the more performance-oriented aspects of our tuning when not towing.
I hope that helps a bit,
Just very briefly in general, a towing tune requires some differences in shift characteristics, as well as some difference in engine tuning.
Towing is a unique type of situation, where the engine is under vastly increased loads, and must pull hard for longer periods of time - so therefore it requires different tuning in several ways to insure a proper tune that is actually appropriate for towing.
In short - if you need to tow, use a towing-compatible tune - if you are not towing, you can still use our towing tune, that will not hurt anything - but more people prefer the more performance-oriented aspects of our tuning when not towing.
I hope that helps a bit,
Cheers
Grog
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From: NJ
Carry the Xcal with you...
I had thought about that. I was not sure about how durable it is - concerned about extreme heat or cold when the weather changes, locked inside the vehicle.
Is it in fact ok to keep the Xcal in the truck in the summer for example, and not hurt the electronics?
Is it in fact ok to keep the Xcal in the truck in the summer for example, and not hurt the electronics?
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Originally Posted by waterman308
I had thought about that. I was not sure about how durable it is - concerned about extreme heat or cold when the weather changes, locked inside the vehicle.
Is it in fact ok to keep the Xcal in the truck in the summer for example, and not hurt the electronics?
Is it in fact ok to keep the Xcal in the truck in the summer for example, and not hurt the electronics?
. Got a little insulated pouch for it (very small lunch bag).Cheers
Grog
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From: Virginia
Grog (MGDFan, otherwise known as our good friend Vic) said it very well - yes, it is pretty durable, but I too, agree that it's not a good idea to expose it to absolute extremes.
Now I keep our personal XCal's' in each of our vehicles, but I keep them covered up so that the sun can't hit them, usually in the center console - except in the dead of winter, when I bring them in to protect them from zero degree exposure, etc.
With regard to towing, you can tow ONLY on towing-compatible tunes - this is precisely why we go over this with each person when they place their order - a "performance" tune is NOT towing-compatible - there is no "wiggle room" - if you need to tow, you load up your towing tune - that is why you order towing AND performance tunes, so that you'll have both, and use them accordingly.
As jpdadeo said, with regard to engine tuning differences, the EGT's are a significant concern - and there are some other differences as well in areas like transmission calibration, etc. It's a matter of getting the most performance we can out of each kind of tune, so in a "performance" tune, it's going to make a bit more power, and is designed to accelerate quicker and be run at lighter loads.
We make a clear delineation in this so that we do not have to compromise our performance tunes - so if you want to tow, use your towing-compatible tune(s). With our Troyer Performance custom tunes, a performance tune is just that - a *performance* tune - that can be used for daily driving, you just can't tow with it - you can still load up your vehicle to it's max rated **on-board** weight capacity with our "performance" tunes, you simply can't tow. And our "towing" tunes can be sued for anything, basically, from towing to everyday daily driving.
I hope that clears this up for you,
Now I keep our personal XCal's' in each of our vehicles, but I keep them covered up so that the sun can't hit them, usually in the center console - except in the dead of winter, when I bring them in to protect them from zero degree exposure, etc.
With regard to towing, you can tow ONLY on towing-compatible tunes - this is precisely why we go over this with each person when they place their order - a "performance" tune is NOT towing-compatible - there is no "wiggle room" - if you need to tow, you load up your towing tune - that is why you order towing AND performance tunes, so that you'll have both, and use them accordingly.
As jpdadeo said, with regard to engine tuning differences, the EGT's are a significant concern - and there are some other differences as well in areas like transmission calibration, etc. It's a matter of getting the most performance we can out of each kind of tune, so in a "performance" tune, it's going to make a bit more power, and is designed to accelerate quicker and be run at lighter loads.
We make a clear delineation in this so that we do not have to compromise our performance tunes - so if you want to tow, use your towing-compatible tune(s). With our Troyer Performance custom tunes, a performance tune is just that - a *performance* tune - that can be used for daily driving, you just can't tow with it - you can still load up your vehicle to it's max rated **on-board** weight capacity with our "performance" tunes, you simply can't tow. And our "towing" tunes can be sued for anything, basically, from towing to everyday daily driving.
I hope that clears this up for you,
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From: Pasadena, Maryland
another towing question.....
I completely understand why you should not tow with the performance tune but let me ask this.... I have been running my 93 performance tune for a while now, it's my only 93 octane tune. The other day I was asked if I would pick up a car for a friend of mine and tow it on a car trailer (one of them trailers where only the two front wheels go on) but I had a freshly filled tank of 93 octane and my towing tune is 87 octane so I had to say no. I felt bad by having to do this so my question is, would it be OK to switch to my 87 octane towing tune even though I have 93 octane in the tank?
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From: San Diego
Originally Posted by ChrisT
I completely understand why you should not tow with the performance tune but let me ask this.... I have been running my 93 performance tune for a while now, it's my only 93 octane tune. The other day I was asked if I would pick up a car for a friend of mine and tow it on a car trailer (one of them trailers where only the two front wheels go on) but I had a freshly filled tank of 93 octane and my towing tune is 87 octane so I had to say no. I felt bad by having to do this so my question is, would it be OK to switch to my 87 octane towing tune even though I have 93 octane in the tank?
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From: Pikesville, MD
It would hurt your performance but you can do it.
I have the same tunes it sounds like...87 perf, 87 tow, and 93 perf. I might call and get a 93 tow. I would have returned to stock and towed for the friend. If I lose the "truck" part of my truck these tunes would be no good for me. Thankfully that is not the case.
I am thinking of going back to the 87 perf just to be compatible with the tow in case I need it. I don't really need the 93 performance...I just like it.
I have the same tunes it sounds like...87 perf, 87 tow, and 93 perf. I might call and get a 93 tow. I would have returned to stock and towed for the friend. If I lose the "truck" part of my truck these tunes would be no good for me. Thankfully that is not the case.
I am thinking of going back to the 87 perf just to be compatible with the tow in case I need it. I don't really need the 93 performance...I just like it.
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From: Pasadena, Maryland
Thanks for the replies fellas. I didn't even think to switch it back to the stock tune, that is probably the best solution. I do have the same tunes as you Vader, and now that the truck is not my daily driver I too am considering switching my tow tune to 93 octane or just running 87 most of the time.