Duramax upgrades
 

Just bought an '05 crew dually dmax for hauling and looking to see what upgrades evryone else has done. Already planned on changing the turbo inlet which is very restrictive on lly engines, Magnaflow exhaust, some type of either programmer or flash (considering efi live). My main interest is mileage either pulling or not. My last hauler was a 97 bbc crew dually and although it pulled perfectly, mileage sucked. thanks


Scott, If this thread needs moved, please do.

Jody will definitely chime in on this! He know's a thing or two about these !

Mike,

I have a LMM and did a new air intake, MBRP exhaust and a PPE tune. Helped out alot to get the dpf off (which you don't have to worry about) but now have to put back on to get my tags.

I agree that Jody will far more about this as well as the EFI live.
Good choice on your truck.

Mike --

Since I have an '06 FORD F-350 Crew Cab Dually --- this isn't advice on a GM -- but I will tell you I'm on my second go 'round with the full Gale Banks Big Hoss bundle (also had this on my Dodge) -- I've got the intercooler -- intake -- exhaust from turbo back - their new digital dash which adds "jake brake" style braking.... and I have had ZERO issues with their stuff --- and I tow like a fool. So you might want to just look at their products/bundles to see what they have. They build their stuff "truck tuff" and "safe" for the engine at the same time.

Here Mike,
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/index.php

They can spend your money just as well as here.

This is Definetly the spot to go. Nick is on here as well.

a good tune makes the largest bang for the buck. A simple tow tune picked up Brents truck a bunch in mileage I believe. I used EFI Live to tune his.

Dieselplace.com is a great site for info.

Jody

thanks, i have been over at dieselplace a couple times researching stuff already.

I was afraid of that.:willy:

Had an 01, now have an 09. I used an Edge tuner, 5" exhaust, and cold air intake on my last truck and had great results without any funky codes or problems. The 09 is still bone stock but I plan to use the same plan on it.
Tuner, exhaust, intake. Makes these things a LOT more fun to drive. My 01 would get 20-21mpg pretty consistently (2500hd 4x4 with 285s).

Mike ---

Can "towing" and "milage" go together? LOL

My Ford gets 14.4 around town -- and it gets a flat 10 MPG when towing whether the trailer is empty or full. It's an automatic -- stock size tires -
not lifted - but I did do the Talon Suspension System on the rear. I am
running 4:10 gears.

My truck is 05" 3/4 ton crews cab LLY. Jody's tune picked me about 4-5 MPG, depending how I drive it though. Picked up a fair amount of power as well! On average gets around 15-16 around town and 22-23 on the HWY if I keep it in the sweet spot around 70-72 mph. As soon as push to 75-80 mileage goes in the toilet. Other than an air filter - that's the only thing I have done.

competitiondiesel.com

The guys on here really know their stuff!

MPG hand calculated or off the computer?

better be hand calc'd 'cause I warned him about trusting the DIC........... :yes:

Jody

only in the fact if I wanted 10 mpg or less i would have just stayed with the bbc. I just ran first 100 miles in the truck and hand calc'd it at 14.3 bone stock. I would like 14-15 towing light loads and 18-20 empty would make me happy. I am sure a 38 foot enclosed behind it would be less

I'm running the Banks 6 Gun now. the truck came with it. If I had the choice I'd have the Edge.

Delco diesel in cow town has a nice shop behind their main shop set up specifically for tuning and aftermarket etc. Nice guys and they know their stuff.

The edge doesn't work well on the later (LLY,LBZ) dmax. I had one on my lbz and had all kinds of crazy problems. Edge finally admitted some trucks like it and some don't and refunded my money.

My cousin is using this on his lifted '07 GMC and has loved it! Along with the performance gains, he really loves that it's a programer and you dont have all the extra crap to mount on the dash. It took care of his larger tire size-speedo issue (speedo is spot on now) and the truck makes great power. He tows our dump trailer, that's a few thousand pounds empty, loaded down with building materials with ease. And on the weekends he tows his enclosed trailer w/ the drag boat, ect in it...that's a 12k # package. He's towed that from OR to AZ and back with ease.

I'm not saying it's the best...just saying he's happy with it :cheers: !

PPE is one of them I am considering. I think it will be that or EFI live. Truck is getting serviced today, fixing some little issues, and getting ready for its first trip down to GG Dallas next weekend. I checked mileage again yesterday and got 15mpg bone stock hand calculated. 18 or better should be reachable with upgrades. I know lots of guys picking up 3-5 mpg with tuning alone.

Mike, my cousin is getting 19-20 mpg on the freeway...slightly less mixed driving. And he gets in the teens towing. His towing mpg is what I get non-towing! I really need a diesel with all the driving I do! FWIW, he's only on setting #2 out of 4. He raced his dad (I was in the truck) he has a '03 6.0L Silverado 4x4 before the tune and they were pretty even....after the tune the diesel ran from him! I haven't always been a fan of diesels....but now that I've been around them more and I tow quite a bit these days I really see the need for them!

Bully Dog PMT (Power Management Tool)
It's on my 2006 LLY and I LOVE IT!!

I preferred EFI Live because I did my own tuning. Dan at PPE is very sharp. His tunes are more money, but they do what they're supposed to. :thumbsup:

Jody