HELP! Ready to pull the trigger, but lots of ?s first!

[blue72]

I am ready to buy a Phoenix, but I have many questions.

First this is the run down on my truck.

2000 F350 4x4 7.3 PSD w/Auto

Mods:
DIY 6637 Induction
Stock Exhaust w/Walker BTM Muffler
Triple Pod w/Pyro, Boost, & Tranny Temp.
33" Tires

Truck Use:
Not daily driver but sees about 4500 miles a year.
Tows a 6500 lb. trailer from time to time.

What I Want:
Better shifting.
More power without killing the truck.
Better fuel mileage.

Now to my questions, I have listed what I "think" the tunes should be on my chip. These selections are followed by questions... lots of questions...

#1 Stock - Do I even need this? Why/When would I use this? My state has no emissions testing BTW. Can't I just unplug the chip if needed, or is this unpractical? Would continual plugging and unplugging wear the chip/ECM out?

#2 XXhp Tow - I don't know which one. My trailer weight is about 6500 lbs, however, I live in a very mountianous area. Many long, steep grades. Should I do the 80hp or 65hp tow? What is the difference between the 2 beside the obvious hp difference... shift points maybe?

#3 XXhp Daily Driver - Once again not sure which one. Does one offer more economy than the other?

#4 XXhp Performance - You guessed it, don't know. Torn between 80hp and 100hp. What is the difference between a 80hp DD tune and a 80hp performance tune? What is the difference between a 100hp performance tune and a 100hp race tune?

#5 XXhp Race - 3 options here again, still no idea. Can I really get 140hp out of a tune? Will the 140hp even be usable without the egt's going through the roof? Is the 100hp or 120hp more realistic?

#6 High Idle X,XXXrpm - Not sure here either. I idle my tuck to operate a winch from time to time and occasionally while making quick stops running errands. So, what RPM and why?

I mainly want more power, any economy picked up is a bonus. I just don't want to put some tunes in that will never be used, because they run too hot or are not practical. My thoughts are that I will mostly use the daily driver setting around town, obviously the tow tune while towing, the performance tune when running late for work , and the race tune when I feel the urge.

If you have read this far, you deserve a medal and thank you for your time. All reponses are greatly appreciated. I just want to do this once and get it right on the first try. Maybe I'm over thinking this whole thing? Is there really a big difference between the daily driver, performance, and race tunes? Thanks!

[ticopowell]

Originally Posted by blue72

I am ready to buy a Phoenix, but I have many questions.

First this is the run down on my truck.

2000 F350 4x4 7.3 PSD w/Auto

Mods:
DIY 6637 Induction
Stock Exhaust w/Walker BTM Muffler
Triple Pod w/Pyro, Boost, & Tranny Temp.
33" Tires

Truck Use:
Not daily driver but sees about 4500 miles a year.
Tows a 6500 lb. trailer from time to time.

What I Want:
Better shifting.
More power without killing the truck.
Better fuel mileage.

Now to my questions, I have listed what I "think" the tunes should be on my chip. These selections are followed by questions... lots of questions...

#1 Stock - Do I even need this? Why/When would I use this? My state has no emissions testing BTW. Can't I just unplug the chip if needed, or is this unpractical? Would continual plugging and unplugging wear the chip/ECM out? The reason for having a stock tune for most people is to diagnose problems, so if the truck is doing something funny, it can be nice to make sure it is not a tune that got messed up

#2 XXhp Tow - I don't know which one. My trailer weight is about 6500 lbs, however, I live in a very mountianous area. Many long, steep grades. Should I do the 80hp or 65hp tow? What is the difference between the 2 beside the obvious hp difference... shift points maybe? The difference between any tune of the same hp is timing and shift points, I have a manual, so for me there isn't much difference at all, so I just got different hp levels, and I decide the shift points. for 6500 lbs you are going to be ok with the 80 hp, but I would pick the 65 hp for just in case you have to tow more than planned at some point.

#3 XXhp Daily Driver - Once again not sure which one. Does one offer more economy than the other? both daily drivers will be fairly similar, i haven't heard of anyone stating a large difference, so this is kinda up to you

#4 XXhp Performance - You guessed it, don't know. Torn between 80hp and 100hp. What is the difference between a 80hp DD tune and a 80hp performance tune? What is the difference between a 100hp performance tune and a 100hp race tune? Again the differences will be the timing and shift points

#5 XXhp Race - 3 options here again, still no idea. Can I really get 140hp out of a tune? Will the 140hp even be usable without the egt's going through the roof? Is the 100hp or 120hp more realistic? with a 2000 you will be able to get the 140 out of your truck, but with different years, like my 2002, I can't. Also the difference between 120 and 140 might just be smoke, depending on your altitude. I have a 120, and if feels a little faster than my 80, but it smokes a lot more. I just moved to texas, and I haven't driven my truck without the trailer on it yet, so now I might see and feel the difference. If you are going to have it just for fun, then you should be just fine with any tune, but to see the biggest difference I would get the 140 if I were you.

#6 High Idle X,XXXrpm - Not sure here either. I idle my tuck to operate a winch from time to time and occasionally while making quick stops running errands. So, what RPM and why? Not a clue.... I have never had a winch, and I would assume the idle speed would be dependent on if it was a hydraulic winch or an electric winch. Also keep in mind that the high idle can be used with another tune, meaning you can have a 80DD with high idle, or a 65 tow with whisper mode.

I mainly want more power, any economy picked up is a bonus. I just don't want to put some tunes in that will never be used, because they run too hot or are not practical. My thoughts are that I will mostly use the daily driver setting around town, obviously the tow tune while towing, the performance tune when running late for work , and the race tune when I feel the urge.

If you have read this far, you deserve a medal and thank you for your time. All reponses are greatly appreciated. I just want to do this once and get it right on the first try. Maybe I'm over thinking this whole thing? Is there really a big difference between the daily driver, performance, and race tunes? Thanks!

My answers are in Blue, but I'm new to diesels so I am probably wrong on some of them lol I don't see any reason to get two tunes with the same hp, so for you I would recommend stock, 65 tow, 80 DD, 100 perf, 140 race, high idle( for whatever idle speed works best for your winch. I would have someone sit in the truck holding it at certain rpms to see which works best with your setup.). or you can put the high idle with the 65 tow, or something else, and then get the no-start tune.
Hope I helped

[blue72]

Originally Posted by ticopowell

My answers are in Blue, but I'm new to diesels so I am probably wrong on some of them lol I don't see any reason to get two tunes with the same hp, so for you I would recommend stock, 65 tow, 80 DD, 100 perf, 140 race, high idle( for whatever idle speed works best for your winch. I would have someone sit in the truck holding it at certain rpms to see which works best with your setup.). or you can put the high idle with the 65 tow, or something else, and then get the no-start tune.
Hope I helped

GREAT response! This is the kind of advice I am looking for. Keep them coming guys! BTW my winch is electric.

[dietoremain]

the race tunes wont send your EGT's too high I can flat out run mine and maybe hit 1200 and have no problems there of course..

Tow tunes are up to you, I've ran the 80 and pushed it pretty hot towing a nasty grade, but for that weight and not towing nasty grades, dont even hesitate.

The rest are up to you and answered well by the previous reply I think.

[blue72]

Well, this is where I am at right now.

Position:

#1 Stock - For trouble shooting purposes.

#2 65hp Mod. Tow - I only tow a 6500 lb. trailer but you never know when I might get a bigger one. I also tow a lot of long, steep grades.

#3 80hp Daily Driver - Easy call on this one due to recommendations.

#4 100hp Performance - Another easy call after the recommendations.

#5 120hp Race - Still kind of up in the air on this one. Why am I scared of the 140hp? Should I be worried or just go for it?

#6 High Idle 1000rpm - Still don't know the benifit of using the 11 or 1200rpm over the 1000rpm. Tell me why?

Thanks for all the help so far!

[dietoremain]

The 140 is fine for your truck you have forged rods.. Dont be worried about that.
Also everything else looks great on the choices, RPM is up to you on the high idle..whatever you like.

[blue72]

It was suggested in another forum that I might be able to combine the high idle and no start in the same position. Would this work? I assumed the no start tune would disable the truck whether it was already running or not? Is this not the case?

Thanks guys and keep it coming!

[ticopowell]

I have the no start, and whenever i accidentally switch to it the truck dies, so in my case no, but Bill might be able to write a tune where if you switch while running the truck, it still runs, but it wont start after the truck is off... idk...

[blue72]

Originally Posted by ticopowell

I have the no start, and whenever i accidentally switch to it the truck dies, so in my case no, but Bill might be able to write a tune where if you switch while running the truck, it still runs, but it wont start after the truck is off... idk...

Do you know how old your chip is? I have read that is what the original tune will do, but PHP has since modified their tune to revert to the stock tune if this position is selected while the truck is running. Just what I have heard? Thanks for the post.

[ticopowell]

I am not sure which tune they used, and I really have tried not to do it, so I am not sure if it dies, or if it just sputters for a second then runs ok... It is a fairly new tune I thought, I got it only a few months ago, so I maybe should have specifically asked for that feature...