Bully Dog

Anyone on here use the Bully Dog Triple Dog GT Diesel tuner?
I am thinking of getting one for my Ford F-350 Super Duty.
Wanting to use it for the towing and economy.

http://www.bullydog.com/product.php?ID=2

TxPatriot

I do not have one but my buddy who is a diesel mechanic, and the only person I let work on my pickup but me, does not recommend BD. He calls them "canned tunes". He says over the long haul it is better to have a live tune done by someone like TS.

http://www.advancediesel.net/TS-PERFORMANCE-6-Position-Chip-945-03-FORD-POWERSTROKE-73L-1180401.htm

He says over and over that canned tunes are harmful for your engine and tranny.

I was told by the my local diesel shop that the more you turn up the power on these diesels, the quicker you have EGR and DPF issues. Especially on the early emission diesels like mine. He recommended deleting the emissions. Then turn up the power.

Going through this company out if Tennessee. www.custom-diesel.com

Probably the best tune system is EFI Live with one or two tunes for your particular purposes. With EFI the specialist that you use will develop tunes for your use and vehicle. they have tunes already developed for specific vehicles.

Most of these trucks are "tuned" for their specific engine and transmission when they come from the factory. You can do some tuning to improve one thing or another but fooling with the ECM means voiding warranties in some cases. Chevy for instance will not help you if you have an engine problem under warranty and they detect that the vehicle had a tune of any type at any time. Over tune an engine and the exhaust gasses get too hot and you burn a hole in the pistons.

I am not saying that some tunes don't work well and some people swear by an economy tune or a tow tune but just be aware that if you are under warranty you may not be if something goes wrong, tune related or not and engines, transmissions, transfer cases and differentials are designed for the power that they come with.

I'm on my second diesel powered truck. Both have shown more than enough power to do what I want them to do. If I feel the need for more power, faster acceleration..I'll use one of our cars...I'm not risking damage to an expensive diesel engine and power train with some power adder that I don't need...Don

Yep i agree with what everyone else said. My buddy is a tech at a local ford dealer he said most of the diesel issues that come in are because people tuned them and bumped up the power. The ford 6.0l had a bunch of issues but his has never been tuned and didnt experience any of the issues that are well known.

The newish 6.7 has as much power as anyone might need so no need to tune it...especially with it being rock solid as is. I even read stories of people doing the dpf delete and then the engine runs like horrible with a tune on the new 6.7. Might as well save your money and keep the reliability.

Been tuned for over 7 years and it's been flawless. Gives me assured protection for my 6.0L Ford. I use International procedures and Hypertech programer that are certified for not hurting the engine. Plus I am aware of the limits and drive accordingly.
I decided 7 Years ago that the 6.0 needed more torque at 1700 RPM and I trusted only Hypertech to protect my truck. No other programmers capable of breaking my truck was to be used. It has worked for over 7 years and I am sticking with it.
I have heard of to many trucks breaking down due to improper programing.
Plus I get same torque as the newer 6.7 can be programed at 1700 RPM.

Dont believe in tuners and never have. I have seen the damage that they can do as a GM tech for over 45 years. BTW, the ECM's (engine control module) will tell a tech that there has been a tuner hooked up/installed. Thus....no warranty repairs. All the new trucks pushing 800 ft# of torque and 400 HP.....how much more power do you need. A class 8 "Pete" might do the job. I do not believe that you get better fuel mileage, cause the only way you get more power from a diesel engine is to put more fuel through it. JMHO

Ended up staying away from tuning all together, did not purchase one. I did however purchase a Edge insight CTS for in cab monitoring.

TxPatriot said:

Ended up staying away from tuning all together, did not purchase one. I did however purchase a Edge insight CTS for in cab monitoring.

Click to expand...

I used the Edge digital monitor on my truck while it was under warranty. I was very happy with it.

After warranty I chose to remove DPF and disable EGR on my Ford 6.4, which required a tuner to disable the regen process. I was not comfortable with the increased manifold/turbo temps (1200F) during regen. I went with the H&S. I run it in stock HP mode, without regen. Temps average 600 to 800 pulling, with upgraded exhaust. Stock air box and OEM filter.


Brian

Not sure what year and motor you have. We started out with an '02 7.3. I had a tuner with custom tunes after having the tranny custom built by Brian's Truck Shop. For towing, I had a 20 HP tune, more for the improved transmission shift strategy. I also had an Insight CTS and exhaust gas temp probe installed. What I ultimately found was that I spent half my time going up long grades feathering the throttle to keep exhaust gas temps in check just at the 20 HP level.

I've heard folks bragging about running 60, 80 and 100+ HP tunes while pulling heavy rigs, but have always wondered how long it took to melt holes in their Pistons.

I have a 2009 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 6.4L Turbo Diesel. I was wanting to as a question. Which parameters should I be watching while towing since I don't have a tune? What are the high numbers that I should be setting alarms at? We have not bought our fiver yet, but it will be along the lines of a Big Horn.

I have a 6.0l international motor and the only safe tuner I want to use. Had an exhaust temperature gauge for 4 years and never saw any alarming temperatures. The gauge wire broke and I never replaced it for the past 3 years. Never miss it neither. For the 6.4 it's to bad one has to use an other programer because Hypertech does not program outside the OEM equipped engines. They do their tests to break point and will not hurt the truck. My clutch slips at 2600 RPM on level 3 (125 HP) programing and I was assured that the clutch is starting to wear. I only use level 3 for the fantastic fuel economy when not towing and towing short distance and away from large climbs in mountain. Level 2 gives me plenty of power at 87 HP and good increase torque at 1800 RPM.
I do have EGR deleted and it works OK at towing with great fuel mileage but power is reduced with water temperature under 180f.
It's been great for me towing the 3500rl big country. Without the programer the trailer really feels heavy and very uncomfortable to tow with my truck being a standard shift. I have to shift off overdrive at every small hills. With it programer on all levels it really mows the hills like the add says.
Oh yes I use a ScangaugeII an calibrate the fuel rate at every level and on level 3 the on highway mileage can be kept above 36 mpg while our 1.8l 2800 lbs Toyota standard has a hard time to keep the 32 mpg rating on the same highway and conditions.

TxPatriot said:

I have a 2009 Ford F-350 Super Duty, 6.4L Turbo Diesel. I was wanting to as a question. Which parameters should I be watching while towing since I don't have a tune? What are the high numbers that I should be setting alarms at? We have not bought our fiver yet, but it will be along the lines of a Big Horn.

Click to expand...

I alarm at:

EGT - 1400F
ECT - 225F
EOT - 225F
Tranny Temp - 200F

Normal temps/High temps I see while pulling
EGT 700F/1000F
ECT 190F/205F
EOT 190F/205F
Tranny 175F/190F

Your EGT on the manifold will reach 1200 to 1250 on regens. Hence the higher alarm point.

Brian

PS - EOT and ECT should be within 5-8F on stock tune and if not - your oil cooler may be plugging off

brianharrison said:

I used the Edge digital monitor on my truck while it was under warranty. I was very happy with it.

After warranty I chose to remove DPF and disable EGR on my Ford 6.4, which required a tuner to disable the regen process. I was not comfortable with the increased manifold/turbo temps (1200F) during regen. I went with the H&S. I run it in stock HP mode, without regen. Temps average 600 to 800 pulling, with upgraded exhaust. Stock air box and OEM filter.


Brian

Click to expand...

I am starting the same process. Hopefully I can avoid some if the issues the early emission trucks had.

brianharrison said:

I alarm at:

EGT - 1400F
ECT - 225F
EOT - 225F
Tranny Temp - 200F

Normal temps/High temps I see while pulling
EGT 700F/1000F
ECT 190F/205F
EOT 190F/205F
Tranny 175F/190F

Your EGT on the manifold will reach 1200 to 1250 on regens. Hence the higher alarm point.

Brian

PS - EOT and ECT should be within 5-8F on stock tune and if not - your oil cooler may be plugging off

Click to expand...

Appreciate all that info. That will come in handy!

Bob&Patty said:

Dont believe in tuners and never have. I have seen the damage that they can do as a GM tech for over 45 years. BTW, the ECM's (engine control module) will tell a tech that there has been a tuner hooked up/installed. Thus....no warranty repairs. All the new trucks pushing 800 ft# of torque and 400 HP.....how much more power do you need. A class 8 "Pete" might do the job. I do not believe that you get better fuel mileage, cause the only way you get more power from a diesel engine is to put more fuel through it. JMHO

Click to expand...

Bob:
I don't know if this has changed, but most diesel tuners are NOT California Air Resources Board approved. The smog shops check for stuff attached to your OBD port during the diesel smog check, and this can get you a FAIL.

wdk450 said:

Bob:
I don't know if this has changed, but most diesel tuners are NOT California Air Resources Board approved. The smog shops check for stuff attached to your OBD port during the diesel smog check, and this can get you a FAIL.

Click to expand...

I have a Banks tuner, air intake and exhaust that are CARB approved and have been checked by a State of California diesel check station.
(Since that time I have registered my truck in Utah, where there are no restrictions on any after market diesel parts)
Most Banks add-on's are CARB approved, unless they are designated for "off road use only". Trace

My Hypertech unit has been like Banks. Now it's the only way to go. Some are out of business for selling highway units not approved. All programable units cannot be approved.