Diesel Tuner's Blog

Ben Lawson

Ben Lawson

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Breaking Down the Stealth Turbo Line: STR, Mach 1, and Mach 2 – Which One Is Right for You?

[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 21, 2025 7:00:00 AM / by Ben Lawson posted in Cummins Turbo, Turbo, Bolt on turbo, LBZ Turbo, LMM Turbo, LML Turbo, Diesel Turbo Options Duramax, Diesel Turbo Options Cummins, Duramax Turbo, LLY Turbo, Turbo Upgrades, L5P Turbo

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When it comes to turbochargers for diesel trucks, Stealth Turbos have made a name for themselves by offering performance, reliability, and quality upgrades across the board. Whether you’re driving a 6.6L Duramax, 6.7L Powerstroke or a 6.7L Cummins, Stealth turbos can provide solutions for a multitude of different needs and wants—from stock replacements to high-performance setups. In this blog post, we’ll break down the key differences between Stealth’s STR, Mach 1, and Mach 2 line's of turbochargers and help you decide which one is the best fit for your driving needs.



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DT Series STR Transmission: Built for Power, Smooth Shifts, and Long-Term Reliability

[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 15, 2025 8:00:00 AM / by Ben Lawson posted in better performance for lly, LLY, Duramax, LML, LBZ, Stock, LB7, Transmission Duramax, Allison, Transmission Tuning, LMM

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Your Duramax-powered Chevy or GMC was built to tackle tough jobs with ease and deliver years of dependable performance. But when you push these trucks to their limits on a daily basis, reliability can quickly become a concern. While the engine is often up to the task, the factory transmission is usually the weak link—struggling under the added stress until clutches start slipping and failures begin. In many cases, a transmission rebuild or replacement is needed long before the engine shows any signs of trouble. And if you frequently push your truck to the max, even a rebuilt transmission may not hold up for long.




That’s exactly what inspired the development of the all-new DT Series STR Transmission. Designed for stock and mild-tuned trucks, the STR is built with key upgrades that stretch your budget further by maximizing durability and reliability. Whether you're replacing a worn-out stock unit or upgrading to gain a little more capability, the STR delivers the strength and performance you need to handle heavy towing and increased power from tuning—without the constant worry of another rebuild.

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Which Custom Tuning Flash Tool To Go With

[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 7, 2025 7:14:00 AM / by Ben Lawson posted in switchable tuning, switch on the fly tuning, Tuning for new diesel, Best tuning for, custom tuning, 50-state tuning

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If you're considering custom tuning for your diesel truck for the first time, you've probably run into the question of which flash tool to go with. With so many options on the market, and so much buzz around certain tools it can be difficult to decide which one will provide the best tuning experience and features. In this article, we'll break down some of the most popular custom tuning flash tools on the market today—HP Tuners, EZ Lynk, EFI Live (SPADE), MM3, Edge CTS3 and Black Box Devices—to help you make an informed decision for your diesel truck.



What Is a Flash Tool?

Before we dive into the specifics, let’s quickly dive into what a flash tool is. A flash tool, or programmer, is at its core a diagnostic device/tool that will allow you to upload custom tunes to your truck’s ECU (Engine Control Unit) through the OBDII port of your vehicle. These tunes will go on to adjust various engine parameters like fuel delivery, timing, boost pressure, and transmission settings to optimize your truck’s power and performance. The right flash tool will allow you to easily tune and monitor your diesel's performance, giving you the advantages of diagnostic insights at your finger tips and comprehensive control over your vehicle.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these popular flash tools and what they have to offer.

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Adding Power to Your Farming Equipment: The Benefits of Custom Ag Tuning

[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 5, 2025 4:19:56 PM / by Ben Lawson posted in Tuner for Combine, tractor tuner, combine tuner, tractor tuning, combine tuning, tractor, Combine, Tuner for tractor, Farm

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As a farmer, you know that your equipment is the backbone of your operation. Whether you’re planting, harvesting, or hauling, having the right power to get the job done is crucial. But what if you could add power to your existing equipment without the hefty price tag of upgrading to a more powerful model? Enter Custom Ag Tuning—the easy, effective way to increase performance, improve efficiency, and keep your equipment running strong.



Why Add Power to Your Farming Equipment?

The demands on your tractors and combines are high, and sometimes the power provided by stock equipment just isn’t enough. Whether you’re running a larger implement, climbing steep hills, hauling heavy loads, or navigating through tough, wet terrain, your machinery needs to work hard—and you need it to work efficiently.

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Diagnosing, Troubleshooting, and Upgrading Your Allison 1000 Transmission

[fa icon="calendar'] Dec 27, 2024 11:45:00 AM / by Ben Lawson posted in LLY, Duramax, LML, LBZ, LB7, Transmission Duramax, P0700, Allison, LMM, L5P

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If you’re a Duramax diesel enthusiast or truck owner, you’re likely familiar with the Allison 1000 transmission. Revered for its durability, smooth shifting, and ability to handle the power of diesel engines like the GM Duramax, it’s a popular choice in heavy-duty trucks. However, even the best transmissions aren’t immune to problems. In this detailed guide, we’ll combine insights on diagnosing common issues, troubleshooting tips, and upgrading your Allison transmission to ensure your truck keeps running strong under any condition.

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Comparison of Allison 1000 Transmissions Used in the 6.6L Duramax (2001 - 2024)

[fa icon="calendar'] Dec 23, 2024 10:54:00 AM / by Ben Lawson posted in LLY, LML, LBZ, Stock, LB7, DT750, Transmission Duramax, Allison, LMM, DT550, L5P, L5D

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The Allison 1000 transmission has long been a cornerstone of GM’s HD truck lineup, particularly in conjunction with the Duramax engines. Over the years, this transmission has undergone continuous refinements to meet the evolving demands of power, performance, and emissions standards. In this post, we'll break down how the Allison 1000 transmission has evolved across six generations of the Duramax engine family: LB7, LLY, LBZ, LMM, LML, and L5P, highlighting key changes and comparing performance across each year range.

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What L5P Tuning is right for you?

[fa icon="calendar'] Dec 11, 2024 8:15:00 AM / by Ben Lawson posted in Duramax, Emisssions Intact Tuning, Diesel Tuning, Best tuning for, custom tuning, L5P, L5P Tuning

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What L5P Tuning is right for you?

If you want more power, better performance, and the highest levels of reliability for your 2017-2023 L5P Duramax then you've probably looked into custom tuning.  When it comes to custom tuning for yourL5P Duramax, choosing the right tune can make a world of difference in your driving experience. At Calibrated Power, we offer a variety of custom tune options designed to meet your needs, whether you’re looking for peak performance, better towing capabilities, or a perfect balance of power and drivability. Let’s break down the differences between our 6 different custom tuning options for the L5P Duramax.

 
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Understanding Injector Balance Rates: A Guide for Diesel Truck Owners

[fa icon="calendar'] Dec 4, 2024 7:45:00 AM / by Ben Lawson

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A 700hp Emissions-In-Tact LML Duramax: The Time Bomb Build Breakdown

[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 9, 2024 7:15:00 AM / by Ben Lawson posted in Duramax Performance, duramaxtuner, Duramax, Emissions, Duramax Power, LML, Emisssions Intact Tuning, More Power for my LML?, what are some upgrades I can go to my LML?, LML Tuning, Emissions Intact, LML Power, clean sweep, LML Performance, Emissions Equipped, Build, build thread, LML Turbo, 600HP LML, Stealth 64 LML

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David Schaefer’s 2015 GMC 2500HD Denali, known as "Time Bomb," is a remarkable achievement in the world of diesel performance. With a stunning 700 horsepower while maintaining full emissions compliance, this truck is a testament to what can be accomplished with thoughtful engineering and high-quality components. Let’s break down this comprehensive build, exploring the features that make it special and how they come together to create a never before achieved driving experience. 

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Diesel Fuel Injector Failure: Common Causes, Symptoms, and How to Diagnose It

[fa icon="calendar'] Sep 11, 2024 7:30:00 AM / by Ben Lawson posted in LLY, Duramax, Cummins, 2013 Cummins, LML, Cummins Diesel, 2011 Cummins, 2015 Cummins, LBZ, Trouble Shooting Duramax, 2012 Cummins, 2014 Cummins, Stock, 1998.5 Cummins, LB7, injectors, 2.8L, beginners guide, 1999 Cummins, 4 cyl duramax, Trouble Shooting, 2016 Cummins, CME Cummins, LMM, 2017 Cummins, 6.7L Powerstroke, 2004.5 Cummins, Ford, Ford 6.7, L5P, LWN, HD Cummins, Fuel Injectors, Fuel System

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Diesel engines have many nuances
when compared to their gas counterparts, fuel injectors being one of them. Unlike fuel injectors used on direct injection gasoline engines, diesel injectors often have a higher failure rate and shorter lifespan due to their more extreme operating conditions. When these injectors fail, it can lead to a cascade of performance issues, increased emissions issues, and even engine damage.

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