Diesel Tuner's Blog

Questions About 2013 + Cummins Tuning

Written by Paul Wilson | Jan 17, 2017 1:00:00 PM

Tuning for CME 2013-2016 Cummins 

 

 

If you have a 2013 - 2016 Cummins, you probably have some questions about aftermarket tuning for your truck.  From warranty concerns to transmission tuning options to peak horsepower, truck owners generally want to learn everything they can before picking the tuner right for them.  Below you will find information on the 7 most common topics we discuss with customers at Calibrated Power.   

 

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If you would like to call and ask more questions about your specific truck we would be happy to help you!

Just give us a call, Monday through Friday from 9am - 5pm CST at 815-568-7920 

or click the button below to request more information.   

 

 

 

  1. How much horse power can my truck make?
    1. You can safely add 100 RWHP on a stock 68RFE or Aisin with just the proper engine and transmission (68RFE) tuning.
    2. Over 500 RWHP is achievable with a 68RFE transmission if you have add a high pressure valve body kit which allows us to raise line pressure past the factory's mechanically imposed limit of ~170psi.  
  2.  How is reliability impacted by tuning?
    1. Hundreds of 2013 - 2016 Cummins trucks have been tuned and already have clocked 10's of thousands of miles. 
    2. Calibrated Power has over 30,000 miles on an Emissions Equipped 2015 Black edition that is daily driven at over 500 RWHP. 
    3. Excessive regens and poor emission equipment performance are caused by poorly controlled combustion.  Our tuning strategy relies on maintaining lean air/fuel ratios and NOx loads by specific power output. 
  3. For the best MPGs, should I delete?
    1. Gains in MPG come from tuning, not from removing emissions equipment.  After years of testing at Calibrated Power, it is realistic to say that properly tuned emissions equipped trucks and deleted trucks will easily calculate less than a 5 % difference in fuel mileage.  At 5%, you'd have to drive 120,000 miles to recoup the fuel savings of a $1000 DPF and EGR delete parts.  Is the smoke, noise, lost warranty, and potential legal trouble still worth it?   
    2. In our experience driving habits and tire size will impact your MPG more than doing deletes.
  4. What improvements in Drive-Ability can I expect?  
    1. Improved throttle response and smoother more positive shifting are the most often mentioned improvements with our custom tuning.  Combining responsiveness with positive torque transfer to the rear tires dramatically improves the driving experience.
    2.  The 6.7L Cummins is well known for being a torque monster.  Our custom tuning builds on that reputation by widening the torque curve and using a revised shift/lockup strategy to keep the engine working in it's sweet spot.
    3. In-line throttle boosters will increase how sensative the throttle is, but do not have full control over the complex computer system. 
  5. Should I consider 68RFE tuning?
    1. The factory calibrations do not utilize the wide torque curve of a tuned 6.7L Cummins.  Good transmission tuning will fix this problem. 
    2. Proper 68RFE tuning will dramatically improve torque converter lock-up strategy.   
    3. Adding line pressure provides a good firm, positive feeling shift and reduces the wear on clutches caused by slipping  This can only be done with 68RFE Tuning.  
  6. With so many tuning options, what is the difference between them all? 
    1. Resistor chips/inline modules, or any tuner that does not flash through the OBD port is really not what you are looking for.
      1. These come from an older and outdated way of tuning a diesel truck.  
      2. They fool the computer by changing the signal to a specific controller, such as fooling your throttle pedal signal to be more sensitive. 
      3. Results are minimal and can cause issues with today complex computer systems. 
      4. They disable the ability of the truck to know it's load and fuel rate and thus cause long term problems with emissions equipment and trans parts which benefit from such data. 
    2. Canned tuners are out there.  
      1. They provide a large improvement from "chips".  However they offer a preset selection of tunes regardless of your modifications.  
      2. For heavily modified trucks they are really not any options. 
      3. Although these modules make more than just 1 change to the computer at a time, they do not make very many.   In  some cases about 15 calibration changes makes up a tune.  In some cases this has caused surging and poor shifting.
    3. Custom Tuning options are growing.
      1. EFILive has been a staple in the custom tuning market for Cummins and Duramax for many years.  
        1. Excellent calibration support and ample testing has already been completed for most trucks. 
        2. Provides the capability to make hundreds of calibration changes per tune. Resulting in a smoother power curve, cleaner and overall a better running truck. 
        3. Switchable tuning is available through OBD based, rotary switch. 
        4. Hardware is a bit outdated.  Analog screen and minimal memory space on flashing device along with no gauge package.
        5. Requires BullyDog unlock device prior to tuning ECM.
      2. Smarty MM3 Tuning is new to the market but very promising results and new hardware package. 
        1. New to market means less testing has been completed.  However, the testing so far being so positive, this is a serious option. 
        2. Provides the capability to make hundreds of calibration changes per tune.  Resulting in a smoother power curve, cleaner and overall a better running truck. 
        3. Switchable tuning through touch screen display with no additional hardware.
        4. Digital touch screen gauge package and flashing tool with no additional hardware required to unlock ECM or switch tunes.
        5. Ample data storage space available.
  7. Warranty, what happens?
    1. The dealers hold the power of discretion. 
    2. A deleted truck can be the most obvious way to throw your warranty away.  
    3. Anytime you flash an ECM there is a possibility of a trace being left behind.

 

 If you would like to call and ask more questions about your specific truck we would be happy to help you!

Just give us a call, Monday through Friday from 9am - 5pm CST at 815-568-7920 

or click the button below to request more information. 

 

 
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