Diesel Tuner's Blog

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.

The Diesel Performance Podcast sponsored by Calibrated Power Solutions has been a hit!  We currently have over 70 episodes and counting.  Our $15k Budget Build was such a hit, we wanted to do a $30k and possibly frame out a higher priced build show in the future.  Thank you for listening!  

Switch-on-the-fly Tuning with SWITCH for Colorado/Canyon with 2.8L Duramax:

For may years the 2001-2010 Duramax powered Silverado's and 2006 - 2016 Cummins powered Rams have enjoyed the benefits of Swith-on-the-fly tuning.  The switch allows diesel truck owners to change tunes instantaneously while driving.  Making life much simpler for those who use their truck for multiple purposes.  This luxury has been envied by other diesel owners who have to plug in a programmer each time they want to change power levels.  Some truck owners with non-switchable tuning have even started leaving trucks in the hottest tune while towing just to avoid the hassle of flashing in an appropriate towing tune.  

• The LLY Duramax  is a great truck from the factory for there are 3 modifications every owner should make! The LLY was manufactured 2004.5 and 2005. There are a few 2006 models that are labeled as an LLY, however they have all of the LBZ upgrades from the factory, so for performance applications consider those an LBZ. An LLY was the first Duramax with the injectors outside of the heads, a variable vane turbo and a 50 state EGR.