Trucks are wonderful pieces of technology, and each has untapped potential. Each vehicle has a specific way everything runs, but your engine and other vehicle parts can still perform even better. Tuning is a great way to realize your truck’s potential, but there are some important things to keep in mind when buying a diesel tuner. Read on for helpful tips and information regarding this process.
Before getting into the things you need to remember when buying a diesel tuner, you should know exactly what a tuner is and how it will help your diesel vehicle. One of the main components in every modern vehicle, diesel or not, is the engine control unit (ECU). This unit controls and optimizes your vehicle’s power by altering ignition timing and fuel trims. People tune their vehicles because it leads to the following benefits:
Manufacturers normally throttle their vehicles from the beginning, and you can change different parameters to make your vehicle run better. Many race car drivers will tune their vehicles to run as efficiently as possible, but you can do the same with your truck by purchasing a diesel tuner.
One of the first things to keep in mind before investing in a diesel tuner is that there’s a reason vehicles’ standard factory settings don’t come with tuner improvements. This detuning is partly the case because it’s easier for vehicle manufacturers to make all their engines one way. With almost every engine the same, they can tune the engines to handle more in their more powerful vehicles, leaving them detuned in their less powerful vehicles.
In addition to creating different performance metrics for different vehicles, some performance metrics may be unsafe in certain vehicles. Depending on what you change with the ECU, you can prematurely age different parts of your vehicle. For example, when boosting power and torque, your vehicle will run at a higher RPM, and the rate of wear on those parts will increase. Your vehicle’s different parts could also be too weak to handle the improved performance.
So if you’re not careful with tuning, you could hurt your vehicle. Poor tuning can worsen the energy efficiency in your truck, setting back its performance instead of improving it.
One main factor that pushes people away from buying a diesel tuner is that it’s too expensive. While a tuner can improve your vehicle’s performance, it may not seem good enough to outweigh the costs.
In reality, however, tuning can save you money in the long run. Whenever you tune your engine, you are improving the overall performance of your vehicle, meaning you’ll have a much greater fuel efficiency. Tuning improves how your engine burns fuel, allowing you to drive longer without needing to rev as often. You can stay on the road longer without making as many stops at the gas station.
In addition to greater fuel efficiency, the increased torque means you’ll need fewer trips for hauling ventures. A better torque means you can carry heavier weights, so instead of making two trips to haul heavy materials, you can now handle the job in just one!
A tuner or programmer can open a world of opportunity, but you should know what you want to do with the tuner before getting one. Do a lot of research to know exactly what the tuner you’re looking at is capable of and what your vehicle can handle. Each vehicle is different, and while most can perform better, each still has specific limitations. Figuring out those limitations will help you know which tuner is right for your vehicle and will also help you keep your vehicle safe.
Many people have a significant issue with their trucks when they tune them because their vehicles aren’t ready for tuning. Before tuning your vehicle, you must catch up on maintenance and repairs. This means taking your truck in for a general inspection and fixing any damage.
If your car isn’t ready for tuning, it will create additional issues and worsen the problems already happening under the hood. For example, if there’s something wrong with your engine or timing belt, tuning your vehicle won’t deliver the improvements you want. So invest in some maintenance to ensure your base vehicle runs as it should—then you can tune it.
As mentioned, when you tune your vehicle, you will put additional strain on other components, such as the following:
The increased performance can prematurely age these parts, so if you want your vehicle to run at 100 percent, you should also invest in additional modifications for these parts. Modifying your vehicle likely won’t be a one-and-done thing—it’s a new lifestyle you’ll live. Instead of just getting a tuner, boosting your performance, and putting strain on your internal parts, go all the way! Take your vehicle to the next level with tuning and higher-quality parts that will keep your truck running for a long time.
Another important thing to remember when buying a diesel tuner is that you will need to contact your insurance company. If you get into an accident with a modified vehicle, your insurance company could deny your claim because of the unregistered modifications. Similarly, if you have a manufacturer’s warranty, they could do the same thing if parts prematurely age. Modifications will likely result in an insurance premium increase. If you’re unsure about getting a tuner because of this, you can contact your insurance agent to get an understanding of how much your insurance would change with these modifications.
Keeping these things in mind when buying a diesel tuner is important for ensuring you get the right tuner and don’t damage your vehicle in the process. Tuners are a quick and easy way to modify your diesel engine’s performance, but you must do it correctly. There are a lot of tuners and programmers out on the market, but at Norcal Diesel Performance, we have the right one for you. We offer diesel programmers for Cummins parts, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, don’t fret. Contact us today, and we’ll find the right part for you!
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