To get the most out of your diesel truck, you’ll have to improve your vehicle’s stock parts and original program. Optimizing your truck involves making adjustments so that it can fulfill every task you set before it. To do so, you’ll need to consider components like our 6.0 diesel performance upgrades, but you should also consider investing in a tuner for your engine. However, not many people realize what tuners can even do for them. Here’s how tuners can improve your truck’s performance.

Primary Functions of Tuning

There are so many aspects of your engine and other components a tuner can adjust that it’s difficult to explain just how extensive these performance changes can get. However, there are typically five common goals most people buy tuners for:

• To improve their miles per gallon (MPG)
• Increase their truck’s torque and horsepower
• To bypass active fuel management (AFM) and multi-displacement systems (MDS)
• To read diagnostic trouble codes (DTC)
• To reduce the delay in throttle response

These common goals are an excellent place to start if you’re new to tuners and diesel engine optimization. You’ll need to jump headfirst into the programmer community for guidance and assistance to go anywhere more advanced.

The OBDII Port

As we’re approaching this from a beginner’s perspective, it’s pertinent to point out where and what the OBDII port is. Generally, the port is under the dashboard behind the steering wheel column, and this is where many of the simpler plug-and-play options get inserted to configure your truck for you.

Concerning Warranty

Before you start, let’s also discuss one of the most common questions – will tuners affect or void the warranty on your truck? Generally, you won’t risk voiding the warranty on your truck, and you’ll still be able to take it in for servicing should you require professional maintenance assistance.

If you’re looking to trade your vehicle in and you’re worried that the dealer will not be happy to see your truck modified, you can always return your truck’s programming to its default state using similar steps to tuning and enhancing the performance of your car. Programs will provide you with the flexibility you need – no change you make with a tuner is permanent.

Plug-and-Play Performance

Now we can finally start talking about how tuners can improve your truck’s performance. The plug-and-play option is the first kind of tuner we want to talk about. Even if you were to pick the highest quality tuner with all the bells and whistles – such as touch screen displays – the installation process is simple and easy, designed for truck owners who aren’t intimately familiar with upgrading and optimizing their trucks.

These tuners will have a list of pre-programmed modes you can use to get the performance you want. For example, if you want to be more fuel efficient, there’s usually a mileage mode. For increased horsepower, you’ll select maximum performance mode. It’s easy and made for anyone to pick up and use!

Plug-and-Play Modules

Plug-and-play modules are the easiest way to install and program your truck. Using the OBDII port we talked about earlier, you’ll merely need to plug the module in, and then the program will install on its own. These modules are the simplest and least expensive option for tuning your engine, but they’re reliable and will deliver a noticeable improvement.

Because these modules are cheap and straightforward, each module usually has one function. For example, one module may disable the stock active fuel management and multi-displacement systems for maximum performance. At the same time, another will focus on making your engine run as fuel efficient as possible. When shopping for plug-and-play modules, make sure you know what each one does so that you can identify the module with the program you want.

Handheld Tuners

For a tuner with options, handheld tuners plug into your OBDII port using a cord. From there, you can scroll through the handheld part of the device to view and select the program you want to install. You can also create a custom loadout once you’re more familiar with the programming process and access your custom program from a handheld tuner.

One reason many customers like these is that, in addition to being easy and providing options, the handheld tuner can get stored away from sight once you install the program. This reduces clutter in the driver’s seat and prevents you from accidentally tampering with your truck’s performance until you’re ready to change it.

Gauge Monitors

Tuners with gauge monitors will typically come with a mount so that it’s easy to display on your dashboard. Like the handhelds, these devices plug into the OBDII port with a cord and modify the ECU programming. The added feature, however, is that it will continue to monitor your engine functions while you drive – making minor adjustments as you drive and when conditions change. This makes gauge monitors incredibly popular and one of the best versions of tuners if you can make the investment. You will consistently have the most optimized performance – whether fuel mileage or increased horsepower – throughout your entire time behind the wheel.

Maximizing Performance

To finish, let's discuss the best way to achieve some common performance improvements many drivers desire. For example, fuel mileage. Plug-and-play modules and other low-end tuners generally have decent economic modes, but they’re more of a “general” economic mode. Higher-end tuners like gauge monitors will track your engine’s efficiency and adjust as necessary to ensure it stays consistently efficient with the fuel it burns.

Any model of tuner can provide you with an effective tow mode or maximum performance mode. Still, for the extra investment, gauge monitors will help track and monitor auxiliary elements like engine and transmission temperature. Some excellent monitors will even shift to tow mode automatically when it detects that you’ve hit an incline while towing a trailer – ensuring your ride remains smooth and easy.

With so many options to tune the performance of your diesel engine, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why it helps to have experts like Blessed Performance by your side to help you learn more about tuning and what will best benefit your truck. Shop with us today and see the difference in your truck’s performance!