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News on a tune?
- Thread starter StuartV
- Start date
WXman
Ram Guru
He also gave me another interesting tidbit of info. The Ram on the stock tune only allows the 480 lb/ft rating in 6th gear. All other gears are 442 lb/ft just like the Jeep. That's how they were able to technically make best in class torque claims on the Ram.
Can't wait. I was planning on waiting until 100k km when my warranty is up but I have a feeling I won't be waiting that long.
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Interesting. With the 480 in all gears that would be a huge. My truck already does a great job of holding gears when towing and frequently hangs out in 8th gear. With an extra 38ft lbs it should do even better.
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Daverous, i see you have changed you air intake pipe to what looks like a stainless one. Did it improve the air intake? and what brand is it? did you also change the air filter?
Giggity
Thanks in advance
nc_beagle
Ram Guru
Why is that? Is it a longevity/durability issue?
WXman
Ram Guru
It's the T&S Speed Shop intake tube. It reuses the factory airbox and filter, but replaces the factory duct that has the sound baffles inside. It does give a small amount more turbo noise and very slightly more flow.
I'm guessing they do that to preserve the drivetrain. 6th gear is 1:1 I think on these trans, so it's the safest one to use for allowing more torque under certain conditions.
I think it's interesting because I've always wondered why the Jeep feels so much stronger than the Ram despite it's lower power rating. Now I know the answer, it's NOT a lower power rating!
WXman
Ram Guru
DieselRebel
Active Member
Love the color on this, is it the same hydro blue as Ram or something else?
2020 1500 Rebel 3.0 Ecodiesel, 3.92, 12A, Level 2, Ramboxes, 33 gallon tank, 50k miles
LS954
Member
where there any dyno runs done prior to and after the GDE tune?
WXman
Ram Guru
Thanks. Yes it is Hydro Blue Pearlcoat. I like it because there are times it's turquois and times it's blue and times it's almost a royal blue depending on the light. It has a strange but cool iridescence in the sunlight also.
Didn't run mine on the dyno. There was a full size Chevy work van with the 4-cyl VM diesel on the dyno while I was there. I didn't even know they used that engine in the work van. My dad has one of those vans with the 6.6 Duramax.
They have done so much validation and testing that the dyno sheet they have posted on their website will pretty much be true of any Gen 3 engine. 45 horse and 80 lb/ft gain through the entire curve, in a very linear fashion. With the Ram they tested on, looks like the peaks were 285 HP/510 lb/ft at the rear tires. Very impressive.
Some initial thoughts on the engine and trans tune:
- I hit stop and go traffic in Cincinnati again last night on the way home. The truck liked to stay in 2nd gear when we were at just a few miles per hour and it bucked and kicked with any on/off throttle input. Very much felt like a manual transmission. The smoothness in that particular scenario from the factory calibration is gone. I assume this is because you have the torque converter locked up in that situation. This morning, upon cold start (26 degrees here) the truck wanted a lot more speed to upshift from 1st to 2nd and then wanted to stay in 2nd. This made the on/off throttle harshness more pronounced. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I understand wanting to warm up the engine faster but the smoothness of the factory calibration is honestly pretty nice. At the same time though, having the torque converter locked allows me to drive up the long, steep hills on the private road that accesses my property more effortlessly. The truck now just rolls right up those hills with little throttle effort. In stock form it would bog down and then downshift half way up a hill which was annoying. So at low speeds, my opinion of the GDE tuning is mixed.
- On the highway I actually did face a stiff head/cross wind all the way home and I saw roughly 2 MPG increase and the power is noticeable when passing other vehicles. Here I really do enjoy the way the trans will hold a gear longer. No more instant downshifting like the stock tune. Your tune will allow me to dip into the throttle without a downshift which I really like! When I do apply a lot more throttle it will downshift quickly and take off. This produces a lot of rattling under the hood. Is this because of the changes to the injection timing? It reminds me of a gasoline engine pinging on low octane gas. Doesn't sound like the typical diesel rattle we're all used to. More of a shaking marbles in a tin can sound. But perhaps it's normal due to the change in injection timing or pressure. One thing is for sure, passing traffic is no problem now!
- The trans tune is such a massive difference that it's hard to tell how much of the benefit is engine power and how much is trans operation. It's a very different truck now.
WXman
Ram Guru
$1,000 flat for folks close enough to drive there, cash only.
$1,100 plus sales tax for folks who mail the PCM to them after filling in the form on their website, which should be up and running this coming weekend.
Obviously they reserve the right to change this at any time, it's just what I experienced this week.
Unreal ride man! Looking forward to your review!
I guess I will set up an Appointment for the 6th and be there when they open the door. Then it will be a 13 hour drive back.
I can check the MPG before and after the Tune. I can also do a long drive with the Comma3 I just Installed.
Malodave
nc_beagle
Ram Guru
I saw someone on another board mention the same thing about the cold start and low speed shifting.
Wait a minute, it was you! LOL.
Daverous
Well-Known Member
- Joined
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Yep. Gde has mine, vs stock, vs another tune. It's a little different from their test truck with the stock goodyear tires on mine, but very close. I haven't received the file yet but I did look it over while up there. I'm sure it'll surface soon enough.
WXman
Ram Guru
It is intentional. They programmed it to do this to keep RPM high and thereby warm the engine up faster.
Problem is, the engine doesn't need to be warmed up faster because it has an electric heating element grid in the interior ductwork that heats the cabin almost immediately. So the only thing they accomplished with the below 15 MPH tuning is that they made it frustrating. It's so bad that I'm considering flashing the trans. back to stock until they get it resolved.
Imagine driving a stick shift vehicle but without a clutch pedal. NO ability to coast. Just 100% connected driveline all the time. The throttle is the only way to modulate speed. Extremely annoying, and twice as bad when it's cold outside and the engine stays below operating temp longer.
So far, this below 15 MPH behavior is my only complaint with the tune, but it's a big one. I will also say that WOT runs aren't as linear feeling as stock. Definitely stronger and faster, but not as smooth and linear.
