Tunes/tuners & Engine Longevity/reliability...

importkiller76 · August 21, 2009

Ok so I know that Justin at blackbear claims the same longevity and reliability of the engine with one of his tunes. He also says that it's more the foot on the pedal than the tune in the engine. Which I believe is very true! But I was just wondering if anyone could shed some light on other tuners and engine longevity/reliability? A buddy of mine has a bully dog tuner for his dodge and it seems to make a significant improvement. I know it's not the same as a blackbear tune but just bear with me (no pun intended! lol ). At very least it firms up the shifts. So I was just wondering do tuners kill engines? Or do owners kill engines?

Spurshot · August 21, 2009

That's a question that really doesn't have a single, simple or always correct answer.

Bowtie2Sierra · August 21, 2009

I posed the same question to myself before tuning my truck. In the end, it comes down to what you already said...how you treat your vehicle. I do not abuse the truck and maintain consistently it so I'm not the least bit concerned with the tune affecting long term reliability. Speaking with Justin about it was reassuring also.

VMax2007 · August 21, 2009

Jesse Bubb kills engines/trannys.

cliobogger · August 21, 2009

tuners shouldnt affect your engine in a negative way...unless you are on it more than you were before the tune. simple as that. these motors are built to last.

music · August 21, 2009

I'm running stock, but the driver has more control over a "tuned" power train when "TM" has been dialed down or removed. The stock programming tries to protect the drive-line from being hammered, by slowing torque/power delivery. For a stock setup, I'd say that the driver has to *really* try in order to do significant damage. A tuned system, however, is much easier to "punch". If someone "punches it" over and over, then premature failure in the transmission or rear gears seems more likely (to me). If they drive more reasonably, it really shouldn't matter.

Tow/haul usage is where TM can really help. Slamming 300+ ft-lbs to the rear axle while hooked up to a 6k lb load is going to increase stress dramatically. Bleeding it in over a few seconds will reduce the shock effect, but still deliver the same max torque... it just takes a little longer to get there. A well-trained foot can do the same thing, but TM removes the possibility entirely. Personally, I'd prefer to keep TM in TOW/HAUL mode... if that's possible?

I have no idea how TM works in connection with traction control, or if TC limits power independent of the TM function?

ShoddyHog · August 21, 2009

^^^ I agree with MusicMan ^^^

In my opinion, Traction Control and Torque Management are different systems for different purposes. T/C keeps you from spinning and TM prolongs drivetrain life by reducing shock.

You can reduce timing advance and incrase knock retard and torque management to pretty much guarantee you can't kill the drivetrain, but you'd be driving a slug.

The eninge, IMHO, also risks damage if you do not run a higher octane if the tune requires it. In that case, you'll risk detonation.

Galen · August 21, 2009

I agree that it isn't a simple answer...but to put it in simple terms, yes and no. GM and other auto manufacturers put a tune in a vehicle that is very conservative in order to prolong longevity and reduce warranty repairs. If they tuned them to the ragged edge, their costs after the sale would skyrocket. I guess a good example of this would be the GTR where Nissan is refusing warranty work on the transmissions because of potential abuse, even though they included the option for turning the torque management off on the vehicle.

Now, with a tuner, you really do get what you pay for. Every vehicle is different, no matter if they are the same on paper or not. For this reason, I personally feel that a canned tune is not a good option. This would also include handheld tuners. Now, tuning software in the right hands is very safe and will unlock a lot of potential in your vehicle. It takes a lot of experience to be able to tune a vehicle correctly, and there is always a learning curve for even the best tuners. They charge a lot because they have a lot of time invested in learning what to do and what not to do.

Tuning software in the wrong hands makes me remember the quote "a fool with powerful tools is a powerful fool indeed." With anything like HPTuners or EFI Live, a person absolutely has the ability to ensure that you will need a new engine or transmission in very short order. There are just so many variables having to do with your spark advance, fuel trims and line pressures, that someone who thinks he knows what he is doing but really doesn't can very quickly make some very costly mistakes. If you ever have the chance to talk with a good tuner, they will tell you (if they are honest) that they made some of those mistakes themselves when they were learning.

Hope this helps shed a little light on the subject.

Galen <----still in the fool with powerful tools stage!