Best Programmer For Gas Mileage In A Nbs 1500?

[cariveau]

I have a NBS '07 Sierra Crew Cab with 275/70/17 (+1) tires which I would like to get a programmer for.

 

What is my best option for a programmer which will offer the best fuel economy burning 89 octane fuel? Besides the tires everything else is stock and pretty much the way I am going to keep it. This truck does have the heavy duty 4.11 rear end which makes the RPMs a little higher than the 3.73s at highway speeds. My goal is increased MPGs not Hp as the truck feels plenty strong with this rearend.

 

From the research I have done the CAI won't help any and in some cases may hurt your mileage.

 

I am leaning towards the Diablo Predator... I have also looked at the Superchips Cortex but the reviews seemed to be on the negative side for increasing mileage on the NBS trucks.

 

All thoughts / comments welcome.

 

Thanks, Ryan

[grizzly700fi]

Lots of people on here get a blackbear tune and love it. Some people have said they gained 1-2 mpg. I would definitely look at that as its a custom tuned compared to canned tune from the programmers. I have a airriad cai and i do seem to see 19mpg on the dic more but i have no proof that it increased mileage.

[dave_benn]

I have a cat back exhaust k&n drop in filter and a blackbear tune. I put the tune on last, the filter and exhaust did nothing for my milage. The tune deactivated the 4 cal shut-off but i see the same milage. If it did increase or decrease my milage it is so minimal that i chalk it up to driving style. But i can say that the tune made the 5.3 wake up and much more drivable. A lot less lag than before. Hope this helps.

[mhenshaw]

I like the Diablo but they do not have TCM support and keep telling all there customers it's in development for the last 5 years. The most mpg you will ever see is with a custom tune for your motor. No other handheld programmer with a generic tune will get you what a custom tune does.

[agrats84]

Before my Blackbear I was averaging 16-16.5 back and forth to work (18 miles each way on 2 lane roads). After my tune I'm at 17-17.3. However, I have also changed gas stations because Justin said he heard a lot of pinging. I didn't get the tune for better mpg, but it sure is nice in addition to my truck performing a WHOLE lot better.

[MorrisGray]

I would like to know what you guys are talking about "custom tune" or "blackbear tune".

Where do you get these at? Is "blackbear" similar to "diablo" or "superchip" tuners?

[redjewel2ss]

a blackbear tune is a custom tune done by BlackBear Performance. google them

[Matt_]

I like the Diablo but they do not have TCM support and keep telling all there customers it's in development for the last 5 years.

 

Not exactly... they lied to customers for the past few years by saying "we're working on it, buy the Predator tuners and we'll update them for you". Now it's "we lied, we're not going to be updating the Predators, but you can exchange those $350 units that you bought for $100 credit towards a $700 Trinity... because we're eventually going to get TCM support for the Trinity" Whoever falls for that one really proves "there's a sucker born every day"

 

After seeing that all unfold, i'd look elseware.

 

Here, start on page 84 of the thread and work your way backwards

http://www.diablosport.com/index.php?name=...&start=1245

[redjewel2ss]

I like the Diablo but they do not have TCM support and keep telling all there customers it's in development for the last 5 years.

 

Not exactly... they lied to customers for the past few years by saying "we're working on it, buy the Predator tuners and we'll update them for you". Now it's "we lied, we're not going to be updating the Predators, but you can exchange those $350 units that you bought for $100 credit towards a $700 Trinity... because we're eventually going to get TCM support for the Trinity" Whoever falls for that one really proves "there's a sucker born every day"

 

After seeing that all unfold, i'd look elseware.

 

Here, start on page 84 of the thread and work your way backwards

http://www.diablosport.com/index.php?name=...&start=1245

 

 

 

you gotta get in good with the CMR custom tuners. i have a diablosport trinity, and i swear they did something with the TCM tune, because it shifts firmer, and i now have a 2nd gear scratch when i launch. the guy that did my custom tune said he changed the "shift timing" but i just don't believe that... feels more like something in the transmission, not the timing. to be honest i think they tune stuff in the TCM, they just don't want to make it adjustable to the end user because some dumbo will blow something up if they do.

[Doug_Scott]

I would like to know what you guys are talking about "custom tune" or "blackbear tune".

Where do you get these at? Is "blackbear" similar to "diablo" or "superchip" tuners?

 

Check around this forum for blackbear in person tune. Justin goes around the country and does a group tune session on weekends. He did mine last summer in Niagara Falls.

You can also get a device that will record your current setup. Plug it in, set it to record, and drive your truck around the way you normally drive it. Send that file into Justin, he will custom tune your trucks file, and send a new program back to you. You apply the new program, and you are good to go. If you find it does something you don't like, do another recording, and send it to Justin. He fixes it and sends it back. I would never go to prepackaged tune after seeing BlackBear's setup. And he does trans as well.

[Matt_]

to be honest i think they tune stuff in the TCM, they just don't want to make it adjustable to the end user because some dumbo will blow something up if they do.

 

If that is the case, that's even worse. They give us plenty of capability with the tuner to screw up our engines if we we're dumb enough to... i doubt they'll start playing "mom and dad" with just the TCM.

 

Regardless, their business practices have completely turned me off. i loved the predator on my 2005 and that's why i was watching the TCM issue closely for the GMT900s. Their dishonesty with what was really going on and basically luring people into still buying the predators with the promise that they'll get TCM support is a complete crock. They'll never see another dime from me.... there's plenty of other great options out there.