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Suggestions for custom-Tuner for daily driver to extend longevity?

BlaineBug

By BlaineBug
in Modifications & Accessories

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BlaineBug Enthusiast

BlaineBug

Posted
Posted

I'm looking for your input on custom-tuners for daily driving, essentially to extend the life of the transmission and engine - reducing torque converter commanded slip, and disabling active fuel management, and perhaps whatever improvements they may want to offer as well for a tame daily driver.  And secondly, is this even advisable to do at 80,000 miles?  I perform good maintenance I think, and "baby" it for the most part.  Thanks!

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted (edited)
13 minutes ago, BlaineBug said:

I'm looking for your input on custom-tuners for daily driving, essentially to extend the life of the transmission and engine - reducing torque converter commanded slip, and disabling active fuel management, and perhaps whatever improvements they may want to offer as well for a tame daily driver.  And secondly, is this even advisable to do at 80,000 miles?  I perform good maintenance I think, and "baby" it for the most part.  Thanks!

 

 

Longevity = stock aside from disabling AFM or full on mechanically deleting and turning off.  

Edited by newdude
BlaineBug Enthusiast

BlaineBug

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
15 minutes ago, newdude said:

 

 

Longevity = stock aside from disabling AFM or full on mechanically deleting and turning off.  

Agreed - maybe changes to slightly quicken up the shifting characteristics and disable the constant slipping of the torque converter when locked as directed to by stock programming as well?

 

At nearly 80,000 miles, tomorrow will be my second oil change since switching to 5w30 full-syn rather than 0w20.

Edited by BlaineBug
newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
Posted
19 minutes ago, BlaineBug said:

Agreed - maybe changes to slightly quicken up the shifting characteristics and disable the constant slipping of the torque converter when locked as directed to by stock programming as well?

 

 

 

Wouldn't hurt.  

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted (edited)

I did tunes, hand held on all my trucks. Before that shift kits all had dual exhaust. Most had custom intakes even superchargers. I generally ran them 150k-180k miles two three years. They ran or idled all day. I never had a failure. I believe today’s trucks produce by GM, Ford and Ram are more luck of the draw. As far as what you can do for longevity. Even more frequent maintenance can’t help with electronic failure or hard part failure. I would feel confident enough while I was buying new trucks every two three years. To do modifications right of way. I wouldn’t dream of it now. I would extend my warranty to the max and cross my fingers. At least there’re pretty sporty and fun to drive compared to when I was buying them regularly. 

Edited by KARNUT
CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

What truck do you own, I don't see it posted yet and where do you live?

 

Those two things will determine if anyone knows anybody and what can be done through tuning services. Like for example if a place used EFI Live to tune, they can't do certain year trucks and they don't have transmission support for certain transmissions.

 

Pretty much if a shop is doing it, they need to be using HP Tuners for custom tuning.

BlaineBug Enthusiast

BlaineBug

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
8 minutes ago, CamGTP said:

What truck do you own, I don't see it posted yet and where do you live?

 

Those two things will determine if anyone knows anybody and what can be done through tuning services. Like for example if a place used EFI Live to tune, they can't do certain year trucks and they don't have transmission support for certain transmissions.

 

Pretty much if a shop is doing it, they need to be using HP Tuners for custom tuning.

2019 GMC Yukon SLT, 5.3L V8, 6-speed, 4x4, ZW7 non-air, non-magnetic suspension, in central Florida.  Other "Mods" include the newer 158' transmission thermal bypass (GM Part #86774933) which lowered transmission temperatures about 30-40 degrees on average under normal conditions, a 194' engine coolant thermostat (GM Part #12674634), the two-piece aluminum engine skid plate, the one-piece steel transfer case skid plate, and a Reese TowPower Brake-Evn solid state proportional trailer brake controller.

Edited by BlaineBug
BlaineBug Enthusiast

BlaineBug

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Last Friday I changed the oil at 79,832, and this is the second fill that I used 5w30 vs 0w20.  This fill I used 7-quarts Kirkland Signature full-synthetic with AC Delco PF63 filter and 1-quart Marvel Mystery Oil.  I have a catch-can installed.  I feel as though quite a bit of oil accumulates in the catch can, but throughout the last oil-change interval of 5,361 miles, I never had to add any oil.

 

The oil in my catch-can is not milky, it is pretty much oil consistency, very little water vapor or condensation.  Not long ago I began keeping a record of what I pulled from the catch can since upgrading to a newer version with a ball-valve drain at the bottom.

 

78,403 miles - Collected 118ml

78,920 - Collected 40ml

79,832 - Collected 60ml

80,179 miles - Collected 20ml (After one ~300 mile road trip since oil change)

 

Yet still, dipstick read full, no obvious contamination found within the oil filter either.

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Edited by BlaineBug
txab Senior Enthusiast

txab

Posted
Posted

Only association is I'm a customer of their tunes on all my 800 and 900 series.

 

I see where CamGTP chimed in. He usually has good info

BlaineBug Enthusiast

BlaineBug

Posted
  • Author
Posted
19 minutes ago, txab said:

Only association is I'm a customer of their tunes on all my 800 and 900 series.

 

I see where CamGTP chimed in. He usually has good info

Got it, thanks!

txab Senior Enthusiast

txab

Posted
Posted

Contact Blackbear and ask what they can do for you and the price, then compare to others

  • Thanks 1
CamGTP Senior Enthusiast

CamGTP

Posted
Posted

Unless Blackbear has changed, they can't do transmission support if they use EFI Live.

  • Like 1

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