Aftermarket Chip/PCM for better mileage?

toored · August 8, 2006

I'm new to this forum so please pardon me for being ignorant.

I'm the proud new owner of a 2001 GMC 2500 Crew cab 4X4 8.1/Allison which, as I expected, gets crappy gas mileage. This is not a major issue because the identical truck with the Duramax (better mileage) would have cost me at least $6,000.00 more and I don't drive it enough to justify the extra cost.

However, would any of you folks recommend an aftermarket PCM chip that will increase the fuel mileage enough to justify the cost of the chip? I would like to hear of your experiences as it seems many times the chip manufacturers grossly over-estimate the effectiveness of their products.

I don't need more power from a chip; just better fuel mileage.

Thanks a million for any advice!!

Freyguy · August 9, 2006

I'm not much of a help, but I went for more power. They talked me into the 93 octane tune. I got about 1.5-2 mpg better, but when you figure it out, I was paying the same, or slightly less per mile with the expensive gas. Plus the 30hp was definately worth it. It's like a whole new truck. I know they can do fuel mileage tunes, and you'll prob even get a good bit of performance from it. I say go for it, you'll be happy you did.

pwall · August 9, 2006

Check out http://wait4meperformance.com.

Jesse does an excellent job at tuning at a very reasonable rate.

And welcome to

toored · August 10, 2006

Thanks for the advice PWAL!

I will give Jesse a call and see what he can do for me.

Toored

bfrd22 · August 12, 2006

PCM tunes are OK I looked aroung a lot and went with the Diablo Preditor hand held.

Why? Flexibilty and as far as I could tell it is the only programer that you can play with the torque, abuse, and torque shift modes.

This comes in very handy as seasons change. I really don't want all that performance in the winter on icy roads when the torque manager really shines in the truck.

I switch around the trucks performance as I please and for different conditions,

For example I pull a 10,000lb 32 ft 5th wheel with mine, I normally run 87 octain and am pretty happy with it. (91 octain is very costly in Canada). Anyways got State side and hit on the cheap premium 91 oct. Filled up, parked of to the side and in 7 min, I had the truck retuned and programmed for 91 octain and my 6.0 was passing Diesels on the hills struggling with thier trailers.

Custom PCM tunes are good but if you want to have some flexiblity. go with a hand held.