Non Professional Review Of The Diablosport Predator Model U7194

[bschott]

Since I recently purchased a Diablosport Predator (Model U7194) for my Silverado 6.0L, I figured I provide a little "non professional" review of the product up.

 

Before I start things off, here's the breakdown of my truck.

 

'07 Chevy Silverado LTZ w/6.0L VortecMAX Z71 (ordered in Feb delivered in March)

GMPP Performance Exhaust (installed by dealer on delivery date)

GMPP CAI (on order, expecting delivery tomorrow)

About 14K Miles on the ticker.

 

Everything else including intake at this point is stock.

 

Programming with the Predator is easy, just plug it into your OBD port and it powers up. Just follow the onscreen directions and within no time, you'll have to essentially "marry" the predator to your truck, by copying your current programming into it. That way, it prevents you from using it on other vehicles until you've reset your truck back to the factory programming.

 

After that, you can select from a number of installed tunes. For example, you have "Custom Tune" in which you can create and modify various parameters to your liking, or if you like me and don’t have a clue about modifying ECU parameters, just select either the 87 Octane, or 91 Octane tune.

 

I selected the 87 Octane tune, and within a minute or so, the truck was "flashed" with its new programming.

 

My initial impressions are that the throttle response was dramatically increased over the stock programming. Additionally, the hesitation that I encountered on that first drive off in the morning is now gone. Also, the tranny shifting both up and down is also improved. To me my truck as always felt like a "lazy" shifter -- not wanting to come out of overdrive (or D as in Drive as they call it now) easily, now it pretty much downshifts very easy -- like I want it.

 

Torque Management -- well, it's not completely gone, but I did speak to the Diablosport Tech support department and they told me that they were able to eliminate some of the Torque Management, but not all of it. Based on the way the truck felt, I'd say that they hit the mark with what they’ve done so far. That said, yes it's still there -- but not as noticeable.

 

Diablosport Tech indicated that there will possibly be an update to the code (which can easily be downloaded and installed into your predator) in September in which they will make further strides in reducing or eliminating torque management.

 

To date, I've driven about 300 miles or so with the 87 Octane tune, and my gas mileage has increased by about 1 to 1.2 mpg during my daily driving situations.

 

All in all, I wasn’t expecting much when I purchased this, as I had one in the past that I used on a 2002 F-150 and the changes I experienced with that weren’t all that impressive. However I'm completely happy with this purchase, even if no more Torque Management is reduced or eliminated. Just the fact that the transmission is smoother and the throttle response is improved, is good enough for me.

 

So you know, I've not tried the 91 Octane tune as I cannot see a benefit in loading that and paying more for already expensive gasoline.

 

Here's a link to the mfg's website:

 

http://www.diablosport.com/index.php?modul...play&pid=83

[VMax2007]

Bump...

[MikeRS1981]

The difference is about $5 on a tank of 93, or 91 depending on where you live. You should just fill up a tank of premium to try it out, and let everyone know how it is. You already spent the $300 on the tuner, whats $5 more....?

[naterasmussen]

I have the same tuner and noticed much of the same. I went with the 93 version, because that is what I use anyway. It sure would be nice to find someone to help with changing the shift RPM change and firmness, but I never called tech support.

 

The downloads are a pain in the a$$, and I used it for the change in tire size for the speedo, which I found the hard way, did not work.

 

Performance-wise, it rocks...

[svensk]

I would consider the TQ management gone when your 367HP truck hits 0-60 in the low 6 second bracket.