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Memphis
10-23-2013, 10:05 PM
I have a 2003 duramax 4 door dually and I tow a trailer long distances on occasion. I need to pull the best fuel mileage out of this thing I can, hence the reason I went to a diesel. So far just has a volant cold air intake. Going to a straight 4" exhaust. What else can I do reasonably? Is there a decent tuner (or tune) I can run on the truck to help? Any other ideas?

88Nightmare
10-23-2013, 10:35 PM
A tuner really helped my truck. Also, with this colder weather, you may want to get a grill cover, aka "winter front". I pick mine up tomorrow.

Synthetic fluids in the axles and t case could help too. Make sure tires are aired up correctly.

Prince Valiant
10-23-2013, 10:39 PM
Make sure you perform the driver mods too...

Memphis
10-23-2013, 11:08 PM
A few less pounds in the midsection? Maybe a lighter foot? Watch the top speed? All easier said than done! lol


Make sure you perform the driver mods too...

Memphis
10-23-2013, 11:11 PM
I actually got a grill cover with the truck so that works. I always watch tire pressure, I cant afford to replace 6 tires all the time! Fluids couldnt hurt either. What kind of tuner I guess is more my question than if I should...Am also doing injectors soon, that will hopefully help more than hurt.


A tuner really helped my truck. Also, with this colder weather, you may want to get a grill cover, aka "winter front". I pick mine up tomorrow.

Synthetic fluids in the axles and t case could help too. Make sure tires are aired up correctly.

fly5150
10-24-2013, 05:50 AM
I have an edge tuner I took out of my truck, works great, and mileage increase. LEt me know if your interested.
-Dave

Old Guy
10-24-2013, 07:55 AM
The syn. fluids in the diff. trans. and motor are a big help with the cold weather, and a lite foot also helps.

WickedSix
10-24-2013, 08:00 AM
Custom tunes will provide the most benefit and are comparable in price to the good tuners out there. Nick @ Duramaxtuner across the border in Il is one of the better ones around..... avoid Dan's diesel performance tuning at all costs...he will nuke ur trans.

That said, best milage improvement is a light and steady right foot

88Nightmare
10-24-2013, 09:21 AM
I have a bully dog gt, purchased from axis racing (flicktitty and Lizmo) and it's great. I've heard bad things from duramaxtuner on the national dmax boards. The thing I like about the bully dog is the monitoring device, and it's safe. I'm not looking to replace my trans under emergency conditions so keeping it safe was key for me.

There's many other tuners across the country that can make a tune file for you with efi live... Just need a way to load it into your PCM. Pm me, I can give you all sorts of info on that

88Nightmare
10-24-2013, 09:23 AM
The syn. fluids in the diff. trans. and motor are a big help with the cold weather, and a lite foot also helps.

There's strong mixed reviews on running synthetic in the Allison trans... Everyone says best bet is to just stick with the dex 3

Old Guy
10-24-2013, 01:18 PM
There's strong mixed reviews on running synthetic in the Allison trans... Everyone says best bet is to just stick with the dex 3
Most things now are coming with synthetic, both for the improvement in MPG and life of the equipment it is put in. One other thing with synthetics is the extended drains of the oils. I run Schaeffers 7000 5w-30 with a extended drain of 10,000 miles. First truck had 321,000 miles before I made it my weekend bracket racer. Second was a s-10 with 287,613 miles and was traded for a newer s-10 and now has 210,763 miles on it. Is the Schaeffers oil that good. I think so. They have a great web site to check out.

88Nightmare
10-24-2013, 01:59 PM
Most things now are coming with synthetic, both for the improvement in MPG and life of the equipment it is put in.

Dex VI can have trouble in the Allison because it's viscosity degrades too much over time. For the original poster's vehicle, Dex 3 or Transynd are the two best options for the transmission.

At some point in production, Allison started building their transmissions to have their seals compatible with Dex VI, however the older ones were not compatible. You could call Allison and give them your transmission serial number and they can verify what seals were in it: 1-800-252-5283

WickedSix
10-24-2013, 02:37 PM
stock trans in our climate can benefit from torque drive and the extended drain interval. Modified trans most recommend the standard Dex fluid. The newer trucks use a low viscosity formulation to decrease drag and improve fuel economy

WickedSix
10-24-2013, 02:40 PM
Oh and I forgot Bobo is in janesville, I think he use to be on this forum. He does some awesome work so far as tuning as well

88Nightmare
10-25-2013, 08:47 AM
Oh and I forgot Bobo is in janesville, I think he use to be on this forum. He does some awesome work so far as tuning as well

I want his truck

lilws6
10-25-2013, 10:50 PM
The edge thats in my 06 doesn't seem to change anything i've run a couple tanks on the milage tune and a couple on the stock tune and seems to get within a few tenths of a gallon different. my 04 was tuned with efi live i was getting steady 21 in the summer and about 17-18 in the winter. but was also a 2wd ext cab srw shortbox truck

88Nightmare
10-29-2013, 08:43 PM
the 2wd will make a big difference.

EFI live will be happening for me sometime next year

Prince Valiant
10-29-2013, 10:26 PM
Gap the sparkplugs. That'll net you 2mpg right there.

lilws6
10-30-2013, 09:09 PM
Gap the sparkplugs. That'll net you 2mpg right there.

Just had one of those replaced at the dealer. I gained a couple :goof

Memphis
10-30-2013, 11:04 PM
How much you want for it?


I have an edge tuner I took out of my truck, works great, and mileage increase. LEt me know if your interested.
-Dave

88Nightmare
11-20-2013, 08:59 PM
Older thread, but: Change your oil out for some Rotella T6 5w40 synthetic… helps with mileage improvement and has a longer run life in the truck

Anakonda69
12-11-2013, 01:48 PM
intake, exhaust and efi is all you need. duramaxtuner.com is my recommendation. stock transmission safe tuning.

Anakonda69
12-11-2013, 01:49 PM
i also recommend full synthetic oil. i am an amsoil dealer. change my oil once a year. get between 15-20k on it. full drivetrain change can help mileage.

88Nightmare
12-11-2013, 09:34 PM
duramaxtuner doesn't have the greatest reviews on duramax forums. I'd suggest http://dansdieselperformance.com

Anakonda69
12-12-2013, 06:51 AM
don't care what the forums say. i speak from experience. but if you want dan to tune your truck go right ahead.

WickedSix
12-12-2013, 07:58 AM
duramaxtuner doesn't have the greatest reviews on duramax forums. I'd suggest http://dansdieselperformance.com

Bubba you are joking right??

Dan will NUKE your transmission....so he can then rebuild it for you....

Anakonda69
12-12-2013, 12:36 PM
pat do you anyone who has his tuning who hasn't needed a tranny build....cuz i don't. lol

88Nightmare
12-12-2013, 12:53 PM
Bubba you are joking right??

Dan will NUKE your transmission....so he can then rebuild it for you....

I have no personal experience with either... Just going off what I've read and had recommended to me. Take it with a grain of salt.

lilws6
12-12-2013, 07:21 PM
I'm also in with a vote for duramaxtuner My buddy had his 03 tuned couple years ago he's acually the reason Tyler switched to efi live Brandon and tyler were both at the strip with us. bone stock truck with dmaxtuners tunes pulled hard don't remember the times but i'll be getting my truck tuned by him. his trans isn't messed up any worse than it was with his edge :goof

Anakonda69
12-16-2013, 07:05 AM
i've had stock trans tuned efi on my truck for over 2 years now. never once limped my trans. my stage 5 tune put down over 400 hp and 800 lbs of torque at huckstorf. i limped my trans a few times with my ppe but since having it efi tuned it's never run better.

lilws6
12-16-2013, 08:24 PM
Tony limped his truck a few times with the edge. Hasn't limped it once with efi

Memphis
12-19-2013, 07:21 PM
who does the efi tuning then that would be a SAFE place to go...

Memphis
12-19-2013, 07:27 PM
and off topic Bubba, where did you order your towing mirrors from?

lilws6
12-20-2013, 08:12 PM
dmax tuner

Memphis
12-20-2013, 09:11 PM
That doesnt help me if I dont know where to look! lol

88Nightmare
12-21-2013, 05:19 PM
http://www.discountautomirrors.com

lilws6
12-22-2013, 09:23 AM
whoops sorry :goof google works tho too http://duramaxtuner.com/

Anakonda69
12-27-2013, 11:18 AM
you can order pretuned ecm with safe tunes on it.