AnswerID: 143179 Submitted: Friday, Dec 09, 2005 at 20:38
prado_95
replied:
Go with Rosco's advise as your first option.
then re Diesel Performance Modules;
The reality ie that there are few like products available now (yes I know each vendor is going to say that theirs is completly different to all the others on the market - I can even add my own ENG-TEK range to that).
Essentially they remap engine parameters with the view to more power. How much more power depends on a few things, including the reliability/durability you want from the motor.
Diesel engines are controlled (in the vast majority) by the amount of fuel injected (were as on a petrol you control the air, then try to maintain a desirable A/F ratio). Given that, all Diesel Tuning Modules will all add more fuel. Some will fool the ECU into this by modifying sensor inputs, others will modify the ECU outputs. Some new (mostly European) engines now have provision to modify the ECU program by re-flashing it. This is quick and easy, but will be lost if the dealer ever updates the ECU program to address a manufacturer identifed 'problems'.
You can expect a 15% to 35% power improvement by installing a Diesel Tuning Module.- depending on your vehicle and its existing state of tune. The main thing you should be looking for is TORQUE improvment on a diesel engine, since most diesel 4x4 and truck engines are not operated at red line very often. You may even get more, but care is needed to ensure long term reliabilty.
BEFORE you install a Diesel Tuning Module I would suggest that you do some of the simple things first, like a free flowing exhaust. Go for 2.75" for 3 litre engines. Typically the turbo dump housing on factory TD engines leaves a LOT to be desired, so a huge exhaust system is not going to solve that problem (but will help an drain your wallet). As an example look at the picture of factory dump housing. That matchbox wont go thru the casting from a 4.2 litre TD engine.
By the time you see the temp gauge move much on a long hill, the turbo will be well into the problem zone if you over do the additional power without other mods to retain reliability (an the first one is to keep the EGT to a tolerable level by improvong air flow into and out of the engine).
Hope that clears up some points, and helps you.
Dave
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