Engine programmer chip

[vandeman17]

I wasn't sure where to post this so mods, feel free to move it wherever if necessary. I could have sworn there was a topic on this before but I can't find it. My question for you guys is if anybody uses power and fuel efficiency computer chips in your trucks? I have a 2005 Silverado 1500 gas powered truck. It has a 6 inch lift and 35" tires on it right now. I get about 14 mpg which isn't horrid but isn't great either. I have considered buying a chip to see if I can get a little better performance, better mileage as well as being able to recalibrate my speedometer to the correct settings. Any recommendations or experiences?

[Woodchuck]

On a gas powered truck you will have to drive it a loooooooong time to pay for the investment  Some places can just dowload a "custom tune" into the existing ecu to help some but you are still looking at $250 to $300.

[vandeman17]

Very good point. I was just thinking that I might be able to kill a few birds with one stone. I could get my speedometer to be accurate, increase a little power when towing and as a bonus, get a mpg or 2 better.

[jackelope]

Go to fullsizechevy.com and look around. There's a guy on there that will "rebuild" your pcm and trick it out. Apparently it's hot rod stuff. I almost did it with mine but lost the nerve to send my PCM to some dude I didn't know. I can't remember who the guy is but I suspect if you  look around there a little you'll find it.

  If you're getting 14mpg with that truck running 35's you're doing better than me with mine and mine's stock. Your odometer is off too if it's not been calibrated for the bigger tires.  I'm sure you're probably doing worse than you think.

[Woodchuck]

All that can be downloaded, tire size, timing curve, trans line pressures, shift points, etc. The guy we deal with will ask questions for about 15 min to make sure he gets you what you want, plug it in over the internet and done. At least for chev. We just built a 6.7l stroker motor out of a 6.0 and all the new info will be put into the stock ecu  

[jackelope]

p.s. I agree with the Woodchuck, don't spend a bunch of money on a programmer in an effort to save money on gas.

[CAMPMEAT]

Can't a chevy dealer at least reprogram your speedo to match your tire size, or vise versa to get it alot closer than it is now ?

[FC]

Only if it's a factory option for GM.

[vandeman17]

Can't a chevy dealer at least reprogram your speedo to match your tire size, or vise versa to get it alot closer than it is now ?

I think they can but what I hate is how they charge you like $200 to do it when all they do is hook it up to their computer, hit a few keys and it is done. I just was thinking if I am going to spend that much money to have them do it, why not pay another 100 or so and get a chip that does other things...  

[jackelope]

Factory tire size only.

[jackelope]

Can't a chevy dealer at least reprogram your speedo to match your tire size, or vise versa to get it alot closer than it is now ?

I think they can but what I hate is how they charge you like $200 to do it when all they do is hook it up to their computer, hit a few keys and it is done. I just was thinking if I am going to spend that much money to have them do it, why not pay another 100 or so and get a chip that does other things...  

Have you  even called to ask how much?
That comment makes me chuckle.

[Miles]

  If you're getting 14mpg with that truck running 35's you're doing better than me with mine and mine's stock.

Do you have the 5.3 or the 6.0? 

[jackelope]

5.3

[vandeman17]

I have the 5.3L and I just called over to see how much it would cost but they are out at lunch. I remember when I had a check engine light come on that I got charged like $95 for them to hook it up, get the code and tell me what it meant. I was just being sarcastic about the $200 but you get the idea.

[Miles]

5.3

 

It's stock and you're getting less than 14 mpg? 

I've got a 2006 and got more than that pulling a U-haul cross country.   (and yes I hit the trip and figured it out with a calculator after each fill up).

[vandeman17]

If I drive all city I get about 12, combo city and freeway about 13 and all freeway a little over 14 right now.

[jackelope]

13.6 around town.

I have the 5.3L and I just called over to see how much it would cost but they are out at lunch. I remember when I had a check engine light come on that I got charged like $95 for them to hook it up, get the code and tell me what it meant. I was just being sarcastic about the $200 but you get the idea.

Yes they charge for the time they spend working on your car. It covers all the training the techs do and all the tools they have to buy and what not. They do that because people don't like to work for free.  
The dealer can only recalibrate to another factory tire size so it's a non-issue anyway I guess.

[Miles]

13.6 around town.

Quit driving it like you stole it...

Gas ain't cheap.

[Miles]

Have they switched over to the E10 crap there yet? 

[vandeman17]

13.6 around town.

I have the 5.3L and I just called over to see how much it would cost but they are out at lunch. I remember when I had a check engine light come on that I got charged like $95 for them to hook it up, get the code and tell me what it meant. I was just being sarcastic about the $200 but you get the idea.

Yes they charge for the time they spend working on your car. It covers all the training the techs do and all the tools they have to buy and what not. They do that because people don't like to work for free.  
The dealer can only recalibrate to another factory tire size so it's a non-issue anyway I guess.

So is my only option to buy a programming chip then?

[Miles]

13.6 around town.

I have the 5.3L and I just called over to see how much it would cost but they are out at lunch. I remember when I had a check engine light come on that I got charged like $95 for them to hook it up, get the code and tell me what it meant. I was just being sarcastic about the $200 but you get the idea.

Yes they charge for the time they spend working on your car. It covers all the training the techs do and all the tools they have to buy and what not. They do that because people don't like to work for free. 
The dealer can only recalibrate to another factory tire size so it's a non-issue anyway I guess.

So is my only option to buy a programming chip then?

You could put the stock tires back on.

[FC]

Yes they charge for the time they spend working on your car. It covers all the training the techs do and all the tools they have to buy and what not.

I feel compelled to add that the scan tool doesn't tell a tech what's wrong with a car, it gives a code for a failure which sometimes is just a simple part call but typically requires some actual testing by hand to find the problem.

[jackelope]

You could put the stock tires back on like Miles said. That'll fix it  for sure.  

I'm not too familiar with the aftermarket stuff but that's where you're gonna have to go to solve your issue. The dealer won't be able to do anything for the big tires.
I would look around on www.fullsizechevy.com and see what stuff the guys over there are using...that place has a lot of knowledge floating around.

[couesbitten]

I would question whether you're getting 14 MPG.  If your speedo is off, then your odometer is off also isn't it?  So if that's how you're figuring your MPG, I think it's wrong.  Sorry

[fishcrazy]

A custom tuned ECM would be the best way to go. do some research on some of the Chevy forums and you should be able to find someone that has a good reputation.

If you want to save money it won't but if you want more umph it will help a little. it's a gasser so yer kinda limited

If it was the 6.6 Duramax I could hep you out.

Kris

[rasbo]

my 6.0 gets 17 hwy,Im thinking the guys talking about the speedo are right

[fishcrazy]

His mpg sounds right to me. look at the size of lift and all those tires he's rolling.  with a 5.3 he probably don't have much torq left over.

I wounder if you put some other gearing in it if it would help more than a little tuner.

Kris

[huntandjeep]

You could try out a cold air intake and a free flowing exhaust. Ive got a K&N and Flowmasters on my dakota and ram 1500 Picked up a couple xtra mpg's. Also look into new ring and pinion gears its not going to be cheap. Something like 4.56 or maybe 4.88 will trick your motor into thinking its got stock tires back on it. The chip MIGHT get you 1 mpg for $300-$500.

[Rick]

What kind of tires do you have?

Mudders with big lugs have a lot of rolling resistance,and will kill mileage by a MPG or two. All terrains don't look as cool,but are easier on the mileage.

If you're keeping this truck for the long term,consider a gear swap. You won't recover the cost of the gear change in gas mileage,but the truck will drive like its supposed to,and it'll be easier on the drivetrain as well.

[gwpsage]

I was wondering about a programmer myself.  I have a 09' silverado with a 6" lift and 35's.  I have flowmasters as well.  They sound good, but don't do much for my mpg.  I get 10.5 mpg in and around town.  Les scwhab can reprogram your speedo.  I don't know how much they would charge.  It's worth a call.

[sakoshooter]

If you're really concerned about mileage, why the lift and big tires? You'd have been better off leaving it stock.

[thinkingman]

I would question whether you're getting 14 MPG.  If your speedo is off, then your odometer is off also isn't it?  So if that's how you're figuring your MPG, I think it's wrong.  Sorry

My thought exactly....I always wonder if the guys with the big wheels ever re-calculate their actual mileage.