First, let me say I'm really happy with this turbo once it lights.

Full throttle runs on any tune net EGT's less than 1350 degrees, peak boost seems to be around 38 PSI. Waste gate was set to 50 PSI from Industrial Injection.

My problem seems to be getting it to light, towing or empty.

What can I do to get this turbo to spool faster down low in the RPM range?

I'm running Stock injectors, stock CP3, stock exhaust manifold, 5" Turbo Back Exhaust. Tires are stock size, Ring and pinion are stock (Not 4.10:1)

I am running Smarty TNT level 1 Timing 2, Torque Management 4, Rail pressure 2, Waste Gate Off. Any of the higher tuner levels (3,5,7,9) produce excessive smoke, until the turbo lights (Which I find embarrassing because it draws attention to me.)

Towing about 7000 pounds, and a lightly loaded truck, I have to run with Overdrive off, or the EGT's start to climb above 1000, just cruising.

With overdrive off, EGT's run about 600-700 degrees cruising, and will not go above 900 pulling a grade at 65 MPH, RPM's are 2500-2700. You can imagine what this is doing to fuel economy...

My goal here would be to be able to use overdrive when towing to lower RPM's and improve mileage, without higher EGT's and towing at 80 MPH +. (70-75 MPH would be nice)

An exhaust manifold/header might help, and I plan on one anyway, but I don't think that alone will get me where I want to be.

Does anyone have any tuning suggestions from personal experience getting this turbo to spool quicker down low?

What has worked for those of you with similar setups as mine?

Thanks, guys.

 

Manifold, intake, injectors, maybe a pressure box down low??

Those are going to be your best bet to help spool up time. I really noticed a difference when I added an ats arc flow. A manifold and arc flow would be my first two suggestions. And if your still not happy some more fuel will help out some.

 

MP8 or Dr. P....

 

i would mod the cp3 if it were me. you can get a good kit from floor it or wicked deisel they both have good kits. i am running a hht 64/65/14 with stock sticks, level 2 cp3, hamilton cams bigstick and i have no smoke. i don't have any problems spooling the turbo either .

 

Back the timing back to timing 3, that will help. Aftermarket Cam and bigger injectors will help. I do us my quad II set on 1 with the pressure only tune to help light the turbo when towing in stop and go traffic. Try using the standard Revo tune is also another option.

 

Cam will be your biggest help. The factory cams form 04.5 and up incorporate what is called "in cylinder egr". This keeps the exhaust valves closed longer to help get a more thorough burn and lower emissions. To combat that low end smoke, take your torque management back to 1 or 2. That is the biggest source of your low end smoke and while the throttle response is awesome, it's not going to help spool a lot and just contributes to smoke. I'd be willing to bet going back to TM 1, you would be able to enjoy sw5 on your tune and that will help spool up.

 

The best way to help you would be for you to trade me your 62/71 for my 62/65

 

Agree completely. This will be the best change.. Towing it will do amazing things too.

Also have you tried the non TNT software? TNT SW1 is a lot of programing for the fuel system being stock. I would try Smarty SW5, TM2, TQ2, RP1, WG off and see what happens.

 

Thanks for the advice, guys!

Summarizing the tuning advice:

Back the timing off.

On TNT, timing 3 would be less, (18 deg) timing 4 (16 Deg)

Increase the Torque Management to Level 1 to assist in cleaning up low end smoke. May then be able to use SW5

Try switching back to REVO software SW5 timing 2 or 3 (Which is less than 2) TQ 2 RP 1 or 2

Summarizing the upgrade advice:

Camshaft- Is the Hamilton cams Big Stick the best cam for my application, or are there others?

Planning on Arson III for the CP3

Which Exhaust manifold/header would be recommended?

I didn't mention it earlier, but I don't want to stack boxes... I have enough trouble trying to figure out this without adding another variable.. at least for now..


I will play with the tuning and report back. Thanks again.

Ohh and DENVERDODGE04, Let me think about swapping you for a minute.
Umm, that would be NO!

 

Revo Timing 3 is what I tow on. Torque management is set to 2. F1 has the helix II. My suggestion would be to use the Smarty and tune it for towing you just have to play with the setting to see what your particular truck will like and it is free. You already have it.

 

PDR Cam, Colt Cams, Helix F2, Hamilton.. All good choices

 

On the Camshaft, the "big stick" is more of a upper end cam. It is a little overkill for your stated purpose and the stage 2 from them is probably more appropriate. Talk to Harry at Peak performance... he used to own PDR and helped (along with Piers) to develop their cams. He currently sells the Hamilton line and is very close to Geoff at Colt cams. (Colt used to make the PDR cams and now makes the Hamilton cams) My point being, Harry has a really good feel for what would work best with your setup and goals; he is worth at least talking to. Helix is also a good choice.

 

hamilton recomeded the big stick for towing.i have not pulled my 40' float as of yet. as soon as i do i will let you know how it turns out

 

I'm wondering too? Is there any data out there as to what kind of improvement there is if any from ATS PDI etc? Any dyno charts posted?

 

All of this is empirical SOTP. No dynos or 1/4 mile runs, just what I observe and feel driving on the road:

I began the testing with an empty truck, because it feels slow to spool (In my opinion) down low even empty, and I didn't have anywhere to tow to.. I will also test the tunes I settle on while towing.
After playing with the tunes a little bit, I remembered why I went to Torque management 4. Before switching to TM 4 setting, I had problems with the transmission's 2-3 shift. (I have an aftermarket Valve Body and Torque converter on the truck.) It would hunt between 2-3 between 25 MPH and 35 MPH. Since switching to TM 4 the problem disappeared. It quickly returned when I raised TM to 2 and 3. I'll probably stick with the TM 4 setting on Smarty TNT Level 1 due to that. The smoke isn't to bad down that low. I have yet to try the higher TNT Software levels with more Torque Management.

So far on Smarty Level 1 TNT, I've only tried Timing 4 combined with TM 2, and then again with TM 3. The truck felt pretty sluggish in comparison to the Timing 2 and TM 4 setting. Next chance I get, I'll try the Timing 3 and 4 with TM 4. We are in the middle of our first big rain storm for the winter here, so it'll probably be later this week.

I probably wont switch to the Smarty Revo software until I have finished figuring out what the best tunes for my truck are with the TNT software.