So why are programmers bad?

[Lynden-Jeff]

Hey,

Recently got a bullydog PMT for my truck. Ive read from many that a chip or programmer can ruin your engine. What exactly is it that will ruin your truck? I monitor and have defuel on my EGT and boost (1250* and 27 PSI) aswell as tranny and coolant temps. I find I hit nearly the same boost with stock as I do with the chip, between 20-25 PSI. So what is it exactly that I need to be careful of in regards to keeping my engine in good shape? The last guy who owned the truck seemed to push it to hard, had a turbo, EGR cooler and headgaskets done. Thanks for the info.

Cheers
Jeff

 

[bushpilot]

if you think about what these things are doing....

and i know its a bit of a generalization but they ALL increase
the pressure(s)...more fuel (pressure) more boost and they run
these higher pressures LONGER...again its generalized comments,
but theres really not much more they can do in a diesel (no spark
to mess w/)

 

[95_stroker]

See, you hit the nail on the head in your last sentence. Its not the programmer that is bad for the truck, its the person driving it. Matches dont start forest fires and guns dont kill people.

 

[bushpilot]

yeah but the number of folks that buy these things
and DONT hammer on 'em once they have 'em are small in
numbers...its part of the reason the bought 'em !

 

[95_stroker]

bush we know you arent a fan of programmers or HP enhancing engine mods but for one moment try to humor me and answer two questions.

1. If you install a programmer and dont abuse the skinny pedal, keep operating parameters in a realistic range, will the engine fail due to the programmer?
   
2. If you buy a truck, leave it stock under the hood and treat it like a rented mule and abuse the snot out of it, will the engine fail?

 

[NDsuperduty]

Most people would probably say that as a whole programmers are not that bad. One of the biggest issues for you is using them on a 6.0l which already has issues of blowing its headgaskit. when you add more pressure to the engine as Bushpilot said in conjuction with head gaskit issues, you may end up on the side of the road.

Now if you have a 7.3L or a 5.9L cummins then I would say go for it and have fun. But the 6.0L tend to have more people saying not to use programmers unless you have unpgraded your head bolts.

 

[bushpilot]

actually im a BIG fan of HP increasing mods...every one of my
motorcycles has plenty of mods that are focus'd on hp...including
cams, carb work, injections upgrads and port and polishing.

and i too am suffering from some heavily mod'd stuff (on one of my
motorcycles) to the point that its been down for the better part of
a year and a half now...its more of a TIME issue for me at this point...
ill probably get it resolved once my THREE teens move out

the issue here is that this motor is APPARENTLY near its limit from
the factory...and quiet frankly some items cant take moderate increases,
that being said...i choose to leave mine alone.

i personally can only tell you that im HARDLY gentle on my skinny
pedal (as you say)...every time i get the chance my truck sees
full boost...but i keep up w/ the maint. too....no doubt one day
ill have failures too...its mechanical...its bound to happen.

i am prepared to do my own work...once im outta warranty and
i might do it even when im IN warranty, cause i dont trust anyone
else to muck w/ it !

imo if you run it hard you better be prepared to turn a wrench...and if youre
not then no one better complain about how much it cost to have someone
else turn that same wrench....same goes no matter if you have a tuner
or NOT.

bush we know you arent a fan of programmers or HP enhancing engine mods but for one moment try to humor me and answer two questions.

1. If you install a programmer and dont abuse the skinny pedal, keep operating parameters in a realistic range, will the engine fail due to the programmer?
   
2. If you buy a truck, leave it stock under the hood and treat it like a rented mule and abuse the snot out of it, will the engine fail?

 

[bushpilot]

i agree...but at the same time look where the HP is w/ the 6.0 vs the
7.3...more hp/boost outta a smaller motor...everybody wants more...
and honestly i think the factory did a damm good job of providing MORE
(over the 7.3)

even the 7.3 guys had tranny reliablity issues (mods or not)...seems
ford stepped up there pretty well too w/ the torq-shift 5r110

the 7.3 guys have to do some pretty good mod'ing just to GET to
the 6.0 levels...and then they have tranny issues

as for the dodges...i suspect the same is true there too....eventually
even DODGE will reach its limits w/ mod'd factory motors.

Most people would probably say that as a whole programmers are not that bad. One of the biggest issues for you is using them on a 6.0l which already has issues of blowing its headgaskit. when you add more pressure to the engine as Bushpilot said in conjuction with head gaskit issues, you may end up on the side of the road.

Now if you have a 7.3L or a 5.9L cummins then I would say go for it and have fun. But the 6.0L tend to have more people saying not to use programmers unless you have unpgraded your head bolts.

 

[95_stroker]

imo if you run it hard you better be prepared to turn a wrench...and if youre
not then no one better complain about how much it cost to have someone
else turn that same wrench....same goes no matter if you have a tuner
or NOT.

Agreed.

 

[bushpilot]

Agreed.

so heres a twist....if the factory puts speakers in my truck
that are rated at 4w and i use an 75watt per channel amp
because i want a little cleaner power and i THINK i can
get a little more outta 'em...and i blow the speakers whos fault is
that ? the manufactures ?