Unimpressed with reputable tuner file

Jakezed22

Active member
Dec 2, 2016
329
178
43
Recently tuned my 17 l5p. lightweight, Went with a reputable tuner with the SOTF option. I have to say im less then impressed with the power. I had a 18 l5p before with a derringer and i swear that thing ran better. Anyways i asked for revision stating it doesnt seem like its right for the "150hp" level 5 tune. He obliged and sent me a new file to try, i also mentioned that after the tune the engine noise just seems dieselier ? lol im not sure how to say what i mean here, more compression igniton sound, not bad just a little louder.

Anyways so i try the new file and its whatever, now i dont wanna be that annoying customer that is nagging about nothing so i figure hey lets go log some stuffs.

Go for a good drive a log a bunch of stuff on each power level and i found it interesting that the only thing that changes with each level is the Pulse width, and only at full throttle!

Am i crazy or shouldnt a guy be taking full advantage of the SOTF table hpt gives and not just limitng fuel like a LML? i dont know what do you guys think? Feel free to pm, im not gonna blast the tuners name publicly.
 

Lennydmaxguy

Just another diesel tech
Nov 8, 2023
125
65
28
Somewhere, USA :)
You're right. I've done SOTF tunes for these trucks, and the tuner should be adjusting boost and timing as well as fuel rate. The engine noise is probably from the tuner raising timing across the board. That's a common practice I've never understood. Sure, you should add timing up top, and maybe some in the cruising area for better mileage, but why the idle and low fuel changes? Most of the time, you aren't making fueling adjustments there.
 

Jakezed22

Active member
Dec 2, 2016
329
178
43
You're right. I've done SOTF tunes for these trucks, and the tuner should be adjusting boost and timing as well as fuel rate. The engine noise is probably from the tuner raising timing across the board. That's a common practice I've never understood. Sure, you should add timing up top, and maybe some in the cruising area for better mileage, but why the idle and low fuel changes? Most of the time, you aren't making fueling adjustments there.
I’ll compare stock and see what has been changed for timing at idle.

I’ve started to dive into learning about the l5p tuning side I think I’ll just completely re do the tune myself.

I’m pretty dissapointed to see this im a dealer for this company.

Would you like to review the tune?
 

Lennydmaxguy

Just another diesel tech
Nov 8, 2023
125
65
28
Somewhere, USA :)
I’ll compare stock and see what has been changed for timing at idle.

I’ve started to dive into learning about the l5p tuning side I think I’ll just completely re do the tune myself.

I’m pretty dissapointed to see this im a dealer for this company.

Would you like to review the tune?
Yes, I can look at it.
 

Jakezed22

Active member
Dec 2, 2016
329
178
43
You're right. I've done SOTF tunes for these trucks, and the tuner should be adjusting boost and timing as well as fuel rate. The engine noise is probably from the tuner raising timing across the board. That's a common practice I've never understood. Sure, you should add timing up top, and maybe some in the cruising area for better mileage, but why the idle and low fuel changes? Most of the time, you aren't making fueling adjustments there.
Took a look at the timing tables and yup looks like the whole table got a few degrees added and the holes filled in. Idle cells went from 0 to 3 degrees.
 

Jakezed22

Active member
Dec 2, 2016
329
178
43
I'm questioning this "reputable" part
He is a big name up here in canada and fairly popular with a good rep.

Ive been chatting with him and he says he is more then happy to tailer the file/levels to exactly what i want so they are not just fuel limits.

His reasoning behind the pulse width control is to provide customers with a more factory like drivability between levels. (i still think its a silly way) but he says hes been doing like this for a while with good results.

Also says he adds timing at idle to help with puff of smoke that these trucks have once d*****d, but also mine still has a puff anyways so id rather it not sound louder.

Im supposed to send some logs so he can double check that it is fueling how he wants it. Then he will make any and all changes to make it how i want. So good on him for not telling me to kick rocks lol.
 

Lennydmaxguy

Just another diesel tech
Nov 8, 2023
125
65
28
Somewhere, USA :)
He is a big name up here in canada and fairly popular with a good rep.

Ive been chatting with him and he says he is more then happy to tailer the file/levels to exactly what i want so they are not just fuel limits.

His reasoning behind the pulse width control is to provide customers with a more factory like drivability between levels. (i still think its a silly way) but he says hes been doing like this for a while with good results.

Also says he adds timing at idle to help with puff of smoke that these trucks have once d*****d, but also mine still has a puff anyways so id rather it not sound louder.

Im supposed to send some logs so he can double check that it is fueling how he wants it. Then he will make any and all changes to make it how i want. So good on him for not telling me to kick rocks lol.
I disagree with the tuner about pulsewidth being the factory fuel control. These trucks have a torque based fueling system. I agree it's silly to just crank up pulsewidth. To his credit, he did make some adjustments to Driver Demand and Torque Based fuel, but he then proceeded to set the master switches for the SOTF tables to off.
 

Jakezed22

Active member
Dec 2, 2016
329
178
43
I disagree with the tuner about pulsewidth being the factory fuel control. These trucks have a torque based fueling system. I agree it's silly to just crank up pulsewidth. To his credit, he did make some adjustments to Driver Demand and Torque Based fuel, but he then proceeded to set the master switches for the SOTF tables to off.
I noticed that too, not even taking full advantage of the SOTF.
 

Bdsankey

Vendor
Vendor/Sponsor
Feb 1, 2018
4,817
1,862
113
Larsen, Wisconsin
I wish Rob still tuned, his tunes were smooth as butter and made stupid power.
Idaho Rob? If so, his tunes were some of the worst I ran to the point where he refunded my order because he couldn't make a truck with Exergy 60%, Exergy 10mm, AD2 165, Danville 68r, and built trans run halfway decent.

1400F egts towing a RZR on a single axle open aluminum trailer, rail pressure ran away on decel, poor drivability etc.

I understand Rob was a pioneer but it sure seemed like he didn't apply the things he learned from racing on anyone's vehicles but his own. Granted this was toward the end of his career as a calibrator but it was still frustrating that I bought all the parts directly from ATP and was told to find tuning elsewhere.

Switched to some local kid (Blown Black Performance) at the time and boom it ran great on his first email file. Switched to another tuner simply to try something after BBP closed down and it ran great on their first file as well.
 

N2BRK

Well-known member
Dec 31, 2009
2,377
712
113
I think you could name almost any tuner and there will be positive and negative experiences. Rob on a stock deleted LMM or LBZ were some of the nicest tunes that I've driven. Very stock-like feeling in smoothness. 40 overs on my LMM was a disaster and we parted ways and he refunded me. Mark dialed me right in with no trouble :)

I'll also say that Tony's moonshine tuning on the few LML's I've driven of his were fantastic as well!
 

pl_silverado

Active member
Jan 29, 2012
189
161
43
Tony's tunes never ran right on my LML, and he couldn't figure it out. Spent most of its time in limp mode if you put a load on it. Without a load it ran great, but kind of useless if I can't use a truck for its intended purpose.

Robs tune on my stock fuel LMM run great to this day. I would literally drive it anywhere in this configuration with no hesitation. Not looking forward to finding new tunes once the compounds and larger injectors are installed.
 

Bdsankey

Vendor
Vendor/Sponsor
Feb 1, 2018
4,817
1,862
113
Larsen, Wisconsin
I think you could name almost any tuner and there will be positive and negative experiences. Rob on a stock deleted LMM or LBZ were some of the nicest tunes that I've driven. Very stock-like feeling in smoothness.
Agreed! Stock fuel/air his files were great. Likely because he actually spent the time to dial those in then ran a script on every vehicle.

40 overs on my LMM was a disaster and we parted ways and he refunded me. Mark dialed me right in with no trouble :)
So it seems that my thoughts are backed up then :)

I'll also say that Tony's moonshine tuning on the few LML's I've driven of his were fantastic as well!
Tony's tuning was awesome and I was sad to see his doors close but understand the "why".