[z swind]

Hey guys, new to the forum and a new owner of a 2018 ecodiesel thats fully stock.

I have been trying to figure out which tune to purchase and the research has been confusing to say the least. Some people say GDE is the way to go but also say their new EPA compliant tunes are trash. Other people swear by SFT but say they do shady business and their tunes arent reliable. I emailed GDE and asked a few questions and got very "EPA compliant" responses saying their tunes will not work with any EGR deletes (however I have been told that GDE's tune does disable the EGR?) When asked if their tune supports turbo back exhausts or straight pipe exhausts that delete the DPF, I was firmly told that the GDE tune will not work with a turbo back/ straight pipe DPF delete and it is ILLEGAL to do so quoting exact dollar amounts for fines by the EPA if observed. Not sure if GDE is just covering their asses via email and their current tunes do support DPF removed exhausts.

When I emailed SFT I was confidently told that their tunes disable the EGR and that their stage 2 tune requires a "fully deleted closed course exhaust" (not clear as to what this is? It seemed like SFT was very open about their tunes disabling the EGR and being DPF delete friendly.

I say all this to ask for advice and to hear from anyone that has purchased a tune from either GDE or SFT recently. My main goals for my truck are to run cleaner, get better gas mileage, and sound like a diesel should. I dont necessarily want to delete my EGR but definitely want it disabled. I also want to run a turbo back or straight pipe style exhaust (not sure if this is even reasonable).

Sorry for the long post, thank you for the guidance.

 

[1shadowsabre]

If you are trying to choose between GDE (emissions compliant tune) and SKT (non emissions compliant ) I think most forum members here would say go GDE. I have NEVER heard anyone say the GDE tune is trash. Many say that SKT has not been able to keep up or maintenance their tunes.
The 3rd option is EOC in Canada and has a stellar reputation on this forum.

 

[Ecosparky]

You are not comparing apples to apples. SKT shouldn't even be a consideration due to tune quality issues and lack of support and customer service. Lots of issues to read up on in this forum.
GDE does not and will not have a non EPA compliant tune and only sell reputable, well designed products with great support.
If you are looking for non- compliant, delete type tunes try EOC Ecodiesels of Canada MRTuning.

 

[Kst8er]

As a current owner of a GDE & SKT tuned vehicle... Look at GDE or EOC.

You need to keep reading & educating yourself on tunes. Yes, the older GDE tunes did turn off EGR. GDE "changed ways" after visits by EPA. By SKT stating "fully deleted closed course exhaust", means deleted & closed course to drive your vehicle... aka, not street legal.

 

[Bounty Hunter]

I've heard good things from those who run the GDE emissions compliant tuning. While it doesn't disable the EGR, it does minimize it and greatly cleans up the combustion cycle. It will lead to less soot load and longer engine life. It's an engine/trans tuning package so the transmission tune will improve performance a LOT. GDE customer service has always been top-notch. As you've seen, they're strict with their responses due to the heavy-handed epa.

SFT, stay away. Problematic tuning and they will ghost you when you have issues. They're a tune reseller, unable to actually fix tune issues.

Ecodiesel Owner's Canada is the way to go if you want to disable the EGR with a stage 1 tune, or lose the exhaust emissions with a stage 2. Reliable tuning with top notch customer service.

 

[John Jensen]

I've run GDE's pre compliant tune, SFT tunes and currently MRT (via EOC) tunes.
If you want to be compliant GDE is the only one. Unfortunately, they cannot sell to Califunny registered trucks, which I am.
If you want to shut off the EGR or delete (stage 2), SFT and MRT are available.
I've already posted on this and other forums about SFT's dishonesty.
I'm finding the MRT tunes to be excellent. I am concerned with their regen cycles.
SFT regened an average of every 190 miles, MRT tunes are regening an average 0f every 137 miles. Part of the difference is SFT included some hiway miles, so far the MRT miles are all local miles. MRT is regening at about the same intervals as the stock tune.

 

[Bounty Hunter]

I'm finding the MRT tunes to be excellent. I am concerned with their regen cycles.
SFT regened an average of every 190 miles, MRT tunes are regening an average 0f every 137 miles. Part of the difference is SFT included some hiway miles, so far the MRT miles are all local miles. MRT is regening at about the same intervals as the stock tune.

My pre-ban GDE usually performed a regen every 600-650 miles.

@z swind it's still relatively easy to find a used ecm with GDE's pre-ban tune if you wanyed another option.

 

[John Jensen]

My pre-ban GDE usually performed a regen every 600-650 miles.

@z swind it's still relatively easy to find a used ecm with GDE's pre-ban tune if you wanyed another option.

Yep, my pre-ban averaged 643 miles

 

[GDE]

It is a shame how dirty the illegal tunes are. GDE compliant tune regens once every 400-600 miles. They can even make clean combustion sans egr...rookies lol

 

[Bounty Hunter]

It is a shame how dirty the illegal tunes are. GDE compliant tune regens once every 400-600 miles. They can even make clean combustion sans egr...rookies lol

And the uneducated still bash the egr as the root of all evil lol.

 

[John Jensen]

It is a shame how dirty the illegal tunes are. GDE compliant tune regens once every 400-600 miles. They can even make clean combustion sans egr...rookies lol

Waiting for you to get CARB approval

 

[GDE]

Waiting for you to get CARB approval

Waiting for you to vote CARB out of existence.

 

[John Jensen]

Waiting for you to vote CARB out of existence.

I'll do that immediately after you vote EPA out of existence

 

[DATA]

Waiting for you to vote CARB out of existence.

Changing the subject are there any updates on the GEN 3 engine to the Gen 2 truck conversion?

 

[z swind]

I've run GDE's pre compliant tune, SFT tunes and currently MRT (via EOC) tunes.
If you want to be compliant GDE is the only one. Unfortunately, they cannot sell to Califunny registered trucks, which I am.
If you want to shut off the EGR or delete (stage 2), SFT and MRT are available.
I've already posted on this and other forums about SFT's dishonesty.
I'm finding the MRT tunes to be excellent. I am concerned with their regen cycles.
SFT regened an average of every 190 miles, MRT tunes are regening an average 0f every 137 miles. Part of the difference is SFT included some hiway miles, so far the MRT miles are all local miles. MRT is regening at about the same intervals as the stock tune.

.

John, thank you for the response. The way I read your post is that stage 1 is just an EGR disable or delete and stage 2 is an EGR disable or delete and an emissions delete in the form a DPF delete? This is why MRTuning requires a turbo back exhaust in their stage 2 tune?

Also, I may not understand the regen process completely but I understood it as a burn off of “soot” in the DPF. If you delete your DPF will your truck still have to regen?


Thanks for clearing all this up for me.

 

[97hmcs]

No DPF = no regen

 

[z swind]

Another question. Is the MRTuning transmission tune universal? By that I mean, if you pair a stage 1 engine tune with a transmission tune and later want to change to stage 2, do you have to purchase another transmission tune?

 

[Bounty Hunter]

Another question. Is the MRTuning transmission tune universal? By that I mean, if you pair a stage 1 engine tune with a transmission tune and later want to change to stage 2, do you have to purchase another transmission tune?

You keep the same transmission tune. HIGHLY recommend a transmission tune.

 

[John Jensen]

What 97hmcs and Bounty said

 

[Docmcg]

Can a trans tune be used without an engine tune? Just curious.