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Chip for 5.3

D

duramaxdude

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Messages
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Location
Carberry, Manitoa, Canada
My dad has a GMC sierra with a 5.3L. We are wondering what is a good chip for it to improve the fuel economy. He isnt out for performance but wants to get better millage. It is crap right now.
 
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I talked to Westers about one for my wifes burb. I was looking at egr delete and cat delete along with better mpg. They said no problem
 
I've heard good things about Black Bear tuning also.
 
Diablo Sport Predator can work wonders with GM electronics. It can disable the electronic torque management and really wake up these motors. They're cheap too, at around $300.

You're not gonna want to remove the cats off that truck. It does need some back pressure to make torque. These things are not like the old 70's and 80's carb'd motors. Besides, the cats flow quite well and really dont provide that much restriction if at all. If you remove the cats, you're gonna lose low end beans and its gonna sound awful in the process.

Just something to think about.
 
Unit453 said:
Diablo Sport Predator can work wonders with GM electronics. It can disable the electronic torque management and really wake up these motors. They're cheap too, at around $300.

You're not gonna want to remove the cats off that truck. It does need some back pressure to make torque. These things are not like the old 70's and 80's carb'd motors. Besides, the cats flow quite well and really dont provide that much restriction if at all. If you remove the cats, you're gonna lose low end beans and its gonna sound awful in the process.

Just something to think about.
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Never heard of that. On my dads old 96 350 we cut the cathelic converters out and it was fine. My dad dosent care about power so would you loose fuel millage if you cut them out. The truck gets about 12 MPG so something needs to be done.

Also he wants a chip to increase his economy. I looked up diablo sport and they seem to just be out for performance.
 
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Put high flow magnaflow cats on my mom's suburban when one plugged on us at about 115k. They've been great. Any tuner will increase mileage as long as you keep out of the throttle. Not sure why his truck gets such poor mileage, though, our suburban gets 16-17. When was the last time things like plugs, wires (they're short, but there), fuel filter, etc been changed? A good tune-up can make a huge difference in fuel economy and how the vehicle drives and performs. Just my $.02.
 
Dad's 05 LLY said:
Put high flow magnaflow cats on my mom's suburban when one plugged on us at about 115k. They've been great. Any tuner will increase mileage as long as you keep out of the throttle. Not sure why his truck gets such poor mileage, though, our suburban gets 16-17. When was the last time things like plugs, wires (they're short, but there), fuel filter, etc been changed? A good tune-up can make a huge difference in fuel economy and how the vehicle drives and performs. Just my $.02.
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the next step is replacing the plugs and wires. He ordered a cold air intake and still looking for a chip though.
 
you can't "chip" the new stuff like the obd1 stuff.....it uses a flash programmer or you'll hear them called "handheld" programmers. The predator is a decent programmer but I think they quit letting people tune out the rear O2 codes a year or two ago so that makes pulling the cats much harder. You can buy O2 simulators that will fool the pcm into thinking the cats are there and working but the drawback there is they aren't real durable. Most programmers are going to be performance based and IMO your best bet is to find a local tuner and have a custom tune done. If you can find the right tuner you can get a "lean cruise" tune done and that'll save you a little mpg.
 
0rion said:
you can't "chip" the new stuff like the obd1 stuff.....it uses a flash programmer or you'll hear them called "handheld" programmers. The predator is a decent programmer but I think they quit letting people tune out the rear O2 codes a year or two ago so that makes pulling the cats much harder. You can buy O2 simulators that will fool the pcm into thinking the cats are there and working but the drawback there is they aren't real durable. Most programmers are going to be performance based and IMO your best bet is to find a local tuner and have a custom tune done. If you can find the right tuner you can get a "lean cruise" tune done and that'll save you a little mpg.
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Very true. The company I am working with, Black Bear Performance, deals with EFI Live.

That being said, I am getting a 93 octane tune which will net me between 25-45HP and 1-2 better MPG on average.

April 24th can't come fast enough.
 
Z71_Silvy said:
Very true. The company I am working with, Black Bear Performance, deals with EFI Live.

That being said, I am getting a 93 octane tune which will net me between 25-45HP and 1-2 better MPG on average.

April 24th can't come fast enough.
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I have actually heard of black bear even in the f-body scene. I don't know much about them except for what I've read but that's been only good things. I'd say a tune only that 45hp would be a pretty optimistic goal. I'd say 20ish is probably more of the norm for a gasser. I'm not saying it can't be done....I'm just saying the norm for a tune only. The problem with gas mileage and a tune is once you get it running good it's hard to keep your foot out of it. :D
 
0rion said:
I have actually heard of black bear even in the f-body scene. I don't know much about them except for what I've read but that's been only good things. I'd say a tune only that 45hp would be a pretty optimistic goal. I'd say 20ish is probably more of the norm for a gasser. I'm not saying it can't be done....I'm just saying the norm for a tune only. The problem with gas mileage and a tune is once you get it running good it's hard to keep your foot out of it. :D
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Oh I hear ya. That is what was quoted on www.gm-trucks.com from a 93 tune. It probably feels like 45HP due to the Satan-like torque management being turned wayyyyy down.
 
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