Chip tuning

[RYAustralia]

Just let me know when you blow the drivetrain!

Hey ScotsItalian,
ScotsAustralian here. The vehicle I used in Namibia came with a DTE PowerControlX chip tuner - It was in use for the whole of my 3,000km Namibia self drive trip. I thought it was fantastic. I have the same spec vehicle at home in Australia (Diesel Trialmaster) except there's no DTE on mine (yet). The difference in performance and fun was noticeable and an even bigger grin when driving a grenny. Loved it so I brought one from mine. Can't beat tried and tested... and I really put the Namibian gren through its paces - it never missed a beat. I'm still waiting for enough free time and dry weather to do the install on my Gren without rushing the job. The Namibia vehicle had done about 20k km and I believe more than half of that was with the DTE installed. Worked without a fault my whole trip. The owners are main car dealers and haven't had a problem with DTE installed on Ineos, or on Mercedes either which is another of their big brands. I'll only use the mid setting on the controller as that's plenty fast enough for me, better performance for not much increase in fuel consumption is perfect. App controlled via Bluetooth so it will be easy to switch to boy racer mode if I really wanted to - but I mostly won't.

I also had my Puma Defender 110 ECU tuned back in the day - from Pete Bell in the UK. Added springs from the 130, and a red booster clutch assist to it, and it went from slug to something quite respectable that went round corners amazingly well, and yes more grins - even getting a speeding ticket in outback Australia couldn't spoil the fun (Proud moment ;o). lol) Have ECU tuned my current BMW X6, and a Range Rover in the past. All became far nicer driver vehicles. In my experience, the extra power takes a lot of the hard work out of driving in extremis, I don't go crazy, just enough to make it fun (and often safer driving) without cooking the engines.

In summary, I am a massive fan of both chip or ECU tuning. As long as they perform well and I've driven both types, I don't really care which is in place. My opinion - do your own research, select a good quality reputable brand name, and they will add to the fun without killing your precious.

 

[Cheshire cat]

Hey ScotsItalian,
ScotsAustralian here. The vehicle I used in Namibia came with a DTE PowerControlX chip tuner - It was in use for the whole of my 3,000km Namibia self drive trip. I thought it was fantastic. I have the same spec vehicle at home in Australia (Diesel Trialmaster) except there's no DTE on mine (yet). The difference in performance and fun was noticeable and an even bigger grin when driving a grenny. Loved it so I brought one from mine. Can't beat tried and tested... and I really put the Namibian gren through its paces - it never missed a beat. I'm still waiting for enough free time and dry weather to do the install on my Gren without rushing the job. The Namibia vehicle had done about 20k km and I believe more than half of that was with the DTE installed. Worked without a fault my whole trip. The owners are main car dealers and haven't had a problem with DTE installed on Ineos, or on Mercedes either which is another of their big brands. I'll only use the mid setting on the controller as that's plenty fast enough for me, better performance for not much increase in fuel consumption is perfect. App controlled via Bluetooth so it will be easy to switch to boy racer mode if I really wanted to - but I mostly won't.

I also had my Puma Defender 110 ECU tuned back in the day - from Pete Bell in the UK. Added springs from the 130, and a red booster clutch assist to it, and it went from slug to something quite respectable that went round corners amazingly well, and yes more grins - even getting a speeding ticket in outback Australia couldn't spoil the fun (Proud moment ;o). lol) Have ECU tuned my current BMW X6, and a Range Rover in the past. All became far nicer driver vehicles. In my experience, the extra power takes a lot of the hard work out of driving in extremis, I don't go crazy, just enough to make it fun (and often safer driving) without cooking the engines.

In summary, I am a massive fan of both chip or ECU tuning. As long as they perform well and I've driven both types, I don't really care which is in place. My opinion - do your own research, select a good quality reputable brand name, and they will add to the fun without killing your precious.

I have the DTE throttle commander. That too made a huge difference. Haven’t yet pressed the button on the tuning box, but thinking about it.

 

[TelRidan]

I just got boost pressure and throttle control codes from a check engine light on the Grenadier. I’ve been using the DTE throttle box and tuner for a while now and this is the first time I’m having problems. Any advice?

 

[S52]

I just got boost pressure and throttle control codes from a check engine light on the Grenadier. I’ve been using the DTE throttle box and tuner for a while now and this is the first time I’m having problems. Any advice?

Remove it and revert to stock?

Im pretty sure theres a reason the vehicle is tuned the way it is from the factory for a reason. If all it took was a software mod to get 2mpgs’s and 50hp out of it reliably then the Gren wouldve come with that particular tune (especially the boost in MPG’s) which would make a big selling point.

I know the B58 is the “Supra Motor” and theres plenty of examples of folks pushing those cars to 600+HP out there… but the Gren is no Supra. Weighs in at over 2K lbs more. Theres a reason our variant was detuned from the start.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Dokatd]

Remove it and revert to stock?

Im pretty sure theres a reason the vehicle is tuned the way it is from the factory for a reason. If all it took was a software mod to get 2mpgs’s and 50hp out of it reliably then the Gren wouldve come with that particular tune (especially the boost in MPG’s) which would make a big selling point.

I know the B58 is the “Supra Motor” and theres plenty of examples of folks pushing those cars to 600+HP out there… but the Gren is no Supra. Weighs in at over 2K lbs more. Theres a reason our variant was detuned from the start.

Just my 2 cents

I appreciate your opinion, but it's simply not correct. The largest reason is so the truck can use lower grade fuels without issue. Additionally, Ineos is simply protecting itself by detuning the engine so much that it is "Bullet Proof". But in reality you can get more out of it and still be just as reliable, they are just super conservative. This is the same with the transmission and axle ratings.

 

[Bluesurf]

I have two, The Iobox Tuner and The IO Box Throttle Controller. Bought them from Agile OffRoad. Both are stellar, never an issue or code and plenty pf power.

 

[RYAustralia]

I just got boost pressure and throttle control codes from a check engine light on the Grenadier. I’ve been using the DTE throttle box and tuner for a while now and this is the first time I’m having problems. Any advice?

Throttle controllers are known to give issues over the years and I father that hasn’t changed much. Many mechanics here in oz have told me that is the commonest component to cause engine lights /limp home mode in outback breakdown call outs. Remove the throttle controller isi usually their fix of choice before doing anything else. ECU tuners rarely give trouble unless on extreme/sports settings was the general comment.

I used the DTE controller on a stage 2 setting without any issue on my loaner vehicle on vacation. The owner told me they haven’t had issues with it despite having done over 17,000 kms.

My guess would be throttle controller is the likely culprit.

 

[RYAustralia]

I appreciate your opinion, but it's simply not correct. The largest reason is so the truck can use lower grade fuels without issue. Additionally, Ineos is simply protecting itself by detuning the engine so much that it is "Bullet Proof". But in reality you can get more out of it and still be just as reliable, they are just super conservative. This is the same with the transmission and axle ratings.

Agreed. I’ve had almost every vehicle I own chip tuned over the last decade or more. Never had any issues except once when I pushed a Range Rover beyond its limits. Easily fixed with a quick retune to more sensible levels of power.