K2500 Suburban 6.0L E85 Ethanol Tune

[marcoengineering]

MonteSS and Grumpy,

I just wanted to let you guys know that I donated to your application. I am the gratti_engineering email. I do not need your app for my FlexFuel tune, but there maybe a time that I will since I do have the logging capabilities(new U7193 tool) and the option of using my factory tune to modify if I want to instead, and who knows what I will be doing in the funture. Other than loading the FlexFuel tune(FLX7193/dedicated U7193) which is working great, I have not really used to tool for anything else. I have not really done any MPG compares yet (I have to run up north in early October to pull the boat and dock for the winter) I will in the next few months as the Suburban hangs out in the garage unless it is needed. You guys have put together an awsome application and much needed useful tool for using the predator for full optmization of power and economy of its users, and I just wanted to support the cause. I am sure when I got to try logging data or using your application I will need help for the first few times. Thanks again for all the input and information you guys put on the site for all to use. I am sure it is very helpful and appreciated by all.

Thanks,
Mark

[06MonteSS]

thanks Mark, it's much appreciated!!

np on the help, we'll be here!

[marcoengineering]

Just wanted to give some initial feedback on my FLX7193 tune for those that might be interested in the progress. I loaded the tune and got to drive it around a bit, I only have an E20 blend in there right now as I don't drive the beast around much daily with fuel prices they way they are. I have noticed an improvement in throttle response and mid range power right out of the box, like merging into freeway traffic. Also seems to effortlessly glide down the highway now. Not enough road time for MPG comparisons, but my initial impression is I like it alot. Although the difference between this Flex Tune and stock tune is not tire smoking power it is fairly noticeable to the calibrated butt, and makes driving the 6000+lb truck(empty) a bit more like tooling around in my 3.3L Oldsmobile A-body(daily driver bought off ebay for $500),not much to compare too, (but comparing to the wifes Impala LTZ would be unfair), it is in fact now more responsive than the A-body is and it weights over twice as much, which is good by me. I will update MPG numbers when I get them in a few weeks after the trip to northern MI, or sooner if I get some city numbers.

MarcoEngineering

[marcoengineering]

A quick question(s) for the DS guys or anyone else who might know the answer. I registered my predator online, all seem to go just fine, but I swear there was a line in there that said I would recieve a confimation email of the registration. I never got one, so how do I know that the registration was accepted and all is good for the predator now that it is in service. Also, unless the Flextune itself changes, would there be any reason to have to update my FLX7193 tool. I noticed that most of the revision updates(for the U7193, same tool-different tunes?) have to do with addressing some issue(s) in the tune(s) themself more that the tool. I am just unclear weather its firmware or software getting updated in a revision.

Thanks,

[marcoengineering]

For those who are curious, this is just a quick update on MPG numbers since installing the FLX7193 into the truck. This is after a 50 mile(25 miles each way) almost all highway run with an E20 blend on a nice day and totally unloaded at 70mph. Keep in mind that I have rarely if ever seen anything over 16 mpg at these speeds and these conditions. In fact the usually mpg for these condtions with pump gas (I guess E20 would be worst case pump gas right now) is between 14 and 15 mpg. A hand caclulated mpg was 18.5 mpg, now I know this is not a real long run for a long view average, but from what I usually see this is over a 3-4 mpg improvement from the preFLX7193 install into the truck. There is a chance real highway only mileage might have been a bit higher as I sat at a few lights and had to startup the truck a few times, but lets just assume this is all highway for now. The 100% gas improvement alone justifies the cost and usage of this unit to me, the ability to use E85 is just bonus, but I will post up gas and Emixes with mpgs as I get more data in the next few weeks. I am thrilled to say the least with this improvement over stock tune. Now all remember, this is my truck and not yours, individual results may vary based on too many factors to list(or even think of), but as I look at it, any improvement in MPG, performance, and drivability is all good to me.

MikeL, Has DS thought about going for an EPA cert on this FlexFuel conversion? I know there is a patent pending, but if you guys got an EPA cert on it, especially since there are millons of these GM CK Trucks on the Road, who knows? It was just a thought , I thought I'd ask.

Thanks,

[marcoengineering]

MikeL or anyone else. Will the code reading abilities on my predator work on another vehicle? My FlexFuel tune is loaded iin the truck right now, and I know I can read any codes from my truck. But what if I wanted to read codes from my GM car or somebody elses GM truck? Does the predator only read codes from the vehicle it is locked onto?, or can it be used as an OBD2 code reader for any GM car/truck even if locked onto a vehicle? If it does, how would I go about reading the codes (I mean menu choices to pick to get there) after plugging it in and turning it on.

Thanks,

[WhiteBuffalo]

You can read codes from other GM vehicles and even log live data.

I have done it.

WB

[marcoengineering]

A quick update with some city MPG numbers using the E20 blend. I ran my regular city route and preFLX7193 mpg numbers were between 11 and 12 mpg, more toward the 11 most of the time. Running the FLXFuel tune I saw 13 mpg, that would be a 1-2 mpg improvement city, basically the same 10-20% improvement over stock just like the higway numbers, now this was not a long term average, just one run 12 miles to work and 12 miles back with one stop at the store . I will post up more numbers as I get them with different blends. I found a web site, that takes how big your tank is, what %ethanol is in there and how much and what %ethanol you added and tells you the present %ethanol in your tank is, so I will know what blend I am running with fill ups if I check per tank, so I will start a spread sheet to keep track or what I am running and what my mileage is.

Thanks,

[WhiteBuffalo]

Not bad for a 2500. I get 15-16 MPG and drive 7 miles to work and 7 miles home. Highway is 22-25 depending on conditions and weight of foot. Running 93 dino. With 4.10 gears!

WB

[marcoengineering]

Another question for all those who know this stuff really well. I just put a copy of my original backup file onto my computer. It is a .grg file, is this correct way this file should be saved/stored? And this was only a copy correct?, the original file is still in the preadator? I am not sure if it just transfered the file to my computer or if it just copied it to the computer. I have been keeping the predator in the truck in case the need to go back to stock tune arises. What can I do with the logo option on the predator? is it just to show the logo on screen or is there some other function? The truck is still running great with the FlexFuel tune(35% ethanol in the tank at the moment), but is not getting much use, since I became part of Michigans automotive unemployment statistics lat week, the truck has been put on the park list as far as an uneeded expense right now at the moment.

Thanks for the help,

Mark

[06MonteSS]

yes, it is only a copy of the tune file... the original backup tune is still stored in the predator.

Not sure about the Logo option... sounds like it's to just display the logo, or maybe you can put in your own logo??

[marcoengineering]

Thanks for the info 06MonteSS, Is the .grg the correct file type for the origianl backup? I noticed the DS had a bunch of different file types when I went to save and I just let it use the default .grg.

Thanks,

Mark

[06MonteSS]

yes, that's fine...

[jah81592]

I'm gonna drive my SS as fast as I can a still get away with it on 93+ octane GAS until we run out of the shit.

I about fell out of my chair LOL!

Marcoengineering, have you run E85 yet to determine the economy losses? E20 is majorly different than E85. My Explorer will loose maybe a .5 mpg on E10 but with E85 (I am a custom tuner) the truck lost around 20%. I am working on this now for further reductions in fuel losses. My hopes are to see a 10-15% loss max. I don't know whether I will ever get there.-j

[marcoengineering]

My Factory Flex Fuel Impala LTZ loses about 20-25% in the city, and I have not had the chance to run a full tank in the Suburban yet as is it not a daily driver, but Andy says it will lose about 10-15% on E85 based on all his testing and tuning. I do know I am seeing an improvement on the straight and E20 blend that I have currently run with his and DiabloSport's FlexFuel Predator Tuner. I plan on keeping track and updating my post here as I am able to check different blends and mileages. I have some trips planned over Thanksgiving weekend, so I may get a chance to get some more mileage data from the Suburban, but with the fall of gas prices lately, E85 the price gap has dropped to less than 10% here in Michigan, which is makes it less economical to run, and with my present employment situation I am not going to be able to play with it unless it makes the better financial choice right now.

Thanks,
Mark