Bully Dog Power Pup - Setting for best MPG?

[NDanecker]

What setting gives you the best MPG? Please explain/give details if applicable.

 

[MUDDY]

so hard for me to do identical [load/road] runs for mpg. but it appears the perf mode [mode ive used the most]gives me the best mpg with the tow mode almost as good. ive noticed an increase in mpg in the insane mode over stock too [when not playin] but it so dang hard to get a good mpg figger as i cant keep from playin in that mode :-laf when ya press the fuel pedal in that mode it really gives it the fuel



a local htshotter w/ an 04 [160000 miles] gets nearly 2mpg increase in tow mode pulling an identical 5er on same rte compared to stock. pup is his only mod besides guages

 

[Fuzzy Bear]

I have the extreme program loaded and use the Outlook monitor to control the levels. Have only around town driving since I've installed it. I keep it at 75% and hand calculate my mileage. I was doing 17-18 mpg before and now its 16 mpg. I just can't keep my foot out of this thing! So much more responsive, I've just gotten more agressive in my driving. Worth the cost in the extra fuel.

 

[NDanecker]

I've got the Extreme loaded now and love it! Oo.



Are any of you guys running the extreme all the time around town, highway, etc or is this really just for an occasional blast down the strip? Is it safe to run day in and out?



I like the power of the extreme setting, along with the smoke cloud when you push it! :-laf Its a little touchy when starting out in 2nd (got a 6spd)... takes some getting used to. But pulls hard with little throttle.

 

[TAllen]

It is impossible for anyone to claim better fuel mileage with the downloader. The only way to get the same mileage with it in, is to let your grandmother drive your truck and don't tell her it's there . I've tried to drive my truck like a mature adult to get good mileage, that lasts about 5 minutes. :-laf

 

[KYLE4]

Yah with all that extra power and responsiveness how could you get better mileage

 

[Fuzzy Bear]

NJTackle, I don't run full extreme all the time around town because it makes the clutch jerky. Not good for stop and go traffic. No problems with boost pressures or EGTs to be concerned about though if you do go that way. Because I'm using the Outlook monitor, its just a push of the joyknob and I have 100% extreme. Just right for the occassional need for smoke or power.

 

[NDanecker]

NJTackle, I don't run full extreme all the time around town because it makes the clutch jerky. Not good for stop and go traffic. No problems with boost pressures or EGTs to be concerned about though if you do go that way. Because I'm using the Outlook monitor, its just a push of the joyknob and I have 100% extreme. Just right for the occassional need for smoke or power.

How can I switch between modes? Will the Outlook monitor do this for me????

 

[Fuzzy Bear]

The Outlook lets you control the power level. Load the extreme program from the Pup. The Outlook has a little joyknob on the lower left front. Pushing up increases the power level in 25% increments. Pushing down lowers. Plus it gives you pyro 1 & 2, boost, 0-60 time, 1/4 mile time, hp/tq, speed, water temp, rail pressure, defueling at set egt (from pyro probe 1), max boost, max egt. You can adjust tire size to display the correct speed on the Outlook (does not change the vehcle's speedo). For the cost of a set of guages, it gives you a lot.

 

[jsimpson]

I have a BD Torque Dog, not a Power Pup, My best mileage comes at stock setting, but performance setting will produce enough power to slip my TC.

 

[DougJones]

Understand Outlook?

Fuzzy Bear, do you understand how the Outlook controls the power? For example, the 25% setting is 25% of what? It's not total power because you can also set it at 0%. I have the outlook, and since it didn't come with instructions (explanations) I have trouble understanding what it does. High Boost - yes there is a number there, but I've watched my real time boost be higher than the High Boost number. So what/when is High Boost? HP/TQ - it gives me numbers, then it tells me to "Please Stop". These aren't real time numbers that you can just leave displayed. They stop at a certain point and stay that always. The pyro temp (before turbo) is sometimes lower than my Dipricol (after turbo). Is that possible? Also, the displayed temp is very eratic. It doesn't jump around more than 100 degress, but within that range I say it could change 30 or 40 degrees... per second. Hard to read and is it reliable?



I'm not complaining about the Outlook. It's has a nice display. It has some good functions that I actually understand, and so many that I don't. The instructions that come with it basically say it is self explanatory.



Anyone understand it?

 

[travisch]

I flashed mine back to stock setting and the overhead showed 76mpg. A call to customer support got me two different answers.

1. "Its normal , the overhead isn't very accurate from the factory anyway"

2. "Thats not normal, I'll have an Engineer give you a call"

no call was ever received so I returned the box to the dealer.

 

[Fuzzy Bear]

Doug, I believe the 25% and such is anything above the stock program. When I dyno'd mine, for my baseline I had the stock program installed and the Outlook at 100%. With that setting it put out 261hp. Then I loaded the extreme program and set that at 100% and it did 380hp. There have been posts about the high boost not displaying the correct number and that Bully Dog has a patch to correct it. The hp/tq does indeed display please stop. What I found when I used it was that it would register until you let off the accelerator. The please stop I believes is because in order to start a new run, you have to come to a complete stop and select it again to begin a new run. Not sure about the pyro readings being accurate as this is the only gauge I have. I agree that the numbers do change quite a bit. I have the same instructions. Not much information in them. In fact when I installed mine it took me half an hour to figure out where the data port plug was. Mine didn't have the rubber plug in it, probably because the service tech at the dealer didn't put it back after they diagnosed my TPS problem. The plug was down just below the fuel filter cannister. The picture in the instructions seemed to show it under the front of the intake air horn. The instructions definitely need improvement!



I'm not here to tout this as the best product available. I do have issues with mine, such as the flat spot at 2000rpm. I am hopeful that Bully Dog will correct it. I just haven't gotten around to calling them. I did get a bit of run around when I was looking to buy the Pup. In the end I got one and am content with the power and performance for a box that costs about the same as an Edge EZ (just the Pup that is). The Autometer gauges I installed on my 01 cost me over $400. For around that price I got the Outlook and it gives me a lot more. The rail pressure is a biggy for me. I had been waiting for ever for the Edge Juice, but that last I heard was after the first of the year. I figured for the cost of the Pup, if I didn't like it I could always sell it at a bit of a loss. Overall though I am pretty happy with the whole setup. The low end improvement is really nice and I don't think its going to send parts scattering under the hood. The TST put out more, but I don't think I have the self control to keep it at safe levels. The Pup/Outlook keeps me at a good level.

 

[DougJones]

Thanks for Reply

Thanks for your good response Fuzzy Bear.



I was unaware of the patch for the High Boost. I'll follow up on it.



I have suspected what you told me about the Outlook power adjustments. Thanks for confirming for me. Somethings kept me from being confident that it was true. For example the Outlook can be stand alone (without boxes or DL's) but the adjustment is still available. In theory, then, the output of the stock engine could be adjustable. I don't think that is likely and I've never tried to do a "feel" test. Based on your thoughts, I think I will run on the performance download and adjust power back down towards stock or at stock except for special occassions.



I agree with your assesment of the Outlook and the Pup. I like them both. I haven't had second thoughts about my purchase(s). I just wish I could understand the Outlook better.



Again, thanks for your explanations.