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Smarty, the new CaTCHER tool.

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DonS said:
No, I offered a couple of times, but Dave chickened out :)

He was afraid of what the "stock" program in the Smarty might do to his never-been-flashed stock ECM.



I have had electrical problems with this truck and decided to err on the side of caution, I won't be "testing" any electrical components unless I buy them.



So if the Smarty doesn't need the boost fooler, are you constantly having to erase the over boost code and the 0602?? I understand it doesn't de-fuel, I just don't want to have to constantly erase eroneus codes.



This looks promising, I just need to get clarification on the code issue.
 
My truck never set any codes with either the CaTCHER or the Smarty. I even ran it up to 40 psi a few times & revved to about 3,500 rpm.
 
Sixpack said:
Here are my impressions of towing with my setup. :cool:





http://www.nwbombers.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=21470



][/QUOTE]I hooked up the 5vr this morning and things look very promising. I pulled on I-5 from 128th in South Everett North to the exit just past Starbird Road. Cruising temps were 600-900* and a couple times hit 1000-1100*. On the way back South the temps reached 1150* pulling the hill @ Starbird Road on I-5 but running in 6th gear at 68 mph. Overall I'm very happy as the heat is comparable to the RV 275/EZ combo I used to run. All temps were with the truck in 6th gear.



"cool" is the operative word here... . are you staying cool on long steep grades?

I run about 800° at 70 MPH on the flats with my 4. 10's and can get it to 1200° with a quick smash of the right foot.
 
I have yet to pull over Stevens Pass (US-2) or Snoqualmie Pass (I-90). When I do I will post results. That will be the true litness (sp?) test.
 
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close----> litmus



Your spelling of "Snoqualmie Pass" is a much greater achievement than me spelling litmus.



My OCD acting up again.
 
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Maximum Tow Weight in Fuel Saver Mode????

Some one stated that you should not tow in the milage mode. What would be an acceptable tow weight in the tow program? I have a 4k boat and I am wondering if I can still use the mileage program on the smarty?
 
Initial Impressions...

Well i haven't had much time at all to test my Smarty, but i am already very impressed with this unit. A couple quick thoughts:



1) This thing is soooooo easy to use. I've used and seen superchips on fords, predators on chevy's etc. This thing is sooo much quicker. I couldn't imagine a better, easier way to program anything. Great job here.



2) Of course i went straight to #9 (catcher with timing). :eek: Is about all i can say. This thing comes on like nothing i've ever experienced. The low rpm power and response is amazing. Combined with the injectors, it was too much for my stock clutch so i didn't play around with this setting very much. I think it would take some getting used to, at least for me.



3) Program #5 (mild catcher with timing) is the one i've used the most. I really, really like this thing. It is unbelievably responsive, driveable, almost hard to describe great. The power on top feels like a comp on level 1 (or ez), but the way the power comes on is just superior in every way.



4) Fuel Saver Program. I drove around with this program for a very short period of time. It's noticeably stronger then the stock ecm, but also noticeably weaker then the catcher programs. I'd say about in the middle of the two for power. It's very smooth. I look forward to running a few tanks of fuel through it to see what it does for my mileage, but right now i'm enjoying the power of #5 too much to try fuel saver for any length of time right now.



Oh, btw... this last tank of fuel, despite using the extra power of program 5 A LOT, i got the same mileage as i have been getting with the stock ecm and driving like a grandpa. About 17mpg running winter fuel and 285/75 goodyear mt/r. (down from 20mpg with 265/75 oem tires and summer fuel)



5) Half power program. I tried this one out just to try it. It definitely cuts power back, but it didn't feel like half power, at least on my particular truck. Definitely keeps smoke to zero. Neat program to have available.



I plan to try all the programs at some time. It is painless to change them. Heck, i installed the first program before i pulled out of the post office. It took me longer to get the box open then it did to load the first program. I'm extremely happy with this purchase. I'll post more as i get some more miles on it. Thanks to Marco, Bob and all those involved.



Chris
 
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anybody actually put the smarting on the dyno?



How much more power is it able to put out with everything stock?



Is it the typical 60 hp and 165 torque?



does all the catcher programs put the same power output, just in a different way?





Any more on milage increases in fuel saver mode?





I'm getting close to buying one, My Ez is going for sale now.





thanks



Dan
 
Smarty update!

Drove truck from southern IL. to ocala Fl. wastegate set at 28lbs, smarty set on 5, cruise set on 75, right foot set on brisk!

travel time 12hrs. and 10 min. 808 mi. , 39. 2 gal of fuel consumed = slightly more than 20mpg. .

Then pulled 8500lb. camper from Ocala to Altoona and back egt never went over 1000 but there are no big hills in central Fla.

Performance with camper slightly better than with the VA and 275's previously but much smoother. Truck had a timing buck at 1800 and max boost with the va and a trailer.

Overall couldn't be happier with the smarty.
 
Marco,



Great product. Easy install, great performance and zero problems. There are more setting other than #9????



Bob,



Thanks for the Smarty your customer service is #1, keep it up. I've been running this since I got it in the mail and its just terrific.



Patrick
 
I was going to try fuel saver, but landed on #7 instead :D .



The + 2 mpg is present on #7, but have only run it about 4 days, will fill up this weekend and hand calculate.



The reason I am running #7 was I thought #9 and the cruise control were having a hard time adding just the right amount of fuel. It was a little more fuel / less fuel / more fuel / less fuel every couple of second cycle. HOWEVER I think I am also having an APPS out of calibration issue and that might have aggravated it.



#7 seems very steady and smooth and still can "go" when you need to. Tonight I got stuck in a "merge left ahead " lane at a stop light. I was first in line in my merge lane. Light change, Smarty smartly, now I was in one of the remaining lanes and about 200' ahead of the pack. This thing will "go".



Watch the boost gauge. You know how the boost came in before. The boost comes in A LOT sooner now!, like 1/4 of the old (non Smarty) time. Fuel now!, boost now!, spool now!, go now!,



Smarty Smartly!



Bob Weis
 
you guys need to show a little more will power and shoot for economy :-laf but I know how hard it is :(



just kicked outta 2 in favor of 9, fuel economy can wait :D
 
I've been following this thread form the start and it seems that this Smarty thing is quite the winner according to all that have posted so far. I know that there are many things that you guys have requested from Marco and perhaps he can work those into the Smarty upgrades in the future. I just wanted to add one more thing that I think would probably not be that difficult to add. How about a #11 setting that is a disable mode? I know it wouldn't be used all that much but if we were parking in an area that was questionable or had to leave our trucks for a while, we could load a disabling software into the ECM that would prevent the truck from running at all, and maybe even cranking if that is something the ECM controls. It could prevent any fueling at all, maybe just disable the LP circuit. It would be cheap insurance. Anyway just a thought
 
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