pfbtyson

I ran into a guy that took his truck into the dealer a total of three times on the recommedation of a personal friend that is in the service department to have the ecm updated. The goal was better fuel mileage. Mission accomplished, he went from his 16-17 avg to a 20-23 average. I just wanted to know if anyone else has seen an improvement in there fuel mileage when simply they go in for a reflash on there truck. His truck was an 05 auto 5.9. Like I said it took the dealer three times to get the milage to where it is now. I just wonder if you pressed the dealer hard enough or complained about bad enough fuel milage they have an ace up their sleeve us common folk don't always know about. (I'm kind of a conspiracy theory guy) Anyways your thoughts or comments on this.

NickBeek

As far as I know when the dealer updates your ECM they only have the option to update it to the latest revision.

pfbtyson

You would think so but it also seems that similar trucks with similar driving styles reported are seeing such a large degree of mpg. Even guys with stock trucks seem to report a variety of fuel mileage with the same driving habits. I just have a hard time believing a guy that says he is getting 21-22-23 in the same truck that a guy will only get 14 or 15 mpg. If they have close to the same driving style and same style truck, then what gives. Do people inflate their chest that much?

supersonictoys

took my truck in to be flashed and was told it could only be flashed to the latest revisions which it was . my over head read higher after but mileage was the same when hand calced.

Colo_River_Ram

The flash helped the mileage and starting as well

NickBeek

To answer one of your questions.....YES guys will lie about fuel economy! My personal best mileage has been 21.45mpg (one time) I have several 20's many 19's and my life time running average over 66K miles is 17.566. Also my lowest mileage (one time) was 9.7 mpg pulling my camper. Every truck seems to be an individual, and there are so many factors that affect mileage that it is hard to nail down all the issues. I have seen a 2 mpg increase by switching where I fuel my truck.

My truck is running the programming it left the factory with, and I don't see myself updating it anytime soon. I had a bad experience with my last truck ('04 Ferd) and reflashing it. I went in with a driveability issue and they flashed it and I lost mileage and performance. Thus I am reluctant to have this truck flashed when I can get decent mileage and it pulls really well. When I had injector issues the wiz bang tech wanted to flash my truck and I outright told him he would do no such thing. Turns out I was right, injectors replaced engine runs great.

VADSLRAM

It COULD help.
The ECM has a possibility of program creep that flashing could fix. I was told the the Cummins chip actually adapted itself (to better fit current conditions)but I can't confirm that.
If changing the fueling / injection timing didn't have some effect then all the aftermarket chip manufacturers would be out of business.

cincydiesel

Im a little scared of having the reflashes myself. I like my truck the way it is... I've heard the flashes can cause the truck not to respond well with programers and chips. I like my Edge J/A to much to possibly screw things up

panheadindy

Flashes helped the milage in my truck. Thats the upside. The downside was right after I have experienced long crank times that are random cold or hot. The started right after the flash and I wont go back to that dealer again. When I find a dealer I am more comfortable with I will take it for probably yet another flash to try to correct the last one. My overhead was always pretty close on milage until after the flash. Even city driving it will read 19 - 20mpg. Hand calc I run 15.7mpg pretty steady sometimes cross over 16 and down to 14mpg. Highway trips unloaded are much better. Depending on how I drive it (60 or under) I have a best of 25mpg but I followed a semi for hundreds of miles. My average highway is 21mpg @ 65mph. I am pretty happy with that for a brick with 4.10's.

The best mod for better milage is air those tires up and drive reasonable. I run mine at 80psi.
I also run 2 stroke oil 1oz to 1gal fuel. I have ditched the muffler and fabricated a 4" cold air intake tied into stock air box. Gutted the torque tube but left the turning vanes in along with the silencer ring.