I am waiting on a Superchips programmer and got to wondering if I need to get a boost fooler too. I'm still new to the diesel world and really don't know what the contributions of the fooler are. I do not rag my truck or take it anywhere close to redline, I just want a little more power while towing my TT (8000 lbs). To get the benefits of the fooler do you have to wind up the motor? Just don't want to spend any money if I don't have to. Can someone please give me a "dummies 101" course on what the fooler does and the advantages of it.

 

If you see your exhaust temps getting into the red zone, you'll have to find a way to keep the turbo wastegate closed longer,
if you do this, the ECM will see the increased boost, and turn down the fuel to compensate.
A boost fooler fakes out the signal from the MAP sensor (boost sensor) so the ECM doesn't see the higher boost,
so it doesn't turn down the fuel.

If you don't have exhaust temp problems, then no, you won't need a boost fooler.


phox

 

I did a search and saw where some said a fooler would make it pull harder. Besides the lowering exhaust temp does it make it run better as well?

 

More air to burn the extra fuel is what makes it pull harder,
the boost fooler alone won't do this, but keeping the wastegate from opening at 20psi will.
If you're not seeing excessive EGT's, then you don't have the extra fuel to need the extra air.


phox

 

I'm following you now. So when I install the superchips and if I see my EGT's get too high, I can put on a fooler and it will bring down my EGT's plus let the truck run like it needs to on whatever setting I have it on. Is this correct?

On edit - the superchips does not have a built in fooler.

 

Right, no boost fooler built into the superchips program.

The boost fooler works in conjunction with blocking the wastegate,
you need a boost elbow or the J-hook/spring to keep the wastegate from opening at 20psi, then the boost fooler can do it's job.

If you're not set on the superchips, the Edge EZ has a built in boost fooler,
or the Smarty programmer has removed the boost limits from the ECM.


phox

 

I've already got the superchips on the way and I got a real good deal on it to boot so I will probably keep it. More than likely the only setting I will have it on will be 1. I'm kind of paranoid about tearing stuff up. Thanks Phox.

 

I have a Superchips programmer, and a boost fooler installed. I have also installed the BD power "J-Hook".

Here's my understanding of what happens when you run the Superchips programmer. The programmer adds fuel, which makes more power and more exhaust earlier. This added fuel spins the turbo up fastre, and it reaches maximum boost faster. The ECM reads that the turbo has reached max factory set pressure (via the MAP sensor), and defuels which cuts the boost by taking it's exhaust supply away.

When you drive the truck right to the floor, it gets to 2700-2800 RPM in a hurry, then kinda "falls on it's face" (due to defueling due to excess boost), shifts, and scoots again. The boost fooler does not allow the ECM to "see" the higher boost levels from the MAP sensor (MAP = manifold air pressure), and therefore doesn't defuel. The J-Hook I added is a spring device that keeps the wastegate closed longer. The wastegate is the device that mechanically limits the amount of boost by allowing exhaust gasses to bypass the turbine wheel in the drive side of the turbo that drives the intake side of the turbo via the common shaft. Doesn't make a whole lotta sense to me to not allow the engine to "see" the higher boost if the wastegate is just bleeding it off anyway.

So, here's a summary:
- Boost fooler = electronic device that allows extra boost
- J-Hook = mechanical device that allows the extra boost to be used

Note that the J-hook is only used on auto trans trucks of our vintage. If you had a handshaker, you would need a "boost elbow" which does the same thing as the J-Hook.

 

If I don't plan on running my truck over 2300 rpm's do I still need a fooler? I get real nervous getting it over 2500 when redline is 3400(?). Will it hurt these motor to run them at these rpm's for extended periods? I pull between 62-65 and my rpm's are 1700 in od or 2400 in 3rd. Will the fooler benefit me?

 

Well hell, I just ordered a fooler and j-hook http://secure.usdieselparts.com/more...oduct_ID=57044

I figured I would not be satisfied without it so I went just did it. Maybe I'll need it, maybe not. Thanks for your replys guys. I plan on towing at the end of the month and I will post my impressions when I return.