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leontilist
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Post subject: No MPG change, Belching Smoke & More Engine Noise  Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 3:24 pm |
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:49 pm
Posts: 15
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Hello,
I have a 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie Quad Cab with everything stock (new tires recently, though they are the same size as the original). The vehicle currently has about 39,000 miles on it with about 80% being highway/city miles and about 20% towing 6,000 to 8,000 pounds. I have kept track of mileage ever since purchase, so I have a good history of mileage with the normal for non-towing being about 13-16mpg and towing (in TOW/HAUL mode) is 6-8mpg.
I purchased the Flashpaq to try and gain some MPG increase and hopefully allow for more efficient use of the truck. I am not look to race with the truck and have been very content with the performance, both towing and not towing. Being a 1 ton, I have never felt unable to accelerate fast enough regardless of what is being pulled and definitely can take off when not towing. Long and short, I was hoping to enhance what I had with no negatives.
I have put in about 3,000 miles with about a 70/30 split between not towing/towing since using the Flashpaq. When towing I have used the Performance Towing program and when not towing, I am using the Performance program. I have split the towing time with entire tanks of fuel (to see the change in MPG) using Performance Towing or Performance Towing combined with Tow/Haul. Now onto why I have issues with the Flashpaq.
Since using the Flashpaq I have seen the following:
1) No change in MPG or if any, less than 1 MPG which can be attributed to a ton of factors other than the new program.
2) MUCH louder engine noise. The '06 Ram diesel is normally fairly quiet for a diesel and when using either program it is much more like the 'standard' older diesel sound.
3) Frequent 'belching' of black smoke while driving. This is exceptionally bad when needing to accelerate quickly, but occurs even during normal driving or towing. Without the change in program, there was no noticeable smoke - another nice feature in the '06 Ram.
4) No economy program in the Flashpaq despite it being shown in several promotional images for my vehicle.
I am preparing to return the Flashpaq, but wanted to see if there is something I am missing before doing so. Since I have a stock vehicle I doubt there are many variables I am missing, but figured it was worth a check first.
Thanks,
Chris Leonti
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
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RON @ SUPERCHIPS
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Post subject: Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:09 am |
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Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:41 am
Posts: 18248
Location: SUPERCHIPS
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This has not been a common complaint of the tuning.
Can you post your tuners serial number.
Ron
_________________ RRAPP@SUPERCHIPS.COM 1-888-227-2447 8-5 EST. Email me directly if your having ANY trouble with the forum. Not able to LOGIN, email me with your Username that you registered with.
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leontilist
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Post subject: Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:45 pm |
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:49 pm
Posts: 15
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Hello Ron,
I just sent a private message with the serial number. If you need any additional info, just let me know.
Thanks for the help,
Chris
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leontilist
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Post subject: Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:24 pm |
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:49 pm
Posts: 15
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Hello,
It has been a week since I passed along my serial number and I have not heard anything. During that week, I have returned to the stock setting and the noise and smoke belching have gone away. Since I have not heard back I am assuming that there is no solution for this and will get rid of the Flashpaq.
Thank you,
Chris
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RON @ SUPERCHIPS
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 9:16 am |
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Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:41 am
Posts: 18248
Location: SUPERCHIPS
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Please update the tuner and retry it on the truck, if you feel the same way about the tune, let me know.
Ron
_________________ RRAPP@SUPERCHIPS.COM 1-888-227-2447 8-5 EST. Email me directly if your having ANY trouble with the forum. Not able to LOGIN, email me with your Username that you registered with.
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leontilist
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:43 am |
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:49 pm
Posts: 15
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Hello,
Unless something has changed in the past week, there is nothing for me to update. I have downloaded updates a couple times during this process to ensure I have the optimal configuration with, but the version never changed. I am reluctant to reload the Flashpaq now as it can not be good for my engine to have such an increase in noice and smoke - especially when I don't get the MPG benefit which is the primary reason I purchased the Flashpaq.
Thanks,
Chris Leonti
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RON @ SUPERCHIPS
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:58 am |
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Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:41 am
Posts: 18248
Location: SUPERCHIPS
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Your files may have been effected by a clitch that happened in the early part of last week.
Mileage is not something we can gaurantee MPG with our products. It mostly depends on your driving habits.
Are you stacking this with another product?
Ron
_________________ RRAPP@SUPERCHIPS.COM 1-888-227-2447 8-5 EST. Email me directly if your having ANY trouble with the forum. Not able to LOGIN, email me with your Username that you registered with.
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leontilist
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:10 pm |
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:49 pm
Posts: 15
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Sorry if I am somehow being unclear - I have not loaded anything new in the past week. I had been using the Flashpaq programming - either performance or performance towing - until the time I sent the original post which was about a week ago. The Flashpaq was updated several times over the month in case there was something wrong, but nothing changed.
As noted in my original post, I tried using the Flashpaq for the better part of a month only experiencing the negatives stated other than a minor increase in off the line performance. As noted, I have been tracking the mileage for the entire life of the vehicle - almost 40,000 miles - so that was easy to compare. I also spend a large percentage of the time driving highway miles with the cruise set at the same speed so there is trivial variance in driving habits.
While you cannot guarantee MPG, I would expect that any tuning product would not cause the engine to run rougher, louder and blow smoke. I am not comparing to any other tuning product - just against stock. Long and short stock is easier on the engine and gives at least the same mileage if not better. I had no interest in higher off the line performance as I can burn my tires with the stock setting if I want and being a 1 ton I have a lot of power to spare when not towing.
Hope this clarifies the situation,
Chris Leonti
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RON @ SUPERCHIPS
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:57 pm |
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Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:41 am
Posts: 18248
Location: SUPERCHIPS
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1203240
According to this serial number you gave me the tuner has NOT been successfully updated since 11/26/06.
The tuning should not make a truck more noisey, or run rough.
Please update the tuner again and or check you serial number on the back of the tuner. Also to make sure can you look at your version of software in the (about) to see your version.
Ron
_________________ RRAPP@SUPERCHIPS.COM 1-888-227-2447 8-5 EST. Email me directly if your having ANY trouble with the forum. Not able to LOGIN, email me with your Username that you registered with.
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leontilist
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:06 pm |
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:49 pm
Posts: 15
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Hello,
Sorry I gave the wrong serial - it is 1254677. I have updated it with no change in function (I could not do any changes without the initial update). Regardless of what the tuning 'should not' do, I have had numerous folks ask what happened to my truck when I had the tuning on as it was so much noisier - they had no idea I was doing any modifications. Going back to stock returned functionality to normal - no more smoke, no rough idle, no loud engine. This device may work fine with earlier engines, but with my 2006 it definitely causes all of these issues.
Chris Leonti
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RON @ SUPERCHIPS
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:14 pm |
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Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 9:41 am
Posts: 18248
Location: SUPERCHIPS
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Database Version 60 November 08, 2007
Updated vehicle files
Lets make sure that the tuner you are using has the DB V60.
_________________ RRAPP@SUPERCHIPS.COM 1-888-227-2447 8-5 EST. Email me directly if your having ANY trouble with the forum. Not able to LOGIN, email me with your Username that you registered with.
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leontilist
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:17 am |
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:49 pm
Posts: 15
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Hello,
Could you let me know what changes were made in this DB that would effect my truck? From the release notes I could not tell any specifics and I am reluctant to risk my vehicle further without more detail.
Thanks,
Chris
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leontilist
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Post subject: Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:34 pm |
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:49 pm
Posts: 15
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I guess there are no specifics related to my make and model truck or I would have received a response. Without specifics I am not interested in further risking my vehicle as I have noise, rough idle and smoke when using any of the Flashpaq updates. If I am mistaken and there are defined changes to the configuration for my vehicle, I would entertain trying the Flashpaq again though.
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stevewix2000
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Post subject: Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:31 pm |
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Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:46 pm
Posts: 15
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my experience is if you're helpful, your issue WILL get resolved. You first must be willing to do what they ask. Not trying to be a jerk, just throwing in 2 cents from my experience.
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leontilist
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Post subject: Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:56 pm |
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Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:49 pm
Posts: 15
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Hello,
I appreciate the feedback, but am not sure how I am being a jerk. I will acknowledge getting frustrated though. My experience has been a little different than yours in addition to the noticeable issues the Flashpaq has caused with my truck. I have several queries just asking for recommendations on using the Flashpaq that were never answered at all and they were polite and simple. It seems to me that if you need detailed info, it is tough to get it.
That said, I have a device which noticably causes detrimental effects to a fairly expensive vehicle. I just want to know what changes have been made in the programming so I can make an informed decision on whether or not to risk using the Flashpaq again. Based on the release notes there is nothing specific to my vehicle, but since I am being advised to 'try again' I assume there is something not in the release notes. Blowing smoke along with loud rough engine running is not a good sign, so I don't think it is too much to ask for a little more detail before I risk my vehicle again.
I would like to find that my experience so far has been resolved and the Flashpaq will actually help my vehicle without the issues noted. The fact I am still trying to communicate after these issues and unanswered queries should show that I am trying in good faith to find a solution and not just be a problem.
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