Cummins Programmer

[flyboy103]

I've got a 04 Cummins i'm looking to get a programmer for and am looking for some advice. I'm only looking for between 60 and 90 HP, but would like to see as much mileage increase as possible. Right now I'm debating between the Diablo Sport Predator, and the Smarty. The Diablo is over 300 bucks cheaper, but i really don't know much about it. I've heard good things about the smarty, but if i can get what i'm looking for out of the Diablo i would rather save the money. Any info?

 

[Megadeth]

Get the Smarty Jr. if you're just looking for 60-90.

Linky for info

 

[Nelson]

I've run the Predator and it is junk stay away from it. The Smarty is almost the best way to go, The MADS company (which makes the Smarty) has put a lot of research into the 5.9 with these tuners, but on a stock truck I would not recommend running the Smarty Senior it is a 10 stage programmer capable up to 170hp (#0-half power,#1-30hp,#2-60hp/no timing,#3-60hp/added timing,#4-90hp/no timing,#5-90hp/added timing,#6-130hp/no timing,#7-130hp/added timing,#8-170hp/no timing,#9-130hp/added timing). The Smarty jr. seems to be what you are more than likely looking for, it is a 3 stage 50hp,75hp,100hp programmer which is very affordable. I have tested all these chips and the Smarty is the way to go. As of late however I am currently running the Bullydog Triple Power Pup on my 07 5.9 Cummins and have seen the best fuel mileage with it. I have run many different chips/programmers, stacked and individual on my 04.5 5.9L Cummins and the Smarty works great on that motor.

 

[clarkee75]

I too have a 04 Cummins and have a Edge EZ chip helping her out. I am getting about 25 mpg on the highway as long as you dont get to heavy with your foot. I suggest that whatever you put on your truck you should spend the extra cash and put a EGT guage in at the very least. Exhaust gets hot when you pour the coal to her on stage 3 with my Edge EZ. Good luck and ALL THAT SMOKE DONT MEAN SHE'S BROKE!!!!

 

[kayceeWY]

if your truck isn't the HO eng, i have a used edge ez i took out of my old truck before i sold it and then i bought a lly duramax so its no good to me. ill sell it to you for really cheap if you want it, let me know. it was a good chip for mileage, not any huge power, but unless your going to put guages in, u dont want any bigger chip than the ez or youll be burnin er down.

 

[flyboy103]

I guess i failed to mention that the pickup is straitpiped, and i have a K&N intake on it. The Smarty Jr. is looking like the way to go for me. How far would i safely dare to go on the power setting without gauges??? I was kinda leaning on the idea of a programmer rather than a chip because i have 33's on it and wouldn't mind getting the speedo showing the right speed again.

 

[kayceeWY]

i know if i was pulling, with my o3 with straight pipe an afe intake, an banks bighead wastegate, i could only run level 2 on the ez which is like 70 hp i think, an on the hills the pyro would start getting pretty warm.

 

[Megadeth]

How much towing do you do? How big is your trailer? If you tow very little and its a little two place I wouldnt worry about guages and stick to level 1 or 2, but if its bigger than a two place get gauages to be safe.


also - be careful with the K&N I've heard the oil can get pulled through the filter and sucked into the engine

 

[flyboy103]

My sled trailer is a 24' enclosed v-nose. It gets hooked to a 32 ft. gooseneck flatbed now and then with some pretty good loads but not real often. The couple hundred bucks for some gauges are starting to sound like a good investment.

 

[Luke The Drifter]

Question, is it a 305hp/555tq or a 325hp/600tq engine? The smarty is kinda hit and miss with the 305 version. I run the diablosport on mine and love it, not a problem with it to date. But before you do anything, get a pyrometer and boost gauge going at least. I hate to read another thread going along the lines of "I blew up my truck with my programmer"..."What were you EGTs and boost #s?"..."Uhhhh...".

The predator isn't a junk programmer like some would lead you to believe. Don't get me wrong the smarty works really well from what I've seen and heard but for the 305 engine its kinda iffy.

 

[Arctic Thunder]

I have a bully dog power pup on my 04.5 cummins.

The one thing I really like is the outlook monitor. As most everyone knows you can set the defuel EGT temps and really just drive it without watching the gauges real close. It just starts cutting the fuel back when I hit the limit.

Like other said in the tow or performance settings I can tow my open four place all over the northwest in 6th gear without getting to out of line on temps. But in the extreme settings it will climb out of control if I push it at all.

So again I really like the control of the outlook monitor.

I can't drive it anymore without the controler. It's a dog.

Thunder

 

[Nelson]

X2 with the Bullydog like I said. I am also running the Outlook Monitor with pre and post turbo EGT's they are a must when running anything more than 65hp. The Smarty jr. you can run on the third setting without problems that is where the best fuel gain were with mine. I also ran triple gauges and towed my 07 Dodge 2500 Cummins home with the 04.5 Cummins on the third setting without heating up, I just took it easy. The Smarty does run cooler EGT's. I ran a Quadzilla boost fooler, Triple Gauges, K&N Intake kit which BTW is also junk go with the AFE or the Bullydog intake, and an MBRP 5" turbo back exhaust with my Smarty jr. on the third setting.

 

[flyboy103]

Mine is a early 04 (305/555).

 

[Nelson]

We set up an 03 Dodge 2500 Cummins (305/555) 5spd manual with an ATS Aurora 3000 turbo, Banks SIX Gun w/Power PDA, Banks 4" Turbo Back dual outlet Exhaust w/5" tips, Banks Big Hoss Bundle w/High Ram, AFE stageII air intake, and South Bend Clutch and Flywheel (13" converted from 12.25" for hp), 90hp Dynamite injectors going in this spring and the owner is thinking about possibly installing a FASS fuel system which is TBD. This Truck runs awesome! No the truck hasn't been put on a dyno so I don't know what its running for horsepower and troque, would be nice to know. I'm still trying to convince him.

 

[Megadeth]

We set up an 03 Dodge 2500 Cummins (305/555) 5spd manual with an ATS Aurora 3000 turbo, Banks SIX Gun w/Power PDA, Banks 4" Turbo Back dual outlet Exhaust w/5" tips, Banks Big Hoss Bundle w/High Ram, AFE stageII air intake, and South Bend Clutch and Flywheel (13" converted from 12.25" for hp), 90hp Dynamite injectors going in this spring and the owner is thinking about possibly installing a FASS fuel system which is TBD. This Truck runs awesome! No the truck hasn't been put on a dyno so I don't know what its running for horsepower and troque, would be nice to know. I'm still trying to convince him.

He's running upgraded turbo and injectors without a better lift pump? and why the Six gun? he obviously is wanting to make power why would he go with the most conservative programmer?

also they're all 6 speeds from 02 on..

 

[Nelson]

Injection pump will be done when the injectors get added, More than likely an Industrial Injection modified CP3 will be going in it. It has a BD Diesel 100gph Lift Pump bypass kit in it right know. No pump work is needed yet but its border line now. You are correct I miss printed 6spd is what it has with the reverse on the RH side. He had the 6 Gun chip already so we left it in.

 

[Chubby]

Smarty Best there is for dodge! Need a price Let me know. My boys 04.5 Just did 489 hp to the rear wheels with just a Air dog 5 inch ex and a smarty. We sell lots of them

 

[flyboy103]

I'm also still running the stock clutch and just wondering what kind of power i can look at that standing up to. It's got 95,000 mi. on it but i've owned it since new and have been pretty easy on it. Also i've heard that the 04 clutch is a little better than the newer ones, any truth to that??

 

[JSCC]

Smarty Best there is for dodge! Need a price Let me know. My boys 04.5 Just did 489 hp to the rear wheels with just a Air dog 5 inch ex and a smarty. We sell lots of them

^^^^^True this! I just wish my Ford had nearly the throttle response my Cummins has with the Smarty.
On my 07' 5.9, I tried Edge, Bully Dog, and then bought the Smarty. The Bully dog worked good, just got hot. The Smarty is great on this pickup.
On my 05', our Edge works really good too. I put the Smarty on it to see how it would perform, and it was just marginally better on it. So I left the Edge box on it.
While I had the Bully dog on my truck, less than 4 months, I went through 4 Outlook Monitors! Not so sure about there quality control.

 

[JSCC]

I'm also still running the stock clutch and just wondering what kind of power i can look at that standing up to. It's got 95,000 mi. on it but i've owned it since new and have been pretty easy on it. Also i've heard that the 04 clutch is a little better than the newer ones, any truth to that??

This depends on how much your pulling. With a Smarty, the low end is NUTS! It will spin your clutch fast if your not careful. Heck, I blew my G56 up with the Smarty on the 120hp setting. Southbend FE clutch dont let go, the tranny did.

In all honesty, buy the Smarty, put it on the lowest setting for torque, then when you can upgrade other parts, you will have a programmer that can grow with you. I can guaranfreakingtee you will be happy with the Smarty.