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Bully Dog Tuner and FFV

Discussion in 'Performance and Tuning' started by TruckyTruck, Dec 14, 2015.

  1. Dec 14, 2015 at 8:20 PM
    #1
    TruckyTruck

    TruckyTruck [OP] Dumbest Username

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    Ive got a bit of information that FFV owners thinking about running a BD tuner should know.

    Just a brief run down on my trucks history. I recently had some pretty bad rough starts and bad gas mileage due to my trucks ecu thinking I was running ethanol. I verified this with an app called torque and an obd reader. I also had a bullydog tuner installed.

    I removed the tune and went to the dealer to see if they could help my problem, which they did. There was an update for FFV with a new algorithm that kept the truck from thinking it was running ethanol when it wasn't. (I've never run e85 and never will btw.) This particular ecu code ends in 600 and the one that was on my truck ended in 400. The mechanic said my trucks update was old by two programs ago. They flashed the ecu and my truck not only felt like it had more power, but I was almost avg 14 mpg. (My truck is lifted and each one of my tires weighs 81 pounds, just for reference.)

    So after some time, I was able to install my BD tuner. It was afterwards that I got to thinking and thought to look at the programming code on my torque app. Low and behold... It showed a program code ending in 400. (Yes, I was almost sick to my stomach seeing this.)

    I decided to call Bullydog and ask them for help. They told me they were a tuning company and would of course have the most updated programming. It took me some time to get thru the mans thick skull that they didn't. He finally agreed that he needed to get what I was telling him to their engineers and helped me download the most recent 2014 flex fuel flash that they had. I flashed the new tune and it was still ending in 400.

    My truck is still not reading any ethanol and is running fine, but I feel like the next cold snap we have down here will probably knock it back to thinking its on e85. Another thing I forgot to mention is the program ending in 600 from Toyota, apparently disables the high flow side of our fuel pumps. They have three sides and when the truck thinks it's running e85, it blasts the truck with fuel and creates an extremely rich running condition if you are using regular fuel. The truck needs a lot of e85 when/if you use e85, hence the large fuel injectors and 3 speed fuel pump on ffv trucks.

    Hopefully BD will get the updated tune for our trucks. I'll be checking with them regularly. But if mine decides it thinks it's running e85 again, I may have to visit the dealer.

    Anyway, I don't think BD is a bad company and I really enjoyed the extra bump in power and shifting that the tuner provided. But, this is just to let other ffv owners know. It does no good to have extra power, if you can't depend on your truck to run right 100% of the time.

    I'll update here when/if they get the updated tune. If it's too long, I may just go ask the dealer to re flash my truck and be done with it.
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2015
    tat2ude39 likes this.
  2. Dec 15, 2015 at 4:18 AM
    #2
    Virgils12

    Virgils12 New Member

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    Nice write trucky and good looking out.
     
    Relentless and TruckyTruck[OP] like this.
  3. Dec 15, 2015 at 5:56 AM
    #3
    Nit2wn

    Nit2wn New Member

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    Nice to know, I ended up with a 2013 flex fuel before I researched them. I've been wanting a little more out of the truck, but unless SCT comes up with something or Bullydog gets better reviews I'll stay stock and look for an intake upgrade and maybe a high flow muffler.
     
  4. Dec 15, 2015 at 2:43 PM
    #4
    TruckyTruck

    TruckyTruck [OP] Dumbest Username

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    Save your money and skip the intake... The stock one with the stock paper filter is best.
     
    Nit2wn[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Dec 22, 2015 at 8:11 AM
    #5
    TruckyTruck

    TruckyTruck [OP] Dumbest Username

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    Well a couple weeks ago the truck decided it was running e85 again. I brought it into the dealer and they flashed it back to the 600 programming. Looks like I'll just do headers and be done messing with the ecu. Ill either hang onto the tuner in case they ever get the updated flex fuel programming or sell the tuner to a member with a non flex fuel truck. Too bad, I really enjoyed this thing.
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2015
  6. Dec 22, 2015 at 8:36 AM
    #6
    tacouser

    tacouser New Member

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    I did't think Bully Dog made a turner for the Tundra. They don't list one on their web page for Toyota.
     
  7. Dec 22, 2015 at 9:24 AM
    #7
    tat2ude39

    tat2ude39 MYota

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    Hey Gary... What OBD did you buy? Even though I have a 2015, could that tune not be the 600? Will the dealership do the flash for free? Ever since I tried the Hypertech Interceptor, I think my ecu may be confused too. Had the engine light come on twice, with and without it giving me O2 sensor codes. The light ended up going off now a few days ago, but my mpg was around 13 before, now it's just over 11.

    On a side note, did you finish up your exhaust yet?
     
    TruckyTruck[OP] likes this.
  8. Dec 22, 2015 at 10:27 AM
    #8
    TruckyTruck

    TruckyTruck [OP] Dumbest Username

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    Yep, but if you've got a flex fuel, I would hold off on buying one until they have the newest ffv programming. I used to have a hypertech and looking back on it, think I would rather have it instead.
     
  9. Dec 22, 2015 at 10:47 AM
    #9
    TruckyTruck

    TruckyTruck [OP] Dumbest Username

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    Your truck probably doesn't have the updated programming. Yes they will definitely give you the update for free. I'm sure they do updates at no charge thru the warranty period, maybe longer.

    I haven't finished my exhaust yet unfortunately. I hate it, but the wife and I decided to pay off her SUV and my truck in 2016. It's going to mean heavy payments, but the very month I pay this truck off I'll finish the exhaust, update my suspension and color match my bumpers. I'm telling myself it will be more satisfying to spend money on my truck once it's paid for.
     
    T-Rex266 and tat2ude39[QUOTED] like this.
  10. Dec 22, 2015 at 10:53 AM
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    TruckyTruck

    TruckyTruck [OP] Dumbest Username

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    tat2ude39 likes this.
  11. Dec 22, 2015 at 11:02 AM
    #11
    tat2ude39

    tat2ude39 MYota

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  12. Dec 22, 2015 at 11:06 AM
    #12
    TruckyTruck

    TruckyTruck [OP] Dumbest Username

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    Yes it will tell you the version, at least on the torque app it will and that's the one you want. It gives your air to fuel ratios and everything TOYOTA can read on their computers. It will also give hp and tq numbers.
     
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  13. Dec 22, 2015 at 12:07 PM
    #13
    tat2ude39

    tat2ude39 MYota

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    Which Torque App did you choose, there's a lot of them.
     
  14. Dec 22, 2015 at 12:11 PM
    #14
    TruckyTruck

    TruckyTruck [OP] Dumbest Username

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    Torque Pro on Android
     
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  15. Mar 18, 2016 at 3:02 PM
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    TruckyTruck

    TruckyTruck [OP] Dumbest Username

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    Just an update: I finally convinced one of the, "gatekeepers", technical support guys at Bullydog that our trucks actually have different versions of programming and that they don't all just work off of one giant modified program. He finally went and spoke with an engineer, and there is only one, that is working on tundra programming. When he got back on the line, he informed me that Bullydog now has the program for 2nd gen trucks ending in 600 and that a tune will be released in approximately a month with this TOYOTA part version. I was almost ready to sell my tuner to a non flex fuel member, but I'm pretty happy to say I'll be able to keep it.

    This newest program works perfectly in keeping the truck from not going into Ethanol mode when it shouldn't be.

    This is pretty damn important if you own a ffv tundra and want to run a bullydog tuner.

    There is also another thing to consider... The new Magnuson SC's come with a bullydog tuner for flashing the SC tune to your ffv Tundra.

    This particular tune is not yet available for our trucks, but unless the part number they use ends in 600, the truck will eventually think it's running Ethanol... And you can guess how that might be bad in combination with a charger.

    Anyway, I'm hopeful they will take care of business now that they have that new part number/tune.
     
  16. Aug 30, 2017 at 5:18 AM
    #16
    OBXTundra

    OBXTundra Member

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    Bit of an old thread, but this is the exact topic that I need to discuss.

    Does anyone have direct experience with the Bully Dog BDX tuner on a 2010+ Flex-Fuel 5.7? Google searches net me a mixed bag of "it will 100% work" all the way to "it will reduce your truck to ashes". Apparently the issue was that BD's tuning would not allow the truck to freely cycle between Flex-fuel and 87, or any ratio in between, something that the flex-fuel tundras are able to do on their own. If FF was introduced, the BD tuner would essentially lock the truck in FF mode. Then when regular unleaded was run again, the truck would not cycle back to non-FF mode, dumping fuel into the engine (running excessively rich).

    I have received responses from BD tech support, the response gives me a little more confidence, but I would really like to hear from some members that have a Bully Dog installed on their Flex-fuel Tundra. I am specifically looking at the BDX, but the GT supports the same tunes.

    Thanks
     
  17. Aug 31, 2017 at 6:55 AM
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    OBXTundra

    OBXTundra Member

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    BUMP,

    No one has a flex fuel 5.7 with a Bully Dog GT or BDX on it?
    No real world experience on this topic?
    I expected there to be a few who either have it or have at least tried it.
     
  18. Aug 31, 2017 at 8:47 AM
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    boardude

    boardude I am Batman

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    I'm running a BD GT on a 15 FFV. I only run 87 or 91 and update the tune accordingly. I won't touch the "E85" out here in AZ. I'm running LT headers and last time I had it dyno'd my AFR at WOT was 12.4
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2017
  19. Aug 31, 2017 at 8:49 AM
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    SW72

    SW72 New Member

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    Ha Ha, I have the BDX and 2013 5.7FFV...but I haven't installed it yet. Nor have I ever run any fuel other than 87 octane. I hope to get 'round to is soon though. Seems like the issues you read about were years ago. I was under the impression they got em worked out...
     
  20. Sep 1, 2017 at 5:59 AM
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    OBXTundra

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    I believe the issues have been resolved as well, but there is nothing definitive that I can find. Bully Dog's email response was vague and didn't directly address my question. Vendors don't want to take responsibility by saying that it will work, mainly because they don't know either. BD interpreted my question to mean "will i see specific performance improvements from running E85 with their tuner", when my real question is "will the truck still be able to think for itself and determine when it is filled with unleaded or E85?". I tried to clarify that with BD, but still got a vague, roundabout, answer that didn't give me the confidence I need to pull the trigger.

    I am waiting for a member to respond with a 10-13 FFV who has a BDX installed and randomly runs E85. Until then, I'll wait. I'm not trying to be the guinea pig. I'm almost an hour away from the Toyota dealer if the ECM were to require a reflash, and I despise going to the dealer for anything.

    I mainly want the BD for the improved transmission logic.
     

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