What's the best performance chip for a Denali?

[Denalix5]

I have an 04 Denali and I was wondering what performance chips are available to upgrade the performance. I just want a little bit of improvement but not enough to lower my gas mileage significantly. I also want to be sure the process is easily reversible so I can remove it when I take it in for service. Don't want to void the warranty.

[Eggert]

Hi, there are several brands, CORRECTION: I have the Superchips - not Hypertech - programmer, as it allows for tuning to towing performance as well as 87 octan and 91 octan street performance. It also does tranny shifts and wheel size.
Do you already have a K+N cold air intake?
Take care, Eggert

[tonytone]

If you hadn't mentioned about ease of reversability being a requirement, I woulda suggested a Westers (or Nelsons) custom PCM tune; yes, it is quite a bit more expensive than a handheld, but definitely offers more in return, both in fuel economy and performance. FWIW--as far as warranty issues are concerned unless the service tech knew exactly what changes were made (which would mean he would have to know what the exact original parameters were for a particular vehicle in the first place), a Westers PCM reprogram/tune is undetectable even by a Tech II tool used by your typical service dept. tech...

[Denalix5]

Originally Posted by Eggert

Hi, there are several brands, I have the Hypertech programmer, as it allows for tuning to towing performance as well as 87 octan and 91 octan street performance. It also does tranny shifts and wheel size.
Do you already have a K+N cold air intake?
Take care, Eggert

Thanks for the info on the Hypertech. I'll do some research on it.
And no, I don't have a K+N cold air intake. I do mostly city driving during the week. Will K+N improve my gas mileage or performance?

[Eggert]

Hi,
yes and yes.
The cold air intake usually is the first step, then the programmer, then - may be - a free flow exhaust IF YOU CAN STAND THE RACKET. I could not and had my flowmaster taken back off.

Here is the link for the K+N 6.0 liter
http://www.knfilterchargers.com/sear...Prod=57-3023-1

By the way, I am thinking of getting a Whipple supercharger and therefore won't need mine, so email me at [email protected] if you want my hypertech and K+N, used last summer for 3 months towing my camper. I even have an upper radiator shroud so you do not have to cut yours for the air intake.
Take care, Eggert

[YukonGMC]

Eggert

Don't you have to change the thermostat in the 5.3 Vortec when using the Hypertech ?

[Eggert]

Hi,
I have no cooling problems with the 6.0 liter engine towing a 10,000 lbs camper up and down some decent grades in New England.

Hypertech has the following option on some programmers, on GM for Camaros and Corvettes but not for GMC trucks.
Cooling Fan On/Off Temperatures
Permits use of low-temperature thermostat for cooler, denser intake charge and lower engine operating temperature.

Both the stock and the K+N air intakes get the cold air from outside of the hot engine compartment. This used to be different on passenger cars with the air filter on top of the engine.
Take care, Eggert

[Denalix5]

Originally Posted by Eggert

Hi,
yes and yes.
The cold air intake usually is the first step, then the programmer, then - may be - a free flow exhaust IF YOU CAN STAND THE RACKET. I could not and had my flowmaster taken back off.

Here is the link for the K+N 6.0 liter
http://www.knfilterchargers.com/sear...Prod=57-3023-1

By the way, I am thinking of getting a Whipple supercharger and therefore won't need mine, so email me at [email protected] if you want my hypertech and K+N, used last summer for 3 months towing my camper. I even have an upper radiator shroud so you do not have to cut yours for the air intake.
Take care, Eggert

After installing the hypertech programming did you see a significant increase in horsepower and acceleration? How did it effect your MPG? Does the K& N filter system actually help your MPG? I do primarily city driving and usually get only 12mpg so I don't really want to reduce my MPG expecially with the fuel prices going up.

As for the exhaust upgrade, I live in a nice neighborhood and don't really want to have my neighbors hear me coming from a block a way so I decided against the exhaust upgrade.

[tonytone]

Originally Posted by Denalix5

As for the exhaust upgrade, I live in a nice neighborhood and don't really want to have my neighbors hear me coming from a block a way so I decided against the exhaust upgrade.

Yeah, you only want them to just watch you blaze through the neighborhood... j/k

[Eggert]

Hi,
programmers are reversible. They save your current programming in the unit and then download their programming into your vehicle. You return to stock before giving it to the dealer. If you reprogram afterward, it will save the current program into the unit, including any updates the dealer may have done.
I did not notice decreased gas mileage.
With my 6 liter engine and 4.10 rear end the gas mileage is kind of optional anyways... 14 highway, 10 city, 7 towing.
I did not buy this thing to save gas. For that I would have gotten a short 1500 with a long rear end ratio and a small 4.8 or 5.0 liter engine.
That obviously has only 'adequate' performance.
My YXL K2500 weighs 6,600 lbs with me and a full tank, as weighed at the town dump scale.
K+N claim:
+ 14HP @ 5,000 RPM
CORRECTION Superchips - not Hypertech - claim:
+ 27HP @ 5,600 RPM
+ 34 ft/lbs @3,500 RPM

Combined +41HP and + may be 45 ft/lbs.
This is about a 20% increase in both. Not bad for no engine modification.
If I remember right, both together cost me $600.

As for gas mileage, with everything staying the same, you only get more performance by burning more gas.
There is one most efficient fuel to air ratio. The mass airflow sensor sitting in the snorkel behind the air filter will tell the computer how much air is coming in. The amount of gas injected is depending on your gas foot and some other measurements, including the mapping of parameters in the engine management program. So if you floor it, the increased amount of air from the less restrictive K+N filter will let the MAF tell the computer to use more gas, giving more power.
The Superchips programmer changes the map and eases some restrictions in what GM call torque management. It also can utilize the higher knock resistance of 91 octane fuel, if you choose to use that. It has 3 settings: 87 octan, 91 octan towing, 91 octan power.
Hope this helps. Take care, Eggert

[Denalix5]

Originally Posted by Eggert

Hi,
programmers are reversible. They save your current programming in the unit and then download their programming into your vehicle. You return to stock before giving it to the dealer. If you reprogram afterward, it will save the current program into the unit, including any updates the dealer may have done.
I did not notice decreased gas mileage.
With my 6 liter engine and 4.10 rear end the gas mileage is kind of optional anyways... 14 highway, 10 city, 7 towing.
I did not buy this thing to save gas. For that I would have gotten a short 1500 with a long rear end ratio and a small 4.8 or 5.0 liter engine.
That obviously has only 'adequate' performance.
My YXL K2500 weighs 6,600 lbs with me and a full tank, as weighed at the town dump scale.
K+N claim:
+ 14HP @ 5,000 RPM
CORRECTION Superchips - not Hypertech - claim:
+ 27HP @ 5,600 RPM
+ 34 ft/lbs @3,500 RPM

Combined +41HP and + may be 45 ft/lbs.
This is about a 20% increase in both. Not bad for no engine modification.
If I remember right, both together cost me $600.

As for gas mileage, with everything staying the same, you only get more performance by burning more gas.
There is one most efficient fuel to air ratio. The mass airflow sensor sitting in the snorkel behind the air filter will tell the computer how much air is coming in. The amount of gas injected is depending on your gas foot and some other measurements, including the mapping of parameters in the engine management program. So if you floor it, the increased amount of air from the less restrictive K+N filter will let the MAF tell the computer to use more gas, giving more power.
The Superchips programmer changes the map and eases some restrictions in what GM call torque management. It also can utilize the higher knock resistance of 91 octane fuel, if you choose to use that. It has 3 settings: 87 octan, 91 octan towing, 91 octan power.
Hope this helps. Take care, Eggert

Thanks for the offer of you K& N system, but if I go that route I want to get the 77 series CAI with the chrome intake tube. But first I have to decide whether I go with the K&N system or the volant CAI. Why did you choose the K&N system over the volant system? The volant CAI looks like it uses a closed box for the filter. It looks like it would stay cleaner but would probably decrease the amount of air flow. WHat do you think?

[Eggert]

Hi,
I did not get the chrome intake tube to stay consistent with everything else under the hood being black plastic. Nobody sees it anyways, unlike rims or tailpipes.
When you close the hood then the K+N filter also sits in a closed box. The air comes in through slots from the passenger side fender well. I would think that any air intake system is designed with the right amount of airflow.
Take care, Eggert