Hello to all,
I am hoping some one can give me some advice on my 2005 International 7300 with a Dt466e. It has a gvw of 32k and a combination gvw of 58k. We regularly move from 30k to 45k pounds. My problem is that I don't have enough power to move this kind of weight.
The engine is set from the factory at 245hp. I'd like to get it to about 325 if I could. The truck has a 4x4 Allison 5 speed automatic. It is a 3500RDS series. The rugged duty series are rated to handle 80k pounds, so no fear of damages to driveline.
I do have the bigger cooling components, not the smaller ones that are found on the Dt466 rated at 195 or 225hp.
My question is, how do I get more power out this engine? Take it to my IH dealer and reprogram? Or do the power modules or chips that are available for the Dt466 actually work? I can find a number of them for sale, but cannot find anyone that has real world experience that can tell me if they work or just a waste of money...
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! This truck is almost not safe to try to merge onto an interstate while pulling a trailer 😨

I believe ECU tuning is your best bet.
I can't remember the website but it's something like heavy truck tuners .com

I may be tuning a 2000 DT466e with 195hp in a few days. I imagine they would be similar and could possibly help you out.

@Jasong
I wasnt able to find the website you referenced.

@jr2185
Please let me know where you went and how you make out! Any info from someone who has done it would be great!

I did go to my International dealer and ask them to turn it up for me. I got some info today. They gave me a couple of options:
the truck is currently at 245hp.
Option #1 -- 255hp, no physical changes
Option #2 -- 265hp, need to replace top piston rings
Option #3 -- 285hp, need to replace top piston rings
Option #4 -- 300hp, need to replace top piston rings, hi pressure oil pump, and transmission!!!

I told them, ok maybe I would go for the 285hp option. How much would it cost? They said the ecm flash is $300 for any option, a new plate for on the engine is $100 for any option. As for the top piston rings, they said because it is a high hour engine (12,000hrs) they won't do the piston rings without doing a full overhaul/rebuild. Not what I had in mind but they are supposed to get back to me with pricing on that.

I don't remember all the torque numbers but it is currently rated at 620 ft/lbs. The 285hp option would take it to 820 ft/lbs.

Does any one know what kind of increase in speed I would see trying to lug a trailer uphill with an extra 40hp and 200 ft/lbs torque? Would it be very noticeable? If it goes up the hill at 30 mph now would it do 35? 45?

I'm not sure what 200 extra ft/lbs torque would do but it seems like it might be substantial...???

I will post back when i get the numbers on the engine rebuild...

If anyone has any insights or opinions, please chime in...
Thanks!

If you're due for a rebuild, that alone would help.
How bad is the cylinder blowby?

I was planning on doing the tuning myself for a customer. He hasn't made up his mind yet whether he wants it or not. Send me a pm if you are interested. I saw you are also from PA.

Well International wants $22k for an engine rebuild so that is completely out of the question.

I dont think I am due for a rebuild. The engine does have 12k hours but I didnt notice any smoke, blowby, or anything else. It starts and runs fine.

For that year, the Hypermax module would get it to where you want.

Just a follow up...
I eventually bit the bullet and bought the Mach 7 tuner module from Hypermax. At $750 it was pretty expensive. You do not need to buy the extra $300 display although that would be nice.
It comes with a little computer type box, a power level switch, and an EGT probe. You basically unplug the fuel computer on the truck, put that plug into the hypermax module and the plug the module into the fuel computer. You then have to drill a hole into your exhaust manifold, tap it for 1/8" pipe thread, and then screw the temp probe into the manifold. You then drill thru your firewall to get the wires inside the cab, mount the power switch somewhere on the dash, and it's ready to go. It sounds easy but the fuel computer plug is REALLY hard to get to.

The power switch actually has 8 positions, zero and the 7 different power levels. I was concerned about damage to my truck with all the extra power so I questioned hypermax. They told me up 1250 degrees EGT is safe. When the module sees exhaust temps getting close it will gradually back off on the fuel to keep temps in a safe range. I also asked them what power level I should run it at. They said to test it and run it at the lowest setting that provides the power you need.

I have it on my truck for about a week now.

So what does it do in the real world? There is a fairly steep mountain close to my house that I cross regularly. My truck weighs around 16k or 17k pounds empty. Before it would go up the mountain at around 26 or 28 mph. Right after I installed the tuner I turned it to power level 7 and took it up the mountain. It went up the mountain at 50mph!!!

I then used it for work this week dragging loaded trailers or a bed full of stone or dirt, total gvw of well over 30k pounds. I played with the power levels some and it seems like level 4 will do everything I need it to do. It took this truck from a total dead dog that no one wants to drive to one that gets the job done in a very timely manner. It runs lower rpms most of the time because it has torque to hold a gear instead of shifting right away. Plus I like knowing that if I'm at 35k pounds and i want to try to merge into freeway traffic i can turn that little knob to 7 until i get to highway speed if i need too..

How much faster will my truck wear out with the added stress? I have no idea, but I know I like it a lot better now