FAQs

Exactly what does FleetTuning™ do to the vehicle?

FleetTuning™ is a simple process with a complex backend. Your FleetTuner™ connects a laptop computer directly to the onboard Engine Control Unit (ECU) of the vehicle and ‘flashes’ the read-only-memory with an new set of pre-defined data parameters specifically developed for every make, model, and year of fleet vehicle.

Why dont the manufacturers or dealers do this on all new vehicles?

The “stock” or OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parameters are balanced for every-day use under average conditions. However these do not take into account many factors that greatly affect overall vehicle performance. Environmental conditions (altitude, average humitidy and temperatures, etc.); driving conditions (predominantly highway or city, average load carrying, etc.); and desired operational controls (speed/acceleration restrictions, transmission shift points, etc.) are unique to ever fleet and location. Fortunately, vehicle manufacturers recognize this and allow third-party developers access to the ECU for fine tuning data parameters relating to all of these issues - and many more.

Wont proper tire settins and regular filter changes save just as much fuel?

In a simple A/B comparison, mileage savings alone may comparable - but why stop there? Regular vehicle maintenance is a given and ongoing need. FleetTuning can be done once for the entire life of the vehicle and will actually improve the benefits of regular vehicle maintenance. Additionally, FleetTuning provides other benefits, such as speed and acceleration limiting, that go well beyond fuel economy improvements.

How long does the process take?

FleetTuning usually takes less than 10 minutes per vehicle.

Is anything permanently installed on the vehicle?

No - most FleetTuning only involves flash reprogramming of the vehicle’s original computer. In certain circumstances, fleet operators may desire (or require) capabilities that are only available with the installation of additional hardware.

Why can’t we do this internally?

You can - provided you have the qualified and trained technicians, requisite hardware and software, and complete data parameters for all your fleet vehicles. After a simple R.O.I. analysis, most companies find it vastly more cost effective to engage FleetTuning, especially given the one-time nature of the service.

Will this invalidate the vehicle warranty?

Strictly speaking, any modification to a vehicle can compromise the warranty. Over the years, many dealerships have had hi-performance vehicles come in for warranty service only to discover an agressively tuned “powerchip” and other wild performance modifications. Not surprisingly, warranty coverage is often denied in these cases, though the actual fault is almost always the owner’s destructive driving habits and not the particular modifications.

Fortunately, most fleet operators have excellent relationships with their dealer and both parties realize the need for improvements in fuel economy, safety, and vehicle reliability. And since the changes made by FleetTuning are actually beneficial to the vehicle in many ways, most dealers welcome the initiative. Of course open communication is important, and FleetTuning will be glad to provide documentation showing how the modified parameters are specifically designed to increase fuel economy and affect other operational controls to reduce stress on the vehicle’s systems and even increase service life.

Still have questions?

Please email us at questions@FleetTuning.com. We’d be glad to answer any questions you have.