MADS Electronics Boost Fooling

There is quiet some confusion about the " Boost Fooling " in the Dodge Cummins Common Rail trucks. Let's try to explain exactly what's involved with it.

First of all, why would we want more boost? As simple as possible, the engine needs more air to burn more fuel. Raising the boost pressure does exactly that; it provides more air. More air means that the engine becomes capable to burn more fuel and in addition to that the EGT's remain somewhat in check. Anyway a stock turbo is efficient only with boost pressures up to about 36-40 Psi.

Let's start from the 2003 to 2004 trucks. Those trucks use a "traditional" wastegate. With traditional I mean to say, apply enough pressure to the actuator and the WG opens. All mechanical...

For those trucks our SW's have always done the " boost fooling". That means, there is a table of values in the ECM that commands fuel based upon intake pressure. So much pressure, so much fuel. If the pressure exceeds a preset value in that table then the ECM will cut back on fuel. That's already taken care of with our SW's! The 2003's to 2004's are not a problem. No need for an electronic boost fooler. Our softwares take care of that! You need to "fool" with the wastegate actuator in order to see higher boost.

The 2004.5 and up trucks. In addition to the above they have an electronic valve to provide pressure to the WG actuator ( It's that black "valve" screwed into the turbo with the rubber line to the WG actuator ). That valve is controlled by the ECM and it's actuation is based upon the intake ( boost ) pressure.

In addition to the boost table discussed above for the 2003 to 2004 trucks, there's a second table in the ECM ( 2004.5 and up ) that deals with the duty cycle of that valve VS boost. At certain preset points the valve opens, provides pressure to the WG actuator and the WG is opened.

Even though the aftermarket turbos use mechanical wastegates, there remains one problem tough. The overboost codes and the defueling! Once the boost reaches a certain limit an overboost code is set and the engine is defueled. You'd need an external boost fooler ( device that fools the ECM into seeing less boost than there is in reality ). The softwares with the disabled wastegate take care of that. No more need for an external boost fooler!

Sounds good? There remains one problem though... The turbo/intercooler ( especially the plastic ones!)/ engine can take only so much boost pressure before major damage is done!!!

DO NOT USE THE SOFTWARES WITH THE DISABLED WASTEGATE with a STOCK Turbo! THESE SOFTWARES ARE TO BE USED WITH aftermaket turbos and MODIFIED Engines ONLY! 

Please see the MADS Electronics FAQs page for more information.