Tested: The Edge EZX Offers EZ Diesel Tuning That Delivers

Tested: The Edge EZX Offers EZ Diesel Tuning That Delivers

Purchase any new truck today, and you’ll be blessed with more computer-controlled gadgets than you can imagine. Gone are the days of just changing a screw in the fuel pump to increase power. Now, a degree in computer coding is required. That is, unless you choose the easy diesel tuning with a tuning module like the new Edge Products EZX.

EZier Diesel Tuning Is Calling You

While Edge has been around for many years, its recent introduction of the EZX adds something never seen before, the prospect of diesel tuning with the ability to adjust certain features of your truck’s functions via a smartphone app. With Bluetooth connectivity, the EZX delivers control unlike anything else on the market. Calibrating your speedometer for larger tires, customizing your throttle response, adjusting TPMS settings, recalling your tow/haul and exhaust brake button settings on engine start-up, perform manual DPF regens, and even setting a turbo timer, can all be achieved easily through your smartphone.

diesel tuning

The Edge EZX tuning is not like many others. It is not a device that uploads a tune to your truck’s ECM. The EZX is a standalone “piggyback” system that adjusts tune and control parameters via a separate control box. That gets connected to various sensors on the engine.

Not only are certain control parameters easily adjusted, but with emissions-friendly power gains of up to 60 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque over stock (for the Cummins-powered Ram), you’ll love the added throttle response, adjustability on the fly, and fuel mileage increases from the all-new EZX inline module.

To test the new EZX, I decided to connect it to Project WorkHorse and see if the claims were true. Again, I don’t have access to a dyno. So, unfortunately, actual horsepower numbers will not be available. However, testing will be done with my 11,000-pound toy hauler camper trailer hooked to the truck, and 0-60-foot times will be checked with a Dragy GPS timing device on a flat stretch of road to quantify any improvements. I will make three “pulls” and select the middle/average time as the result.

Making The EZ Connections

The EZX is unlike many other tuners, in that the programs are not uploaded to your truck’s computer. Rather, EZX is an inline plug-and-play diesel tuning system that “piggybacks” with your truck. What that means is, the EZX module mounts under the hood of your truck, and connections are made from the module to various sensors on the engine and your throttle pedal. One benefit to this way of tuning is that it leaves no trace within the truck’s computer system when removed for dealer service work. It’s like it was never there. EZX was engineered and developed specifically for the daily driver and towing applications and is a safe and emissions-friendly upgrade.

Once the module is connected to your truck, simply use the free app that you download onto your phone (compatible with both Android and IOS systems) to make adjustments to the previously mentioned parameters. EZX offers five levels of tuning enhancement, and each is calibrated to not only improve engine performance but to also be usable in any towing situation. According to Edge Brand Manager, Jacob White, “all levels should be safe for towing, as we’ve found even level 5 will run cooler EGTs [Exhaust Gas Temperatures] than factory. But we’d always recommend keeping an eye on EGTs while towing. This device was developed specifically for daily driver and towing applications, so we’ve tried to create calibrations safe for doing just that. It’s all personal preference, I like Level 5 but find the preset throttle sensitivity on that tune too touchy for towing, so have Level 5 power with the pedal set at the less responsive setting through the app control.”

EZ To Use Features

Since Jacob mentioned throttle pedal sensitivity, let’s expand on that. Within each of the five preset tunes, you can even adjust how sensitive the throttle pedal reacts to your input. You can set it to Economy, Drive, Sport, Performance, or Extreme. Personally, I like a quick-reacting pedal so all five of my settings now have the sensitivity set on Performance.

diesel tuning

The EZX harness is a simple plug-and-play system that is overly easy to connect.

EZX allows you to alter several functions of how your truck works. I decided to try out a few settings and to start, I set the turbo timer. When you have been towing or hauling a load and the turbo temperature is high, shutting down the engine without giving the turbo time to cool will expedite the demise of said turbo. I set the turbo timer to keep the engine running after I shut it off for as long as it takes for the EGTs to come down 450 degrees Fahrenheit. The timer can be set for either the length of time or temperature you desire. If you set it for time, it will keep the truck running for the allotted time every time you shut it off. With a temperature setting, it only stays running if need be.

diesel tuning

If you wish to monitor your engine parameters, you will need the CTS3 monitor. Monitoring of the engine functions cannot be done via the phone and app.

To monitor parameters like EGTs, boost, transmission temp, and more, you will need a way to watch them. The Insight monitor can be ordered with the EZX and makes for a great way to keep an eye on what you want to keep an eye on. I wanted to be able to monitor EGT temps, and that requires an exhaust probe. If you are running a tune to get the most power possible, the best location to have a probe is in the exhaust manifold, before the turbo. However, I plan to add just enough to keep the emissions legal and also make sure WorkHorse remains reliable.

My 2019 Ram does have five factory-installed EGT probes and since I will not be pushing power levels to the extreme, I can simply monitor EGTs with any of them. If I were to be pushing power to the limits, I would want to install an EGT probe in the exhaust manifold nearer the engine for a true before-turbo reading. In my Ram, the probes are: EGT1 is immediately after the turbo, EGT2 is after the Diesel Oxygen Catalyst (DOC), EGT3 is at the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) outlet, EGT4 is just before the Selective Catalyst Reduction (SCR) filter inlet (Mid Band), and EGT5 is located at the SCR outlet. I will be monitoring EGTs one and two via the Edge Insight monitor mounted to the truck’s A-pillar. You will need to set up monitoring EGT 1 if you wish to use the turbo timer. Just as a side note, I will also be monitoring transmission temperature, coolant temperature, and boost pressure.

Next up was to adjust the TPMS settings. As I mentioned, this is a great function for making your truck ride a little nicer when not hauling or towing anything. I lowered the sensor “alarm setting” to come on at 50 pounds. While I am not hauling anything, the softer tires make a nicer ride. I just air them up before I tow or load the truck.

After you download the EZX app to your smartphone, you will be able to adjust many parameters of your truck’s functions. As you can see, I set my TPMS to 50 pounds as opposed to the factory 60-pound setting. I also set the turbo timer to 476 degrees and the five levels of tuning also have customizable throttle sensitivity settings.

Finally, there’s the “last run” switch setting. For this, I turned the exhaust brake on to the Auto setting, so it only works if needed. Now, every time I start the truck, the exhaust brake is already set to automatic. There’s no need to hit the button every time, it’s ready to go.

“This should be a simple plug-and-play module perfect for the average truck owner wanting some feature control and a better driving experience,” says White. “It delivers mild gains that won’t push the factory drivetrain too far and are friendly to emissions equipment. No other device on the market offers on-the-fly power control with smartphone app access to so many truck features like speedo calibration, exhaust brake function, and turbo timer.”

The Results Of EZ Diesel Tuning

As soon as the EZX was connected and Project WorkHorse was started, I needed to check out how the phone app would allow me to adjust things. At any time, you can choose/change between any of the five preset tunes with the cruise control buttons on the steering wheel, however, all function settings (i.e: turbo timer, last button recall, and even fog light operation) must be done within the phone app.

I adjusted my TPMS sensors to alert me at a lower pressure than the factory allowed and then set the turbo timer where I wanted it. The next setting was the button recall.

Diesel Tuning

Choosing the tuning level you want can be done/changed on the fly with the cruise control buttons. Also, your selection is then visible on the center screen of your dash.

With the functions set how I wanted, like any good enthusiast, I immediately set the tune to level 5 — I couldn’t help myself. One of the first things I noticed was I did not adjust the throttle pedal sensitivity. The pedal was OE-sluggish to respond, so I pulled over and made the adjustment I wanted. Just so you know, you can adjust the sensitivity in all five of the tune settings. When set on Level 5, the truck definitely has more power than before, but how would it do with the loaded trailer hooked to it?

WorkHorse Get Worked

Testing was done on a level road that stretches for a couple of miles. I live in Florida, so a level road is not hard to find. I hooked the toy hauler to WorkHorse and the trailer weight came in at 11,202 pounds. The first test was with the stock setting. I ended up with an “average time” for three 0-60 mph runs of 45.95 seconds. Like I said, my toy hauler is a biggun’.

Next up were pulls with a Level-5 tune. To say I was surprised at the disparity between the stock and level 5 would be an understatement. I knew the times would be quicker, but with the additional 60 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque, the 0-60 mph time definitely improved as WorkHorse rallied with a three-pass, middle-of-the-pack run of 27.38 seconds.

Not only did the EZX shorten my 0-60-foot times, but after driving the truck for several weeks after the install, I can say my fuel mileage increased as well. While around town driving saw a smaller increase than I realized at highway driving, Project WorkHorse’s highway MPG improved by nearly two mpg. My testing was achieved — again, on level roads in Florida — while driving at 72 mph with no load in the bed or a trailer attached. At this speed, the tach registered 1,750 rpm.

If you’re ready for diesel tuning to make your truck better than the OE engineers ever dreamt, then you need to check out the new EDGE EZX tuner. The installation is really easy, and I completed all the mounting and connections in less than 30 minutes. So, what are you waiting for, make your truck a true workhorse with EZ diesel tuning.

Article Sources

About the author

Randy Bolig

Randy Bolig has been working on cars and has been involved in the hobby ever since he bought his first car when he was only 14 years old. His passion for performance got him noticed by many locals, and he began helping them modify their vehicles.
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