EFI Live vs Banks IQ

[vette40509]

OK, I am new here and have a question. I have a 2009 Silverado Diesel Crew Cab. I added Banks intake, exhaust and IQ systems. I see a lot of people recommend EFI Live alot. Can anyone explain why I would want it over Banks. What is costs, what would i need? Where would I go to get it? Thanks.

[joecar]

Hi vette40509 welcome to the forum

I'll start and let others continue (and correct my wrongs)

EFILive is a tune editing tool (i.e. you make your own ECM/TCM changes, lets you edit a large number of tables), and includes an advanced bi-directional scantool with chart/gauge/map displays (Test Drive Here) and includes a hand-held logging/scanning/flashing interface with an LCD display.

The Banks IQ is a self contained monitoring/controlling module for diesel vehicles that lets you:
- monitor the ECM (don't know about the TCM) like a scantool,
- includes an advanced color multimedia display,
- perform various ECM controlling functions -> requires additional boxes, see next post,
- perform controlled edits of a subset of ECM tables -> it doesn't do this, see next post.

You've obviously seen this: http://www.bankspower.com/banksiq
Their literature skims very briefly on editing.

Which one you choose depends on what your goals are (controlled subset edits vs learning to tune).

[L31Sleeper]

The Banks IQ is an excellent monitoring / scan tool. By it self NO tuning can be done, it is designed to interface with the
Six-Gun and EconoMind tuners as well as the BanksBrake all of which are "box" tuners meaning they do NOT change any
of the data in the factory ECM they simply intercept the data from sensors and LIE to the ECM to coax more power out
of it. These types of tuners are notorious for causing the Check Engine light to come on because the ECM doesn't
understand what is going on. If the ECM is tuned with EFI Live the ECM is commanding the high performance tune so it
doesn't freak out. EFI Live is $799 comes with two licenses and can be purchased direct or through several dealers.
If you use EFI Live's DSP 5 you would get a similar results as the Six-Gun & Speed Loader.

[8100 Power]

The only up Banks has on EFILive is the nice GUI, it would be awesome if we could get a nice 5" touchsceen to interface with EFILive. (hint, hint)

[L31Sleeper]

Well they say the IQ runs windows so maybe you could use the IQ and EFI Live.....??
Gale Banks is nothing short of brilliant, but I just don't believe in LYING to the ECM !!