Blackbear Performance Review

[Bigburb3500]

Hello All,

I have read a few threads on here where people had similar reservations that I did to doing the @BlackBearPerf tune. It’s does seem complicated having to download and flash and alter your truck’s “brain” for better performance. I want to go through the process I had and give some ongoing feedback for my truck that has the 6.0 w/ 6L90 trans.

First off, many others on this forum talk highly of Blackbear so I was confident in them from that aspect. I snagged their AutoCal V3 on Black Friday (I think I ordered on Thursday technically) and darn thing was shipped and delivered by Monday. We are off to a great start. So far the customer experience is great!

I took the next day driving to work and around town to do my logs and download the required programs onto my computer. Easy. Trust me. This took no time at all and was an “excuse” to rip on the truck a couple times. The computer downloads were fast and non-intimidating when you actually looked at them. I transferred the logs onto the computer and emailed them off on a Tuesday night.

Thursday rolls around and the team has the updated files back to me already! Took no time at all and was super easy to transfer the files to the Auto Cal V3 on the computer. IT IS NOT THAT DIFFICULT. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was.

Loading the programs onto the truck took a few minutes tops. No issues there and straight forward.

TEST DRIVE: If you don’t drive the truck regularly and it’s your spouse’s vehicle you won’t be able to tell a difference. I was concerned the former up shifts would make the truck uncomfortable but I would describe the shifts as “confident” and “deliberate.” Before the truck seemed like Congress, it debated with itself what it wanted to do. Now, it’s decisive and willing to downshift and knows what gear it should be in. GM left too much on the table here. Blackbear does these trucks justice.

I will update this post as I gain more experience with it but for reference I am just over 75k miles. All fluids (except transmission) have been done by me in the past 1k miles and I am currently average 13.8 MPG on my daily commute. I see a little over 14 when doing roadtrips on the highway.

If you have doubts or concerns about Blackbear tunes, do yourself a favor and just do it!

*** This is NOT a paid or subsidized review from Blackbear ***

 

[swathdiver]

It gets better the more you drive it! I had my BlackBear tune adjusted for new gears and it too is getting better with each day.

 

[89Suburban]

On my bucket list

 

[Bigburb3500]

On my bucket list

I’m not gonna lie… unless it’s a financial thing, don’t wait. They made the truck so much better and I didn’t know it was missing so much.
On my thread about the 3500 Suburbans we were saying GM tuned the trans for “comfort” but that isn’t true. They just did not do a great job of tuning the computers. I’m SO pleased by it and hope as @swathdiver said it keeps getting better.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

On my bucket list

Don't kick the bucket before you fill it.

 

[89Suburban]

I’m not gonna lie… unless it’s a financial thing, don’t wait. They made the truck so much better and I didn’t know it was missing so much.
On my thread about the 3500 Suburbans we were saying GM tuned the trans for “comfort” but that isn’t true. They just did not do a great job of tuning the computers. I’m SO pleased by it and hope as @swathdiver said it keeps getting better.

Now that I finally got the engine replaced I getting closer to getting this done. Maybe on their next sale.

 

[Bigburb3500]

Quick update:
Still need some more miles to be driven but MPG seems to have been affected heavily in a positive way. Seeing 16-18MPG where I used to see 13-14MPG.
Shift response is unbelievably fast and the “firmness” really has not been an issue at this point. Will report back later this week after some miles have been put on.

 

[Geotrash]

I finally got around to installing the Blackbear tune on my 2018 3500 HD as well, just yesterday. Justin had sent the files two weeks ago, but there had been a firmware update for my Autocal between when I sent the original files off, and when I received them just a few days later. So I had to fart around doing that, and then I'd forgotten the licensing step, so it was back to the PC to get that squared away. It was all easy, I just hit a couple of snags that were fortunately easy to solve myself.

I'm equally pleased with the results. The transmission shifts smoothly but quickly now, and the throttle response seems a bit quicker as well. Looking forward to our next camping trip to see how it does pulling the camper. This is the third vehicle I've had tuned by them, and I couldn't be happier.

 

[adventurenali92]

Justin really knows his stuff! And he’s incredibly professional! I’m still a happy blackbear performance customer as well like 7 years later!

 

[Bigburb3500]

Justin did a bang-up job on the truck. Drove for the first time on the highway today with the tune and it just pulls so much harder and longer. Doesn’t seem to get “wheezy” at higher RPM.

No input on MPG yet.

 

[k_arnold72]

Have they unlocked tuning for the 10 speed yet? That was the main thing holding me back

 

[Bigburb3500]

Have they unlocked tuning for the 10 speed yet? That was the main thing holding me back

I do not think so yet. Looks like they stop around the 2018/19 model year. I think it has to do with the underlying system coding.

 

[adventurenali92]

Justin did a bang-up job on the truck. Drove for the first time on the highway today with the tune and it just pulls so much harder and longer. Doesn’t seem to get “wheezy” at higher RPM.

No input on MPG yet.

The trans tune portion is awesome especially when getting on a highway cuz you can pull hard to get up to speed, especially if you’re stuck behind the one yoyo thats going up the onramp at snails pace if you get an opening and get around them. Haha.

 

[NYBRD]

Had Justin tune my tahoe , I'm glad I chose him for the tuning , I currently have a 87 tune and looking forward to doing an aggressive 93 tune as well a possible e85 tune

 

[Geotrash]

Had Justin tune my tahoe , I'm glad I chose him for the tuning , I currently have a 87 tune and looking forward to doing an aggressive 93 tune as well a possible e85 tune

This reminds me... the L96 is a flex fuel engine in other applications, but it's not listed as such in the in the Suburban 3500 HD. I'm wondering what it would take to make it flex fuel compatible. Or maybe it actually is, and we just don't know it.

 

[BlackBearPerf]

Have they unlocked tuning for the 10 speed yet? That was the main thing holding me back

Unfortunately, no. EFILive cannot gain access to the 10-speed TCMs due to GM's security on them.

 

[Fless]

This reminds me... the L96 is a flex fuel engine in other applications, but it's not listed as such in the in the Suburban 3500 HD. I'm wondering what it would take to make it flex fuel compatible. Or maybe it actually is, and we just don't know it.

Did you look inside the fuel door to see if it has the sticker that says E85 is OK?

 

[Geotrash]

Did you look inside the fuel door to see if it has the sticker that says E85 is OK?

Yes, and it does not. Black GM fuel cap also.

 

[Fless]

Yes, and it does not. Black GM fuel cap also.

If you have a bidirectional scanner and use the mfr's codes by VIN (not generic OBD) is there a fuel composition or alcohol content value, or a reset function?

 

[Bigburb3500]

Did you look inside the fuel door to see if it has the sticker that says E85 is OK?

So it’s been interesting. I’ve been doing a good bit of “general” maintenance (will post in the 3500 thread I have) but VIN lookup at the parts store has the question about flex fuel or non-flex fuel engine. I believe my truck to be non-flex as it was a fleet vehicle and came with a sticker “GASOLINE ONLY”.

I do not have a factory sticker indicating anything else.