In this episode of the Power Driven Podcast, we are diving into one of the most requested topics from our listeners: how to tune your own common rail diesel truck. If you just picked up a 2006 Dodge 5.9L Cummins or you have been around common rails for a while, this episode is packed with the information you need to get started the right way.

We break down what it really takes to tune your truck using platforms like EFI Live, MM3, and HP Tuners. This is not a simple plug-and-play walkthrough. It is an honest conversation about learning from scratch, the mistakes we have made, and the things we wish someone had told us earlier. We talk about fuel limiter tables, rail pressure strategies, injector duration, timing maps, and how to build safe, functional tunes that make real power.

You will hear why tuning your own truck is not going to save you money, but why it might still be worth doing if you are the type of person who enjoys learning, experimenting, and dialing in a setup that feels exactly how you want it. We talk about using five-position switches to test different timing curves, how to recognize when you are running into limiters, how to work with data logs, and what to adjust when your truck is hazy at idle or surging down the road.

This episode covers the differences between tuning platforms, the basics of setting up your tables, and how to stay out of trouble while making your first tuning adjustments. We also touch on more advanced topics like lope tunes, pilot injection strategies, fuel pressure scaling, and the limits of factory ECMs as you push for higher horsepower.

Whether you are chasing a cleaner idle, better drivability, or trying to break into four-digit horsepower territory, we walk through the mindset, tools, and steps needed to get started in custom tuning. This episode is for the diesel performance enthusiast who wants more than a cookie-cutter tune and is willing to put in the work to build something personal.

In this episode of the Power Driven Podcast, the crew digs into one of the most common and frustrating issues that diesel enthusiasts face: when a truck simply does not make the power it should. Whether it is a fresh build that underwhelms on its first test drive or a reliable setup that suddenly starts to feel sluggish, the team breaks down how they diagnose and solve low-power conditions using real-world experience and proven techniques. With years of dyno testing, street tuning, and customer support under their belts, the Power Driven team shares the process they rely on to get trucks back on track and performing at their best.

Listeners will hear about the full spectrum of potential culprits, starting with the basics like throttle cable slack, improperly reinstalled shut-off solenoids, or overlooked fuel delivery problems. The crew explains how something as simple as a missing washer or loose linkage can limit rack travel and leave hundreds of horsepower on the table. From there, the conversation moves into deeper mechanical issues such as AFC housing problems, star wheel misadjustments, and governor spring configurations that limit RPM and fuel delivery.

The episode is packed with shop stories, including firsthand experiences with Frankenstein, the team’s well-known compound turbo build, and other trucks that taught valuable lessons through trial and error. Listeners will learn why monitoring fuel pressure under load is critical, how to read smoke output for tuning clues, and what happens when boost leaks or exhaust restrictions choke performance. The crew also shares practical methods for diagnosing these problems without a dyno, using data from the street, stopwatch tests, and careful observation.

Throughout the episode, the Power Driven team emphasizes the importance of understanding the interaction between airflow, fueling, and timing. They explain why timing slip can silently kill power, how turbo systems respond to small leaks, and how small changes to star wheels or diaphragm preload can have big impacts on drivability. This kind of deep mechanical insight is rarely shared outside of professional shops, making this episode a valuable resource for builders, tuners, and weekend warriors alike.

If your diesel is not performing like it should, or if you are planning your next build and want to avoid common pitfalls, this episode delivers the insight you need. With real advice from professionals who live and breathe diesel performance every day, it is the ultimate guide for diagnosing and fixing low-power issues the right way.

In this episode of the Power Driven Diesel Podcast, we’re jumping into one of the most important and overlooked parts of diesel performance, building your engine the right way. Whether you’re putting together your very first motor in the garage or you’ve already built a few and want to step things up, this episode is packed with real-world advice on setting up a reliable bottom end.

We talk through everything that matters when it comes to getting your clearances right, including piston to wall, ring gap, bearing choices, and proper bore finish. We also share a lot of personal experience, including what we got wrong on our early builds, what we’ve learned since, and how it’s shaped the way we put engines together today. This is the kind of information you won’t always hear unless you’re working in the shop every day.]

If you’ve ever wondered whether your local machine shop is doing things right, what tools you actually need to measure piston clearance, or if that old three-stone hone is good enough, we break it all down. We talk about real horsepower goals and what kind of clearances actually hold up, whether you’re building a 600-horse daily driver or chasing four-digit power on the dyno.

We also cover the differences between cast and forged pistons, gapless versus conventional rings, and the truth about how much contamination in your bearings it really takes to ruin a fresh build. From micrometers and profilometers to plastic gauge and feeler gauges, this episode covers both budget-minded builds and pro-level machine work.

The goal is simple. We want to help you avoid costly mistakes and build something that lasts. We’ve been through the failures, cracked blocks, broken pistons, and trashed bearings so you don’t have to.

If you’re serious about performance diesel, especially Cummins engine builds, this episode is a great one to dig into. Drop your questions in the comments and let us know if you want a follow-up. There’s still a lot we didn’t cover like head studs, torque specs, and top-end setups, and we’re just getting started.