Anybody who uses a diesel pickup to tow a trailer or off-road rig to a trailhead knows there’s more to it than simply stompin’ on the throttle and headin’ for the hills. All that wonderful stump-pulling torque from a turbocharged mill comes at a price. Not in dollars and cents, but in good operational sense.
For instance, it’s important to monitor the engine vitals closely so you don’t cook the turbo with high exhaust-gas temps (EGT), or bog the engine in a high-speed lug. Not only that, when you head back down to the flatlands, using an exhaust brake properly keeps the wheel brakes from overheating, since diesels don’t have the inherent compression braking of a gasoline engine. This level of driver involvement surely holds your interest, but there must be a smarter and easier way, right?
Well, Banks Power found one with its new iQ. Developed over a two-year period, this micro-computer is the diesel owner’s new best friend, offering fingertip control of Banks’ array of performance-enhancing products.
“I’m a futurist,” Gale Banks rightly proclaimed at a SEMA press conference introducing his latest brainchild, “and electronics are the future.”
Well, not exactly — they’re actually right here and now, rather than on the horizon. The iQ has the brain power to operate not only engine tuners and exhaust brake systems, but also a rich menu of other features, everything from vehicle diagnostics to GPS-calibration of the speedometer to watching the latest movie releases.
We don’t recommend the latter, however, at least while driving a diesel. We speak from experience here, since we’re accustomed to herding a one-ton dually Ram powered by a Cummins turbodiesel through the Sierras around Lake Tahoe on a regular basis, towing boats and trailers through those steep mountain switchbacks. We’ve developed a habit of eyeballing the dual-needle aftermarket gauge mounted on the windshield post, which indicates both boost level and EGT. When the EGT indicator climbs near the dreaded 1200-degree mark on the way through Donner Pass, rather than cannibalizing our beloved Cummins, we disengage the overdrive to kick up the revs and blow out the excess heat. Trouble is, as we’ve grown older those little needles have seemed to grow smaller for some reason.
Thanks to the new Banks iQ, though, our vision has returned, as clearly demonstrated to us on a late-model Chevy pickup at the Banks headquarters in So Cal. The programmable five-inch display is bright and readable, indicating EGT and boost levels in either digital or gauge format, and in whatever colors or lighting our failing eyesight prefers, no squinting needed.
Besides the obvious improvement in visibility, the iQ offers easier and more versatile control. Consider the company’s Six-Gun tuner, for example. We recall when this potent power-adder first came out, and you dialed up the fuel delivery and ignition timing by twisting a knob on the dash-effective, but a bit crude. Later on, Banks introduced a digital control using a Palm Pilot. It was a vast improvement, but really just a stepping stone to the more user-friendly vehicle-user interface (VUI) that’s far more adaptable and multi-faceted.
With the new iQ, you can precisely program the Six-Gun’s level of power or economy you desire, and know at a glance what setting is activated. Ditto for the exhaust brake, which can be set for the precise downhill speed you need. Space doesn’t permit covering the full range of functions in detail, but the display screen’s pictures help to convey that. Suffice it to say, this type of control and information feedback can be invaluable when operating a complicated piece of machinery. As the old saying goes, we didn’t know what we didn’t know. Thanks to the Banks iQ, now we do.
 The iQ display can be mounted in a docking station within easy reach and sight-line of the driver. |
 If the EGT or other engine parameters reach a dangerous level, the iQ can be programmed to emit an audible and/or visual warning, such as when the EGTs exceeding 1250 degrees F. |
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 The iQ’s monitor displays icons just like those ones you’re familiar with on your desktop or laptop PC. The difference is that this micro-computer can be used to program and diagnose your diesel truck. |
 When paired with the Banks Six-Gun Diesel Tuner and Speed Brake, the iQ furnishes a whole new level of adaptable, multi-faceted functionality. Currently the iQ is suitable for the following model years of diesel: 2003-09 Ford, 2001-’09 Chevy, and 2003-’07 Dodge. |
 The Performance Test uses the GPS function to precisely measure acceleration and speed. |
 If your diesel doesn’t seem to be running right, the Diagnostic Function can help to pinpoint the problem. |
 The display can be set as either an analog, gauge-face style (shown here), or digital (numeric) readout. |
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