Scan tool Comparison | Which one is BEST for YOU? Professional Grade!

A Master Technician does a Scan tool Comparison between budget scan tools, mid grade and real expensive ones like the Snap On Apollo D9.

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Xtool D8 Purchase Link
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Xtool D7 Purchase Link:
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In this video we'll take another look at scan tools but this time for professional mechanics.

I spend some time testing and using 4 scan tools to see which one is best and what are the features that are worth it in each.

Scan tool choices are endless. I took a small sample of those choices and broke them down in categories. The most important thing you want to do when shopping for a scan tool is to set your priorities for features.

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The Car Care Nut
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0:00 Intro
0:31 Scan tool Features Overview
1:40 Top Don Phoenix Plus Review
8:42 ThinkCar Thinktool Pro Review
14:11 Xtool D8 Review
16:35 Snap On Apollo D9 Review
23:51 Final Thoughts

[rickrogers]

As a DIYer I really appreciate the time and effort you put in to these reviews. I'm seriously considering an x-tool based on your reviews. Thank you again and God bless.

[etiennebisset]

We should thank the Chinese for making these scan tools cheaper.

[Ming-qqtr]

Great video! I own a Launch CRP129X and love it a lot. It can pull almost all the live data (including transmission fluid temperature). So far this is the most powerful scan tool I can find from the market that comes with free software update and very reasonable sales price. Unfortunately, it has no bi-directional control and only provides few service functions. I do all the maintenance works for my 2009 Honda Civic, 2014 Mazda 6 and 2018 Toyota Highlander. So, it makes me seriously considering xTool D8 after watched your video.

[leareneesmith]

You been workin out, man? You're lookin younger than when you first started posting and TRIM! Glad to see you're taking care of YOUR health too... a lot of mechanics tend not to! I bet the Mrs. is thrilled too.... tell her she's doing a great job.... you're doing a great job as well, my other half and I don't TOUCH my Tacoma without consulting your video library first.. or sometimes you have the last word..but either way, we see what you have to say first...I can't express my appreciation and gratitude enough for your love of vehicles and your compassion towards consumers (and the other dealership mechanics who, no doubt benefit from your advising us as well!) Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

[dummerdum]

For me, the numbers of reset/re-calibrate it can do and graphing capability is what I look for when buying.
Becareful many scan tools say they can reset component but usually never say exactly which reset you can perform and they varies a lot.

[raymondsmith]

Any DYI mechanic with a newer car should add a higher level scan tool to their toolbox and know how to use it. You just can't get around it. I am old enough to remember having a dwell points meter, timing light, and a separate repair manual for each type of car I owned. Today it is all online. Times change and so should your knowledge and tools.

[thiaguinhooitodois]

I ended up getting the Xtool D8. Worth every penny.

[markgrunenwald]

Great video. Well presented. Thanks!

A couple additional points per the Snap-on scan tool: 1) The cable for my older one is 6' ..long enough to reach around to the fender. They sell longer cables too. But other S-O scanner models are wireless as you pointed out. 2) Snap-on scan tools have a lot of backward compatibility. For instance, OBD-1 connectors from the 90's will work with modern scan tools (modern OBD-1 cable required). So if you own an older Snap on 'Brick' scanner, you can use the same 90's era connectors. 3) Sometimes Snap-on adds new features in their software updates which may apply to the same model going back several (sometimes many) years. Which is nice. I don't have experience with the other scanners you reviewed, but they sound intriguing. Thanks!

[markd]

VERY HELPFUL!! Thanks you for your in-depth review and comparison of these 4 scanners.

[dougshiner]

I bought a Snapon Triton D8 (Australian), with oscilloscope. It's been a fantastic bit of gear so far, the online info has been a lifesaver so far. The ability to upload or save known good data snapshots or patterns for future comparisons would be handy.

[Oo-IIII-oO]

An "identifix" subscription along with one of the 3 scanners is probably more powerful than the Snap-On scanner itself IMO. My take from your video is that the snap on offers the "diagnosis database" additional to the scanning. If comparing the scanning power of the 4, I don't see the snap on justified on the price. You're basically paying additional for a troubleshooting database. (which you can do separate on quite a few sites, for a lot less $$ )

[mikecorrado]

This has been an extremely informative video. I appreciate your thoroughness in compiling all of this information. You deserve a 👍🏼 and a 👏! Thank you very much!

[Ttenkampf]

Thanks for the info, I am doing small scale flips on the side and am impressed with my other topdon tools so this was nice to see. The guided instruction would make the much higher cost of the snapon worthwhile if they didn't hobble the unit after you fail to buy an update. I actually think that is some Apple level pompous bs.

[metricdeep]

There is a vid out that shows the Xtool D7 has been gifted (as of July 2022) with the Special Functions of the D8. So they are nearly the same unit. The D8 does ECU stuff that the D7 won't. Otherwise, it looks like the D7 is coming pretty close to the D8 for most DIY purposes....and it's a few hundred bucks cheaper. Edit: There is a D9 out has a large jump in price and I can only assume a jump in usefulness.

[anurakboribun]

This Guy is number one. He knows everything about everything.

[coloradoboo]

I do love my Xtool D7 but was unable to program a new key fob for my daughters 2016 Mazda CX-5. Online folks and techs say Mazda’s are a pain. Anyway, Mazda wants $170 to program so I took her to Batteries Plus who can do it ($70)…nightmare!! Took the poor kid 4-hours and needed two computers but he was able to get both fobs working but only if it’s held up to start button. (And the new key cut won’t open the door even after three runs through the key cutter) but the remote opens the doors. An example of computers making a simple job way too complicated and hard!!!

[reiannaidoo]

Scanner Danner said he tested the D8 and it was trash and sent it back. The delay when runing multiple tests at the same time was just to slow and that made the data useless. He said the Topdon did a great job but it was not the model shown here. It was a small cheaper version. I like that Topdon you have but if i was rich I'll get that Apollo. Right now i have the Konnwei kw681 lol 😁😂🤣🤣 😒😫😫😔😔😥😭
Love your videos, can't wait till your shop opens. Take care amd

[sciCHD]

thanks for this informative presentation (I might buy a XTOOl D9 PRO because all the other ones do not manage clutch adaptation, EGR relearning, AdBlue Test and so on) Even the TOPTDON Phoenix Max could not read a single Mercedez Benz Tiptronic - VCDS does the same thing than the SnapOn for all the VAG group (VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi) for less than 600 $

[CORVAIRWILD]

I wish I could drive my pre OBDII vehicles FOREVER! these codes are for the birds. I'm in NY, inspection lamp = money light. And now with cat con thefts...

[rosewd]

I like the Xtool D8, wired is better, you can always get an extension cable to use it under the hood if you want. I don't want slow updating of the data for wireless portability.