Like my last thread I'm still new to diesels but in the 2 weeks I've owned mine I've done an oil change,fuel filter change, egr cleaning, and deleted the stock muffler. I've been reading about the cat deletes and I was told by a couple non ford people or muffler people to leave my cat on. Like my last thread stated I just want my truck to stay reliable and get good gas milage so not looking for a bunch of power mods or anything to tear it up... Question is what's the advantages and disadvantages of having the cat on or off? Hurt anything? Gains of any sort?

 

Since you already deleted the stock muffler, deleting the cat will let you hear the turbo whistle a lot more. It might also decrease exhaust back pressure and might give you a little better throttle response with slightly lower EGT's and maybe a little better fuel mileage. I could not tell on mine but did the cat delete more for the sound. Your experience might be different.

 

So there's no reported problems from deleting it? Won't hurt turbo or anything?

 

You'll be better off without it. Get an aftermarket air intake system, like a K&N. You'll be good to go.

 

Do NOT replace your stock Ford 6.0 air intake system! There are much better things to spend your $ on. That stock system is good to 500HP.

 

Won't hurt anything but most Dealers won't honor warranty if they see it is missing. You will probably have to put it back on to pass any state inspection laws.

 

Ya I just replaced my air filter with a motorcraft air filter. I don't plan on getting over 500 hp and been reading to deff not go with aftermarket so that's not a plan. Truck has 121800 miles so the warranty won't be an issue and I don't know that mississippi has emmision laws that I gotta worry bout. Lol!

 

Personally, I love my S&B intake. Never had a dusting problem with it and the intake sound with it on is about 20% louder than stock.Sounds great at WOT. I never intended to build a fast truck but one cat delete later I found myself buying more and more parts for my 6.0. Once you get bit.......lol. Anyway kill the cat and enjoy the sound. IMO this is one of the best sounding diesels at idle or WOT I have ever heard.

 

I deleted my cat and left the stock muffler on. Can really hear the turbo whistle without the kitty.

 

Yeah, but it sucks having to spend $80 every time it gets dirty! I'd rather clean my reusable filter & save a couple hundred bucks a year. But, that's just me...

 

How many have you replaced? I've got 80k and 7 years on mine and it's still good to go. I've heard of guys getting over 100k before the vacuum gauge tripped. I guess if you want to spend the $$$...go ahead, it's yours. But personally I'd leave it on there.

 

The turbo doesn't overspool enough to wear nothing out? That's what I was told it would do if I took it off. 80 bucks is insane to spend on one I bought my motorcraft one from the dealership for 50 "I guess showing up in a fire dept uniform has its advantages cause everytime I go in there I get wholesale prices" lol!

 

It would take an overly aggressive aftermarket tune or stuck turbo vanes to cause overspool. The biggest problem I have heard with aftermarket intakes has been improper sealing which causes dirt to bypass filter element and "dust" the turbo impeller thereby causing excessive wear. The leading edges of the blades actually wear down. The S&B intake is well designed I have not had a problem with it. It is of particular concern for me since do aggressive off-roading at Oceano sand dunes. I've launched the front end 6 feet in the air going up and over some steep dunes so I don't high center the truck and have never found dust or sand in the intake. I did damage a vacuum line on my last trip though.