Ok guys I'm looking to upgrade my 2008 F350 6.4 with some tricks and need some advice from the pros.
Goals:
Delete DPF/CAT
Increase MPG
Keep black smoke under normal driving to a minimum
Reduce EGTs
dpfdeletekits dot com ($1529)
Spartan Tuner
FLO-PRO 4" SINGLE DOWNPIPE BACK STAINLESS EXHAUST (DPF/CAT DELETE)
OR:
rivercitydiesel dot com ($1074)
SCT Tuner
DPF/DOC Delete pipes
450 rwhp max economy tune
*keeps stock exaust*

Also was looking at the CAC Pipe upgrade from RCD over the stock flattened one
Oh and putting in a K&N setup as well
RCD recommended the EGR delete as well??

I'm not really looking for all out power (though more power is nice) or racing, I'm looking more towards efficiency and reliabily over all.
Thanks in advance everyone! I'm gonna do this first week of November.....

 

Go to the Spartan web site, I think they have everything you need one stop shopping and better deals. Make sure you" read" before making your decissionn.

 

Obviously this topic has been discussed a lot so take some time and research this forum and some of the others to get more opinions. Ill give you my take, I had the same goals as you. Im not at the track or doing dyno runs or boosted launches. I really just wanted to remove the part of the truck that was hurting it not helping (dpf.) I went with the spartan full delete with the afe intake and all tunes through 310. I have only used the 310 once and only drove about 10 mi before I felt like it was a bad idea. So if I could go back I might have skipped the 310. I daily drive with the 250 and love it. I dont beat on it but when I want to get on it I can. Smoke production is minimal if you take it easy on the skinny pedal and the firm shifts are tolerable. Overall I just love the way the truck is with the tune installed. Beware though if you do get on it hard you will leave enough black smoke cover two lanes of traffic so be careful.
My mileage with the 250 tune probably avg about 14-16 mixed driving. 17-18 highway. A nice improvement over stock, Ive never seen 20 EVER! Some people claim to hit 20 Im not calling them liars just saying Ive tried everything and cant do it. So dont get too wrapped up in getting 1 mi more here or there.
Hope that helps
STM

 

I'm in the same boat and not trying to steal. How do the tunes effect any offroad driving? Slow driving, snow conditions, 4 wheel drive hi/lo.

 

Stay away from the K&N filter on these trucks. There are much better aftermarket options, but I would just leave it stock. You don't need to change intakes until you're running 250+ hp tunes. For tuner, I'd get a SCT Livewire with custom tunes from Eric at Innovative Diesel.

 

Are the EGR delete kits worth it?

 

Thanks seanjackmc!! I did read most of the discussions and was still left kind of in the dark about it lol

No no Kevin no worries as away! You may ask things I didnt think of!

cartmanea, so which would would you recommend? I've always used K&N...

Good question John7894, I've been told it helps and lowers EGTs etc, but would be nice to hear from someone who actually used one on a 6.4.

Looks like I'm goin with the spartan setup, may cost a little more but it seems as though everyone firmly believes in them...

Ok guys, this may be a stupid question here but it's driving me nuts!

My 2004 6.0 with 4" open exaust & a K&N even when I got on it blew minimal and i mean minimal black smoke, same for my 1997 7.3l....

My stock 2008 6.4 with a cracked DPF blows black smoke, not alot but every take off from a stop light lets some out... WHY?? What is it about the 6.4 that it produces so much more than the old 6.0's or 7.3's?? Or am I just crazy?

 

I just know the oiled filters can cause problems with the MAF sensor. With the 6.0L there is a lot of evidence that the K&N doesn't filter well enough and can lead to turbo "dusting" where the dirt particles cause abnormal wear on the turbo blades.

 

Pull your lower intercooler hose and make sure there isn't any oil in there. There have been some turbo failures where the seals leaked oil into the intake and exhaust.

 

Thanks for the heads up John! Yeah this weekend a friend and I are putting a purge valve on the intercooler, only thing is we're gonna get fancy and use a SMC electric solenoid valve on it and wire it to an upfitter for draining the water out of it.

Woulding oil in the intercooler produce white smoke not black? I know water will, which I have on occasion, at least till I drained the cooler and the water seperator.

Please keep in mind only had this truck what 3 weeks now?

 

Im using the AFE ProGaurd 7 intake system which is a oiled filter and the thing is awsome. Other then a little more noise I have no complaints with it. I just cleaned it yesterday for the first time at about 20k mi. Probably didnt need to but been doing some camping and heavy towing lately and figured it couldnt hurt. Never have thrown any codes. I would recommend an upgraded intake if you do go Spartan. You are going to run at least the 250 tune!!!
STM

 

I am a relatively new Spartan customer with a 2010 truck with 3.55s. I have found out that Spartan does not lock up the torque converter at 47 mph as stock because they have done no in house testing of trucks with 3.31s or 3.55s. Most of their tunes tend to lock the torque converter up around 57 -61 mph which decreases mpg as your rpms hover around 2000 when 50-60mph. They also are using older Ford Flash(es) that their tunes are based on so the newer Ford fixes are not going to be on your truck. I have read reports that others with 2009s and 2010s have had issues with fuel gauge inaccuracies, trans issues, trans shifting firmness, etc.. as well. In my opinion Spartan's online customer service is deplorable. A bunch of older customers are not happy with Spartan's license fess although their fees may have changed recently. A bunch have issues with how hard their trans shift with any tune 250 or higher. Spartan designates tunes 250 and higher as race tunes and not for street application.

In their defense, I am told they now have a 2010 with 3.55s in their test fleet and will be working on fixes/changes on the torque converter lockup speed. The DashDaq display is sharp and fairly easy to use. Also, I do not know what Ford Flash the other tuning companies use or update to so this may be a universal issue when using a tuner.

As you have a 2008, the 2010 issues don't apply to you will to others.

Knowing what I know now, I would rate in this order:
SCT with IDP (Eric's Tunes)
KEM
H&S.
Spartan

Aaron at Rudy's Performance is supposed to be incredible to do business with so call him and he'll help you make an informed decision.

 

WOW Great info!!! Thank you sooo very much!

Not about the Spartan not being what it claims to be, but real info.

I'm not looking to go heads up with a mustang or pull 4 18wheelers, just want my truck to run smooth and efficient as possible, the added HP is a perk.

Ok so where / how do I contact these guys???

Seriously thanks again man!

 

Neil64, I assume you have ran all those different tuners on your truck in order to be able to rate them?? Also Spartan customer service has been terrific. I spend some time on Spartans Website and agree with Jeff you have been pushy. I have called Spartan numerous times and have been treated great. Jeff is always there to answer questions online Ive been impressed. They are putting out updates as often as they can are always working to revamp their tunes to make the product better.
I also drive a 2010 with 3.55 gears and have had no issues. My converter locks up right around 52 unless using the 210tp where it locks at 45. Spartan is working on the issue some experience. But to come on this forum and trash them call customer service "deplorable" is a joke and classless. How can you rank them last out of 4 tuner companies when Im willing to bet you havent run all those tuners on your truck. Im guessing you have only run the Spartan.
Take a look around and you will see an overwhelming amount of people who think nothing but the best about spartan. Ever wonder why no one is backing you on the Spartan forum??
Radarweaver, dont take my word for it keep researching I love my Spartan on my 2010. Dont let one customer with an axe to grind force you into a bad decision. You might even want to look around the Spartan forum and see what Neil64 is talking about. There hasnt been one other member to back him through any one this.
I would hate to see you scared away from Spartan because of Neil64 and end up with a product you arent happy with.
I have never run any of those tuners so will not post anything negative about them. Im sure they are great tuners with great service. Just have to go with the masses and Spartan seems to be the leader.
Good Luck
STM

 

Seanjackmc,

I am not trying to mislead anyone. I am just sharing my experiences, opinion and data with the OP and anyone else who wants to read it.

First, I did extensive research before purchasing a Spartan and was led to believe they do extensive testing (I am leaving out specifics and where I got this info on purpose). After discovering the torque converter issue, I am told that no in house testing has been done on any 2010s and nothing with 3.31s or 3.55s. So I was misled prior to my purchase. Obviously, I am very disappointed that my combination has not been in house tested and that I was misled.

I have only run the Spartan tuner on my 6.4. I have ridden in a SCT w/IDP tuned 6.4 and was very impressed with the tunes, and price but not so much with the SCT display. I really liked the trans shifting, smoothness of power and flexibility of changing trans firmness settings within a tune. You are correct that I have no first hand experience with any other tuner on the 6.4. I rated the tuners based on what I know now - from reading and chatting with others and watching trends like some of Spartan's biggest customers and dealers migrate away from them to IDP (Eric) and KEM. Look at who is running what tunes at the track and whose tunes are receiving the best reviews. H&S is getting very good reviews too and a dealer I called who used to recommend Spartan #1 has changed their opinion and now ranks them below the others also. This may be chalked up to everyone catching up to Spartan and in some cases, passing them. But let’s face facts, people have been complaining about the trans shifting firmness of Spartan’s tunes for a long time and the other tuning companies have listened. There are some posts that other tuners are getting more MPG than Spartan at similar horsepower levels. I have also read reports from Spartan customers now running KEM tunes on there DashDaqs and they are far happier now. Check out all of the KEM 345 Tune threads.

As for me being pushy Spartan customer, how so? I identified a problem and have asked for an estimated time for a fix and what Ford Flash level is being used in their tunes. Neither question has received an answer. An estimate would be nice and I feel it is a reasonable question. And what is wrong with asking for status every few weeks? And tell me, wouldn't you like to know what flash (how old) your truck is now running?
Again, these forums are to share experiences, opinions and data. I felt I did. Am I a disgruntled Spartan customer? No. I still have their tuner and I am on the fence about what to do with it. I will admit to being a very disappointed customer.

I did not rate Spartan's customer service, only their online customer service. Spartan’s relicense fees has provoked many of their customers into writing nasty threads about Spartan’s poor customer service on the various forums. I also stated what I had learned about Spartan not in house testing 2010s or trucks with 3.55s or 3.being somewhat irrelevant to the OP’s 2008.

If your truck's converter locks up at 52 mph with 3.55s great. Mine and others is locking up around 61 mph. By the way, Ford stock flash is locking up around 47 mph. And I have test driven 2 other 2010s to confirm and other users have emailed me with their findings. Restore your stock tune and verify????? They also use a flash older than my truck's January, 2010 flash and other tuning companies may as well. I, personally, feel it is imperative to have Ford's recent fixes in the programming of my truck.

Spartan is the most expensive and the oldest, most used and mature tuner out there for the 2008 6.4 but maybe not for the 2009s and 2010s. The other tuners like SCT W/IDP, KEM and H&S have really good reviews and certainly warrant a long look not to mention they are cheaper than a Spartan.



In the end, each person must make his/her own decision.