Okay everyone, please help!! My husband installed a Bully Dog Tuner on our Ford F250 King Ranch. Since then, we have had it in the shop twice for repairs, first our truck was leaking antifreeze, for the life of me I cannot remember what we replaced (it was$800) and now they are saying we might need to replace the head gasket. Could it be because of the tuner?? This truck has never been to the shop prior to this...Just wanting to get someones thoughts.

 

Yes it is very possible that it was the tuner.

The 6.0 engine does not respond well to shift on the fly tuners. It really doesn't properly program your computers on the truck. Think of the truck computers like a PC or a MAC and you are installing a program. You know some programs require you to restart the computer for everything to take affect? Same thing here. Shift on the fly is mutually exclusive from that.

I would also be concerned about your tranny down the road as well.

If you are wanting to do performance programming for your 6.0, I would strongly suggest custom tunes. Either SCT(don't do the LiveWire though) or go thru Spartan. I have used both and both will do you justice. I, however, have also had experience with the Triple Dog and I know my truck didn't like the street or extreme programs on it. I suffered no damage, but the truck just didn't act right either.

 

Thanks!! Will let my husband know. I am wondering if we remove it, if that will help with the problems or if the damage is already done.

 

If you have as severe as damage as y'all are thinking, I'm afraid more likely then not it is already done.

Although your tranny might be spared, just depends on how y'all drove it. I just know mine didn't shift well with the two hotter tunes on there.

 

My recommendation (for anyone considering a grocery store bought programmer), today, many dyno shops have the software necessary to reflash a ECM. Given the cost of these "store bought tuners", you can go to a good dyno shop and for the same $ have your vehicle tuned specifically for your needs, based upon you area influences (fuel quality, vehicle use, environmental conditions, etc.) and have a vehicle that runs smoother, faster and gets better mileage as a result of this one on one capability and specific vehicle analysis.

 

Don't forget if the headgaskets are shot to do the studs on while it is apart.

 

our tuners do not have a high enough power output to blow the headgaskets.

tex is right tho.. the tunes sometimes have some weird shift issues in the higher settings. almost like the tranny is searching for gears. i have been working with the owners and engineers to get these issues smoothed out

 

I disagree. It is very easy to blow headbolts(gaskets aren't the issue here, I still use stock gaskets with over 500HP) with stock power levels. If it is easy to do it with stock output levels, it's very easy to do it with any tuner that adds additional HP output of any type.

 

them too. Its always wise to get head studs if your adding significant power levels

 

 

I agree, head studs are the issue even in stock form. I was questioning though the comment about head gaskets. At one time (no longer have the vehicle), I certainly had a "significant power level" and still was using stock gaskets without issue.

Head bolts tend to be hit or miss on if they were good from the factory to where they could even handle stock output. Add in just a little bit more beyond stock levels, even just the "tow" setting can really mess things up, but the head bolts is whats more then likely going first then the gaskets.

 

Hi Chris,I am presently having the same issue with my 2008 F350 6.4 Diesel. The tuner has been a problem since day one of install and has wiped my ECM out as well. My mechanic has another F350 that was towed in with the same issue. So far Bully Dog is offering next to nothing and it is completely the Tuners fault for the breakdown. I will never recommend anyone use their Tuner due to the issues and the lack of accepting responsibility for damaging my vehicles computer system. My truck has been out of commission for a month now and I am still waiting to find out what is going to be done. How did your problem result?