Thinking about a tuner....
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New User
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Columbus, OH
Thinking about a tuner....
I have a 2008, Job3 F350Lariat Crew Cab Long bed 6.4L Diesel. It has just under 60k miles. It was used for towing equipment for the first year or so that I had it and now is a daily driver with about 70% of the driving on the highway, hauling a cab full of kids from Cleveland to Columbus and back.
Thinking about adding a tuner and possibly DPF delete for mileage. I am savvy to the warranty issues, but wondering what the real risks are. What would break? What would be overstressed, etc. Also my hand calculated HIGHWAY ONLY mpg hovers around 16. Would I be able to realize any significant gains?
Thinking about adding a tuner and possibly DPF delete for mileage. I am savvy to the warranty issues, but wondering what the real risks are. What would break? What would be overstressed, etc. Also my hand calculated HIGHWAY ONLY mpg hovers around 16. Would I be able to realize any significant gains?
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From: Frederick, MD
I have the Banks 6-gun. DPF on clean tune. Maybe 1-2 mpgs is about all I would suspect you will squeeze out of it. But you will get more power though.
Easy on/off should you have an issue. Maintains all factory safeties.
Easy on/off should you have an issue. Maintains all factory safeties.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Washington,KS/Lincoln,NE
At some point, surely the EPA or DOT or both will start cracking down on those who defeat emissions systems.
As to more power, you don't need it. My truck is and will remain factory stock and has enough oomph to pull the farm to Texas if I wanted. It pulled a gross weight of 23.6 K up out of the east side of Wheeling, WV on I-70 at 60 mph. The semis were in the truck lane w/thier flashers on. Of course they were likely much heavier than I and proportionately less HP, but still . . . I was impressed.
You may gain some fuel mileage, but is it worth all the risks involved? I guess that's up to you to answer. As for me, I'm staying stock.
As to more power, you don't need it. My truck is and will remain factory stock and has enough oomph to pull the farm to Texas if I wanted. It pulled a gross weight of 23.6 K up out of the east side of Wheeling, WV on I-70 at 60 mph. The semis were in the truck lane w/thier flashers on. Of course they were likely much heavier than I and proportionately less HP, but still . . . I was impressed.
You may gain some fuel mileage, but is it worth all the risks involved? I guess that's up to you to answer. As for me, I'm staying stock.
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From: Frederick, MD
It does and more if you get the monitoring device, called the IQ.
I got it mostly to help a little with the regens and then to be able to monitor.
I will add this though, when I tow anything over 10K I am in stock form only, the IQ is just monitoring at that point. There is a reason for that. You are asking the motor and the drivetrain to work hard and long, which it is made to do all day long, but in stock trim.
I got it mostly to help a little with the regens and then to be able to monitor.
I will add this though, when I tow anything over 10K I am in stock form only, the IQ is just monitoring at that point. There is a reason for that. You are asking the motor and the drivetrain to work hard and long, which it is made to do all day long, but in stock trim.
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: oswego, new york
It does and more if you get the monitoring device, called the IQ.
I got it mostly to help a little with the regens and then to be able to monitor.
I will add this though, when I tow anything over 10K I am in stock form only, the IQ is just monitoring at that point. There is a reason for that. You are asking the motor and the drivetrain to work hard and long, which it is made to do all day long, but in stock trim.
I got it mostly to help a little with the regens and then to be able to monitor.
I will add this though, when I tow anything over 10K I am in stock form only, the IQ is just monitoring at that point. There is a reason for that. You are asking the motor and the drivetrain to work hard and long, which it is made to do all day long, but in stock trim.
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From: Frederick, MD
400-600 running empty. About a 10 miles regen.
Loaded heavy though I will run in stock form and then they are around 130 miles...that is pulling my 5er fully loaded though.
Loaded heavy though I will run in stock form and then they are around 130 miles...that is pulling my 5er fully loaded though.
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From: Frederick, MD
Would another DPF on tuner have the same result? I do not know. Banks has done a good job in their management of fuel/air/timing etc. so as not to produce the power with an adverse effect on the DPF.
Last two regens were at 579 and 602.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Washington,KS/Lincoln,NE
I wonder how the gear ratio of the axle affects regens, or even if it does. My last regen was about 340 miles mostly empty highway running.That is much longer than they have been. I thought maybe the new EGR and DPF reset had a little to do with it. Mine mostly last about 20 minutes at highway speeds.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Long Island, NY
I have 40,000 miles on my truck of which about 30,000 were tuned. I am running the Spartan 275hp tune, and the truck is an absolute blast to drive. The shifting is a touch firm for some, but most won't mind. I currently have a 8ft Western plow on the front and 800lbs of sand in the bed, and the truck is extremely powerful. The dashdaq allows for close monitoring of the trucks vitals, which is very important when you are running tunes. With the tune, cat/dpf delete I have had a noticable increase in MPG. However, for the majority of the time in the summer I get around 17mpg on the highway.
In terms of power, drivability, and the complete removal of turbo lag... tuning the truck will be the best thing you could have done. However, you risk your warranty, and you do increase strain on the motor and drivetrain. If you plan on tuning it and hammering the crap out of it all the time, it won't be long before you do some damage. However, if you're an adult, and you treat your equiptment with respect you shouldn't run in to any issues.
Good luck!
In terms of power, drivability, and the complete removal of turbo lag... tuning the truck will be the best thing you could have done. However, you risk your warranty, and you do increase strain on the motor and drivetrain. If you plan on tuning it and hammering the crap out of it all the time, it won't be long before you do some damage. However, if you're an adult, and you treat your equiptment with respect you shouldn't run in to any issues.
Good luck!
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I just took off the CAT/DPf and put on the Rileys pipe and bought the SCTLivewire. All went fine until I put the Tuner in and set it at Dyno set and then drove it. 50MPH and 3000 RPM. Called and found the unit was not working correctly and not for the 6.4 Diesel. SO they are overnighting me a new unit and I will return this one. Very nice people but...make sure you call them before putting this unit in your unit. I am very limited to driving it around town.
Could not reset to stock as unit came up not for a 6.4. Will post when I have it programed correctly and have some miles.
I get 12 mpg now at 65 mph empty...16+ if I only do 55 and 2000 rpm which is a little slow when speedlimit in TX is 70MPH.
I have 4.88 rearend and 4X4 Lariat.
Could not reset to stock as unit came up not for a 6.4. Will post when I have it programed correctly and have some miles.
I get 12 mpg now at 65 mph empty...16+ if I only do 55 and 2000 rpm which is a little slow when speedlimit in TX is 70MPH.
I have 4.88 rearend and 4X4 Lariat.