I recently purchased a '08 F-350 Crew Cab Lariat 4x4. The truck has 149k on it and has had a dpf performed. It has a complete aftermarket exhaust system and has been reprogrammed but I don't know what with or to what level. I am going to buy a programmer and get the dealer to flash it back to stock and program from there. Right now the truck has tons of power and smokes like a freight train. My first tank of fuel averaged 14 on short trips and some towing which is cool with me. I would like some advice on what the best programmer would be. This is a work truck and I'm not taking it to the drag strip but I will hook 10-12k pounds behind it regularly for short tows. I was leaning towards the SCT Livewire but I have read some bad reviews. Price is a factor in my decision. All opinions and experienced comments are welcome. Thanks in advance.

P.S. I'm a 7.3 man. This is my first adventure in the post 7.3 world.

 

Flashing it back to stock without the DPF will throw the truck into limp mode and may not even what to shut itself off.

So don't do anything till you have all the pieces solved.

I do agree with starting over since you have no idea what is there. You also should be concerned with being able to read your temps especially when towing.

Having a tow tune or being closer to stock when towing is advised.

 

Where to start...

It's high mileage...

It's tuned, but you have no idea with what, by who or what power level. The fact that it's overfueling significantly likely means a higher power/level tune, but a poorly written, inefficient tune can smoke twice as much as a good one and make half as much power, never mind the whoopin' it's putting on the motor...

You tow, regularly, at the higher end of capacity (over half the rated weight or 8K pounds; which some tuners would require a tow tune for).

Problems with the LiveWire? Could you be the least bit specific what you've heard, I'm intrigued...

Unless you have a detailed service history of the truck, which is unlikely because you (1) would have said and/or (2) the truck wouldn't be tuned and/or the tuner used would have been included with the purchase of the truck, my recommendation is do nothing, tuning wise...

That kind of tow weight, mileage and unknown service history are the recipe for one of those threads titled "Spartan blew up my truck with 150K mile" or words to that effect. If you REALLY have your heart set on tuning it, get an OASIS and any service records you can, have the dealer reflash it to stock with the latest software and do a Blackstone oil analysis to see if the engine's even capable of dealing with being tuned... Like senix said the problem you're going to have (unless you have the stock DPF available) is you can't run a stock truck with the DPF deleted. Sorry, but it sounds like your purchase wasn't planned to thoroughly...

And at the end of the day, towing at those weight levels? You're looking at a lower end power tune...Spartan's 210HP may be do-able but I'd be real hesitant given the scenario you've provided.

 

I recently fouynd myself ion the same spot. I bought a 2008 F350 from the local dealer. as I drove off the lot it threw an engine code. They hooked it up to there computer and KILLED the truck. Lucky for me they got ahold of the previous owner and bought the programer from him and gave it to me after they got the truck running to my liking. it took them almost 2 weeks to figure it out and get it working. I would contact the person you bought it from and see if they have the tuner. Mine ended up being a Superchips race tuner lots of smoke and 14 mpg sound like level 3 on mine. The dealer also included a 4 year unlimited mile warrenty when I bought the truck and now they regret that since they sold a tuned truck and a warrenty on the tuned truck.

 

I have already had the truck at the dealer and the oasis report was good. Only recalls and minor repairs. So far what i've been able to find out is that this was a one owner truck and it has had no major problems in the past. I have the previous owners info but i have not been able to contact them so far. The dealer is aware of my situation and the plan was to flash the truck to stock and then program so that I would have a stock program to start with. So far I have been happy with the truck as it has lots of power and is well behaved. Again, I don't tow far but i tow a lot. 15-20 miles at the most but the load may be a 1500gal water tank and trailer and it handles it well. The only reason I even want to program it is so that I know what I have.

Specifically I don't know of any problems with livewire. I have just read some reviews that said the sct was sub-par compared to whats on the market.

Thanks again in advance.