Which of these upgrades would many of you consider the single most important for this engine:

1. EGR delete
2. Switching coolant to CAT brand, etc.
2. Tuner w/Gauges
3. Coolant filter
4. Exhaust

I know some of these go hand in hand, but is there one thing you couldn't live without. Seems like many issues with the 6.0 start at the cooling system and have been headed off with the coolant filter or switching the coolant itself??? I could be wrong.

 

3. Coolant filter

 

Not sure about tuner, but gauges yes.

Coolant filter

Budget 6.0L Build - Diesel Forum - TheDieselStop.com

 

Thanks for the link. Sounds like a factory coolant filter from the very beginning for the 6.0 could have saved many heartaches...gunk in coolant leads to starved oil cooler, which leads to starved EGR cooler and eventually leading to an undeserved reputation for an otherwise solid engine.

Is there a certain amount of mileage on the odometer when it would be pointless to add the coolant filter?

 

I run the EGR system - no issues.
I use Motorcraft Gold coolant - no issues.
The exhaust can only provide noticeable help when towing heavy or heavily tuned (IMO anyway)

A tuner isn't going to help reliability in most cases.

Gauges (well, let me say a scan tool w/ OBDII gauge capabilities) can often times help you catch an issue when it is a small problem and keep it from "stranding" you or sometimes they can hep you fix problems before they get to be more costly.

 

My 6.0 has 208,000 miles on it and has original head gaskets in it. It has had injectors at 165,000-last year had high pressure pump and injector harness. Otherwise it has had no problems. I think the worst thing you can due to this engine is crank it up with a chip or tuner. Mine is bone stock, and i mean everything

 

Gauges (well, let me say a scan tool w/ OBDII gauge capabilities) can often times help you catch an issue when it is a small problem and keep it from "stranding" you or sometimes they can hep you fix problems before they get to be more costly.[/quote]

I agree. My scan Gauge caught my Bad T/stat. Was stuck open and not getting hot enough (only 175 degrees). Should be the 1st thing you add to the truck

 

Fuel pressure gauge and OBDII gauges, coolant filter, exhaust in that order.

 

egr delete,oil cooler upgrade, coolant filter, head studs even if the truck is bonestock, due to the bolts streatching over time under factory boost levels especialy on 2003 and 2004 engines.SCT tuner for delete of egr and set to better the fuel curve for efficency vs the factory canned tune Ford put on the truck to meet EPA regulations.

 

Gauges. Anyway you want to do them.

 

That's pretty much what I've done but I added a new HPOP & IPR valve