Hey everyone,

I've done a few other threads about specific questions but after reading more and more, I know I'm way over my head when it comes to diesels. I know my way around a normal engine pretty well, but when it comes to the diesel, I'm kind of stuck.

So here is where I'm at, I just picked up an 05 250 CC SWB XLT with 64k miles.

I don't have a lot of cash flow to do major stuff all at once, but I would like to get an idea where to start.

Where do I start with this truck? It will be a daily driver and on weekends towing a travel trailer for camping. I'm not looking for a 500 HP mean machine, but I want a strong reliable truck that will last for a long time.

I'm in So Cal, so I can't really remove anything because of our stupid emissions crap.

There are a lot of acronyms on the threads that I'm not sure what they mean. I've looked through the beginners guide and requested the excel spreadsheet to look at all that info, but if you guys and gals can give me a good direction to start, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for all the input and info on this forum, I'm amazed at what I have learned already.

Thanks!

 

start with a scangauge2, and blue spring update, then a coolant filter, then a bulletproof egr cooler. after that, exhaust and maybe tuner

 

I'd agree with getting the ScanGauge first..... then depending on your Coolant vs oil temps there would be two different ways to go. IF - they temps are out of range ( ie- greater than 15* spread), I'd do oil cooler and egr cooler replacement, head gaskets and studs. Then a tuner to help you tow, then, blue spring and maybe cat-back exhaust. If the temps are OK, I'm not really sure WHAT I'd do first then.......

 

if the temps are ok, coolant filter, blue spring, and exhaust

 

Acronyms gave me trouble for awhile too! Here's a list:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/821641-acronyms.html

If your not familliar with the ScanGaugeII here's a list of what it will do for ya,

ScanGauge Capabilities

First, what it won't do:
Fuel pressure
Exhaust gas Temp
Low (crankcase) oil pressure*
These values are not monitored by the engine computer, there are no sensors under the hood so the SG can't see them.

What it will monitor:
Fuel Level
Battery voltage
Engine coolant temp
Engine oil temp
Trans fluid temp
Intake air temp (on 2 different sensors)
Injection control pressure
Injection pressure regulator
FICM (fuel Injection Control Module) main power
FICM vehicle power
FICM logic power
FICM sync status
Camshaft sync status
Crankshaft sync status
Fuel injector timing
Fuel injector pulse width
Fuel injectors 1-8 on/off commands
Radiator fan speed
Radiator fan duty cycle
Barometric pressure (ambient)
Exhaust back pressure
Turbo Boost (by tinkering with baro settings)
Turbo duty cycle
manifold absolute pressure
Accelerator pedal position
V-ref voltage
Trans shifter position (automatic)
Mass Fuel Desired

These are the main ones. People are still tinkering with codes for misfire counts on specific cylinders and there may be a couple more I missed. In addition to these gauges, the SG has a trip computer that calculates fuel mileage and trip time etc. It also scans for many (but not all) codes that may have been stored if there is a problem that turns on your Check Engine Light. It simply plugs into the OBD port under the dash so install is easy also, and finially, the price is right.
Now for the negative:
The price is inexpensive because it's inexpensively made. The display is LCD but the dots are pretty coarse and it can be hard to read (the color of the backlight can be changed which helps). Half of the gauges you will want to monitor require you to input long strings of numbers to "program" into the unit, it also must be plugged in to do that so you'll be sitting in the driveway for awhile when you first get it. and finially, it is what it is, there are no options to hook up additional sensors to allow it to display the values I mentioned in the beginning.
There are other monitors with touch screens that can be expanded to show the other gauges, like the Edge Insight or DashDaq. These monitors are considerably more expensive but the expandability is important and besides that they just look better. Back-up cameras, mp3 capability, and the ability to completely change the way the screen looks is pretty cool if your budget allows it.

 

Okay, silly question....What is the blue spring?

Also, how easy is it to install the bulletproof egr cooler yourself? Where would be a good place to find one?

Thanks for the help so far. I will definitely get the ScanGuage.



Edit: Okay, I see what the blue spring upgrade is, but the question is why is it beneficial to upgrade this? Sorry, just trying understand why we upgrade things (known deficiencies and such).

Thanks.

 

It's a Ford update to increase your fuel pressure to the injectors...... the originals were getting weak.

 

Blue spring replaces the factory fp spring that gets weak over time. The value spring increase fp because it drops at wot and if it drops below 45psi it wil damage injectors and the blue spring is a major must!!!

 

If the trucks working properly the stupid smog stuff ain't hurting you. You apparently are new.

 

Here's a thread with some pictures from when I did my blue spring:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ue-spring.html

 

I was meaning the EGR delete stuff and some other things that are being able to remove in some other more relaxed states.

 

Awesome Rusty.

This will be the first thing I do on my truck, along with the coolant filter.

 

Shouldn't you test your fuel pressure before in stalling the blue spring. I installed a fuel pressure gauge and was planning on ordering the blue spring. But when I started the truck my pressure was fine (about 55 at idle). My truck has about 62,000 miles and installing the blue spring would have been a waste of money.

 

I should have mentioned that my fuel pressure drops to about 52 at wide open throttle witch is ok.

 

i dont think the blue spring would be a waste. 55 is ok at idle, and 52 is still ok at WOT, but the optimum range is 60-65 at idle and minimum of 55 at WOT. i noticed a difference in throttle response when i updated it. unless u will constantly b monitoring the fuel pressure, i think u should do the blue spring.