Has anyone heard of or ran a Gearbox Z? On their website in the reviews a guy wrote this,
"My 2008 6.4L had installed a Banks SixGun for two years and finally decided to do the DPF delete and EGR Blocking. The DPF-R works flawlessly with the DPF delete pipe and blocked EGR. Used it in conjunction with the SixGun and it also works perfectly with it.

The DPF delete and the EGR blocking by itself appear to increase 2-3 MPG. EGTs are also notably lower with the DPF-R with or without the SixGun. Exhaust smoke can only be seen if you step on the pedal and it is not much anyway, during normal driving it doesn’t smoke at all.

Now I am using the DPF-R+ program and I will not go back. It gave it much more power and the fuel consumption went up at least 6 MPG in city and even more in the highway. It smokes a little more when step on it but with a lot of power. The truck also sounds very different with the DPF-R+. Up to now the maximum registered EGT is 1,402 F and the boost is 38 PSI.

Now I am using my SixGun as a monitor (an expensive one) with the DPF-R+. Just set the SixGun at level 1 (stock) and you’re done.

I am quite happy with the purchase; it works flawlessly, no more regeneration cycles, more power, more MPG, and all that without sacrifice the motor and transmission reliability. Finally, have an excellent product support and adding 6 MPG, it pays by itself.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]"
What do y'all think?

 

In my experience stacking tuners is not a good idea. Banks has tuning that mirrors their product power to the tranny. Adding a third party DPF delete tune to a proven product of Banks does not sound too smart. Just my opinion.

The DPF R is discussed in the forum. You should search it as it has been talked about.

 

I have read the other posts but my questions have not been answered. I'm sure there are people on here who own and run the DPF R and I would like to hear your opinion about fuel milage. I have a banks 6gun IQ and can monitor my ECU. Diesel is about $4.25 where I live, if there is a product that has consistently provided more MPG I would like to know about it. At the same time I don't want to spend $600 on a piece of crap. There a couple really good reviews on the Gear Box Z website but I figure they will have good reviews on their own web site.

 

there are a few out there that have the DPF R and the 6 gun. Seems to co-exist ok. With the way the 6 gun interfaces with the PCM I would have no problem running it.

 

The "review" was on their website...enough said! Search the forums here and elsewhere and see what people are running and their own, unfiltered personal opinion about it.

"Stacking" (IMO) is ill advised on this motor in particular. Duplicate function means you're spending more money than you need to (using the 6-gun as only a monitor for example). Why would you do it if you don't need to...?

If you do it the right the first time you won't have to the second...

The best tuning option (which is not what I'm running by the way) for someone just looking to do a DPF/DOC delete, intake and tune is Spartan. The DashDaq gives you the ability to monitor way more stuff than you'll ever need and the 275HP (that's RWHP over stock) is MORE than enough for 95%+ of the people out there. They frequently run package deals (as do many of their vendors and site supporters here) depending on what you're looking for.

If you're ONLY interested in DPF-on tuning I wouldn't go with anyone else but Banks. If you go Spartan however, you have the choice of both DPF on and off tuning...

 

I would be totally amazed if you got a 6 MPG increase with anything. I thing you say you get about 11 now. a 6mpg increase would be over a 50 % increase. That just ain't gonna happen. Not with this truck or not with a Prius. You just can't get that kind of increase. Yeah, I know there are guys saying they got it but my wife says men are prone to exaggrate about fuel mileage and sex. I deleted with a mild tune and got about a 10 to 15 percent increase which took towing mnileage from 8-8.5 to around 10. I'm happy with that. Keep your expectations real and you won't bve disappointed.

 

I've analyzed regens and my mpg and then some. Regens account for about 5-6% of my fuel consumption. So just deleting to eliminate regens will return at least that amount in mpgs. I've read the use of EGR incurs about a 5% penalty, and most tuners turn it off.

So a 10% increase in mpgs is a realistic minimum. Definitely not 50%!

 

What about sending my ECU in to somebody and having just the DPF and EGR removed; then I can still use my banks 6gun. Any suggestions on this course of action?
I'm also thinking about getting rid of my unit bearings and converting to free wheeling hubs.

 

How about no? I'm one of the "tuning guys" here (and a subject matter expert on absolutely NOTHING) and I've NEVER heard of that. You wanna do a EGR delete (either physical or electronic) and DPF/DOC delete, again, do it right the first time. Sell your Banks 6-Gun, you shouldn't have any problem finding someone to give you a decent price for it and put that towards a Spartan delete package. I'd say you're economically motivated to increase your MPG except (1) you haven't said you are and (2)...

...that is NOT inexpensive.

So is increasing your MPG you biggest concern? There is NO way you're going to increase your MPG by a legitimate 6 MPG; that's complete rubbish. Half of that is VERY optimistic. Percentage wise the best you're going to be able to do is 25% max, any more than that is an unrealistic stretch.

This reminds me of the NA "gasser" truck guys who figure an intake, tune and exhaust combined/together will get them an additional 50-75 (or whatever completely unrealistic number) additional horsepower. You can't take the best case scenario of every product and add them together; while they compliment each other they're not synergistic to that extreme.

And the same goes here for MPG of these trucks, no matter how you cut it they're still 4+ ton trucks with 8 big holes that need fuel.

A gen 1 Dodge 2WD single cab/short bed with right gearing/tires will get you well into the 20s MPG though...

 

I want to produce the best results for my truck. even if the DPF and EGR delete create minimal MPG results, 1) from what I have read getting rid of the recirculation of exhaust and creating better air flow will reduce my EGT, increase my boost and hopefully expand the longevity of my motor. 2) I don't like being regulated by the Gov. How much more efficient is my truck in regards to emissions when I'm using roughly 10% more fuel with the DPF and EGR to control my emissions.
I googled DPF removal and came across a website that talks about what is involved in a DPF removal. It talked about the 1)Hardware, physically removing it from the exhaust system and 2)Software, "removing the ECU and programming it on a bench". (I don't know what programming it on a bench means.) I could have bought an older diesel and not worried with this crap but I didn't know about all this emission BS when I bought my truck. I'm just trying to work with what I got.

 

I am considering the Spartan delete package. It is talked about a lot in these forums but before I commit I'd like to know my options. I'm sure you old guys get people like me on here all the time, asking the same questions. Whatever I do I'll be sure to post the results to help some other noobie in the future.

 

There are INNUMERABLE threads about tuning, etc.

THIS one is only a few down the first page of the forum from yours. Start there...

 

I do use the search option and I have read that thread. There are INNUMERABLE threads about tuning, the question for new people to diesels is where to start. I have don't the big THREE, Banks intake, exhaust, tuner and even intercooler. Now that I'm over 100,000 miles the next COA is deleting emission control.
Ronin, why did you choose the Gearhead SCT over the Spartan?
I originally went with the 6gun because I heard it was a clean tune and Banks has a lot of experience with diesels. Too bad the don't make a DPF delete kit but after talking to them it is because they are based out of California.
It is easy to say "use the search option" and I do. I want to learn and I assumed there would be a wealth of knowledge on this forum.
My first question was answered in regards to running two programmers.
My second question is to find out if I can send my ECU in to somebody to have the DPF and EGR deleted. That would be ideal because I like my 6gun.

 

It's REAL easy to zing off a snarky one liner and say use the search function. I don't like to say it myself and I'm MORE than happy to help anyone looking for information (tuner related specifically), but for a "new guy" you're getting a little snippy for my liking. I've responded 3 times in just this thread (there are others you know, like the one I provided the link to), so I'll make this my fourth (and likely final) attempt to help you out...

If ALL you're going to do is an intake, exhaust and tune (DPF-off) then Spartan is more than what you need. IF you're going to take it to the next level (turbos, injectors, pumps, studs, full EGR delete, etc.) then IDP and Gearhead (who use SCTs) are a BETTER option. I previously used IDP for my tunes, now Gearhead.

Most people here (there are other diesel/PowerStroke forums too) aren't as interested in HP/torque and ET/MPH as they are elsewhere, and I try to temper my comments and guidance accordingly. Take them for what they worth or don't, I could care less...

 

Well OP I was writing a response trying to save you that zing but my keyboard froze and by the time I got it going ronin had already zinged you. so, heres the deal, there are a lot of tuners out there and there are a lot of options for moding these trucks. You need to tell us what you want to achieve and then we can nudge you in the right direction. I'm no expert but I've been on this forum 3 years and read every thread and 7 years before that on the 7.3 forum and I've never heard of sending your truck computer off to have it reprogramed. that in itself don't mean much but when I combine it with ronin telling you "no it can't be done" I come to a conclusion. No, it can't be done. My guess would be that reprograming that truck computer would be breaking some sort of Cyber land law. But that's just a guess. If you want to see what programmers are on the market go to ebay and enter DPf delete. I'm pretty sure they are all there. Take your check book. tuning these trucks ain't for fryboys. It's expensive. Top line kits from spartan or H&S (the two favorites here) are gonna cost you $1500 or so. There are cheaper options. I bought a used Edge racing tuner and a pipe on ebay, did my own work and spent less than $500 total. Works great but, I wasn't looking for any more power or speed. Even so, just getting the junk off the truck and the number 1 (35 HP) setting gave me a lot more performance than stock. So, I think what people are trying to tell you is that you need to study up and make some decisions, cause it's your truck and your decision. Good luck, and hang on this forum for awhile and you will learn a lot about these trucks.