Question... I bought a 2006 F250 6.0L a couple of months ago, from a dealership. It's been bulletproofed already, has an intake, coolant filter kit. Has 95k (mileage)

Today, my fuel gauge dropped to empty from 3/4 of a tank for a couple of miles and set off the CE light. I hooked my scan tool to it, to clear the code (P0460).

After just checking other things out with the scan tool. I cleared it and went on... I had to run to the store, later on... I was pulling out of the neighborhood and the gas pedal was a lot more "touchy" and the truck, responded to it and it launched pretty good and blew a good amount of black smoke.

Do any of you think this has/or had a tuner on it and I may have activated it with my scanner?

 

No, there's nothing your scanner could do to reprogram the PCM, whatever tune was there before is still there, stock or otherwise. It might could clear the KAM (keep-alive memory), which erases the transmission adaptive learning history. From an engineer with a background in this transmission:

If it was defaulting to quicker shifts at different pressures, it can really make a difference in how the truck drives. Drastically actually, which is why several tuning companies sell transmission-only tow tunes that don't alter fuel delivery at all.

Side note, black smoke is actually a bad sign on a 6.0. Either something is wrong (ie stuck VGT, EGR valve, or a hanging injector), or the PCM program fuel mapping is screwed up. Well written tunes don't blow a ton of smoke until you've moved up quite a bit in horsepower. I can't imagine you're running a 100+HP tune without knowing it.

 

I guess, I did say it blew a lot of black smoke. It wasn't a thick dark black smoke, like some trucks can do. It was more than it has ever done...

I figured, my scanner would not have been able to do that... It's just weird, how all of a sudden, the throttle is more responsive.

The truck, had to have been for towing at some point... It has a goose neck installed, along with rear helper bags. So, I guess it could have a "tow tune" on it.

Thank you for that info... I will look into that. I appreciate it.

 

Could it be that the programmer backed off the power because of the code and when you cleared the code it it figured all was good and went back to adding power?

 

First, you likely want to dump the aftermarket intake filter kit and return it to stock. Black smoke is (in general) not enough air.

There was a computer software update and tsb regarding that code. It could also be a dirty sensor in the tank.

You also need to determine what "bulletproofing" was done. Bulletproofing has become a meaningless marketing term. Look for head studs and an see if the egr cooler and valve is still there. If the cooler is missing and you have no check engine light, then you have a tune of some sort. If the egr valve is missing, get a replacement so the cooling fan works properly.

You might also want to post in the 6.0 forum


Richard

EDT, also, what color coolant do you have?

 

There is some potential in this idea.

@OP: If the truck loses power again, hook up your code reader and see if the same code is now pending. In many cases, the CEL light will not come on until the soft code repeats and becomes a hard code. But a tune could back off on a soft code without the dash light indicating a problem.

 

Its been studded, new head gaskets, oil cooler, and no cooler, and the egr is deleted too. The only check engine light is when the fuel gauge dropped. I will call my local dealership and see about the TSB. Thank you for the info.
If, they re-flashed the computer... Do you think it will erase whatever is in there? If so, its fine... cause, I will be getting the SCT one soon with custom tunes.