Has anyone had any success disabling the IMRC on the 6.2 using a tuner? Have zero knowledge when it comes to tuners, but heard it was possible.

 

Why would you want to disable it?
It adds torque at lower rpm's when those IMRC plates close off.

If you do tune them out, you will need something to block the runner plates open.

 

Mine are very noisy at times, and from my understanding, they have a fairly high failure rate. If I understood correctly, they can be programmed to stay in the open position using a tuner. Supposedly, the loss of low RPM power is negligible and the IMRCs are more for "emissions" non-sense.

 

Search for it on YouTube. I've watched videos where they (Arod and others) disable it during trouble shooting with the Ford software. I don't know if it can be turned off via Forscan but there are experts here that could confirm that for you.

 

I have seen videos where Forscan is used to open and close the IMRC for diagnostic purposes, but it isn't permanent.

 

Best option if you dont want to spend money is just pull the vacuum line and cap it.

I have the Ford Tech software and there is no option to permanently disable it. You have to disable it every drive cycle unless you actually tune it out with a code rewrite, which will probably cost you the same as just replacing the intake which fixes the problem.

 

That was pretty much the conclusion I came to. I've heard the intake manifolds are on back order for like 3 years. Does disconnecting and capping vacuum lines cause IMRC to default to open position? Pardon my ignorance, but would I need to purchase a tuner and then find someone to program it, or is it possible that company that sells tuners would have the appropriate tune?

 

Intakes are 2-3 months out last I inquired.

Without vacuum they do indeed default to open. This will be coupled with DTC P2004 and P2005, so the CEL will be illuminated. You will also notice slight drivability changes and increased fuel consumption with them permanently open.

Going a tuner rout, I doubt anyone has a tune for the 6.2L available. The engine computer uses the intake runners to achieve its ideal fuel to air ratio and keeping them in the open position will require a custom tune if you dont want to lose engine performance/efficiency.

 

So would the necessary tune require extensive testing on a dyno, making it unprofitable, unless it was a popular request?

 

More than likely. There are IMRC lockout kits with a tune for the 5.0L and they cost more than just replacing the intake manifold. To my knowledge there is nothing available for the 6.2L so going the custom rout will surely cost significantly more as well as make your truck a unicorn if you were to sell.

My advise, just order the intake manifold and in the meantime if you dont want to hear the ticking just unhook vacuum and cap it.

 

Is it true that disconnecting vacuum lines to force open IMRC without using a tune will damage the cats?

 

The potential for overheating the catalytic converter element is possible. With the IMRC disabled the engine will be over fueling anytime the runners under normal operating conditions are not supposed to be 100% open.

 

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks for answering all my questions.

 

just like they've been doing to the coyote intake for years that's pretty much the first mod done when you buy a coyote that has it

 

I purchased a tuner from 5 Star Tuning and they sent me an "IMRC disable" tune. I disconnected the vacuum lines to the actuators and capped the lines off. Although probably unnecessary, I capped off the actuators too with thread protectors that you can get from a hardware store, just to keep debris out in case I need to use them again. Apparently, the runners default to an open position when no vacuum is applied. No more IMRC knocking and no perceivable change in engine performance. I didn't come up with this solution myself, there are some posts on this forum by the username Nationfreight that I got the info from.