Pilot injection
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Pilot injection
First, let me say, I love my truck. However, when is Ford going to release a flash that will give me my pilot injection (and my mileage) back ? I have the dec/03 flash, and ever since, the mileage is for crap.
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From: Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
horsepuller,
pilot injection is the injection of a small amount of diesel fuel during the compression stroke, just prior to the injection of the main amount of diesel. It gives you a better fuel/air mixture before detonation, hence better fuel mileage and less pollution. (Much simplified explanation for all of you diesel heads out there).
JohnF250,
I think Ford is working on this issue. Pilot injection actuates the injectors twice as often (once for the pilot, once for the main injection). Ford seems to have some issues with the engine control system and some of the injectors, so they disabled pilot injection for the moment. It stands to reason that Ford will eventually develop another flash that re-activates the pilot injection. Keep in mind that the 6.0L engine was, in part, put into the F-series trucks to conform to new pollution regulations. Pilot Injection is an important contributor to lower emissions. So, I don't think Ford has a choice: they need to bring the pilot injection back eventually.
Regards
pilot injection is the injection of a small amount of diesel fuel during the compression stroke, just prior to the injection of the main amount of diesel. It gives you a better fuel/air mixture before detonation, hence better fuel mileage and less pollution. (Much simplified explanation for all of you diesel heads out there).
JohnF250,
I think Ford is working on this issue. Pilot injection actuates the injectors twice as often (once for the pilot, once for the main injection). Ford seems to have some issues with the engine control system and some of the injectors, so they disabled pilot injection for the moment. It stands to reason that Ford will eventually develop another flash that re-activates the pilot injection. Keep in mind that the 6.0L engine was, in part, put into the F-series trucks to conform to new pollution regulations. Pilot Injection is an important contributor to lower emissions. So, I don't think Ford has a choice: they need to bring the pilot injection back eventually.
Regards
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by canuck999
I think Ford is working on this issue. Pilot injection actuates the injectors twice as often (once for the pilot, once for the main injection). Ford seems to have some issues with the engine control system and some of the injectors, so they disabled pilot injection for the moment. It stands to reason that Ford will eventually develop another flash that re-activates the pilot injection. Keep in mind that the 6.0L engine was, in part, put into the F-series trucks to conform to new pollution regulations. Pilot Injection is an important contributor to lower emissions. So, I don't think Ford has a choice: they need to bring the pilot injection back eventually.
Regards
Regards
Don't expect the return of pilot ignition in the 6.0.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Oshawa/Ontario/Canada
Originally Posted by jschira
The real emissions issue will be in 2007. By that time, Ford will have the 6.4L PSD, which will have common rail injection.
Don't expect the return of pilot ignition in the 6.0.
Don't expect the return of pilot ignition in the 6.0.
It would seem that the answer would be a new, more powerful computer. Maybe we should all just get together and make one. You could combine this with some hot rodding, too (obviously, if you're going to write your own program, it can be less pessimal than Ford's).
Now... I'm fully capable of coming up with a platform that is beafy enough to run this... but I'm not really knowledgeable about the running of the engine. The winning design would likely comprise a "platform" (say 300Mhz to 1Ghz eden chip ... or maybe a sparc if we want to be fancy) and a set of ASIC's for the realtime stuff (injector control). The whole unit would likely cost $500 to manufacture.
Who has some tuning knowledge and would like to jump in?
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by ZBeeble
I read an article somewhere around here that implied that pilot injection was disabled because the computer (PCM or FICM) wasn't powerful enough to do the job reliably.
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by horsepuller
What is pilot injection and why did Ford disable it?
Many debates over this technology and its disabling by the re-flashes.
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From: Tennessee
Any info on the 6.4L PSD? Also did you guys see on Ford website the new 4.6L PSD that they will be putting in cab-over box trucks which shares the same technology as the 6.0L just minus 2cylinders. Also has the EVRT Turbo Charger. Ive heard that this motor will be available in the 2005 F-150's also.
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From: Tennessee
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Is it possible to go back to my dealer and request that they install the original flash?
My brother has the same truck as me, yet he didn't get the flash, and he's enjoying 17-20mpg. His truck is quieter at idle also.
My brother has the same truck as me, yet he didn't get the flash, and he's enjoying 17-20mpg. His truck is quieter at idle also.
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From: Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada
jeb and jschira,
pollution issues aside (I believe 2005 is the critical date in California), Ford has advertised and sold it's customers on the pilot injection feature. Removing this feature, other than for a limited period of time due to technical difficulties, could be interpreted as a breach of contract. I think Ford is well aware of the potential liability.
Anyway, here is what I would do if I had a 6.0L PSD with the pilot injection disabled: I would write a registered letter to Ford with a copy to the dealer, stating clearly that pilot injection with all it's benefits (reduced pollution, better fuel mileage, increase in power, reduced noise) was a significant deciding factor in the purchase of my truck. I would state that disabling the pilot injection has reduced the value of my truck and that I consider Ford in breach of contract, unless this feature is enabled again.
I would write this letter SOON! Else my lack of reaction could be construed as silent acceptance of the status quo.
Regards
pollution issues aside (I believe 2005 is the critical date in California), Ford has advertised and sold it's customers on the pilot injection feature. Removing this feature, other than for a limited period of time due to technical difficulties, could be interpreted as a breach of contract. I think Ford is well aware of the potential liability.
Anyway, here is what I would do if I had a 6.0L PSD with the pilot injection disabled: I would write a registered letter to Ford with a copy to the dealer, stating clearly that pilot injection with all it's benefits (reduced pollution, better fuel mileage, increase in power, reduced noise) was a significant deciding factor in the purchase of my truck. I would state that disabling the pilot injection has reduced the value of my truck and that I consider Ford in breach of contract, unless this feature is enabled again.
I would write this letter SOON! Else my lack of reaction could be construed as silent acceptance of the status quo.
Regards
Last edited by canuck999; May 10, 2004 at 09:46 AM.