Hey everybody , just wanted to know if anyone has had/heard of any problems with the banks six-gun / speed loader ??? here's where I'm at: went out and bought a brand new F350 4x4 King Ranch 6.0 in Aug. After about 1,000-1,200 miles I called Banks and ending up buying a six-gun and speed loader,wow what a diffrance in power..I couldn't believe it!! Well anyway, took a trip in nov. put on approx. 2,000 miles on it,when I got back I heard a little Knock in the eng. (like a lifter tapping) took it to ford to do an oil change at 3,400 miles and to check-out the tapping..well come to find out, after they pulled the motor out, it had melted #6 & #7 pistons and ford will not warranty it due to the banks p.c.m causd it.??? spoke with banks and they say their p.c.m. didn't do it..so know I'm stuck in the middle of this and have to pay for a new eng. So I wanted to know if anybody else is having any problems like this...

 

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ok thanks Tim...S.K.R.

 

Sorry to here about your truck, but you just saved me a bunch of trouble...Banks has been burning my phone up trying to sell me a 6 gun. I ask them about the warranty and they said, "Don't worry about it, Banks will be behind you 100% of the way". "We have a team of Engineers to help you if there is a problem, we even have a lawyer if it comes to that". The guy was so convincing I was almost ready to bite. Heck, he even told me that the engine was safer with the 6 gun than without it!

I hope they stand behind their product...but sales people will say anything to ink the deal.

 

Can I ask why you took it to the dealer with the six gun in place?

 

Welcome to the site but i hate to break it to you but your probably screwed.
A similar tale happened to a guy who posted here a month or 2 ago and started a big thread about it (hint,hint -do a search so i don't come off as bashing Banks).
ANyway, it kinda sounds like you were driving around hard or towing in mode 5 or 6 maxed out with the speed loader and had a failure.
As a commom sense procedure you should have made the truck stock again before going into dealer you know?
So if Ford holds their ground(they will and their also anti-tuner) then your gonna have a heck of a time coaxing Banks to pay for a new motor or re-build.

Sorry bro and keep us posted.

 

Banks should stand behind their product. If you were towing above 3 though, forget it. They definitely tell you above that is not recommended. I have 20,000 miles on my unit with Banks and have had no problems. I also have friends that have lost trannies with the banks unit and the only reason they knew their tranny was bad is because the unit shut down when it started slipping. I agree with the comment above, why would you take the unit in with it plugged in but now that you have, fight it and get Banks on your side. If they do not back you up let us know, with proof, so we can all bad mouth Gale Banks with proof instead of heresay.

 

I dunno, I always thought was 100% fool proof. Your only supposed to tow on 3 but if you have the speed loader, it will defuel the truck to keep it below 1300 on any setting. Sounds to me like something of banks didn't do its job

 

Hey guys.... Trying to find the thread from a month or two ago from the guy who had the same problem as I do. As far as the towing, I was in mode 2 or 3 to Arizona and back to Northern CA. As far as going to the dealer with the six-gun, I was assured by the dealer and Banks that it would not void the warranty unless banks caused the problem, which ford is claiming. Plus, if I removed it, the dealer told me they would know if I had an after-market unit on it and I would have a hole/plug in the manifold where they would check. Cause the technician at the dealer called ford and they requested for him to check at the manifold for a sensor or plug. So if anyone can help me find that thread from a month or two ago, I would really appreciate it. Thanks guys for your help and info. cause Banks is not helping me much at all, claiming it's a ford problem, not their unit.... John

 

Sorry to hear your pain John. I think your in for an uphill battle. Ford is doing everything it can to keep it's warranty repair costs down. Chips, tuners, larger exhaust pipes, cutting the cat out and aftermarket air filters are all being used by Ford to denied warranty repairs.

 

Sand King,
Banks is trying to sell me a kit for my soon to arrive truck right now. I expect a call any day now as I just got the glowing sales brochure in the mail today.
If you could tell me exactly what the Banks people you've talked to since the problem have asked you and told you, it might help us both.
The back of the brochure has a customer letter from a guy who claims to run a ten inch lift, 40 inch tires and gets 19+ MPG while outrunning Mustang GTs. It is pure horsepoop and I intend to point that out. It is insulting for them to print it. They also claim the kits improve durability but make no statement at all about standing behind that claim. I realize it would be a tough warranty issue for them but its not impossible. If they are going to make these claims they should figure out a way to back them up or shut up.

 

Forgot to ask; have you asked the dealer (in writing) to explain which tolerances were exceeded, who says so, how they determined that etc.? In other words, how do they come by the conclusion that the modifications caused the failure? You may not have a case (and I must admit, I'm skeptical based on your description of the symptoms) but this is something they should be able to answer, right? While many don't fight the dealers, the Magnesun-Moss act does apply.

 

They don't need to point out that info, all they need to do is point at the warranty. The warranty booklet is included with every new truck.

The use of a chip does not void the warranty, but on a catastrophic failure like melting a couple pistons, the dealer will make a claim to Ford who will send a tech rep out. When the tech rep sees a performance device like a Banks Six Gun, they will deny the claim. You will have a real tough time winning that one. It would take a lawyer and lots of time.

 

The pistons were melted from extreme heat, we know that. Also, that heat is measurable with a pyrometer in the exhaust manifold, that is the hole in the exhaust they are talking about. Ford cannot void you warranty based on you installing a guage, but if they can PROVE you put in a tuner (which seeing it is proof) then they will decline the warranty on this repair. The key is that a hole in a manifold only means that you are interested in the operating temps of your engine, nothing more, the tuner installed means that you are operating the engine in ways that Ford does not support. The banks unit SHOULD have sensed this high temp and turned back the fuel and even the timing advance, the fact that you melted 2 pistons during normal driving is very peculiar. Even if you WERE towing at a higher setting, the six gun should have sensed the high temps and defueled. You will not get Ford to pay for it, your only hope is to get banks to stand behind their unit, and that will only work if the pyrometer was installed exactly as they recommend and was working as they require for proper use. Good luck. Mat

 

Excellent description of the issues. At least two cylinders were clearly over fueled. If all the cylinders were being over fueled the EGT would have caused a properly installed and operating Banks system (w/speedloader) to defuel and control the EGT. The information available does not support conclusions regarding the failure yet. For instance, perhaps only two cylinders were being over fueled and the average exhaust pressure (used by the PCM) and the average EGT (used by the Banks) remained within the maximum allowable range. An injector control problem or some other injector failure (2 at once) could cause this (maybe).
A simple visual inspection revealing the installed Banks Mod does not prove the cause of melted pistons. I'd be amazed if this truck does not record operating parameters for some length of time. I have not found this in the "Bible" yet I suspect that the dealer could determine if the truck had been run with high EP for an extended period. The list of codes does in one area state that the PCM sets a code after a parameter has been exceeded for 5 seconds so there is some memory there... Manufacturers have been installing data recorders for a long time but are tight lipped about it because of legal issues. VA troopers have even been equipped with downloaders and that has been in the press lately.
You don't need a lawyer to ask questions and expect answers. If you believe the Banks system was installed correctly and you were operating it properly, my advice is to demand some more troubleshooting before letting Ford off the hook. Did they flow check the injectors? Was there excessive EP? If the dealer can show via more than a visual that the Ford equipment was working as intended, your issue is probably with Banks or your installation/operation.
If I screw something up, I expect to pay for it. I do however want to be sure I'm actually the cause of the problem before I accept responsibility. You are looking at a big bill, I hope you are assured you're not paying for a coincidental failure before you pay it.
Good Luck.