i have to agree with jim on this one...my main reason for adding the banks system on mine was for MPG increase, i run my system on #2 out of the 6 possible choices...It's pretty obvious that even on a stock setup, if you've got a lead foot - you're going to break something. These aren't drag cars that you tow to the track...they're the vehicle towing the trailer.

 

my dealer had no problems with doin the warranty work to modded 6.0's, they actually recommended to run a tuner but try and keep it under 28 psi of boost

 

rollerstud98, where do you live? I want to go to your dealership!!! I've never seen a mod-friendly dealership!

 

Why is the A/M Air box a bad thing. I just bought my first modification, a AFE Stage two http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=320079997920

 

They exist but, are becoming increasingly rare. Will likely be even fewer for the 6.4.

 

I put a few goodies on mine, but just for the added MPG.

What do ya' mean these ain't drag cars? Of course they're not, they're drag TRUCKS.

BTW- I use it to tow my buddies Pro-Streeter to the track. While he's racin' his, I'm racin' mine!

 

So is there not a medium where a tuner say like sct just upgrades alittle to help, and doesnt erroid the longivity of the power train.
Some days i;m thinking about getting a sct then others i dont want it. I know i dont want it if even if i just use the lowest tune i'm still stressing the power train. I mean thats why i want the sct i thought the low setting was for that reason. It's hard for me to buy that these trucks are coming from the factory already tuned to the best of it abiltiy and highest longivity.

 

Don't you think Ford is programming them to about 90% of their limit due to competitive reasons. They always try to outdo GM and Dodge and these guys try to do the same. If Ford could program them for 600HP and 6,000 torque they would, but they can't... or they could, but they would not last!!!

Ford knows that tuners exist and this is why they write warnings in their manual. It is also why SCT and other tuner companies write warnings on their products or boxes (to limit liability). Ford and Int'l try to engineer a product that is a balance of performance, reliability and cost... nothing more.

I am of the corwd that believes either buy it as is, buy another brand or "pay to play" and do not be upset when Ford has the ability to detect a tuner and/or void a warrenty... and yes, the day is coming... it is just a matter of time.

As a sales and marketing professional and one who writes, promotes and sells products with warranties, there is nothing worse than paying for a problem that was user error or misuse... and not just a manufacturing defect.

 

You can get programmed at any level you want from stock engine parameters and tranny tuning only to as wild as you can stand. I don't agree with the coming from the factory with best of it's ability and highest longevity part. There is definitely better EGT temp programming and tranny programming than ford offers.

 

There is more "use" of the motor towing a 10000lb load on these motors than hot rodding around empty. Either way you have the truck it will still come down to the driver's knowledge of what he is doing. If you drive like an idot with a bone stock motor you could blow the thing up just as easy as a modded one as you said, but it would be easier to break something towing a load if you don't know how to tow than empty.

 

No I do'nt. I'm sorry. I think Ford builds the best product with the best program that can be MASS PRODUCED and work well all the way around. All of your coponts that work with your engine are mass produced with some specs. built into the specs is a room of error or difference. To get another 100hp out of these motors with longivity i think you need the program to be hand fine tuned. Not just parts pulled out of crates and slamed together every few seconds. If you where to look real close at the highend high horsepower cars they are very low production and hand tuned. These trucks are slong together. Alot of units are built. I think its like a rifle alittle tuning can take a very reliable tool to the level of being a master piece.
I most definitly will pay to play, and i dont have no problem with my warranty being voided. Matter of fact that is'nt the perpose of my post. I used wanted to know as i asked if there was a middle ground. A honing if it may. I've sorta thought i've been clear my truck has more power than i can use. Yep i would like a few things twiked. But all in all i'm happy. I can be quoted as saying i dont use my truck as a draggster nor do i hardly drive over 55 mph. So speed at much of a thrill for me. I just want my stuff hand tuned where it works as best as it could with each other. I dont need another 100 hp to do that.

As that maybe there is no cure. Just as soon as someone wises up and comes up with the unmodded product another loses sleep untell they mod it. It is a mean heartless circle. But then it gives you the freedom to discontue products and put out new ones that the old mods wont work on so sorta in a way your enemy is your job secrity.

 

One thing you guys are forgetting, it makes the most power and epa compliant in all 50 states. There are so many variables in tuning that Ford could not possibly cover every one. Tuning to a certain degree on anything will make it last longer than in its stock form. Reducing EGT, reducing boost in certain situations, making the trans correctly utilize the engines powerband through different shifting strategies, the list goes on and on. Their is a limit to everything though. Just something to ponder, if stock was so great, then why all the aftermarket transmission parts? Wouldn't they use a stock one racing if it lasted longer, or was more effiecient?

 

BushWhack, Nice comment, been waiting for that. For those of you who think that a tuner with a sensible driver causes more wear than towing a 10k lbs trailer are just flat wrong.

I drive my X easy. I want it to last. Running my Edge on 0 ( stock ) for a few weeks I got 9.8 mpg around town ( no highway ) I clicked it up to 2 which is about 50 hp more or so. Same driving style, MPG went to 11.8 quickly. My experience with a tuner ( be it limited so far ) is you get into a lot less pedal for much more result. Result better gas mileage. More boost is Air right? Air is free. I know there is fueling adjustments ect.. But that is my point.

Some say run these trucks " like you stole it " to keep carbon from the turbo. Well driving like you stole it wears much more expensive parts like the tranny. Not to mention tires, shocks, brakes, gas. ect.

It is your truck do what you want. It sure is nice to pull into traffic shift into 3rd and gas it to 2500rpm with a tuner. You are gone, no damage no problem.

These are built Ford tough after all.

All my own opinion.

 

I think that most people tune their Sd's do so for the duel economy and not to make dragsters out of them. How can a fuel economy tune decrease the life of an engine, if anything it will make it live longer. Not rocket science that the more efficent an engine runs the less sludge and carbon is formed is formed.

 

I'll stick my .02 in here...

I've been running my early build '05 "X" for almost it's entire two year life with either a Superchips 1704 or more recently a Superchips Flashpaq. I bought these products both for additional fuel economy and (yes I admit it) for the "fun" factor! Both products deliver "the goods" (I've been meaning to sell the 1704, by the way, so if anybody has an interest feel free to PM me).

I was (and am) VERY concerned with reliability, as I intend to keep the truck at least ten years, and I factored that into my research. I settled on the Superchips brand because they seem to be universally known for building "safe power." So far the truck has run both more efficiently than in stock tune and just as reliably as stock. In fact, my understanding is that the transmission tune should actually increase the life of the tranny over stock configuration because firmer shifts in an automatic tranny apparently cause less wear to the bands (due to less slippage and heat buildup) during shifting than longer, smoother shifts. I'm always amazed at what one can learn while simply doing product research!

One has to keep in mind that Ford (and any truck builder) in trying to satisfy the majority of buyers has to compromise overall performance to some extent. MOST people will generally prefer a smoother shift to a firmer one, so tranny longevity is sacrificed for a more comfortable shifting experience. This doesn't generally cost Ford any major $$ because the tranny failure will most often happen beyond the warranty period if they've done their homework.

My point is that just because a product is designed to increase performance (like an engine tuner or a performance exhaust) doesn't mean that it is worse for vehicle reliability than what came from the factory. Better fuel efficiency is a byproduct of better tuning and more efficient airflow, as long as the driver can resist the urge to put his or her foot "in it." I will admit that I sometimes find that hard to resist, but I definitely have experienced an overall improvement in efficiency over stock.

Frankly, I don't know if my dealership is tuner-friendly or not, but what I DO know after two years is that they definitely can NOT tell that the Superchips product has been used on my PSD as long as I return the tune to stock before bringing it in for service. I recently had it in for a warranty issue (unrelated to tuning) that had the truck back week after week for almost two months until they finally determined what the problem was, and during that time I can assure you that if the tuner WAS detectable they would have known it (and probably asked me about it even though it had nothing to do with the problem).

In any case, one interesting thing I've learned from my service director and the diesel tech who works at my dealership is that they agree that more problems come from the trucks that have been "babied" than from the ones that are driven more aggressively. My service director has told me over and over to "drive the truck hard." If FORD tells me my 6.0 will live longer if I drive it more aggressively, I can only assume that using a tuner that makes "safe" power will more than likely help rather than hurt my motor in the long term unless, of course, I really beat the heck out of it (which I don't)...

I am currently petitioning them (Superchips) to include an option to shut off the EGR in any of their three standard tunes ("Economy," "Tow/Haul," and "Performance"). They recently released a custom "Extreme" tune (which I don't use) that DOES disable the EGR, but the tune is officially designated an "off road" tune, and I don't want to push my engine that much. After all, I DID buy the product primarily for increased fuel economy. I know there are other products out there that already allow electronic disabling of the EGR, but mine isn't yet one of them.

Hope this info is helpful!

Regards,