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6.4L Power Stroke Diesel Engine fitted to 2008 - 2010 F250, F350 and F450 pickup trucks and F350 + Cab Chassis

why are they not "tuned" from the dealer?

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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 09:54 PM
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why are they not "tuned" from the dealer?

Everyone knows about tuners and engine programmers. They go back to the 80's when EFI and computer controlled tranny's became a reality. Company's found ways to improve power and performance through chips and programmers. Now, more than ever, there are a ton of tuner options. So the question is why don't the manufactures put a vehicle out with the best programming available? For example, we can get a programmer for our new 08's that improves torque by over 100 ft/lbs and many times even more. So if there is more power to be harnessed in any given engine, why don't they come "tuned" from the factory? I am thinking it's because it decreases the engine or tranny's reliability? But if that's the case why would so many people get tuners/programmers if their truck is less reliable? Lastly, has anyone who has tuned their 6.4's got anything in writing from the dealer that says they will or will not cover their truck under warranty with the tuner/programmer installed? Thanks guys.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 10:19 PM
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its reliability bottom line. they cant say it will last 100k miles if they squeeze every bit of power from them. plus when you buy the truck you want some fuel milage, turning up the power usually lessens the fuel milage. would you buy a truck with say 100 less ft/lbs of torque if you got 5 miles better in gas. of course you would with gas prices they way they are.
 
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Old Feb 21, 2008 | 10:36 PM
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Usually with diesels, upto a certain point, tuning gets your more power AND more mileage.
 
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Old Feb 22, 2008 | 06:16 AM
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The other reason they don't squeeze every last bit of torque and horsepower out of the engines is emission levels. The manufacturers are legally required to meet the government's emission standards. It is hard enough to do at these power levels, it would be nearly impossible at higher levels. If the engine makes any visible smoke it isn't going to pass the emisssions test. The tuner companies don't worry about this.
 
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Old Feb 22, 2008 | 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by littleme13
its reliability bottom line. they cant say it will last 100k miles if they squeeze every bit of power from them. plus when you buy the truck you want some fuel milage, turning up the power usually lessens the fuel milage. would you buy a truck with say 100 less ft/lbs of torque if you got 5 miles better in gas. of course you would with gas prices they way they are.
It is emissions, bottom line.
 
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Old Feb 22, 2008 | 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by SpartanDieselTech
It is emissions, bottom line.
OK. So it does not hinder the reliability of an engine? That is my main concern. I have a chip in my 93 5.8L and it is built for power. But it was also built for reliability. It's the full programmers I worry about ruining our beautiful new engines. If it is just emissions it's not a problem for us 6.4 owners as we don't have to worry about testing. But what about everyone before us? How would they pass emissions with all these programmers?
 
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Old Feb 22, 2008 | 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by boulderbronco
OK. So it does not hinder the reliability of an engine?
Of course it lowers the reliability of the engine and everything downstream of the engine.

Everything was engineered for a certain power level. If you increase that level you decrease reliability.
 
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Old Feb 22, 2008 | 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky
Of course it lowers the reliability of the engine and everything downstream of the engine.

Everything was engineered for a certain power level. If you increase that level you decrease reliability.
Thats what I thought. But I took SpartanDieselTech's quote of "it's emissions, bottom line" to mean it's ALL about emissions. Now that I think about it I don't think that is what he meant. I think he means that it is MOSTLY due to emissions restrictions, but like you said it will still decrease the reliability of an engine. I just don't want to add a programmer and only get 100k miles out of it before it grenades. I have heard a few people on here say they throw power at it until it explodes. Then build it again. But I can't do that as I am not a millionaire. Bottom line to me is that it likely does decrease reliability a bit but not enough to worry about it.
 
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