Upgrades and Aftermarket - 6.0L EngineUpgrading and adding aftermarket equipment to your 2003-Up Super Duty or Excursion with 6.0L Power Stroke diesel engine. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are specific to the 6.0L Power Stroke engine.
Howdy, I purchased a 2003 F350 6.0 last may 2004 from a Ford dealership here in Washington State. The trucks in service date is April of 2003. I am considering CHIPPING it, mostly for mileage. Can anyone give me any pros and cons of why I should/shouldn't do this?
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Can anyone give me any pros and cons of why I should/shouldn't do this?
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Pro - more power and fun
Con - possible loss of warranty
Brian
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2004 F250 SC Shortbed 6.0 (03 Engine) Auto 4X2 Lariat, John Wood tuned SCT, AFE Proguard7, STC Performance 4" Turbo back exhaust with cat, Bedrug, Snugtop, Boze Fatal Eight 20x10 Wheels, Toyo Proxes ST 305/50-20 Tires
SOLD - Stroked Lightning - 2004 F250 6.0 Reg Cab Shortbed (longbed frame shortened 16"), Lowered 3"/5", 22" wheels, SCT tuned by John Woods, John Woods built 5R110, straight pipe with exit in bed, custom 4 link rear end, custom injectors by Full Force Diesel, Nitrous, Spearco IC, custom built 76mm turbo by Turbonetics, fuel system, batteries relocated to bed. All work done by Gene (weweld), driven by Gene.
Welcome to the site. I have a chip along with a bunch of other stuff on my 7.3, and I enjoy the hell out of it. If you go with a chip, you can possibly void the warranty, but you can take it off, if you want to. A chipped 6.0 will run like a raped ape! Some companies to look at are: Edge, Bully Dog, Diesel Innovations, Superchips, and a few others.
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I am considering CHIPPING it, mostly for mileage.
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In addition to the comments above, I would only add that I don't know many people who can honestly say they chipped their trucks and then baby-ed it to get the better mileage. I do belive under controlled circumstances, better mileage is a possibility, but it's like having a sports car in some ways; you just can't keep your foot out of it most of the time. I netted out to a little LESS mileage, but the fun factor is well worth it.
A little calculation is worthwhile. If you chip and pipe (highly recommended), you are probably looking at $1500-2000 before it is all over (lower number if you do all the work, higher if you have a shop do it). If you get 1 mpg better (say 17 mpg with chip, 16 mpg without) (which is realistically all you will get in actual use; 2-3mpg is possible, but I'd rather not do the work if I have to drive it like a grandma to get the better mileage), and you drive 15-20K/year, and diesel costs $2-2.2/gallon, here is the net net:
If you spent $1500, it would take 10 years to get your investment back. If you got 2 mpg better, it is still 5 years, and I don't think anyone can say they are seeing 2 mpg better mileage AND getting to use the power. Also, don't go by the overhead mpg meter. It sucks and is worthless.
My advice is that if your sole purpose is to improve mileage, performance enhancements are NOT the way to go. It is just not cost effective. It is fun....but in the end, take my word, you won't save a penny.
RL
ps, I get about 12-13 mpg, and I am having a blast! See pics.
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Black 2003 F350 DRW (almost nothing stock)
Other rides:
Black 2006 SRT8 300C (Mopar exhaust and CAI)
Black 2008 SRT8 Jeep (Mopar exhaust and CAI)
Black 2008 Mercedes E550 4MATIC
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