I am a new member with probably an old question. I just bought an 06 F350 SRW with 8500 miles. I had a 2000 7.3 with an EDGE Evolution and a 4" exhaust. I tow a 12,000# 5th wheel. Everybody I talk to says I'll be disappointed with power and mileage. I know there are hundreds of things to do, but I was looking for actual experiences to get an idea of what to do and in what order, can't do it all at once. I am looking for fuel mileage, when towing and not when towing, most importantly. If a programmer is suggested, I would like something capable of changing speedometer. I eventually want to go up one tire size. The added power will be a bonus. Thanks in advance for any advise.
power AND MPG's
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
Pete, Welcome to TDS. It would be a help if you would add the truck to your signature line so we know exactly what you have or have not done to it.
I am not a big fan of performance modding a 6.0. It was tweaked at the factory to just about breaking point, and even stock can have headgasket problems due to a weak bolt clamping system. The 7.3 needed a tune to get it to what the 6.0 is out of the barn, but some guys are just NEVER satisfied with stock & gotta tinker.
What I'd do is 4" cat back exhaust & gauges (EGT, Trans Temp & Fuel Pressure). It's illegal to remove the cat in all 50 states.
If you feel like you just gotta have more power, an SCT tuner with a mild tow or street tune would probably be you "safest" bet. Just be prepared for the possiblity of needing to replace the TTY factory head bolts with ARP studs, and maybe honing your head gaskets. You may want to start saving for a beefier trans too.
You really don't need an aftermarket intake either. The OEM Donaldson is just about the best thing they did on the truck, with the best balance of performance, price, and protection available.
The trans cooler on the 6.0 is a good one too. You shouldn't need to add additional cooling there either.
It's your truck & your money, but my stock truck does everything I want, gets 18 unloaded and about 14 towing if I keep it at 60 (11 if I go 70), so I'd rather spend the money on fishing & camping gear.
OMC
Some other thoughts - An 06 with only 8500 on it hasn't been used enough. These trucks really like to run & not sit. If it sits too much, condensation can get places it shouldn't, and cause problems. The most common is rusting turbo vanes.
Another problem area is the EGR valve. This can stick & cause problems. Try to get the truck out on a regular basis and run it up to operating temp & hold it there for a half hour or so. Run it up & down the rpms. Try not to idle too long and take short trips. This is what gums up the EGR. Get it out to burn off any acids & water, get the fluids to places they need to get too, and lubrication where it needs to be.
Economy is a head game, and you need to be mentally into to it to play well. Keep the tires small & well aired (I'd go no bigger than 265's). Don't put a lift on it - that lets air under the truck creaing drag. When you don't have the trailer on, use the stock tailgate & keep it up. Don't get an air gate or a louverd half gate. These create drag and will adversly affect your unloaded economy. Make sure you keep an eye on the brakes (trailer too) to make sure they aren't dragging. Again, keep your fluids fresh & clean - follow the severe duty maintenance schedule if you tow frequently.
You might want to look into a by-pass oil filter, a coolant filter, and an CCV filter to help with keeping the truck clean & running smooth. If you live in a cold area you may want to look into using a 5W40 syn oil in the winter. If not, the DELO LE 15W40 has worked well for me.
OMC
Another problem area is the EGR valve. This can stick & cause problems. Try to get the truck out on a regular basis and run it up to operating temp & hold it there for a half hour or so. Run it up & down the rpms. Try not to idle too long and take short trips. This is what gums up the EGR. Get it out to burn off any acids & water, get the fluids to places they need to get too, and lubrication where it needs to be.
Economy is a head game, and you need to be mentally into to it to play well. Keep the tires small & well aired (I'd go no bigger than 265's). Don't put a lift on it - that lets air under the truck creaing drag. When you don't have the trailer on, use the stock tailgate & keep it up. Don't get an air gate or a louverd half gate. These create drag and will adversly affect your unloaded economy. Make sure you keep an eye on the brakes (trailer too) to make sure they aren't dragging. Again, keep your fluids fresh & clean - follow the severe duty maintenance schedule if you tow frequently.
You might want to look into a by-pass oil filter, a coolant filter, and an CCV filter to help with keeping the truck clean & running smooth. If you live in a cold area you may want to look into using a 5W40 syn oil in the winter. If not, the DELO LE 15W40 has worked well for me.
OMC
Joined
·
1,323 Posts
There are lots of tuners avalible. That being said to date avalible best for the money is the sct. It tunes the tranny and the truck. The sct was designed by a e ford engineer and does the best with our trucks. With the sct you would need custon tunes which are avalible from many vendors on this site. Beware of shift on the fly tuners.... Bullydog, edge, etc they do make good power but are hard on the tranny. With a good custom tuner the stock tranny is good for more hp than the truck will make with stock injectors. As far as calibrating the speedo at 70 I think with 285 tires it will be like 2-3 mph off but a dealer reflash can fix the speedo. As stated milage is a headgame. I haven't noticed much if any gain using the sct and spartan tunes. Some claim 18-20 others claim 10-12 I get 13.-14 regularly with mostly intown unloaded driving. What I have noticed is that staying under 2000 rpms makes my mpg better I think 60-65 is optimal on my truck with stock tires. At 70 I start getting woser and 75+ u just kinda write it off in the mpg area. If you go with a tuner and tow get a egt gauge minimum it can get hot fast and cause problems stay under 1200 drgs and u should be good
I have an SCT X3 tuner and this is by far the best money ever spent on this truck, period. It makes this truck so mcuh more alive that it is unbelievable till you drive with it. You know that turbo lag you have currently? That goes bye-bye. The truck is an absolute powerhouse and will do everything you need it to do and more. Go with Innovative Diesel, they are far and away the best. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the info guys! Would you do any thing as far as air intakes? My first thoughts were get more air in and out, then go from there! Is the torqshift better than the older 4r? That's why I got rid of the 7.3, I was afraid of the tranny! Is there a preferred 4" cat back that does not "drone" or sound loud in the cab?
The stock intake is the best until you decide to get bigger injectors and a different turbo. Unless you want more "turbo singing".
You can get more flow, but at the cost of less protection, and it won't matter until you start using more fuel (which you said you didn't want to do). The OEM lasts 35k+ before needing to be replaced (mine's going of 45k now) and costs about $75. At that rate, I'd need 7yrs to pay off an aftermarket.
OMC
Joined
·
807 Posts
+1 on what Chief said.
If you absolutely positively need to put on an aftermarket air filter, go with S&B. They seem to have done their homework, and their filtration is only slightly less than that of the Donaldson (-.47% IIRC), but their flow is much more (+36% IIRC). Like Chief said, your turbo will sing more. If that's your thing, then go for it. You really can't go wrong with more air. Just make sure you're getting the filtration or you'll trash your turbo and dry wash your cylinders.
You can always do the Zoodad mod to the radiator support, in front of the intake, which will allow more cold air to come into the filter, but you'll need to make sure you have a screen on there to keep the bugs out.
If you absolutely positively need to put on an aftermarket air filter, go with S&B. They seem to have done their homework, and their filtration is only slightly less than that of the Donaldson (-.47% IIRC), but their flow is much more (+36% IIRC). Like Chief said, your turbo will sing more. If that's your thing, then go for it. You really can't go wrong with more air. Just make sure you're getting the filtration or you'll trash your turbo and dry wash your cylinders.
You can always do the Zoodad mod to the radiator support, in front of the intake, which will allow more cold air to come into the filter, but you'll need to make sure you have a screen on there to keep the bugs out.
Joined
·
321 Posts
I did a Magnaflow cat back minus a kitty.....Here is the report....
http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f21/magnaflow-exhaust-results-221159/
http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f21/magnaflow-exhaust-results-221159/
Joined
·
396 Posts
I installed a 4 in turbo back exhaust and cold air intake at the same time and it increased my mpg when on longer trips empty from 18mpg to 20. The best mpg I have ever seen is 21. And I hand calculate it every time after filling the tank to the brim. I then got an sct x3. I love the extra power with the sct, but I did not see any milage increases with the same kind of driving. So it kindof depends what you want. If good economy is all you care about, I would do other things than a tuner. I think I would install an AFE cold air intake and turbo back exhaust at the least though. There are a lot of people who rant and rave about the factory air filter and I am sure it is good and all, but it wont breath like a cold air AFE or S&B, and I am certain that a small increase in economy and power is evident after installing one. As far as the egr system goes they only cause major problems and there is only on real fix for that. You can either let it leave you stranded time and time again, and when the fluid flash boils in the egr cooler and causes over heating and posably blown gasket problems, you can take it to the dealer again and again, or there are other options, which I wont get into, where the egr system will never bother you again. Just my 2 cents
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
