Your towing rigs and trailers

[square1]

The older diesels will run you out of the building within minutes.

<< owner of 94 7.3 IDI <<

 

[TSO]

The 6.7 power stroke can be fully deleted; egr, SCR, and dpf. A tune is needed to turn off all the systems, but a mild tow tune is more than enough with the increased air in and out of the engine. Did all this on my dad's truck in a afternoon.

The 6.0 power stroke is my favorite diesel engine. Very stout once the updates are done. I guess you can say I bulletproof it, but he's my list.

Reseal the bed plate
ARP studs.
Decked heads
New stand pipes
New Dummy plugs
New STC fitting on the hpo pump
Reseal injectors
Bulletproof egr cooler
New oil cooler
Switched coolant to Cat elc (most Important step).

It doesn't miss a beat.

Sounds about the same as mine...

EGR delete
Heads inspected and machined
ARP Head studs
New OEM head gaskets
New Intake gaskets
New rocker gaskets
New valve-cover gaskets
8 new injectors, new o-rings
Updated STC Fitting
Updated stand pipes & dummy plugs
New oil cooler
Turbo cleaned
Exhaust: Up-pipe, Magnaflow Y-Pipe,
4" turbo-back exhaust with cat-delete
New exhaust manifold gaskets
Coolant flush and Green ELC coolant

...And recently put on a new alternator, batteries, water pump, thermostat, IPR valve.... I think that's it LOL

I'm at 135k miles now, so I'm hoping to get to 235k with no new major fixes.

I'll put the canned 50hp STC tow-tune before I head out today and see what's up

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

80 horse power increase over stock, trans shift points, injection timing, throttle modulation adjusted for maximum economy.

Same with tow tune, chip 'talks' to engine and trans, firms shifts, lowers/raises shift points, locks torque converter, for best towing performance.

I guess what I was asking is "how can it add 80hp and IMPROVE economy over stock?" Seems too good to be true. If true, I want in! Lol.

 

[3930dave]

Well that would eliminate where I live... the State still does emission tested on gas powered vehicles 1976 and newer.

Any fatal flaws in the current production diesel?

Only ask because my brother picked one up earlier this year...

I'd say not really on the 6.7L, in the context of 6.0L type problems.

Plan on using a 2 post lift, for any significant under-hood work, as the cab will typically need to be lifted.

Sno touched on it, but it bears repeating - coolant quality is critical, esp. with an EGR system in place. I wouldn't run any modern diesel w/o a good quality fuel additive - Stanadyne is my preference, but there are other good options (ex. Optilube XPD) discussed in various threads on here. One of the reasons I use Stanadyne is how it handles water - it coalesces small water drops (I think the term Stanadyne uses is de-emulsify) into larger ones, so a stock filter will perform better at separating water.

Most modern diesels are very sensitive to fuel filter maintenance. Diaphragm pumps really don't like input restriction, so whereas a 7.3 will often run with a filter very past it's Change By date, on a newer diesel that can mean changing a pump. Do not exceed Ford's service interval on fuel filters. Some guys confuse upgrading a filter (lower micron) with being able to drive 200k on one fuel filter.

The 6.7 is a blast to drive, and is very capable. If your brother is as maintenance-attentive as you are ur, he should be fine. Where some guys got into trouble with newer diesels was thinking that they were as low-maintenance as the olde iron. We are definitely into Dating a Supermodel territory today.

Rgds, D.

 

[zing]

The longest bed you can buy with a half ton crew of any make is 6.5'

Not sure about the other brands' 3/4 tons, but my F-250 has a 6' 10" box. Perhaps that is common in 3/4 tons but not available in 1/2 tons?

As others have said, the 5.5' boxes are a problem for gooseneck and 5th wheel hitches. Potential for the trailer to contact the cab when backing up and turning.

 

[joefromga]

Modifications only affect the warranty of the part you modify. Nothing "voids your warranty" as a whole.

If you change the exhaust they can say that the exhaust warranty won't be honored and perhaps something it affects like the exhaust valves order other components but it won't void the warranty on your transmission or wheels or interior or paint etc.

 

[Fordman1981]

Not sure about the other brands' 3/4 tons, but my F-250 has a 6' 10" box. Perhaps that is common in 3/4 tons but not available in 1/2 tons? As others have said, the 5.5' boxes are a problem for gooseneck and 5th wheel hitches. Potential for the trailer to contact the cab when backing up and turning.

You can get the 8' bed on 3/4 ton and up crew cab Rams.

 

[Fordman1981]

Modifications only affect the warranty of the part you modify. Nothing "voids your warranty" as a whole. If you change the exhaust they can say that the exhaust warranty won't be honored and perhaps something it affects like the exhaust valves order other components but it won't void the warranty on your transmission or wheels or interior or paint etc.

Good luck with that. If you delete you're doing much more than changing the exhaust and they can pretty much link any failure to your mods. They can say the increase in power from a tune caused any number of failures.

 

[Snobdds]

Good luck with that. If you delete you're doing much more than changing the exhaust and they can pretty much link any failure to your mods. They can say the increase in power from a tune caused any number of failures.

This has not been my general observation. It's more work to try and play "gotacha" on a technicality than just doing the repair. Maybe it's just a Wyoming thing, but Ford doesn't bat an eye with a deleted truck here. They even know emissions equipment cause more harm and grief than their worth.

 

[zing]

I was told by a guy that does alot of towing across states that the FORD 6.7L PSD (for 2011, it was rated at 390HP/735ft/tq) performs head & shoulders better than the 7.3L or any previous gas/diesel engine. Just 2 cents worth......

BarnieTrk

Mine has been flawless so far, knock wood. A 2011 built in Aug of 2010 at the Kentucky plant. 158,000 kms and pulls my 4 horse trailer like a dream. I know a number of guys that have them, including a couple of tow truck drivers and one guy who owns a home building company and has a small fleet of them. They all like that engine. Of course there will be some people who have one that has issues, that is the case for any brand and any model. It is nothing like the issues of the 6.0 and 6.4L engines that haven't been bulletproofed though.

I have no idea why so many people ***** and moan about the DEF either. Once per oil change I stop by the local truck service stop that sells bulk DEF, and they top it up just like pumping gas. 74 cents/per liter, so it costs me under $11 to fill a couple of times a year.

 

[zing]

You can get the 8' bed on 3/4 ton and up crew cab Rams.

I didn't mean that you couldn't get the 8 foot bed, just that you weren't limited by only 5.5 and 6.5 foot boxes. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'd say not really on the 6.7L, in the context of 6.0L type problems.

Plan on using a 2 post lift, for any significant under-hood work, as the cab will typically need to be lifted.

Sno touched on it, but it bears repeating - coolant quality is critical, esp. with an EGR system in place. I wouldn't run any modern diesel w/o a good quality fuel additive - Stanadyne is my preference, but there are other good options (ex. Optilube XPD) discussed in various threads on here. One of the reasons I use Stanadyne is how it handles water - it coalesces small water drops (I think the term Stanadyne uses is de-emulsify) into larger ones, so a stock filter will perform better at separating water.

Most modern diesels are very sensitive to fuel filter maintenance. Diaphragm pumps really don't like input restriction, so whereas a 7.3 will often run with a filter very past it's Change By date, on a newer diesel that can mean changing a pump. Do not exceed Ford's service interval on fuel filters. Some guys confuse upgrading a filter (lower micron) with being able to drive 200k on one fuel filter.

The 6.7 is a blast to drive, and is very capable. If your brother is as maintenance-attentive as you are ur, he should be fine. Where some guys got into trouble with newer diesels was thinking that they were as low-maintenance as the olde iron. We are definitely into Dating a Supermodel territory today.

Rgds, D.

Appreciate the detailed response.

His vehicles tend to last a long time... and one of the reasons he bought local is so the selling Dealer would also be servicing... also bought the Max Ford extended warranty.

This is the first Diesel Truck in the family... so nothing really to compare.

Would it be safe to say the Factory Service interval is OK on a 2016?

The reality is 90% of the time it will be used as a car... 10% of the time will be towing the stock and dump trailers...

 

[dieselcrawler]

I guess what I was asking is "how can it add 80hp and IMPROVE economy over stock?" Seems too good to be true. If true, I want in! Lol.

It's a payoff... so much more peppy, I can't keep my foot out of it, it's d@mn quick for a 10k lbs truck. If I can stay out of it, I gain 2mpg. (Proven by hand calculated simular situation highway driving) 65mph interstate I can get 14mpg. Up it to 75mph, it drops to 12mpg.

It gets better economy by changing injector timing and trans shifting/torque converter lockup, among other things.

 

[Fordman1981]

This has not been my general observation. It's more work to try and play "gotacha" on a technicality than just doing the repair. Maybe it's just a Wyoming thing, but Ford doesn't bat an eye with a deleted truck here. They even know emissions equipment cause more harm and grief than their worth.

Not my experience with ford at all. Always had the hardest time getting ford to honor anything.

 

[zing]

This has not been my general observation. It's more work to try and play "gotacha" on a technicality than just doing the repair. Maybe it's just a Wyoming thing, but Ford doesn't bat an eye with a deleted truck here. They even know emissions equipment cause more harm and grief than their worth.

Not my experience with ford at all. Always had the hardest time getting ford to honor anything.

I don't know any dealership like that. When the turbo went on my still warrantied Subaru, the service manager was adamant that they had to examine the oil to see how black it was before they would agree to replace it under warranty. According to him, if you don't change your oil frequently enough it can cause the turbo to fail! I guess he was satisfied with the colour of my oil because he replaced the turbo, but I was left with the distinct feeling that this guys was a real stickler for the rules and wouldn't let very much slide.

 

[ultrarunner]

I've heard a lot of Automotive cases over the years... Ford was NOT part of the program so no experience from the bench on Ford as it were.

All of the other manufacturers would point out Modifications and it was the Arbitrators decision as to cause and effect if any.

It's no different than establishing required maintenance based on the operating conditions...

And it would get sticky at times when there were gaps or scant Dealer service records... just one more thing into the mix to consider.

From experience with friends I do know the local Ford Dealer would refuse to process suspension claims of trucks that were lifted, lowered or ran tires/rims outside OEM spec. and for the most part the decision stood.

 

[Snobdds]

We have more trucks on the road here in Wyoming by probably a 2:1 margin. The dodge dealership here started denying warranty work for engine modifications, just emissions stuff, and people and business moved to Chevy and Ford. It did not go unnoticed by Ford and Chevy. Guess who now looks the other way...

I have literally seen a diesel tech go take a picture of a stock truck's engine if Ford Corporate wants pictures of the engine bay. I have a coolant filter on a 6.0 and the head diesel guy had to take some pictures of the engine to support replacing the turbo boots. It wasn't my engine they sent to Ford. They know the game and what puts food on their table.

It probably helps that Wyoming hates the feds telling us what we can and can't do.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Maybe it's just me but I don't want to pay 50 or 60k for a truck and then start having to spend a bunch more money to ( bullet proof ) a truck to do the work that I need it to do, for what they price these new trucks at I would expect mine to be somewhat ( bullet proofed ) when I purchased it.

 

[ultrarunner]

Lots of the MSRP on trucks in stock in North of 70k... as mentioned... about the same price of my first 3 homes combined and I live in the SF Bay Area!

I never have been a fan of extended Factory Warranties... today... they have more than paid for themselves on Domestics and European makes.

 

[TSO]

Maybe it's just me but I don't want to pay 50 or 60k for a truck and then start having to spend a bunch more money to ( bullet proof ) a truck to do the work that I need it to do, for what they price these new trucks at I would expect mine to be somewhat ( bullet proofed ) when I purchased it.

BulletProof is a term used in regards to the International-Navistar 6.0L & 6.4L PowerStroke Diesels from 2003-2010... there were common issues that came up both from emissions devices and factory design issues. They are so widely known that there is a complete market industry based on fixing those issues.

Deleting emissions junk is common across all brands, including the new in-house Ford diesels. Sooooo, the term BulletProof is not a loose term used when buying and modifying today's modern diesel engines... you won't have to BulletProof the new ones.