2005 F350 with 6.0 chip or not to chip

yellowdogsvc · Jan 23, 2012

I have a 2005 F350 with 6.0 powerstroke. Had my share of the typical problems, EGR, HPOP, radiator failure, injectors. All of this before 79k miles. Truck is setup with flatbed and tools and is just shy of 10,300lbs on the scale. I often max out the GCWR towing a bobcat and attachments.
I have an '08 with 6.4 and a lot more power.. but haven't put a flatbed on it.

I know Ford "detuned" this truck a few years ago. Went in for oil change, they said it needed a software upgrade and it never had the same power again.

I am considering putting a chip in it but not maxing the chip out. I also want to do an EGR delete/bypass.

Anyone try this? Recommendations on a chip that I can set that won't blow my head gaskets? I'm so frustrated towing it fully loaded because it just won't go anywhere. When I tow nearly the same weight with my 6.4, it's like it has nothing behind it.. a little bit of an exaggeration but the power difference is very noticeable. Yes, the '08 is about 2k lbs lighter stock but still.. it pulls great.

Is there any hope for that 6.0?

Tomtint · Jan 23, 2012

I have had four 6.0 diesels. A 2004, 2005, and 2/ 2006's. I put the Bully Dog programer in all of them. I normally ran it on the tow mode. ( middle setting) it without doubt pumps up performance. The only issue I ever had with any of my 6.0s was one fuel pump at 74k. That's it. Maybe I was lucky, but I never beat them and always maintained the fuel system and oil etc. I had a 2006 King Ranch 4x4 super crew SRW that if I put the programer on performance and did not drive like a idiot, would get 19-21 mpg.

grsthegreat · Jan 24, 2012

I have a late model 2004 F350 4x4 quad cab that i use exclusevly for towing a 10,000# 30' long gooseneck horse trailer. Would a chip help get better milage? or would the towing performance be messed up too much by doing that??

thanks in advance

SLHawkins · Jan 24, 2012

I have had '01 and '06 Powerstrokes. I used a Superchips Programmer in both. As far as pulling, significant difference over stock. However, I never did notice much of a difference in fuel mileage between the economy and tow/haul settings. As long as I kept the needle between 65-70 mph I was averaging 14-15 mpg loaded (15-16k lbs usually). Anything over that and the mileage dropped to 9.5-11 mpg. Both trucks had the 6-spd manual transmission. I even pulled my tractor with bushhog loaded on my big gooseneck trailer through the mountains of charlottesville, VA at 55-60 mph in tow haul without excessive EGR, trans, and oil temps. My '06 had the guages installed. I have heard good things about the bully dog and banks programmers. However, the Superchips programmer served me well. It ran diagnostics and cleared trouble codes.

Chip it? Absolutely! Which one? Superchips, Hypertech, Bully Dog, Banks, or Edge. Either of those will get you what you are looking for.

Hawk

dodge man · Jan 24, 2012

I don't know about Fords, but on Dodges if you chip the truck, you should watch your EGT's. You might want to think about adding a gauge if you do chip it up. If you didn't tow heavy a lot, it wouldn't be that big a deal, but on a long hard hill with a heavy load and running a lot of boost, the exhaust temps can climb.

Diamondpilot · Jan 24, 2012

I have had two 6.0 Fords. Both chipped with Quadzilla stuff. I put 4" exhaust on both and MAC intakes with washable filters.

One truck is a 04 F250 4x4 & a 06 F350 4x4 srw. No issues with either truck other than a bad fuel gauge on the F350. Both my trucks are autos and average 17 mpg tank to tank, 15 towing, and 23 strait highway. Both have 3.73 gears. I towed up to 15,600# with the F250, and 25,000# with the F350.

My chips have 4 settings. Factory, +30, +60, +120. I run +120 all the time except when towing I run +60.

If I had your truck the first thing I would do is get the dealer to get the power back up on it, then go from there. Sounds like the put the derated cab and chassis flash on it.

Chris

deerefan · Jan 24, 2012

yellowdogsvc said:
I have a 2005 F350 with 6.0 powerstroke. Had my share of the typical problems, EGR, HPOP, radiator failure, injectors. All of this before 79k miles. Truck is setup with flatbed and tools and is just shy of 10,300lbs on the scale. I often max out the GCWR towing a bobcat and attachments.
I have an '08 with 6.4 and a lot more power.. but haven't put a flatbed on it.

I know Ford "detuned" this truck a few years ago. Went in for oil change, they said it needed a software upgrade and it never had the same power again.

I am considering putting a chip in it but not maxing the chip out. I also want to do an EGR delete/bypass.

Anyone try this? Recommendations on a chip that I can set that won't blow my head gaskets? I'm so frustrated towing it fully loaded because it just won't go anywhere. When I tow nearly the same weight with my 6.4, it's like it has nothing behind it.. a little bit of an exaggeration but the power difference is very noticeable. Yes, the '08 is about 2k lbs lighter stock but still.. it pulls great.

Is there any hope for that 6.0?

I never did anything to mine and had no problems for the near 2 years I owned it. Same with my 04. The guys near me that do chip them bring them to the local mechanic and do the headbolt conversion (from factory to arp studs) and seem to have no issues. I rode in one empty with the chip set on max, aftermarket exhaust and filter. That thing made awesome power.

yellowdogsvc · Jan 24, 2012

thanks for all the advice

Sterff · Jan 25, 2012

SCT with custom tunes is the only tuner you should use on a 6.0. Before I thought about a tuner, I would have an aftermarket exhaust, and at the very least an EGT gauge. If your worried about HGs go with ARP head studs with OEM gaskets only. Make sure the heads are checked to be flat and/or machine them to be flat. All 6.0 heads are warped to begin with. I have bought new heads that aren't flat.

Soundguy · Jan 25, 2012

i have an 04 6.0 that had a superchips tuner used on it... a computer recall / repalcement under warranty wiped out my superchips programming, and without the original reciept, superchips would not update my ecu VIN LOCKED programmer.. .. so now it's just a scan tool.

ina nay event.. the programemr was decent.. didn't cause any issues.. no heads blowed off.

In fact.. aside from a small oil leak due to a ill fitting filter.. not too many problems on that truck .. at least engine problems anyway

soundguy

yellowdogsvc said:
I have a 2005 F350 with 6.0 powerstroke. Had my share of the typical problems, EGR, HPOP, radiator failure, injectors. All of this before 79k miles. Truck is setup with flatbed and tools and is just shy of 10,300lbs on the scale. I often max out the GCWR towing a bobcat and attachments.
I have an '08 with 6.4 and a lot more power.. but haven't put a flatbed on it.

I know Ford "detuned" this truck a few years ago. Went in for oil change, they said it needed a software upgrade and it never had the same power again.

I am considering putting a chip in it but not maxing the chip out. I also want to do an EGR delete/bypass.

Anyone try this? Recommendations on a chip that I can set that won't blow my head gaskets? I'm so frustrated towing it fully loaded because it just won't go anywhere. When I tow nearly the same weight with my 6.4, it's like it has nothing behind it.. a little bit of an exaggeration but the power difference is very noticeable. Yes, the '08 is about 2k lbs lighter stock but still.. it pulls great.

Is there any hope for that 6.0?