DEAR DT,
I JUST SUBSCRIBED (GREAT MAGAZINE!) AND HAD A QUESTION ABOUT GETTING AN ARTICLE SERIES. THE MAGAZINE ISSUE I RECEIVED (JUNE `09) HAS AN ARTICLE TITLED "HORSEPOWER ROADBLOCKS (PART 7): INCREASING THE POWER OF THE LB7 DURAMAX POWER PLANT." HOW CAN I GET THE FIRST SIX PARTS TO THAT SERIES?
THANKS,
KEITH
THE FIRST SIX INSTALLMENTS OF THAT SERIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
PART 1: 5.9L CUMMINS COMMON RAIL, FEBRUARY 2008
PART 2: DURAMAX LBZ, APRIL 2008
PART 3: 6.0L POWER STROKE, JUNE 2008
PART 4: 7.3L POWER STROKE, DECEMBER 2008
PART 5: 12-VALVE CUMMINS, FEBRUARY 2009
PART 6: 24-VALVE CUMMINS P-PUMP, APRIL 2009
PART 7: DURAMAX LB7, JUNE 2009
BACK ISSUES CAN BE ORDERED BY CALLING (800)638-0135. THANKS FOR READING DT. -ED.
DEAR DT,
I JUST WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT IT TOOK ONLY ONE ISSUE TO KNOW THAT I HAD TO SUBSCRIBE TO THIS MAGAZINE. THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU DISTRIBUTE FAR SURPASSES THE COMPETITION FROM MY POINT OF VIEW. I JUST SUBSCRIBED TODAY AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE FIRST ONE TO GET HERE.
I GUESS TO GET TO THE MEATY STUFF NOW. TO START OFF I HAVE THREE 7.3 POWER STROKES. ONE `01 F250, ONE `01 F350 AND ONE `02 F250. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN GOOD TRUCKS, USED FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. FOR SOME REASON THOUGH I HAVE A SUSPICION THAT THE 1 TON THAT I HAVE IS A CALIFORNIA DIESEL (DUE TO A STICKER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN THE DOOR THAT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT CALIFORNIA NOISE STANDARDS) AND IT SEEMS TO LACK POWER COMPARED TO MY OTHER TRUCKS. THIS TRUCK IS MY CAMPER HAULER AND FUN TRUCK AND I WANTED TO START ADDING MORE AFTERMARKET PERFORMANCE PARTS TO MY INTAKE AND EXHAUST. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANYTHING UNIQUE TO THE `01 CA POWER STROKE THAT MAKES IT LAG OR MAY THERE BE SOMETHING ELSE WRONG. I ALSO WONDERED IF THERE IS SOMETHING ON IT LIKE EGR THAT THEY MAKE A DELETE KIT FOR? IF I CAN'T GET RID OF IT WILL IT HURT IF I DO A PROGRAMMER, INJECTORS AND TURBO UPGRADES?
I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN FOR ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND HAVE ASKED A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT MECHANICS IN MY AREA AND THEY SAY THEY DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CA DIESELS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW MY OPTIONS. I APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WHETHER IT BE ADVICE, KNOWLEDGE OR JUST SOMEONE WHO WOULD KNOW HOW TO HELP ME.
THANKS,
WAYNE SCHAFFER
GONZALES, TX
TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, THERE WERE NO REAL DIFFERENCES IN THAT MODEL YEAR CALIFORNIA TRUCKS AND THE 49-STATE TRUCKS. THERE IS A SLIGHT DIFFERENCE IN THE GLOW PLUG SYSTEM, BUT THAT WOULDN'T AFFECT PERFORMANCE IN ANY WAY. CALIFORNIA MODELS WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GLOW PLUG CONTROLLER, WHILE THE 49-STATE TRUCKS HAD A SIMPLE GLOW PLUG RELAY. WE SUGGEST TAKING THE TRUCK INTO A GOOD QUALIFIED DIESEL MECHANIC AND HAVE IT CHECKED OUT, MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO MAJOR BOOST OR EXHAUST LEAKS IN THE SYSTEM ANYWHERE, AS THE UP-PIPES ARE PRONE TO LEAKING WHICH WOULD REALLY AFFECT TURBO SPOOL-UP AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE. IF EVERYTHING CHECKS ALRIGHT, DON'T HESITATE TO START THROWING SOME PERFORMANCE PARTS AT IT. -ED.
DEAR DT,
I DRIVE AN `08 FORD 6.4L F450. I HAVE AN SCT PROGRAMMER WITH A CUSTOM TUNE AND I AM GETTING DARK-COLORED COOLANT. I WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE COULD HELP ME TROUBLESHOOT THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO LOSE ABOUT A GALLON OF COOLANT EVERY 2-3 DAYS. DOES ANYONE HAVE A HEAD STUD KIT FOR MY TRUCK? HAVE I LIFTED A HEAD OR SOMETHING? ANY AND ALL HELP APPRECIATED.
BOBBY
WE'VE ASKED AROUND FOR INSIGHT TO YOUR PROBLEM. AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL, YOU'RE IN A UNIQUE SITUATION. NONE OF THE BIG POWER STROKE BUILDERS HAVE RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM ON THE 6.4L (THAT THEY WILL ADMIT TO, ANYWAY). IT DOES SOUND LIKE A FAILED HEAD GASKET. ARP DOES NOT OFFER A HEAD STUD KIT FOR THE 6.4L MOTOR YET. WIDE OPEN PERFORMANCE SHOULD HAVE A STUD KIT OUT SOON, BUT NOTHING ON THE MARKET YET. SAME GOES FOR ELITE DIESEL. THERE ARE FIRE RINGED KITS AVAILABLE, THOUGH. YOU MIGHT ALSO CHECK YOUR OIL LEVEL. IF IT'S STAYING CONSTANT, THEN THAT WOULD POINT TO A HEAD GASKET LEAK OR A LEAK ON THE EGR COOLING SYSTEM. IF THE OIL LEVEL IS RISING, YOU ARE LIKELY GETTING COOLANT IN THE OIL. IF IT'S DROPPING, YOU COULD HAVE AN OIL COOLER ISSUE ALONG WITH THE COOLANT PROBLEM. WE RECOMMEND GETTING THE TRUCK CHECKED OUT BY A FORD TECHNICIAN. -ED.
DEAR DT,
I HAVE A 2001 LB7 DURAMAX THAT HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT, 4-INCH EXHAUST AND COLD AIR INTAKE. IS THERE AN INJECTOR BETTER THAN OE? AT 72,000 MILES I HAVE PUT IN MY THIRD SET OF INJECTORS. IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO TO GET MORE LIFE OUT OF THE INJECTORS? I'VE HEARD ABOUT A NEW INJECTOR AND FUEL PUMP COMBINATION OFFERED AT ONE OF THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS, BUT THE OTHER DEALER HASN'T HEARD ANYTHING OF IT. NOT SURE IF IT'S OE OR AFTERMARKET. HAVE YOU HEARD OF THIS?
I APPRECIATE YOUR TECH ARTICLES,
LOU
LAKE ISABELLA, CA
THE INJECTORS THAT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP IS PROBABLY REFERRING TO ARE THE UPDATED BOSCH INJECTORS THAT ADDRESSED THE HIGH FUEL RETURN RATES THAT A LOT OF EARLY LB7 TRUCKS WERE PLAGUED WITH. THE PRIMARY CAUSE FOR THE INJECTOR FAILURES WERE SMALL PARTICULATES GETTING PAST THE FACTORY FILTRATION AND INTO THE INJECTION SYSTEM. UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE NO AFTERMARKET INJECTORS THAT WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. BUT THERE IS HOPE: YOU CAN INCREASE YOUR INJECTORS' LIFE, IF NOT COMPLETELY ELIMINATE ALL FUTURE ISSUES, BY ADDING A SECONDARY FUEL FILTRATION SYSTEM. SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF AN AIRDOG OR FASS PUMP WILL WORK WONDERS FOR NOT ONLY YOUR INJECTORS' LIFE, BUT YOUR ENTIRE INJECTION SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH BETTER-THAN-FACTORY FILTRATION, WATER SEPARATION, AIR SEPARATION AND PROVIDE CONSTANT FUEL PRESSURE TO YOUR INJECTION SYSTEM WHICH IS CRUCIAL TO PROPER LUBRICATION OF THE INJECTION PUMP AND INJECTORS. ANOTHER BONUS IS USUALLY SEEING 1-2 MPG INCREASE IN FUEL ECONOMY BY KEEPING THE FUEL SYSTEM FED WITH THE FUEL IT NEEDS TO MAINTAIN PROPER INJECTION ATOMIZATION. -ED.