Need Some Advice about the 6.4L

[TurboGriz]

Well not to start yet another advice thread about buying a truck but I am in need of some advice from actual 6.4L PSD owners. I am currently in the market now for a new truck and i'm looking at a 2009-2010 F-250 KR or a 2010 GMC 2500HD Dmax LMM.. Obviously i'm posting on a ford forum so you can probably guess what my decision is..

I am not new to diesels. I owned a 2010 Dodge 2500 6.7 CTD that I did a DPF/EGR delete, HS Mini Maxx, CAI, etc.. so i'm not completely new to diesel mods. I planned on doing the deletes and putting a mini maxx on the ford with a wastegate and leave the tuner on mild and never look back. I have a few questions about these engines as I have never owned a PSD in the past..

1. Are you guy happy with them or would you be happier with a Dmax or CTD?
2. I know that injectors can be an issue with these trucks, is there a aftermarket solution or is keeping the fuel water sep clean and drained monthly the answer?
3. Are head studs a must for a deleted truck?
I am nervous about buying a 6.4L but i've been reading a lot of issues over on the .ORG but I also realize that forums tend to collect problems and complaints due to people looking for solutions. I love the interior styling and quality of the ford's, my dodge had a nice engine but the rest of the truck was as cheaply made as possible.

Thanks for the help..

 

[Spatel23]

Get the 6.4 and dont look back...

If all you are going to run are tunes, skip the wastegate. Its not really needed until more fuel, bigger turbos, or nitrous is introduced.

1. Id walk before I drove a CTD. Dmax aren't bad but I just like the overall build quality inside and out of the Fords better.

2. Injectors were only a real ongoing issue from early build trucks in the 08 MY. Keep good fuel in it and practice good maintenance.

3. No, they are not. Never a bad idea. Just really depends on how hard you are on the truck.

You said it right in your last statement.

 

[CamTom12]

I've got a 01/07 build date and no issue with my injectors. Good fuel and regular (10k miles) fuel filter changes has something to do with that, I think.

Also, forget leaving it on mild tune. With the mods you're talking about, put it on a solid, high hp tune that you can modulate with your right foot. I find I get way better fuel mileage cruising that way. Maybe it's just what I'm telling myself .

 

[TurboGriz]

I've got a 01/07 build date and no issue with my injectors. Good fuel and regular (10k miles) fuel filter changes has something to do with that, I think.

Also, forget leaving it on mild tune. With the mods you're talking about, put it on a solid, high hp tune that you can modulate with your right foot. I find I get way better fuel mileage cruising that way. Maybe it's just what I'm telling myself .

Its funny you mentioned that.. I ran the aggressive tune on wild from HS and got the best mileage overall on my dodge. You seem to hear a lot of negative opinions about the 6.4L powered trucks but I see a awful lot of them on work sites.. Says something right there when you have a few chevy gassers surrounded by ford diesels haha.

 

[tbsimmons]

Like mentioned, Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance. I think that is one of the factors that these trucks have problems. Too many miles between filter changes for oil or fuel along with the EPA Mandated Crap. Delete and Maintain and you will be good.
I have an 10/07 built 450 and it has been fine. I was in your boat when I got my 450. I had an 04 F350 SRW and needed a dually. When and test drove all three. Well you can see what I ended up with. The Dodge was a second to me but the interior is what sold me on the Ford over the Dodge. Well now I am glad I have the 6.4. It is a beast when tuned correctly.

 

[BK39]

Get the 6.4 and dont look back...

If all you are going to run are tunes, skip the wastegate. Its not really needed until more fuel, bigger turbos, or nitrous is introduced.

1. Id walk before I drove a CTD. Dmax aren't bad but I just like the overall build quality inside and out of the Fords better.

2. Injectors were only a real ongoing issue from early build trucks in the 08 MY. Keep good fuel in it and practice good maintenance.

3. No, they are not. Never a bad idea. Just really depends on how hard you are on the truck.

You said it right in your last statement.

This man said it all^^^^

As for mine, I love my 6.4L. It was a totally different animal after the DPF delete and tuner, I haven't looked back since. :thumbsup:

 

[jdgleason]

I love my 6.4. One of my favorite trucks to drive for sure. I'll probably never get rid of it! Mine has performed flawlessly since I bought it new.

 

[chromehound]

Your going to run into somethings that will frustrate you going from the CTD to a PSD (at least I have everytime I switched between the two), it's little things that will make you mad but if you are patient and are alway mindful of your trucks maintenance and such you'll be fine. I was hesitant to buy my 6.4 (job 1 truck) but I'm glad I did buy it vs another CTD, the Cummins are great motors but what they are wrapped in IMO is junk.

You're right the forums are loaded with horror stories about failures but that's what they are here for-finding solutions and sharing triumphs. I think you'll be happy with a 6.4-real happy after a little work.

 

[TurboGriz]

Your going to run into somethings that will frustrate you going from the CTD to a PSD (at least I have everytime I switched between the two), it's little things that will make you mad but if you are patient and are alway mindful of your trucks maintenance and such you'll be fine. I was hesitant to buy my 6.4 (job 1 truck) but I'm glad I did buy it vs another CTD, the Cummins are great motors but what they are wrapped in IMO is junk.

You're right the forums are loaded with horror stories about failures but that's what they are here for-finding solutions and sharing triumphs. I think you'll be happy with a 6.4-real happy after a little work.

I know the PSD is a bit tighter to work on but what i'm really looking forward to in addition to the engine and power is the transmission. I dealt with the 68RFE but I didn't enjoy it. At least for me, Maintenance is a easy thing to keep up with as long as the money is there to do it. My buddy is crazy about oil changes and fuel filter changes on his 6.0 PSD and that thing hasn't given him a single problem.

Oh one question I do have is about the HPFP.. Is this guy just a problem when maintenance and bad fuel comes into play or does the fuel pump itself have some design issues? I watched some Youtube videos on its design and operation and while its complicated it looked to be a vastly improved system over the 6.0's fuel pump.
Thanks for all the feedback guys..

 

[jdgleason]

A lot of the HPFP issues that I knew of were related to damage in shipping. The other issues i have heard of are the harness for the pump chafing in the cover on the job 1 trucks. Aside from that, maintenance is probably the main cause of any problems.

 

[TripleE44]

One thing I've also noticed are the 09-10s are showing less problems on here. Whether or not thats because they're are so many 08s, I don't know. Also, most owners of 09-10s seem to report better mpg.

 

[TurboGriz]

One thing I've also noticed are the 09-10s are showing less problems on here. Whether or not thats because they're are so many 08s, I don't know. Also, most owners of 09-10s seem to report better mpg.

That's good to hear. How does your guy's trucks sound deleted with or without a muffler?

 

[charlie-2]

i went from a 7.3l not a cummins i know but then got my 08 6.4l and its amazing. the truck inside and out is better than any other truck.

as for sound... sounds like a hair dryer sound till like 2500 rpm then kind of a 6.0l straight pipe muffled sound

 

[TripleE44]

That's good to hear. How does your guy's trucks sound deleted with or without a muffler?

Like a gnarly hairdryer. But you get used to it.

 

[TurboGriz]

i went from a 7.3l not a cummins i know but then got my 08 6.4l and its amazing. the truck inside and out is better than any other truck.

as for sound... sounds like a hair dryer sound till like 2500 rpm then kind of a 6.0l straight pipe muffled sound

I'm really looking forward to the nice quality these trucks have to offer. When I deleted my 6.7 CTD the idle note was odd, sounded a little hair dryerish but it had a really nice groan while under load. I don't think the 6.0's sound bad stock, i've never heard a modded one.

 

[CamTom12]

To be honest, I haven't had my windows down in a while (LOL) but I think the hairdryer tones down with the larger tunes. I've been running the 345 almost nonstop for over a year.

Might be I've gotten used to it, though LOL