04 6.0 very sluggish compared to my old Cummins

[MIJeepMan]

I previously had a new '05 3500 Dodge with the 5.9 in it (and a 6-spd).

Now (as of Saturday) I have a well-used (and abused) bone-stock 2004 6.0 with 220k on it. It had new injectors at 110k (or so) and new glowplugs in the last year.

It blows no smoke - white, black, or any other color.

Truck seems VERY sluggish compared to my Dodge. I hear (and sometimes feel) the turbo, so I know it's working. Truck just doesn't feel like it's making the power it should.

The mileage is also a lot worse than my Dodge (like 12 vs. 18 for the same driving). Both trucks are "nearly" identical - 4WD crew-cab long-box dually's. Only my Dodge was a stick, and this truck is an auto (which seems to shift fine).

No idea what updates/flashes/TSBs it's had done (if any).

I've been poking around this forum and the internet reading and learning, but this thing is WAAAY more complex than my Dodge was!

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Matt

[kingranch89]

throw a sct and some custom tunes on it an you wont be lackin power

[MIJeepMan]

well, that sounds kind of like having a hole in a garden hose and turning the pressure up to get the desired result from the end. it really doesn't fix anything but costs a lot.

i'm guessing there's something wrong with the truck, but the check engine light isn't on. before i go doing anything extreme, i'd like to know if was that way originally (why would anybody buy a Ford diesel if this is "normal")

also, reading on here and elsewhere, it doesn't sound like power mods to a stock 6.0 (with factory head bolts, let alone 220k on factory head bolts) is a good idea and will cause me more problems.

[nylyon]

For what it's worth, I have a stock 03 with 101,000 miles on it. Along with cold start problems, I felt that the overall truck wasn't as responsive as it should be. I put in 2 bottles of Rev-X and it fixed my cold start problem as well as made the truck much more responsive. If you're not turned off by additives, it's something to consider to help with injector stiction.

[dhanna6powerstroke]

I think part of it is the fact that the 6.0 has 220k on it and the Cummins was probably lower mileage. I would pull and clean the EGR valve and also remove and clean the turbo real good. Unison ring might have some corrosion and causing it to stick not allowing it to boost properly all the time. As far as mileage, what gearing do you have and what kind of driving do you do?

[Samsonsworld]

The 5.9L runs stronger and gets better mileage in stock form. Not to mention is doesn't have all the emissions crap and is a lot more dependable than the 6.0L. By any measure, the 5.9L Cummins is a better engine. Too bad Dodge can't make a better truck or tranny.