I own an ambulance company, and except for a few of the newest Duramax units we have, everything ever made is a Ford Powerstroke. I also do a lot of the repairs and maintenance of the ambulances. I can tell you for sure that there is no horsepower differences between an ambulance and a comparable model non-ambulance. The difference is in the charging system (daul alternators) and various different suspension changes (depends on the ambulance manufacturer). I run chips (superchips 1705 running in Tow Safe mode) in all the 7.3's without worrying about gauges and such. The person that got me onto that idea is a fleet mechanic for the biggest ambulance company in the nation, and they all run chipped trucks with no gauges. The tuning really helps the 99-03 trucks more than the 95-98 trucks. There is still a significant improvement in the older trucks. What I am after more than anything is a bit better fuel economy that tuning will often provide. With diesel at $4.69 a gallon, I need all the help I can get. You don't even want to know what my fuel bill is every month. My fuel efficiency is up by about 30-40%. I don't have any experience with the brand of tuner that you have, but I know how well the Superchips 1705 works. And the major advantage is that you can buy them on ebay for anywhere between $100-$200.
All I need now is some help (or life support) for the only asmatic, overloaded, hard-starting, rough idling, fuel hog of a 6.0l ambulance I have. It is horrible. Now don't get me wrong, I actually like the 6.0 (when it works), but in a van, it is the worst POS I have ever driven, bar none. Seriously now, the 7.3 makes about 220 hp in the later model vans. Great. The 6.0 makes 235hp on a good day. Where is the benefit?
I am seriously considering ripping out it's EGR system and putting a bigger exhaust and tuner on it. As it is now, I fear blowing out the EGR cooler. Does anyone know who might make an aftermarket exhaust for a 6.0 van?
Eli Benson
08-22-2007, 08:28 AM
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