Choices-Choices

[tj.brewster]

OK..I picked up an 08 F250 Harley Davidson about 2 weeks ago. I love the truck, much better than my 04 F250 Harley I traded. The truck has around 90k on the clock. I've gotten approval from the household financial manager to spend the money on the extended warranty (7/200k).
I just took it on a trip from Tucson to Northern Florida. Truck did great as long as I kept pumping copious amounts of diesel into it.
The truck went into regen about every hundred miles which means I got about 11 MPG average (hand calcd) on the trip.
I kept the RPM's around 2k or less, so I thought I 'd get a little better than this.
My question is should I buy the extended warranty or spend the cash on the DPF delete and tuner. I have 2K alloted for warranty or improvements...
Whaddya all think??

Thanks, TJ

[H2C]

TJ - Not sure I'm much help but here are some thoughts...

Originally Posted by tj.brewster

OK..I picked up an 08 F250 Harley Davidson about 2 weeks ago. I love the truck, much better than my 04 F250 Harley I traded. The truck has around 90k on the clock. I've gotten approval from the household financial manager to spend the money on the extended warranty (7/200k).

Assuming it was an early 2008 you have already consumed 3yrs and 90k of a future waranty (from time of original purchase). Something to think about. Did the prior owner have any issues? Are you? I have heard a person's 6.4 is either good or bad...not much inbetween.

Originally Posted by tj.brewster

I just took it on a trip from Tucson to Northern Florida. Truck did great as long as I kept pumping copious amounts of diesel into it.
The truck went into regen about every hundred miles which means I got about 11 MPG average (hand calcd) on the trip.
I kept the RPM's around 2k or less, so I thought I 'd get a little better than this.

My 2009 was doing the same thing (150 mile regen) until it finally went into continuous regen. Trip to the dealer showed a bad differential pressure sensor on the DPF. This was replaced and the truck "re-flashed" (happens automatically everytime time when they hook it up to the computer, if out-of-date). Now I get 600+ miles between regens. Drove Texas to Colorado and back at 70 to 80 mph and my highest regen was 735 miles. I do use an additive/cetane booster and currently use Opti-Lube XPD (1/3oz per gal). Mileage calculated out to 16 mpg (highway) for tanks without regens.

Originally Posted by tj.brewster

My question is should I buy the extended warranty or spend the cash on the DPF delete and tuner. I have 2K alloted for warranty or improvements...
Whaddya all think??

Thanks, TJ

Given they way fuel prices are going, and that our government wants us to pay the same as european countries ($7/gal) I lean toward the DPF delete to get higher mileage (circa 21 to 23 mph) and the ability to burn bio-diesel. I am facing the same dilemma with a 100k warranty and am open to any suggestions. Regardless, I'd get any issues on your 08 looked before 100k.

Good luck.

[04hdfatboy]

i would forget the warranty and delete the dpf. Not only do you get better fuel mileage but it makes the truck more reliable and stops dumping fuel into the oil.

[tj.brewster]

H2C, Thanks for the info. The truck has a fairly clean history. I bought it from the original dealer. Turbos replaced at 5k cd player replaced at 22k all TSB's taken care of.
04 HD I think I'm leaning towards the dpf delete, it's even cheaper than the warranty

[04hdfatboy]

Originally Posted by tj.brewster

H2C, Thanks for the info. The truck has a fairly clean history. I bought it from the original dealer. Turbos replaced at 5k cd player replaced at 22k all TSB's taken care of.
04 HD I think I'm leaning towards the dpf delete, it's even cheaper than the warranty

i think that would be a good choice

[j21black]

Another vote for delete and tune.

[tj.brewster]

Alright i'm convinced. Gonna delete the DPF. What's the best, most economical kit on the market? I'm not looking for a race truck. I just want to improve reliability and fuel economy. Spartan has great reputation, but it seems to be geared towards racing. What do you all think??

[j21black]

Originally Posted by tj.brewster

Alright i'm convinced. Gonna delete the DPF. What's the best, most economical kit on the market? I'm not looking for a race truck. I just want to improve reliability and fuel economy. Spartan has great reputation, but it seems to be geared towards racing. What do you all think??

I went with a Spartan. They have race tunes that you have to buy a different license to use, but the unit comes with I believe 13 tunes from 0 to 250 HP that are not considered race tunes.

Believe it or not, the best fuel mileage comes with the race tunes. I run the 275 on a daily basis, just don't drive it like I stole it.

You can also purchase the 310, and 350 tunes. If you buy the 275 and 310 tunes, it also comes with a 300 tune that provides smoother shifting. I have all the tunes except the 350 and like the 275 the best.

[04hdfatboy]

i went with a 5" flo pro exhaust and h&s minimaxx tuner. Couldnt be happier

[Fordman117]

I went with a kit from sct came with livewire tuner and delete pipe. It was around 1300. My dealer said that's what they recommended. I think Sct, Spartan,h&s have the best I would just stay away from the bargain programmers but that's just me. You will love your truck deleted and tuned