I finally have time to share after installing the deletes on my truck last week.

My wife bought me a turbo-back 4" delete kit, Black Maxx Tuner, the EGR/Cooler delete and a S&B CAI for my birthday on Oct. 25th.

For anyone looking to do the deletes...stop debating and just do it. I honestly wish I would have done this last year before I started my re-training process (Air Force) last December and put over 20K miles just traveling back and forth to Montana in between schools.

I have kept a running fuel log for every fill-up I have done since I bought my truck in May 2010.

So far, the only thing or things rather, I have been able to do was the delete pipes from the turbo back, install the Black Maxx, changed the oil to AMSOIL Synthetic 5W-40 Diesel Oil and add Amsoil Diesel Concentrate. The S&B, as most of you know, was just released and I have't received it, but was told it should ship next week, so that, and the EGR/Cooler deletes have not been done. I am not sure when I will do the EGR deletes...maybe some diesel mentors can persuade me even though I have an extended warranty (don't even mention anything).

So I left Vegas for Texas last Sunday. I stopped in Farmington, NM where my folks live. This is the best part and what I love even more about my truck now, than my '08 Mega Cab with the Hemi (traded for my current truck). I drove a full 8 hours (cut an hour off the time it should have taken) without having to fill-up once. Granted it was only about 500 miles (total driven was 544 before I filled up in Farmington). My average speed most of the way was 8 over the speed limit (yes, I know not that fast, but I don't want and can't afford a speeding ticket) on the open roads/highways, and the speed limit going through towns. Occasionally I had to step on it to pass multiple vehicles on a two lane road (WOW). My truck averaged 18.1mpg. The MPG for similar distances and roads was 15.4mpg to 16.5mpg before doing the deletes and I was speeding on that trip since I had to make it from MT to San Antonio in 24hrs or less.

On Monday I left Farmington for Amarillo and stayed there for the night. This time, I put my responsible hat back on since I wasn't on a time crunch and took my sweet old time going there. The only time I went over 65MPH was to pass drivers who would pass me in there Toyota trucks pulling trailers and would slow to a crawl at every ant hill and when OTR Truckers passed me and didn't have enough power to maintain on hills (surprisingly to me most of them did). Basically, I averaged 65MPH regardless if the speed limit was higher and maintained the speed limit give or take 1 or 2 MPH when it was lower than 65.
When I filled up after that stop, I averaged 22.7mpg.

Since I arrived to my destination for the next 6 weeks and didn't feel like stopping to fill-up again, I haven't been able to check my highway MPG, however, I will say this, when I arrived through the gate, I had only used 1/4 tank of gas on about 220 miles give or take, so take it for what its worth.

I am sure this aligns with what most have been getting on their MPG gains, so if you are skeptical on deleting, but are wanting more MPG, this is definitely the way to go...I don't think anything else will net you more (other than maybe a 5" exhaust, but I dont' know). I will update this once again if the S&B CAI intake arrives and I can install it before I travel back to Farmington for Thanksgiving. Otherwise, I will update it when I head back to Vegas in December.

As for the tunes on the Black Maxx, I read on a forum a month or two ago, that an H&S employee set his Black Maxx to the Hot tune and left it there and he gained the most MPG at that setting (from what I recall). So, I decided why not. I don't race my truck so I was comfortable setting the Hot tune. Although initially it nearly scared the daylights out of me on my first pass of a vehicle, but I am used to it now...did I mention the amount of smoke that came out as well...amazing!

I also opted to get the transmission unlock code prior to the trip as well. I HATED the way the transmission would shift when it was stock. Hated it!!!! Every time I had to let off the gas because someone cut in front of me then sped off, or to let someone over, then give it gas again, there always seemed to be a delay and then would shift hard. I thought it was a problem with the truck 20K miles ago (I now have over 28K on it now), but the Dodge Dealer in MT told me all of the trucks do it, so I accepted what they told me. Even just taking off from a stop, the shifting was just rough. This truck hasn't shifted better than the day I bought. Between running the Hot tune and adding the transmission software, this truck holds hills and maintains speeds even better than before, and has less down shifts and just overall handles and shifts way better.

I read somewhere, I think it was on this forum or maybe it was on H&S's Forum, someone wasn't pleased with the way the Engine Brake worked and the transmission downshifted when in the Tow/Haul mode after adding the transmission software. I tested it, and everything seems to work just fine and has aggressive downshifts (as designed) and with the EB on, slows down just as fast as before the mods. Although, actually being able to hear the EB and the turbo spooling after doing the deletes adds a bit of the coolness factor to it.

Last but not least, Black Smoke is freakin' awesome!!!!

Sorry for the short story. I would like to thank all of the folks on here that has given excellent guidance on the deletes. I was very skeptical all the way up until it was done. Now I just need to get the gonads to do the EGR/Cooler delete...already have the parts...just need to build the courage to do it!

 

Do the egr def thats the most important, you truck will run cooler, you wont have to worry about that egr valve leaking with the added pressures, and it just makes your engine bay look so much better.

 

I know it will run cooler, but how much cooler? I noticed on straight and level roads the EGTs hovered between 600 -700 with the cruise set, depending on speed.

 

Awesome!

 

Thanks madhat!

 

You 6.7 guys are making me sick... just think of what I could do with the extra cubic inches...

 

Oh, I would like to add one thing about the Pyro install. That was not an easy task. It could have been that I was using an air drill, but it fit in there a lot better than the battery powered drill I had.

The drilling was painfully slow and I stepped it up through a total of 5 drill bits. I magnetized the drill bits and placed magnets above the hole I was drilling. As I got towards the end, I applied a little bit of grease to catch more shavings. After the drilling was done, I used another magnet to stick in the hole to get any shavings that may have dropped (which was very little)

I don't know why, but the tap was the hardest part. I think it took me about a good 5 hours. There was no room to work to turn the tap wrench and I ended up having to remove the coolant line to the turbo just so I could make a full turn of the wrench. I used one of my handy magnets that fit perfectly on top of the turbo coolant hole to prevent from losing more coolant than I already had.

Removing the coolant hose could have been prevented if Lowes had a longer tap or a wrench that extended out further. But they didn't and all the other stores that may have had them were already closed.

Just an FYI on my experience with the Pyro. Hopefully no one will experience the same frustration I went through.

 

I am pretty new to the diesel world. Though I have always wanted a 5.9, I never got the chance to buy one so I never did much research on them other than when my grandfather would have problems with his Ford. So this is my first. As I learn more about Cummins and what they can handle (actually I think I am more worried about the transmission than anything), I will do more and push it more. I know they are VERY durable motors and have the ability for massive power. But until I can get a third vehicle for my daily driver, I have to be careful with what I do, as my wife would be ****** if I blew the motor or the transmission and she had to drive my sorry butt 35 miles to work and still get the kids off to school and pick me up after they get home.

Madhat, what could you do? Can you pass some of your experience along? I know the blocks are pretty similar and I heard you can put 5.9L heads on the 6.7 block and I believe you can put the 5.9 exhaust manifold to run the turbo and exhaust from a 5.9? I'm in the learning stages.

Just today, I had a wild and crazy thought run through my head about getting either an older 5.9 block or a 6.7 block from a junk vehicle (big money, I know) and start a long term build up on it with my son and another friend of mine.

 

It sounds as if you are ready for some 625 Studs. If you keep weeing boost pressure's around the mid 30's on the Black Maxx and EGT's around 1200-1400 I would recommend headstuds, lift pump, and start working on those EGT's. I am on deployment right now but when I get home I will be installing the GDP intake manifold, AIR BOSS 67, and will start a custom meth injection system directly into the intake manifold. By reading my sig you will see my current updates. If you want to save that transmission then I recommend a converter. As I responded in other threads, every time one thing is changed you have to change another.

When you run the "Hot" tune, what is your peak boost and highest readings for EGT's?

 

Interesting! I will look into getting the 625 studs. Especially if it will prevent the inevitable when towing. You know, I don't think even when I romped on it passing someone that I ever saw the boost go above 20. I actually don't recall it going up to 20. The highest EGT's was around 1300, maybe 1400 for about 2 seconds when it scared the daylights out of me (remember, new to diesels here). After that, If I were to pass someone, I kept it easy on the pedal and the EGT's hovered around 1100 to 1200 for the passing duration.

Looking at what all you have done to your 2011 makes me a bit more comfortable to continue with the deletes and more mods as funds become available.

Thanks for the tips. Be safe out there, we have "eyes in sky" watching out for you guys!

 

I figured that you would be seeing more boost than that but the EGT's sound about right.

Did you remove that stupid "Whales Tongue" looking thing out of our intake tube? If not, remove the top of your filter box from the big plastic pipe that goes to the turbine. Inside of there you will see a MAJOR obstruction in the inlet pipe. REMOVE IT. It is 100% useless and robbing your truck of air. Let me know if you have done that.

Also, based on my testing, you will probably see the best gas mileage from the "Aggressive Turbo Tuning" tune from the custom tunes sections of H&S. Run it on "Mild" and you will more than likely see about 25-28psi of boost and your EGT's should not get above 1200. You will like that tune alot. I caution you not to get greedy and run any higher than that. Your H&S will immediately start to defuel cause EGT's will go through the roof.

 

Okay so I decided to head off base today and then decided to play around a bit. This time I noticed the boost get up to 25psi. So, if I really play around, I bet I will notice it get up into the 30's.

I did notice that "whales tongue" looking thing when I was doing the Pyro install. I didn't try, but I didn't think it was removable. It is now removed!!! What in the world is the purpose of the foam that was put around it?

I was a bit hesitant to download the agressive turbo tune since I thought (which now I can't find where I may have read it) it cautioned about those tunes if you didn't have a larger turbo and other upgrades such as for the fuel injectors and pump and what not.

So with that being said, I am willing to give it whirl. Should I download the HOT **** or MILD TUNING and run it on Mild? Also, should i wait to do this before doing the studs? How about having to do the Fuel Plug or Shim? As mentioned earlier, I am a pretty cautious driver so you won't see me racing it anytime soon since it is my only transportation. But I am willing to try it, especially since I am in the phase of seeing how much MPG I can pull out of my truck.

 

1st, that "Whales Tonuge" thingy, I think it is there for excessive moisture, excessive dust climates and also to decrease the audible noise of the turbine.

As far as the H&S tunes "Custom". When my truck was simply DPF and EGR deleted I ran both the HOT and MILD aggressive turbo tuning tunes to see the difference. The "HOT" aggressive turbo tuning tune set on Mild was the best as far as I am concerned. Boost never exceeded 30 PSI and EGT's never got over 1100. I ran that tune for about 10,000 miles and netted an average of 18mpg highway and 15.6 in the city. That is the best I have seen so far and I have tried every tune that they have available starting with the .18 tunes and working all the way to the now current .25 tune.

DO NOT, I REPEAT, do not go over running the "Mild" tune if you run the aggressive turbo tuning. It will instantly hit over 35lbs of boost and you will see 1400+ deg EGT's from the get go. That is an appetite for destruction.

You should not need to do the plug or the shim when running the tune I mentioned. I would however, although not necessary for the tune, get a Raptor 150 pump and GDP MKII Big Line Kit on your truck as soon as you can. You can also get an Air Dog if you want. In any case, having the extra filtration and larger lift pump will not only save the CP3 but it will not allow for any fuel starvation.

On all the tests I did with a 100% stock fuel system I saw minimal fuel pressure reduction but I did notice some. Once I did the Raptor 150 into the stock fuel filter canister the into the MKII kit, I noticed ZERO fuel pressure fluctuation even on some aggressive tunes and boost at 35+PSI.

Keep the questions coming.

 

Awesome! Glad to hear another H&S success story.

The purpose of the whale tongue is to "funnel" or "direct" air flow into the turbo inlet. Garbage in my book.

Im with Brian, studs should be my next upgrade. I dont think Im gonna do the engine deletes until I get some ARP's on there for a little peace of mind. Then itll be playtime. However I gotta do a clutch next. Already got the money for a South Bend DD3250, just need to get home to get it in.


Hey Markhole. Inspire me. What would you do with a 6.7???

I want a tow monster. And as much as I love my truck, I may go for it. Little by little. But Itll get there.

 

Hey Mark, on second thought.

Don't the Misses want a Longhorn Mega.

You should get her one.
Then go bananas.

It'd be awesome!


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