We've come a long way in the quest for performance. These days, you don't necessarily have to turn a wrench to extract more power from a diesel truck: You can plug in a tuning device and push a few buttons. Change your needs--say from towing a heavy trailer to hot-footing it down the quarter mile or getting better fuel economy around town--and all you have to do is plug in a different tune.
Of course, tuners aren't the only performance-enhancing options. You can still do a lot of good, old-fashioned things to your truck, such as enhancing the airflow to the engine and helping the diesel fuel burn more completely. Here are some of the newest performance options available for your diesel truck, and we've even included a few for diesel SUVs and vans.
Power in a Flash
Tuning your engine only takes about 10 minutes with Superchips' all-new Diesel Flashpaq for Ford 7.3-, 6.4-, or 6.0-liter Power Stroke F-Series trucks and Excursions. The performance tune delivers up to 114 additional horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. The Flashpaq also features tunes to enhance fuel economy and towing. Each tune is dyno validated for power to the rear wheels, not the flywheel, and Superchips pays special attention to exhaust gas temperatures to maintain engine durability.
Superchips
888/227-2447
www.superchips.com
Temperature Reducer
This water/methanol injection system lowers intake, combustion, and exhaust-gas temps for real power gains. The Striker ColdShot cools the intake air to produce a denser mixture that's higher in oxygen. Plus, when evaporated methanol enters the combustion chambers, it increases fuel's octane.
Painless Performance
00/423-9696
www.painlessperformance.com
More Air Going In
AEM's Brute Force HD Induction Systems for the 2007-08 GM Duramax 6.6-liter LMM and the 2007-09 Dodge Cummins 6.7-liter provide serious horsepower increases, thanks to increased airflow. The systems feature a rugged, high-efficiency design with a steel heatshield. AEM's Dryflow filter is cleanable and reusable and captures 99 percent of harmful contaminants.
AEM
800/992-3000
www.aemintakes.com
Exhaustive Selection
MagnaFlow has released nine stainless-steel exhaust options for the 2009 6.4-liter Power Stroke, none of which affect the truck's computer. At wide-open throttle from 50-70 mph, the four-inch single-exit catback (or particulate filter-back) system provides peak power gains over the stock exhaust of up to 24 horsepower and 36 pound-feet of torque and the five-inch system yields up to 29 horsepower and 45 pound-feet of torque. All the systems include a muffler delete pipe and intercooled tips.
Magnaflow Performance Exhaust
800/824-8664
www.magnaflow.com
A Better Burn
DieselPower! from Gold Eagle has been formulated to increase power for towing while also maximizing fuel economy. The fuel additive is said to boost the level of cetane in diesel fuel by up to seven numbers to improve ignitability. Performance Improver and Cetane Booster comes in 12- and 20-ounce sizes; 12 ounces will treat up to 35 gallons of diesel.
Gold Eagle
800/367-3245
www.goldeagle.com