Author Topic: Anyone own a Ford Super Duty?  (Read 540 times)

Offline rpm

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Anyone own a Ford Super Duty?
« on: August 16, 2012, 08:44:51 PM »
I just learned a very cool mod on another forum that is factory installed but rarely used on Ford Super Duty trucks. The High Idle modification. All it takes is connecting 1 wire to a power source and you have 1200RPM idle on command. Took me all of 5 minutes to connect on my '06 F-350.

The high idle setting is intended for PTO use, but it comes in handy for warming up, charging or (as anyone who's sat in a Super Duty on a hot Summer day) getting that A/C to cool while sitting still. But besides the creature comforts it also prevents "Wet Stacking" in diesel engines. At idle the 6.0L Powerstroke can over-cool it's self...thus not all the fuel injected "burns off" (you need compression & heat to burn diesel). The fuel will condense and work it's way past the piston rings and into the lube oil, diluting the oil and wreaking havoc with your lube oil system.

Here's how it's done... I found the orange PTO wire that is located behind the emergency brake in a bundle of wires (mine was factory labeled) and stripped the end of it. Next, I took a short piece of 14 gauge wire and connected it with a solderless connector and crimped/taped it. I ran that wire to the fuse box where I found an empty slot. I took a 10a mini fuse, wrapped the bare wire around it and plugged it in.

Done. It was just that simple.

Now all I have to do is set the emergency brake and it bumps the idle up to 1200 rpm no muss, no fuss. Release the brake and it drops back down to normal. If you don't want it e-brake actuated you can run a hotwire from a toggle or upfitter switch and connect to the BCP (Battery Charge Protect) wire instead of the PTO wire (all the wires in the bundle are color coded and labeled). But this way I'll never forget to turn it off.

I'll find a better keyed power source than a wire wrapped around a fuse later. But this worked in a pinch. All you need is to get power to the PTO or BCP wire, the ECM does the rest automatically.
 :cheers:
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Offline Rash

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Re: Anyone own a Ford Super Duty?
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2012, 09:47:01 PM »
I have a 2003, does it work for that year?  When it was 115 a couple weeks ago the foreman was complaining about the a/c.  Speed limit is 15 in the refinery, and you idle alot.
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Offline rpm

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Re: Anyone own a Ford Super Duty?
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2012, 09:50:58 PM »
On 03 and 04 models there is just the PTO wire, which idles the engine to 1200 RPM and locks the torque converter (on automatics). On 05 and up engines, there are more options. You can use the PTO wire that works like above, or the BCP (Battery Charge Protect) wire, which will idle up to 1200 RPM, then increase idle over that if the battery voltage drops. There is also an option to wire in a fixed or variable resistor to vary the high idle RPM from 1200 to 2400 RPM.
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Stay thirsty my friends.

Offline Masherbrum

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Re: Anyone own a Ford Super Duty?
« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2012, 11:00:32 PM »
The wires involved are utilized, should the platform be an ambulance, tow truck, chassis/cab, etc.    They are on the engine regardless, but can be modified for this purpose.  It would be interesting to see what could potentially be "sacrificed" for this mod. 

This only works on an Automatic Transmission equipped 6.0L btw.  
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Offline rpm

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Re: Anyone own a Ford Super Duty?
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2012, 11:17:36 PM »
This only works on an Automatic Transmission equipped 6.0L btw.  
Not from what I've read. It should work regardless of manual or automatic. It's an engine tune, not a tranny tune. But, it may not be that way for all year models. I'll have to research that further. The only downside I could see is higher idle fuel consumption. But TANSTAAFL applies.
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Stay thirsty my friends.

Offline rpm

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Re: Anyone own a Ford Super Duty?
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2012, 11:23:12 PM »
 :huh :headscratch: :bolt:
« Last Edit: August 17, 2012, 12:47:05 AM by rpm »
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Offline Masherbrum

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Re: Anyone own a Ford Super Duty?
« Reply #6 on: August 17, 2012, 06:30:09 AM »
Not from what I've read. It should work regardless of manual or automatic. It's an engine tune, not a tranny tune. But, it may not be that way for all year models. I'll have to research that further. The only downside I could see is higher idle fuel consumption. But TANSTAAFL applies.

I am pretty sure this modification only works on Automatics because I have three pissed off friends who cannot do this, because they have Manual transmissions.
FSO Squad 412th FNVG
http://worldfamousfridaynighters.com/
Co-Founder of DFC