06 8.1L Vortec Tuning

[Bdsankey]

Anyone have a pump gas tune laying around for a 06 8.1L Vortec? I'm tuning the trans myself (going to see where the thing likes bringing in 6th gear at lower speeds to improve economy) but I am not a genius at ECM tuning.


Mods, would it be better to post this in the tune library section?

 

[Mike L.]

I'll bet you get worse mileage by doing that.

 

[Bdsankey]

I'll bet you get worse mileage by doing that.

Good to know, guess we will scrap that idea.

My father is giving up on diesels in general (he's had bad luck buying 6.0L fords recently, twice) that he is going to pick up a 06 8.1L with 94k miles. It also helps he doesn't drive a huge amount of miles each year, mainly in town and plowing snow.




Mike, any worthwhile upgrades that aren't going to break the bank on that generation trans behind an 8.1?

 

[Columbus450]

There is more diesels out there than the unreliable 6.0 should not give up on them completely why did you not turn him on to the 6.6 Duramax


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[Bdsankey]

There is more diesels out there than the unreliable 6.0 should not give up on them completely why did you not turn him on to the 6.6 Duramax


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So he has had them all to be honest. Over the last 4 diesels he has had he has ended up with expensive failures happening 1-2 years into them (transmission, head gaskets when they were done by previous owner etc) and quite frankly he just doesn't need one for his uses these days. For example, if injectors go out on a gas truck they are a heck of alot cheaper to get.


We are going to be using my LB7 to tow our 28ft boat around as well as I will be towing my gooseneck and built motor truck around all summer. That said, the 8.1L has proven to be quite decent in terms of economy towing.

 

[OregonDMAX]

id skip the 8.1 and get a 6.0 gas. way more aftermarket support, parts are way cheaper and way more abundant and its pretty much bulletproof.

 

[2004LB7]

That said, the 8.1L has proven to be quite decent in terms of economy towing.

8.1l and economy shouldn't be in the same sentence

 

[Bdsankey]

8.1l and economy shouldn't be in the same sentence

You'd think but honestly towing they are respectable. For example, towing a friends trailer while he was waiting for a tcase (02 8.1L) I got 14mpg loaded. Towing the same load/trailer as well as both trucks are the same cab config he got 11.8mpg.

That is the same drive just on different days about a month apart. Load was a 40ft triple axle load trail trailer with 2 gas pulling trucks on it, grossing ~18k trailer weight with fuel etc in the box of the truck and a cooler.

 

[LBZ]

You'd think but honestly towing they are respectable. For example, towing a friends trailer while he was waiting for a tcase (02 8.1L) I got 14mpg loaded. Towing the same load/trailer as well as both trucks are the same cab config he got 11.8mpg.

That is the same drive just on different days about a month apart. Load was a 40ft triple axle load trail trailer with 2 gas pulling trucks on it, grossing ~18k trailer weight with fuel etc in the box of the truck and a cooler.

I know my 2010 6.0 I had was getting nowhere near that towing 9000lbs at 65mph on level ground. It was closer to 7mpg.

I have a hard time believing the 8.1 got almost 12 as that’s about what my buddies averages on the low side empty. 9ish would be more believable imo.

 

[Mike L.]

You'd think but honestly towing they are respectable. For example, towing a friends trailer while he was waiting for a tcase (02 8.1L) I got 14mpg loaded. Towing the same load/trailer as well as both trucks are the same cab config he got 11.8mpg.

That is the same drive just on different days about a month apart. Load was a 40ft triple axle load trail trailer with 2 gas pulling trucks on it, grossing ~18k trailer weight with fuel etc in the box of the truck and a cooler.

What are you smoking?

 

[Bdsankey]

What are you smoking?

I am not smoking anything, just stating what I have personally witnessed here in WI. Same load, same course, similar weather conditions. Both hand calculated based off odometer mileage. Both trucks had speedometers calibrated for appropriate tire sizes.

 

[2004LB7]

And downhill both ways with a tail wind

 

[Bdsankey]

And downhill both ways with a tail wind

Negative, was pretty much flat I will say. 198mi round trip from the fuel station nearest his garage and back at 55mph speed limit areas.

 

[Bdsankey]

I know my 2010 6.0 I had was getting nowhere near that towing 9000lbs at 65mph on level ground. It was closer to 7mpg.

I have a hard time believing the 8.1 got almost 12 as that’s about what my buddies averages on the low side empty. 9ish would be more believable imo.

I wouldn't have believed it until I saw it happen. No magic involved. I do not recall having a tailwind but I also wasn't paying that much attention either.

 

[PureHybrid]

I'm not commenting on the fuel consumption, but an 8.1 is A LOT nicer to tow with than a 6.0 gas.

 

[2004LB7]

I'm not commenting on the fuel consumption, but an 8.1 is A LOT nicer to tow with than a 6.0 gas.

I can agree with that

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

Only because it has an Allison instead of a 4l80... Lol...

6.0 is a better motor, 8.1 was a joke...

 

[Chevy1925]

8.1 getting 12mpg heavy loaded?! Was it on the trailer while the real tow rig pulled it?! :rofl: I’ve never seen an 8.1 get anywhere near diesel mpg under the same loads and condition. I compared back to back on a buddies 02 8.1 with this 35ft toyhauler and my setup. We tuned it, different t-stats, intake, long tube headers and full exhaust and he never passed a gas station (best he got towing was 6.5mpg at 70mph).

Year for year though, I’d take a 8.1 over a 6.0. Supercharge it, mild trans build and that thing will take a built/supercharged 6.0 up the same hills and run cooler doing it

 

[zakkb787]

8.1 getting 12mpg heavy loaded?! Was it on the trailer while the real tow rig pulled it?! :rofl: I’ve never seen an 8.1 get anywhere near diesel mpg under the same loads and condition. I compared back to back on a buddies 02 8.1 with this 35ft toyhauler and my setup. We tuned it, different t-stats, intake, long tube headers and full exhaust and he never passed a gas station (best he got towing was 6.5mpg at 70mph).

Year for year though, I’d take a 8.1 over a 6.0. Supercharge it, mild trans build and that thing will take a built/supercharged 6.0 up the same hills and run cooler doing it

I didn’t think the 8.1 could stand up to much over stock in stock form?

 

[Bdsankey]

Only because it has an Allison instead of a 4l80... Lol...

6.0 is a better motor, 8.1 was a joke...

Doesn’t help the 4L80 is not very forgiving in a commercial plowing application.