This article will cover how to easily and accurately diagnose whether your diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injector is in proper working order. An improperly working DEF injector will cause your truck to display a check engine light or "Reductive Fluid Quality" message on your dash. This can often cause your truck to go into limp mode and give you engine codes. These codes can vary depending on the truck but codes related to the DEF injector will always have to do with the NOx sensors or selective catalytic reduction (SCR) inefficiency. These codes or messages are often a sign that the DEF injector is not functioning properly.

We would like to share our latest results on our EcoBoost Ford Raptor build. Three weeks ago, we started a project on our newest shop truck, a 2020 Ford Raptor, with the goal of putting together a basic package of parts to give a stock RAM TRX a run for its money.  We started off by getting a base line for our truck on the dyno (394hp). Then we used our knowledge of we've seen the TRX put down for quarter mile times in independent tests along with an online quarter mile calculator to calculate how much more power we would need, in order to be a worthy competitor to the TRX. That figure ended up being around 610hp. 90hp less than the TRX due to the Raptors lighter weight!

With the L5P being the newest Duramax engine on the scene it's also one of the best performing right out of the box. Making 400hp and 850 ft-lbs of torque when tested on our dyno. This iteration of the Duramax engine has been redesigned in all the right ways. From a thicker crank shaft, to a more advanced turbo, and pistons that can handle more load and heat than we've ever seen come in a stock Duramax engine before. Not only do we get improved performance but we also get an engine that can handle way more power than it left the factory with. Which means with bolt on upgrades alone you can raise the horsepower way beyond stock without having to do any upgrades to the internals of the engine. We've seen L5P's pushing up to 900ph on the stock internals. Even trucks still equipped with emissions systems can gain about 300hp and 500ft-lbs of torque with just a few bolt on upgrades. Today we will show you what upgrades you want on your L5P to make the biggest difference for the least about of money. So if maximum performance is what you’re looking to get out of your L5P this article is for you.

Here are the top four L5P upgrades!

• Tune

• Transmission

• Turbo

• Intake 

We left off with our last article on the Raptor upgrade story with putting a new set of upgraded turbos on our truck to get even more performance than the +140hp tune that  we made was able to provide us with. Our raptor was sitting at 538hp the last time we talked about it. Now that we have the upgraded to 46mm turbos on the Raptor we need to tune the truck again and see if there are any other limiting factors when it comes to our goal of making the 610hp to beat the TRX. After a new tune was written for new turbos the truck was put back on the dyno and we were able to make the just over 550 horsepower before the engine  was automatically throttled back by the ECM trying to combat the rising intake air temps. This tells us that the truck, while capable of more power, still needs improvements before it will be able to perform as well as the TRX for a sustained amount of time. Below is a graph showing the intake air temp during a road pull in the raptor. The Orange line represents Intake air temp and you can see it spike under sustained load up until the throttle is let off. 

Here's what we had on the truck before we started testing:

• Upgraded 46mm turbos 
• Fuel Injector Clinic 1000cc injectors. 
• Custom Tune By Calibrated Power Solutions 

From the outside, they look like fairly similarly performing trucks but the new Ram packs 250 more HP than Ford’s 3.5l EcoBoost Motor making it worlds apart in terms of stock performance. Calibrated Power’s latest goal has been to turn the Raptor into a TRX worthy competitor.

Meet Our Shop Truck:

• 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor
• 1000cc Fuel Injector Clinic injectors
• Calibrated Power EZ Lynk Custom Tuning

These are the first 4 upgrades you should make to your 2003-2007, 5.9L Cummins.

If you're just getting into the diesel game with a third-generation Cummins 5.9L you're on the right track. While people say the 12v motors are great for being able to handle lots of power and having lots of upgrades. The 24v is also a very solid choice for both of those same reasons. With more hp from stock than the 12v motors and some beefy internals, like forged rods that can handle over 800hp. There is lots of potential to be had. 

It's a great truck from the factory, but if you're anything like the rest of us you're not interested in keeping it stock. Especially with the number of bolt-on upgrades available for the 5.9L. Why not make a great truck even better? Today we will show you the first 4 mods you should do to your 5.9L Cummins turbo diesel. 

What's an RPO? Crucial Duramax Information!

This article will help you understand what an RPO is, how to find yours and when it will be needed.  An RPO or Regular Production Option is a GM-specific code, made up of 3 characters, that helps the manufacturer specify what configuration of options has been or needs to be applied to a vehicle. This can include anything from paint color to powertrain options. For Chevy/GMC Duramax trucks each type of engine can be signified by a different RPO code.

Miles Per Gallon is currently the biggest topic in the Diesel truck owner community. From over-the-road tractor tailers to daily commuters with mini-diesels every one is noticing the impact of high fuel costs right now. 

The most common question today is "HOW CAN I GET BETTER MPGs WITH MY DIESEL?".

The reality is, you're never going to get 30 MPGs with a full-size diesel pickup truck. That doesn't mean there's no hope for better than average though. In real-world conditions, our experience has been that you can expect somewhere in the high-teens for MPGs from a 7,500-8,500 lbs truck. 

Here are the most important things you can do to get the best possible MPGs from your Duramax, Cummins, or Power Stroke. 

• Fix Mechanical Issues
• Complete Routine Maintenance
• MPG Enhancing Upgrades

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE WRONG PARTS!

Your 6.7L Powerstroke is one of the most powerful diesel pickup engines ever produced. But that doesn't mean you're satisfied with the performance.  You know the truck can do more. That being said, you're not going to be building a race truck. You don't want to hack up your almost brand-new truck. This list is for the guys wanting a quiet, clean, safe level of performance. Enough to get the job done, but not so much you'll break parts every time you drive it. 

Your 6.7L Cummins NEEDS an upgrade!

The  Ram 2500 and 3500 HD pickups with a Cummins 6.7L are made for towing.  You know that. We know that. Everyone knows that. However, a lot of guys are clueless when it comes to which upgrades are worth it and which ones are a total waste of money. 

WILL THESE BE THE RIGHT UPGRADES FOR YOU? 

This list is based on an assumed set of circumstances. You have a 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, or 2018 model year Ram 2500 or 3500 equipped with the Cummins 6.7L diesel engine. Your truck is completely stock (no modifications) or very near stock. You have not already deleted the emissions equipment or upgraded major performance components such as the turbocharger or high-pressure fuel system. 

Drivers that use their truck as a truck will find this list especially helpful. Towing, commuting, and getting it up and moving when you need it to have to be balanced with reliability and efficiency.  On the other hand, if you're looking to build a competition truck for sled pulling, drag racing or dyno competitions, our recommendations may drastically change. 

• 2013-2018, Cummins 6.7L 
• Stock or Near Stock Truck
• Drive your truck regularly
• 68RFE Automatic Transmission
• Use truck for towing
• NOT interested in building a race or competition truck
• Cares about efficiency and reliability
• Want superior drive-ability