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Deleting and tuning the 2.8L Duramax LWN | Remove DPF, DEF and EGR

Updated June 7, 2019 by Jeff Hart

From the factory, the 2.8L LWN Duramax is a remarkably stout and impressive power plant for the 2015-2017 Colorado and Canyon trucks. Straight out of the box people have been praising the power and performance of this compact 4 cyl. diesel motor. It’s so good most people don’t need to do a thing to it besides drive it (and change the oil, frequently.)

Of course, nothing can ever be perfect, and every engine has it’s weaknesses. We wouldn’t have to keep buying new parts or new trucks if they lasted forever. In the case of the LWN, well it wouldn’t be a modern diesel without complicated modern emissions equipment. That complicated modern emission equipment has some…. tradeoffs.

In fact, one of the main complaints so far has been that some of these trucks have already been throwing emissions codes because of a non-functioning, clogged up EGR system and related sensors going off for the DPF and SCR efficiency, in chain reaction to the EGR malfunction.

Most of the time, a thorough cleaning of the EGR system can make the codes go away, but it’s just gonna be one of those procedures that will have to be added into your maintenance schedule as you rack up the miles. The DPF filter is also going to need to be replaced in the higher mileage trucks at some point, the clogging happens there as well. Even more so when the EGR isn’t working properly.

And of course, the DEF isn’t going to fill itself.

Properly maintained and working correctly however, these systems do work really well together to make the LWN one of the “cleanest” diesels available.

What are the EGR, the DPF and the SCR/DEF injection systems?

These are the series of parts works together in order for the LWN to meet emissions output regulations. In order to better understand them, let’s do a quick overview of how each of these individual components function:

The DEF system is what uses the urea fluid (aka blue def or adblue) injection into the SCR, vaporizing the fluid mixture into ammonia and carbon dioxide that can be filtered by this catalyst into nitrogen and water. In theory, this a great addition to the overall reduction of emissions output. In reality though, the urea mixture is a little too volatile for long-term reliability, especially in cold climates. Urea likes to crystallize and evaporate when exposed to cold temps or air, which can wreak havoc on the injection system. These systems have numerous sensors and a heating element contained in the holding tank, which get attacked by the corrosive fluid and will almost always fail over time in one way or the other. Overhauling these injections systems can get quite costly.

In the DPF portion of the exhaust you have the filter that takes the remainder of NOx and filters out as much as possible by grabbing the carbon as it flows through the tiny passageways of the filter. As you can imagine, these passageways don’t take a lot to get clogged up, this is why you have what is called the “regen mode” which works by super-heating the filter to burn away carbon deposits. The burn is created by over-fueling the engine to make the exhaust gas temperature rise very high in order to vaporize deposits. Over-fueling does have the negative effect of also dumping some of the fuel into the oil, thereby reducing it’s longevity and lubrication effectiveness. For this reason, it is VERY important to follow the oil change intervals as closely as possible to combat the diluted oil. The DPF filter itself will also clog after some time, and require replacement of that entire section of the exhaust.

The EGR system works to lower emissions by re-introducing some of the unburnt fuel in the exhaust back into the intake tract, thereby re-burning some of the inherit emissions that would need to be filtered by the SCR and DPF. Some form of EGR systems have been used on just about every modern engine to reduce the amount of emissions they produce and they have been proven to do just that, which is a great thing for the environment. However, they do come with a huge reliability drawback, especially on diesels, and that is the amount of gunk that clogs up not only the EGR system but also the intake manifold, valves and etc. Basically by allowing the EGR to do its job, you’ll also have to accept the fact that all that dirty exhaust is going to be recycled back into the intake of your engine, gumming up everything in its path. This is terrible for engine longevity.

Should you delete and tune your 2.8L Duramax?

Let’s weigh some pros and cons:

Delete Pros:

Tuning can increase the power to around 212hp and 412 ft. pounds of torque.
By removing the clog-prone EGR and DPF, you will increase the reliability and longevity of your truck.
On average, you will stand to gain an extra 5 MPG after the deletes.
No more limp mode because of a clogged DPF or the frequent DEF system failures. This translates into much lower maintenance costs.
Your engine will run cleaner by not having recycled carbon and fuel dumped back into the engine, which frees you up from low-ash type oil and allows you to run my favorite oil: Rotella T6.
This is purely my own preference, but if you run without a muffler you’ll have much more pronounced turbo and engine sound with the exhaust restrictions gone.

Delete Cons:

The biggest con to deleting your mini max is that the warranty can be voided by the dealership if they detect a tune (and they can, even with it returned to factory conditions.) Normally these systems are covered under the emissions warranty for 8 years/ 80K miles, which is actually quite generous, although I have noticed that a lot of times people are having clogged DPF filter and EGR issues right after the emissions warranty runs out.
Legality is another con of removing emissions equipment, at least in the US. You need to be aware that these modifications are only to be used in vehicles that aren’t to be driven on public highways, as the US regulations have made modifications to these systems to be a fine able offense.

Tell me how to remove it!

So after careful consideration of the remaining value of your warranty and acknowledgement of your local laws, you’ve decided to delete your truck. Well, that in itself can be a little tricky; because of the newness of the LWN trucks some aftermarket manufacturers are still in development for this platform. That said, there’s some really good options already.

Keep reading to see the breakdown of everything that you’ll find in a typical delete kit.

Best Option for a 2.8L Duramax Delete Tuner

PPEI Custom EFILive Switch On The Fly

PPEI EFILive 2015 2016 GM Colorado Canyon 2.8L Duramax

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as of July 16, 2019 12:37 am

Each PPEI calibration is built off of a basic good running calibration, and is then tailored specifically for your needs and applications.
Each DSP4 tune is built with 4 power levels. PPEI will not build lope tunes, nor will we build or endorse the use of ""Smoke Tunes"".
Power levels are dependent on supporting modifications, but the basics of each level are described below.

1. No Additional Fueling Added (Heavy Tow)
2. Some added Fueling at higher RPM (Light Tow/Mild Street)
3. Additional Low & High RPM Fueling (Hot Street)
4. Max Effort Tuning Per Supporting Modifications (Race)

Best DPF/SCR/CAT Delete Exhaust

aFe Power Large-Bore HD

If you’re going to be running a delete tune, you’ll need to exhaust to support it. This exhaust replaces all the factory exhaust emissions components with a much less restrictive straight pipe and optional muffler.

DPF filters and DEF injection systems are a big source of issues on these trucks, they are a part that IS going to need replacement at some point in the usable life of the truck. The funny thing is that they seem to be conveniently engineered to last until just after the warranty expires. Get ahead of the imminent failure and remove the factory exhaust to replace with this one.

aFe Power 49-44073-B Large Bore-HD Large-Bore HD Exhaust System (3", Downpipe-Back, Stainless Steel), (N)

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as of July 16, 2019 12:37 am

Features

Constructed from 3" mandrel-bent Stainless Steel tubing
Included in this exhaust system is a massive 4-1/2" dia. Black Stainless Steel tip
Utilizes all factory mounting locations to provide a quick, hassle-free installation
Uses a high quality band clamp and OE-style bayonet hangers for a secure fitment
This is a "Race only" product used solely for competition. It's use is limited to closed-course and open-course racing that is formally sanctioned by a recognized racing organization.

Product Description

Simple installation: this system uses factory mounting locations providing stability and hassle-free installation. OE fit: OE-style bayonet hangers are used to maintain a stable pipe location during high vibration and high heat conditions. The bayonet tip holds the hanger bushing in place for an OE-style fit that does not change with time. Flow and performance: this large bore-hd exhaust system is constructed of 3" mandrel-bent stainless steel tubing for maximum flow. Smooth Transition bends allow for low turbulence, increasing horsepower, torque and lowering EGT's. 4-1/2" diameter black tip: finishing off the exhaust is a 4-1/2" diameter, black, stainless steel Slash cut tip with a unique stainless steel laser-cut aFe Power logo plate riveted on for an aggressive style.

EGR Delete Kit for the 2.8L Duramax

OZ Tuner LWN EGR Delete Kit

Removing the EGR system is vital to longevity on the mini duramax engine, as many drivers have noted excessive carbon buildup in the intake even before the first oil change interval. This extra carbon is a pretty much a universal issue on emissions controlled diesel engines, and it always results in the soot gumming up your intake and valves and contributes to an overall shorter engine life.

As far as available options to remove the EGR on the Canyon and Colorados, OZ Tuning is pretty much the only choice for a well-built and complete kit. The actual installation process to remove the EGR on the 2.8L takes some mechanical ability to perform, but the end results are more than worth it.

One caveat to EGR removal is that it WILL increase nox output, thus also increasing the amount of DEF that your truck will have to use in order to counteract. This is why it is recommended to perform both the EGR and DEF/DPF delete at the same time, otherwise you will risk having the engine computer raising alarms about the abnormal SCR utilization.

This kit includes all the block off plates and rerouting hoses that you’ll need to do a full EGR delete.

OZ Tuning EGR Delete Kit for GM Duramax Colorado/Canyon 2.8L Diesel 2015-2016

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as of July 16, 2019 12:37 am

Conclusion

Hopefully this guide has been helpful with your search to improve the reliability and performance of your Colorado or Canyon. As always, if you have comments or questions, feel free to ask away in the comment section below!

Thanks for reading!

6.4L Powerstroke Delete Kits | DPF and EGR

Updated July 6, 2019 by Jeff Hart

Welcome to our delete guide for the 2008-2010 Ford 6.4L Powerstroke.

In this article, we will cover the available delete kit options for your Super Duty and what they can do to improve your engine’s reliability, while also increasing your MPG and HP.

The 6.4L responds excellently to a good tune and a couple deletes, by running it on the stock ECU alone you are missing out on a huge increase in the driveability experience that your powerstroke is just waiting to give you.

Why Delete?

If you’re wondering why you would want to remove any factory systems from your truck and what the benefits are – hopefully this will help to answer those questions.

Benefits of DPF removal:

Drastically slows down the bad oil dilution problem that 6.4s have, which decreases wear and extends engine life.
Improves exhaust flow, turbo spool rate and lowers your exhaust gas temps, mainly because the restriction is no longer slowing the exhaust gases after the turbo.
More efficient as far as MPG and HP without the restrictions or regen cycles.

EGR delete benefits:

Better MPG by eliminating hot exhaust gasses from entering the intake.
Extends the life of the EGR cooler because there is no more 1200 degree exhaust gasses passing through, which can cause the coolers to crack and fail.
Removes the risk of premature engine damage from EGR system failure.

So now that you can see the benefits of deleting your EGR and DPF systems, you might be asking what could possibly be the downside?

Technically these modifications are not road legal if you drive your truck on public highways in the US. That being said, if you race your truck or live somewhere without enforcement of emissions, it would be a disservice to the life of your truck if you don’t do the deletes.

Because of the restrictions in the US, you sometimes have to go out of your way to find parts for your race truck that can actually delete the EGR and DPF systems. To make it easier for those looking to find the right parts to pull this off, below I’ve listed what you will need for each type of delete and where to find them.

Note: this guide is only for the ’08-2010 Powerstroke F-250, F-350, F-450, or F-550 Super Duty, if you have the newer 6.7L click here.

Best Delete Tuner for the 6.4L

LiveWire TS+ with custom tunes

Hands down the best option for a 6.4 programmer, this preloaded SCT Livewire TS+ has tunes designed specifically for the 6.4L Powerstroke, ranging from a mild +40HP increase, all the way up to +250HP, for trucks with really built powertrains. There are also towing mode tunes that help greatly when you are trying to have the power and efficiency for pulling heavy loads.

The Livewire tuners are flexible and highly customizable, but the most important feature; with the TS+ you have all the preloaded tunes that retain emissions, and the ones that allow you to delete the EGR and DPF individually or both together.

The 6.4L tends to run best as a daily driver at the +135 HP tune with EGR and DPF deletes installed. It will feel like a whole new truck, just keep the boost below 40 psi if you’re still on stock head gaskets and bolts.

If you’re feeling a little froggy (and have the supporting mods) you could try the +185 or +250 tunes, they really open the truck up. like crazy. Just beware of the touchier throttle on the higher tunes, it takes some getting used to. Also axle wrap becomes more of a concern at that HP too, take a look at some traction bars to solve the jerkiness.

SCT Livewire EGR DPF Delete Tune for 2008 - 2010 Ford 6.4L Powerstroke | 3 Tunes

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as of July 16, 2019 3:21 am

Technical support
Custom delete tunes
Choose between Power Levels (If 3 are not chosen, we will choose for you)
+35hp
+80hp
+135hp
+185hp
+250hp
increases power
Increase MPG

Uses

DPF and EGR Delete
Increase in MPG
Increase in HP and TQ
Can be calibrated for larger tires

Cheapest Delete Tuner for the 6.4L

H&S Mini Maxx Race Version

Another really good tuner for the 6.4 is this one from the now-defunct H&S. The Mini Maxx Race is the hot version that allows for the DPF and EGR to be removed.

Right out of the box it has preloaded tunes for the 6.4L which let you delete the EGR and DPF and unleash your truck. It doesn’t have as many tunes, or the amount of customizability for the 6.4 that the nGage comes with, but it will allow you to add a lot more power and delete the emissions systems – for about half the cost.

It’s the cheapest way to get the ability to delete the emissions systems, and it also serves as a good live engine monitor at the same time, with diagnostics built in. A solid 6.4L programmer choice, the MiniMaxx will work great for 90% of what daily drivers need.

H&S Mini Maxx DPF Delete Race Tuner Ford, Chevy & Dodge

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as of July 16, 2019 3:21 am

Best Exhaust Kit for Removing the DPF and DOC

MVP Stainless Steel 4″ Turbo Back Exhaust Kit

A race exhaust with a straight pipe to remove the DPF filter and DOC (catalytic converter) is required if you are running a tuner that deletes the DPF from the computer.

Otherwise the filters will get clogged with soot because the regen will be turned off. This is terrible for backpressure, and has the potential to build up so much that it can pop your head gaskets if the restriction isn’t removed.

This replacement exhaust takes care of the section of factory exhaust that normally houses the DPF and cat/DOC, eliminating those huge restrictions and replacing them with a straight through pipe. Not only does it replace the filter section, it replaces the entire exhaust from downpipe out to the back of the truck.

Turbo whistle will be a lot more evident with this type of exhaust, so if you want to quiet that down for some reason, you’ll want to pick one of the aFe exhausts that include a muffler. You could also always add your own or just reuse the factory muffler.