Regulated return or Air Dog?
 

I keep getting mixed reviews about what to do. I want to keep my ford as long as possible but need to be pointed in the right direction. So... I have 04 6.0 non studded with EGR delete and a coolant filter. But I'm wanting to prolong the heads and injectors as long as possible. Would it be more efficient to run an Air Dog 100 or 150 as apposed to the Driven Diesel RR? I am looking to install Pyro, FP, and Boost gauges at the same time? Thoughts, opinions, criticism? ?

Or can y'all give me a link for the information?

It's a valid question. What are your plans for this and any other mods? Staying at stock power level? An airdog would probably be just fine. There's certainly nothing wrong with doing a RR either though.

I prefer reading fuel pressure from the back of the heads, and ideally that's the best spot to adjust fuel pressure from too, but many have used an airdog with the upgraded banjo bolts in the front of the heads with success. I think either way you can make a good system.

I pull my camper around to all my jobs. It is a hair under 16000 and other stuff when I'm home. So yes stock to a mild tune is where I want to stay. I don't want overkill. In theory only pure fuel would be flowing to the injectors after the Air dog install and the RR would be a wasted 650 that I could put towards gauges and Sct tuner.

It's not really wasted, no. They do serve the same function, in a sense, but they do it differently. Some say the RR setup is a better method, since it's regulating fuel AFTER the injectors, unlike the AD2 which is regulating way back on the pump itself.

If it was me, I'd run the AD2, then run a x-over line between the two rear heads to make the heads one big loop of fuel, and put a "T" in the middle of the line and put your fuel pressure gauge pickup there. That way you know the pressure at the lowest point in the system, then just adjust accordingly on the AD2.

You can get RR's cheaper than that. Dozers Diesel has a cool setup that's less than that.

Thanks will check that out for sure! But doesn't Ad2 replace the ford factory fuel pump?? I travel a lot and don't have parts stores like we need on every corner. I was mainly going for the 100 or 150 for usability and filtration?? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Ok gotcha. You can get a pusher pump like the 100 or 150. If you do that, I would definitely go for the RR. The AD2 does replace the factory pump, but it also has a built in adjustable regulator, so it is a RR as well.

OK cool.. on the website of both gauges it says not to use a gauge full time. So how do you constantly monitor fuel pressure while traveling?

If your not going big with the power the AD2 would work great and you wouldnt need the constant fuel pressure gauge, Im going with the AD2 for my 7.3l, Ive heard nothing but good things about it. The inline pressure gauge is normally only needed when running higher horsepower, but if youre going to keep it close to stock then you wouldnt need it.

Don't waste your money on the RR. Get the AD system of you choice, pull fuel pressure readings from the test port, get the blue spring upgrade for the fuel pressure regulator and run the 6.4L banjos. IF you find addition fuel system upgrades are needed THEN consider adding the RR system. You can improve on this just a bit by adding a fuel sump. This should prevent any 1/4 tank issues some people have reported in the past with the "draw straw" used with fuel pump systems.

People will tell you to do both AD and a RR but WHY. Running an aftermarket setup like an AD will be more beneficial removing air, water and the extra filtration over a standard RR system. Adding both right out the gate isn't cost effective.

I run an AD100 with a sump, spring and 6.4 banjos. No fuel issues here.

Except when you read fuel pressure at the bowl, you have no idea what fuel pressure is behind the last two injectors...

Just food for thought. Really wouldn't be much more work to read behind the heads. An extra T fitting and an extra x-over line...

I'm getting one of the AD components regardless. My decision now is which one..AD2 with sump or just a helper pump. I have zero problems with paying the money for the RR. I like the idea and it functional. I just want works the best for our motors. I hate cosmetic gibberish. Personal opinion of course, to each his own.

Neither does anyone else. There's alot of talk and no real proof.

I asked myself the same thing. It's nice to have the reliability of a pusher pump since if something went wrong you'd still have the stock pump pulling fuel, so you wouldn't be stranded... however the AD2 with the built in regulator is nice too. Tough call.

I measure fuel pressure behind the heads, I would bet that readings at the fuel bowl would be different. Might have to try it to prove it out. Maybe I'll order the fitting this week for reading at the fuel bowl. :c: FWIW, my readings behind the heads... SCARY.

Just out of curiosity, have you read any bit of the thread started by lubeowner over on PSN about what psi of fuel correlates to injector damage? It ties in nicely with this discussion and really makes you think.

I got into the PSI/damage post....I don't think anyone really knows the honest answer. I know what has worked for me. For 197k on my original injectors I wish I had the cash to pull them out for independent analysis on wear and flow. Maybe someday send them down to Cass for an assessment.

I think I might have 1 injector that's original... just rolled 100k myself. I'm not even sure why most of them were replaced. One died out on me electronically, just stopped working out of the blue. The others... still no idea why Ford replaced some of them. They were "sticky" but not "bad"... whatever.

I got into that post a little too, the whole thing was just absurd. Just curious if you had read any of it, since it ties in with this nicely.

197k on original 6.0 injectors is impressive no matter what. What mods are you running? Oil/filters?

Been running synthetics since about 20k clocked over with Fram/Motorcraft filters and a oil-bypass filter kit. I have been running a AD100 since 2008 or so. Ran plenty of Power Service at first then started down the 2-stroke road. Been clean and sober for a long time now. LOL My 2004 6.0 LOVED Power Service. The 2006 doesn't really need Power Service and too much 2-stroke causes a drop of about 1MPG. Go figure....It's hard not to feel the "need" to add something to the fuel...LOL

Mods over all I got plenty, just say it's just about a true Stage 1 truck minus bigger sticks. PM (2010), SCT (2007??), GOGO manifold (2011), AD100 (2008), Blue Spring (2011)

I do have to ask the same question as posted....WHY are there not more rear injectors failing if there is a starving issue at the back??

It seems like injectors die for other reasons before they ever get to the point of destruction from low fuel pressure. Poor maintenance, long oil change intervals, dying batteries, dying FICM's...etc etc. Tough to say. I will say, you would be scared to see fuel pressure at the back of the heads. I have a buddy running an AD2, bypassed the fuel bowl right to the heads, and reads his pressure out back, and his isn't much better than mine. It really makes you wonder.

I'm shopping around for the best price on the billet fuel/oil filter bowl caps, so I can start measuring fuel pressure there to see the difference.

I'm running a new OEM pump, the old style OEM fuel filters (doesn't have the o-ring setup on the lower filter, should make for higher pressures), the updated blue spring, and I measure fuel pressure behind the heads.

Look up NUC motorsports for the billet caps.

Yeah that's one of the one's I was told to check out. Ebay has the cheapest set I've seen so far... $100 free shipping for both caps.

Did you ever hook up a gauge to the fuel cap to see if there was much of a difference in fuel pressure there and at the back of the heads?

LOL, I hooked it up at the fuel bowl after ordering the adapater... pressure sits at 100psi non stop now. Looks like my fuel pressure sender spent too much time soaked in WVO. Been meaning to order a new sender, but it's never on my mind. Truck is hopefully coming apart any day now, so it will be a good time to order one.

I did get a billet cap too, but haven't even put it on yet. Holderdown Performance had some for like $47, scooped one up.

I have the billet cap and I was thinking about hooking my fuel pressure gauge to to that but didn't know how accurate it would be...