Rowe Synthetics

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

*LOOKING FOR A FEW 6.0 POWERSTROKES FOR PRODUCT TESTING *

We’re potentially looking for a few 6.0 Powerstroke trucks in the Rockingham, VA area to help us with some upcoming beta testing.

We’ll be testing the new Power Hungry Performance Chimera tuning hardware. Checking functionality, working through any bugs, and putting the system through real-world testing prior to release.

We currently have two trucks lined up, but we may need one or two more.

WHAT WE’LL BE TESTING:

• The Chimera hardware/dongle itself

• App/software functionality as it becomes available and finalized

• Tuning functionality through the device — ECU, TCU, and FICM

• Communication, flashing, and general functionality

• Overall operation and real-world use of the upcoming Chimera platform

• Identifying and working through any bugs before release

TRUCK REQUIREMENTS:

• 6.0 Powerstroke
• Stock VGT turbo preferred — potentially an aftermarket VGT drop-in may work

• Stock injectors / factory injector flow rate

• Truck MUST be in good running condition

Please don't volunteer a truck that already has potential underlying issues. We need a solid baseline for testing, so trucks with questionable batteries, charging/voltage issues, FICM problems, sensor issues, existing drivability problems, etc. aren't going to be good candidates.

THE PROS:

* Free tune

* Get to be part of the beta testing and development of a new tuning platform

* Help us and Power Hungry Performance work through real-world functionality before release

THE CONS:

Depending on how testing goes, we may need to keep your truck for a day or two while we work through bugs, testing, revisions, or other issues that may come up.

This is beta testing, so some details and requirements are subject to change as development progresses. We'll stay in communication with whoever helps us throughout the process.

If you're local to the Rockingham, VA area, have a healthy 6.0 that meets the requirements, and you're interested in being part of the testing, shoot us a message with the year of the truck, current modifications, and a little information about it.

— Rowe Synthetics

08/03/2026

We had the opportunity to work on this 2011 Ford F-450 again. Overall, it wasn't a terrible job.

One interesting thing we ran into: early 6.7L Power Stroke F-450s (and possibly some other early 6.7 applications) used an internal retaining nut through the upper oil pan to secure the engine oil cooler. Thankfully, Ford discontinued that design on the updated coolers and the second iteration of 6.7 powerstrokes.

For this truck, we installed an SPE upgraded oil cooler along with a Rudy's Diesel high capacity cast aluminum oil pan. Everything went together great, with the exception of one broken lower oil pan bolt that had to be dealt with.... You are broken bolt away from disaster or a easy job that that should not take a whole day.....

We're excited to see what the engine oil temperatures (EOTs) look like now. This truck had been running noticeably hot, and based on what we found, we believe the original oil cooler was becoming restricted.

A quick reminder on cooling system maintenance:

Your cooling system deserves just as much attention as your engine oil,transmission or any other maintable fluid.

- Service your cooling system on schedule.
- Use the correct coolant for your application.
- Don't automatically believe every "lifetime" or ELC marketing claim—coolant still degrades and needs maintenance.

On the 6.7L Power Stroke, don't forget there are both primary and secondary cooling systems. The secondary system is commonly overlooked, but neglecting either system can contribute to oil cooler issues as coolant ages and deposits begin to form.

Remember, the 6.7 cooling system isn't just controlling engine coolant temperatures. It also helps manage engine oil temperatures, transmission temperatures, and the charge air cooling system. These trucks naturally operate with higher transmission temperatures and EGTs than many earlier Power Strokes, making cooling system maintenance even more important.

And for the 6.0L Power Stroke crowd: it isn't always casting sand. Poor cooling system maintenance can plug oil coolers on those engines too.

Take care of your cooling system, and it'll take care of your truck.

Hunter Jake
Dylan Snyder
Island Rides LLC

07/18/2026

Tonight at 8pm EST on The Diesel Alliance we're hosting a live Minotaur Training session. This will be an ongoing 6-session series covering everything from basic Minotaur setup, all the way to dialing in tunes for custom modifications. Minotaur users will obviously get the most out of the training, but if you're on the fence about custom tuning your own 7.3L Power Stroke, this would be a great way to see what the Minotaur software has to offer! All this will be on thedieselalliance.com

Link to the training: https://thedieselalliance.com/events/minotaur-training-w-bill-cohron

Link to the Minotaur software: https://gopowerhungry.com/products/minotaur-tuning-software-files