So someone is making an aftermarket kit to remove the dpf? I've seen the new programmers in the magazines but they all work with the dpf. I did see an egr removal kit for the 6.0 power stroke though. I would think using those programmers with the dpf would cause frequent regens that would make the fuel usage suffer even more.
There are a few companies making delete kits and tuning for DPF equipped Powerstroke, Cummins and Duramax trucks. They sell them as "off-road" use only. Most people are not using them off-road though, and the EPA pretty much knows it. Companies making the kits have supposedly received letters from the EPA warning them of the consequences of selling such products, or so I have heard.
Aftermarket tuning can either increase or decrease the frequency of regens. A "dirtier" tune is going to produce more soot and plug the DPF quicker, but there are actually some tunes that are even better than the stock tuning. If I remember correctly Banks offers very clean tuning for emissions trucks. However, I have never been one to recommend banks to someone. Decent products, but you can do better for the same price or less in most cases.
I went to a dyno day for trucks early last year and talked to an owner who had bought a delete kit and tuning for his 08 6.4 and saw his mileage go from 9mpg tops to a regular 16mpg+. This was a CC/LB F250 on a big, heavy 22.5" wheel/tire combo.
Personally I think the new emissions standards are just a bit too stringent, maybe I'm wrong. Most people I know that own 08+ DPF trucks report mileage is terrible. What is the use of having super clean trucks if we're using the fuel near or more than twice the rate of a non-DPF truck? It's just stupid, IMO.
I have not heard a thing good about the 6.0 liter Powerstrokes. Even the techs will tell you the verdict is still out on the 6.4's. I know guys that have gotten rid of the 6.0's and gone back to 7.3's
There were legitmate problems with the 6.0, that's no secret. Many 6.0 owners actually caused some of the issues unintentionally buy driving their trucks like grandmas, babying them. It was designed to be run hard, not a grocery getter. Soot and carbon would build up and plug the egr and also cause the turbo vanes to stick and cause turbo failure, etc...It's not so much of an issue now that we have the ULSD.
After the 7.3 the Powerstroke hasn't really been what it was. I owned an early 99 F250 7.3L and it was a terrific truck. Aside from a CMP (Cam sensor) and a belt tensioner I never had an issue with it. I miss the truck really. I sold it and bought the truck I miss most, an 03 Ram/Cummins 5 speed. That truck was terrific. Driving home after purchase at about 80-85 from South Dakota to Indy I got 18.3 mpg. I regularly got 22-24+ in it, which was so much better than the 17 tops I got in the 7.3. Eventually I sunk some money into the Dodge with tuning, fuel system and a turbo upgrade and dyno'd 526hp/996lb-ft. Cost me about 4k for the added power. Unfortunately the truck was totaled over a year ago thanks to a fool who did not yield the right of way.
Anyway I would not recommend that anyone buy a DPF truck unless they enjoy getting terrible MPG's, although the Duramax has done surprisingly well in the mpg department, followed by the 6.7 Cummins.
You're better buying an older truck and spending a few extra bucks for some upgrades and get the same or even much more power than a DPF truck.