This is my first diesel. I've been subscribed to Diesel Power magazine for years. I've always said I'm a diesel truck owner that hasn't bought the truck yet. My dad drove truck and I used to go with him as a kid. I used to love the sound of the engine and the smell of grease, diesel fuel and exhaust fumes. But anyways, my truck has sentimental value because I bought it when I sold the house I grew up in and could finally swing a new diesel pickup. I know my late father trucks with me when I drive it. He would have loved it.
I get my truck oiled every year. That salt is a killer of vehicles no doubt. When I owned my first Ford, an OBS 96 F350 351w 4x4, mechanics and friends couldn't believe how clean it was underneath. But that was oiled each year also. But I used to wash off the truck also a lot during winter when the roads dried up.
I bought an extended warranty for my truck, 7 year or 125k mile, thinking that would extend the emissions warranty. WRONG. I found out the emissions warranty only goes to 50k. What a kick in the b*lls. It is what it is. I really haven't discussed it yet with my dealer. I'm doing research now on deleting. Down the line, if start having any emissions related problems, I plan deleting. While I do like the truck as it is, stock, I wouldn't do it to add huge power or blow black smoke. Those coal rollers are idiots. They give all diesel truck owners a bad image. I would do it to gain engine reliability and hopefully gain some MPG.
What I would do is most likely a conservative tow tune to keep smoke to a minimum. I like to fly under the radar. I would keep the stock tailpipe as I like the look and it's stock so it won't draw any law enforcement attention.
I have looked at emissions on tuners. 5 Star Tuning and DP-Tuner. They both have A trans only tune in their tunes. I'm really curious about how the trans would feel with an aftermarket trans tune. I heard that a red flag pops up hidden in the ECM software if the engine makes more than stock power. So I keep going back and forth with the idea. They both get great reviews on another forum I belong to. There's no doubt that the factory trans tuning is lacking.