Upgrading the injectors and turbo tuning on a Detroit 60 Series 12.7 engine can significantly improve performance, particularly when towing heavy loads. This article discusses the results of such upgrades on a truck with 100,000 miles on the engine. Prior to the upgrades, the truck struggled with power in higher gears (9th and 10th) on hills, both loaded and unloaded, but performed adequately on flat ground. A noticeable stumble or miss occurred when pulling hills under heavy acceleration, often requiring the driver to maintain RPMs above 1400 to avoid a power surge.
After installing new injectors and implementing turbo tuning, the truck’s performance dramatically improved. Initial impressions suggest a gain of over 100 horsepower, with significantly improved acceleration and responsiveness. The turbo spools up much faster, indicating the engine is now receiving the necessary fuel for optimal performance. A short test run revealed the truck’s ability to quickly accelerate from 5th to 10th gear, reaching 75 mph in a quarter mile.
Further testing with a trailer will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the performance gains. However, early indications suggest the current combination of turbo tuning, injectors, and manifold is effective. For even greater power gains, a camshaft upgrade (potentially a 4912 cam) could be considered, but this may represent the limit of reliable power increases for this engine. Future updates will detail performance with a loaded trailer, providing a real-world assessment of these Detroit 60 Series 12.7 Performance Upgrades.
