I'm in the market for a diesel truck in the next month or so.

But I'm stuck on which one to get....right now I'm stuck between a 08-10 f250 with 6.4l and a 2007 dodge cummins.....I like the way Tue f250s look inside and out....but I know the 5.9l cummins will last a long time if taken care off.

I've posted on a cummins forum to get some more info of those trucks as far as the reliability to see what kind of problems they have and got some good info.

Now I want to ask you ford guys the same thing.....what are some down sides to the 08-10 f250s....if I get one it will have anywhere from 50k-100k miles....

How many miles do some of you guys have on yalls trucks?...anyone with over 500k yet..

Another thing is I want to add exhaust to lower EGTs...an intake for better flow....and a programmer for better MPG and some extra power....what kind of numbers are possible with just these mods?

I'm not trying to make 600hp and 1500tq or anything...but 400hp and 800tq would be nice..

Also what is the biggest tire you can fit on a stock hight truck....and what would I need to fit 37" tires? A leveling kit maybe?

And lastly what are some things I should look for on a used diesel truck to show signs of a problem or a near future problem....

Thanks for any information guys

 

Hi jdavis70, welcome to FTE!

For a question like this you're best looking in the 6.4L diesel forum, which is further down the main page from the Super Duty forum.

Thread moved to 6.4L forum!

 

They are reliable if you really take care of them. Check fluids at each fill up. Use the severe duty maintenance schedule and dram FWS monthly.

There are some 6.4's in the 250K mile range.

37's will most likely need a2-3" leveling kit. My 35's are almost too big for stock ride height

Honestly, I've been looking at some low mileage 7.3's as a secondary work truck, I would see if you could find a good one in your area or at least go with a CPO 09-10 6.4L with a 100K warranty.

 

Agreed... like RM2738, I take care of mine and it's been pretty reliable. I am running 37's with a 2.5" Readylift Leveling Kit... they fit fine with that kit. As for performance mods - I went one step further than you stated. I changed intake, exhaust and also replaced the "Diesel Particulate Filter" with a straight pipe (illegal). I added an SCT TSX Tuner from Innovative Diesel Performance. With their Extreme Street Tune, I dyno'd at 498/985 at the Carlisle All Truck Nationals in 2010.

Due to Massachusetts RMV Laws, I had to change everything back to stock once a year for State Inspection. After doing that two years in a row, I decided that I had enjoyed the extra power long enough and didn't want to deal with the swap anymore. My truck is now back to stock and it's 11 mpg... boring! At 62 years old, it's a lot easier on this old body though. They say you can make big horsepower for a lot less money with a Cummins but I have NO experience myself nor does anyone I know so that's up to you. Aside from the disgusting fuel mileage, I love my 6.4! Hope this helps...

 

Comparing any 2007 diesel truck to any 2008 diesel truck is an indirect comparison. Beginning in the 2008 model year all three trucks had to meet new EPA emission standards. They all adapted the current at that time technology to their diesel engines. Ford did so with a new 6.4L navistar engine.

DPF Technology involves an exhaust filter to catch the soot. from time to time that filter must be cleaned which is accomplished by injecting diesel into the exhaust stream and burning the soot particulates out.

Now, many owners of the 6.4L have elected to modify them by removing the DPF, which requires a tuner to reprogram the computer. Doing so voids most of the ford warranty and violates federal law. But it makes a sweet running truck. Because it is simple to do and results in a vast improvement to the truck the parts and tuners are easy to find and not too expensive.

All diesels are better with good maintainence and the 6.4L needs it even more than most. The jury is out on longivity. We are just now starting to see these trucks in the 250-300,000 mile range. I'm sure somebody will make 500,000. The question is what will it cost to get there.

I would suggest you spend some time doing research on this and some of the other diesel web sites before deciding on a 6.4L. So the easy answer is buy the Dodge. That would give you a less complicated engine situation. But that engine would be in a Dodge. Good luck with your decision.