For an experienced mechanic, roughly how much time would be needed to

1) change the oil cooler
2) change the EGR cooler
3) blue spring upgrade
4) clean turbo

It is a long story but I'm trying to figure out if this should be 10 hours of work or 30 hours of work. I've never done it before but I was thinking of hiring a mechanic to help me do this on weekends and I'm trying to budget time.

Thank you in advance!

 

If you are mechanically inclined you should be able to knock this out over the weekend. Go to YouTube and look up srmastertech and dieseltechron and watch their videos before digging in.

 

I would hire the mechanic. It was a huge, tiring job, but still doable. Of course I did the HPOP, ICP, and IPR, and a new exhaust also.

 

I would say if your confident in your mechanical abilities...budget at least 20 hours. But always except the unexcepted...

 

My first time going in for some injector work was an all day ordeal even with all the correct tools at hand. Now it's an hour to get in, pull the offending injector, have a little voodoo session and put it all back together. Now it's become a joke with my neighbor that I pull the codes on Saturday morning and re-build the coding injector while we're having our morning coffee.

In all seriousness though, unless you've been into the motor as far as your planning this time then double or even triple the estimated time it's going to take simply because you don't know ahead of time that your going to need that special gear wrench to get to that hidden bolt the first time around or which way your going to have to climb on top of the radiator and contort your upper torso to get to that offending sensor that needs unplugged. Even with an experienced mechanic helping unless he/she specializes in 6.0's then the time is going to be a lot longer the first time around. There are people on here that can go as far as pulling a set of heads and putting it all back together in hours while first timers find it will take days if not weeks.

Anything more than going in for an injector session and I plan on not having my truck to drive on Monday morning. I've been lucky so far and have managed to get it back together by Monday but I know the project is coming that's going to ruin my luck to date.

 

I spent my time researching a competent diesel mechanic (shop) that spoke 6.0s fluently. Here's some things to consider adding to your list:

1) Change out STC fitting (comes with upgraded SS IPR screen, install it)
2) Change to updated standpipes and dummy plugs
3) Change out Thermostat
4) Clean EGR Valve
5) Upgrade to latest turbo oil drain and feed tubes
6) Go with a Bullet Proof style EGR cooler
7) Have the coolant system thoroughly flushed prior to the work
8) Install Fumoto valves on the two block drains
9) Consider switching to Cat EC-1 rated coolant
10) New Degas cap

Other than the EGR cooler go with all Ford OEM Gaskets and parts. I can dig up P/Ns for this stuff if you want. I chose not to reuse any gaskets, even the ones that are re-usable, but that's me...

For everything on your list and mine together shop quote was 12-13 hrs of labor...

 

For an experienced 6.0 mechanic oil cooler job is 1/2 a day. Add cleaning turbo another hour. For a weekend warrior a weekend is fair. The EGR cooler and turbo both have to be pulled to get down to the oil cooler so replacing the EGR cooler shouldn't be extra. If you add the STC fitting its a damn good weekend job.

 

Took me 4 days, but I had no idea what I was doing, only watched senior master techs videos, and really took my time and actually torqued every bolt to spec, i made the valley of the motor spotless. The real crucible is putting the turbo back on and lined up, it is not hard but experience is where this is less of a chore

 

2 days if you first timer/asking

PLUS make sure you flush like nothing you have ever done before if you want this to be a Permenant fix/long term

I have 8hr in 2 very thuro rounds of flushing probably overkilled it but its clean