My first post here. The last Ford I owned was a 7.3 Excursion. We ran it to 167k miles and sold it to a fellow from Finland. Bought a Suburban....yuck. It's probably in a crusher. It was a LTZ and was broken every week. Have been running Honda Elements since. I run Dodges with Cummins. My father in law runs Fords. He bought a 2004 6.0. I said uh oh. It blew up. Several friends had them and they all blew up. Father in law had a new engine put in last summer. It cost close to $20k however it was worth it to him as he now has a very clean truck and it was less than $70k. My son has a 7.3 super duty. It's getting pretty ragged. He is 21. We are looking at getting him something better. A lady (widow) has a 2004 6.0 4x4 that is immaculate. It has 65k on it. I will have a chance to see her receipts from work that her husband had done. I knew him well and he was detailed. My question is what do we need to do to make this engine run 500k miles like it should? I have no idea and am just beginning to look into it. I am in N MN and would also be looking for someone to do the work. Thank You.

 

I think you're setting the bar a little high regarding the 6.0.
I posted a humorous response but it seems to gotten someone's
panties in a knot! As far as 500,000 mi. lets just say "it ain't no 7.3!"

 

My buddy knows a diesel mechanic at a Ford garage and he says that the 6.0 is fine as long as you keep the maintenance up, but I've heard far too many horror stories that say otherwise. With that said I know a guy that loves the 6.0 and says that if you address the know issues the motor is very reliable.

If I were to buy that truck I would just spend the $7 or 8k and replace all the failure prone parts with aftermarket and be done with it.

I can't help you with a shop where your at. If you lived in south central MN I could direct you to a good shop in NC IA.

 

T diesel....send it again. I enjoy good humor. "Cecil was no choirboy....he killed Gary the Gazelle" and it continues. Pretty funny.

 

Fordman......what I'm looking for is the substance to the $7-8k in aftermarket parts. Is that just parts or labor too? Etc.

Thx

 

I'll try!

 

I'll try!
Just youtube search talking ***** about your 6.0

 

Well if you want to dive in here's some suggestions...
Refurbish the turbo. With such low mileage they tend to get sticky and overboost which leads to leaking head gaskets. Probably should stud the heads. Have a 6.0 familiar shop check them. Use ford head gaskets.
The factory design is weak. I'd do an updated ford oil cooler and bulletproof diesel egr cooler. I'm not sure if you need the stc/dummie plug standpipe upgrade.
Change out the plastic impeller stock water pump for a Bulletproof diesel pump. Upgrade the under powered alternator. Before the oil cooler change flush the you know what out the coolant system and refill with an "elc" antifreeze after the oil cooler/ egr cooler change, and add a coolant filter. Change out the battery's. A bad charging system will damage your FICM. Check the condition of your FICM. Do the "blue Spring upgrade" to your fuel pressure regulator. Bad fuel pressure will damage your expensive injectors. Always use a cetane booster. Always use a motorcraft oil filter cap and filter. Always use a synthetic 5/40 oil. Every 5000 mi. change the oil. Every 10,000 mi. change the fuel filter.
Don't baby it. hook up something heavy and push the crap out of it every now and then. Some will tell you to delete, I don't like to break the law. Get a "scangauge 2" and learn how to use it.
I'm probably forgetting something but off the top of my head it's all I've got. Good luck!

 

If you purchase the truck, 1st thing go to the local parts store a get a NEW radiator cap. Its $5-6 bucks. The factory caps have a small pressure spring in them that FAIL. The new caps have a larger spring. Some diesel mechs attribute a lot of 6.0 failures to the radiator cap failure. It will lower the boiling point of the rad fluid and cause overheating. It will boil the water before the cooling fan has a chance to engage and keep cool. There is a video on you tube that explains it.

 

Can a 7.3 be easily fitted to this truck?

 

Why would you want to put a turd in the truck?

 

I'm thinking it's just not worth messing with. I can't believe Ford didn't have to buy these things back. Fiat's lobbyists must not be as good.

That talking **** video is fantastic!

 

Huh....idiot huh?

 

Did I stutter?

 

Nope. Figured you out pretty easily.