Hey guys I'm looking at Several Model Yr F350 USED Diesel Trucks, primarily 2001 to 2004 as they are in my price range. Is there anything in particular I should look for while Scoping out a Diesel of this yr? Any thing I should keep an eye out for? Air filter? Oil Color? Sounds? So on so forth!!!!!! Please Help in way you guys can......thanks again for all the Help!
If a truck you are interested in is on a Ford dealer's lot, have the service department run an Oasis report on it. It will show all services preformed under warranty on it. IF there are multiple instances of the major repairs, you would be best to cross that one off. Many trucks will only show minor repairs (reflashes, customer satisfaction upgrades etc.) under warranty and those would be ones to check further as opposed to trucks with multiple turbos, injector replacements etc.
If you're shopping from a private party, ask for receipts showing all maintenance performed at the prescribed intervals. Especially with diesels, the maintenance issues (oil and fuel filter changes) should be attended to on schedule to avert more costly fuel system and engine repairs.
There are a lot of 6.0s out there that have been trouble-free. Mine is still running strong after 7 years and 92K miles and is just getting to the stage where some parts do wear out. If you are scared off by the 6.0 reputation, try and find an '03 7.3 (the last year they were made). Understand that any used vehicle is going to need repair/replacement of wear items and that, and the 100K engine warranty expiring may be why the owner decided to sell/trade it off... so keep that in mind when you set your spending limits.
gotta agree with the years your looking at your safest bet is getting a 03 with the 7.3 in it. the 04 6.0s were the one notorious for having problems
__________________ 1996 F-250 460 Super Cab 8' Bed 4x4
3.55 limited slip frnt/rear, 37x12.50 Goodyear Military OZ, 4" Skyjacker, 3" body lift, hedman headers 3" single-back turndown before rear axle, K&N Air Filter, deep tranny pan, Warn hub kit, Alpine 9857 Head Unit, Alpine S-Type frnt spkrs, Sony 6"x9"s (in mobile boxes),flip-down gooseneck ball--to come--gears, cam, port heads
Problem is, a low miles 7.3 costs more than a higher miles 6.0. If you can find a low miles 7.3, and you can afford it, then that's not a bad way to go. But if you can't, my recommendation would be to keep shopping until you can find at least an '05 with the 6.0. The motor bugs got better by '05, but more importantly the rest of the truck was improved with a better interior, better brakes, coil sprung front suspension in 4x4.
__________________
Folks call me Bill.
Please pass the GREEN nozzle.
2006 F250 XLT SCLB FX4 4x4 6.0L Auto,Magnaflow Turbo Back,RhinoLiner,Retrax Cover,Cab Lights Retro-fit,Overhead Console Retro-fit,Bilsteins,Harpooned,C-Betrs,Fumoto,'08 Diff Cover,Fleetwood Pioneer,23'x5,200#
The key to the 6.0 is maintenance. That being said there are many of the 03's &04's out there that have been trouble free. The 7.3 is an awesome engine, but they are very proud of the trucks that have them. I think it would be possible to find a good 6.0 out there. I would get an OAISIS if at all possible. Also remember to check the rest of the truck out really well. I mention that because I just bought an 03 6.0 with 65k. I got it home and went to have it inspected and found out that my right side upper and lower ball joints were bad. I should have looked closer. That little repair was going to set me back $800 at the local stealership. The truck is mint otherwise. Just my $.02
__________________
Chase
1999 F250 PSD CC SB 4x4 - his
2000 Explorer XLT 4x4 - hers
PAA Member #2 God speed Markadeck, you will be missed ThumperTalk / All Things Moto! / SnoWest / SAWS / BRC
my recommendation would be to keep shopping until you can find at least an '05 with the 6.0.
Which IMO is the only reason to risk a 6.0. To get the nicer truck. I don't see a whole lot of reason to get an 03 or 04 6.0 and have the exact same truck as an 02 or 03 7.3. You get the better trans with the 6.0, but it really doesn't make up for what could be in store for you in the engine.
__________________
Chris
ASE Certified Master Automotive Technician
Current Vehicles:
2002 F-250 7.3L PSD 4x4 XLT
2002 Sunset Orange Mettalic WS6 Trans Am Convertible
If a truck you are interested in is on a Ford dealer's lot, have the service department run an Oasis report on it. It will show all services preformed under warranty on it. IF there are multiple instances of the major repairs, you would be best to cross that one off. Many trucks will only show minor repairs (reflashes, customer satisfaction upgrades etc.) under warranty and those would be ones to check further as opposed to trucks with multiple turbos, injector replacements etc.
If you're shopping from a private party, ask for receipts showing all maintenance performed at the prescribed intervals. Especially with diesels, the maintenance issues (oil and fuel filter changes) should be attended to on schedule to avert more costly fuel system and engine repairs.
There are a lot of 6.0s out there that have been trouble-free. Mine is still running strong after 7 years and 92K miles and is just getting to the stage where some parts do wear out. If you are scared off by the 6.0 reputation, try and find an '03 7.3 (the last year they were made). Understand that any used vehicle is going to need repair/replacement of wear items and that, and the 100K engine warranty expiring may be why the owner decided to sell/trade it off... so keep that in mind when you set your spending limits.
Oasis is the online network system that Ford uses to track warranty repairs on a vehicle. If you have warranty work done at one dealer, another dealer can bring up the Oasis report and find all the previous work. Oasis is an acronym, and I can never remember exactly what it mean. Someone will chip that in. But for a buyer, it is a valuable research tool to learn about the vehicles history.
Keep in mind that Oasis won't show any maintenance work, like oil changes for example, only warranty work. Therefore the addition of data in Oasis ends when the vehicle warranty ends.
Any Ford dealer can run you an Oasis, even if the vehicle is not on their lot. You just have to sweet talk them into it. Suggesting that if you buy the vehicle, you plan to have service done in their shop may help.
__________________
Folks call me Bill.
Please pass the GREEN nozzle.
2006 F250 XLT SCLB FX4 4x4 6.0L Auto,Magnaflow Turbo Back,RhinoLiner,Retrax Cover,Cab Lights Retro-fit,Overhead Console Retro-fit,Bilsteins,Harpooned,C-Betrs,Fumoto,'08 Diff Cover,Fleetwood Pioneer,23'x5,200#
* Get an Oasis report and CarFax report - if either points to a history of mechanical problems walk away
* Check for coolant puking
* Look for a truck with no aftermarket performance modifications
* Try to find out as much as possible about the routine maintenance and compare the history to the Ford recommendations - routine maintenance is the key to long term reliability
* Try to get a model with at least some of the 5 yr / 100K warranty - this gives you some risk insurance and also the option to purchase a ESP
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