making a 6.0 reliable
 

Hello all :-jammin I am new on the diesel world and i would like some help if any one can. I bought a 2005 6.0L F250 and now i learn of the problems i only had the truck about 6 months and i would like to know how can i make it more reliable. I really like the truck and would hate to let it go. I want to know whatcan i do to the engine to make it strong and reliable and where can i find the parts and tools. I do my own work on my gas engines but this is my first diesel. thanks

How much money do you have to spend on this little venture?

to tell the truth the truck is parked right now with a blown head gasket. I want to do it right when i fix it it has 155,000 miles on it and i know it will cost me a few thousands i am working an d saveing to get ready. I do want the truck for the long haul and am will to invest in it so i guess to answer you i really dont know how much right now but i am willing to invest some hard cash in it.

Yep just as Tex said how much are you willing to spend. There is lots of reliability mods out there. Coolant filter, ccv re-route egr delete, arp head studs, regulated return, running 5w40 syntheic oil, changing fuel filters every 10k, antifreeze every 50k, use only factory filters. The after market ones are known to cause problems. The list goes on and on. The main thing with these trucks is maintance. Keep up with it. The 6.0 don't like prolonged maintance. Oil changed every 5k, and so on. Don't let it idle too much, don't drive it hard till it is warmed up good, really get on the skinny pedal every once in a while.

Good enough.

Can you tell me what you are wanting to use this truck for? Daily driver, tow'er, want to eeeck out a little more hp, what? Some things, in my opinion, you should do rather or not you keep the powertrain stock hp levels or just bump them up with a modest tune, however, if you think you want to put down some more HP then there are going to be a few more mods to do. In all honesty, it's going to be better to do as much as you can with the Headstud install as most shops usually only charge you the labor for the headstud R&R and you are only out the cost of parts(if you decide not to do the install yourself).

i was using it for a daily driver because i was redoing my 1997 C1500 truck but i had to but the chevy back on the road due to the ford stoping. I want to get a camper in the future and i am looking at a 5th wheel toy hauler i know i need the head gasket and the ARP studs i would like to upgrade the turbo to an aurora 3000 and better injectors and a better fuel pump. i will do a cold air intake and exhaust i like the stacks. any thing else you can advise more hourse power would be nice make me more confident towing. i am not in to hot roding or racing. yea I heard EGR cooler can ne deleted i heard they were trouble also.

i am good on maintance i run lucas in the engine oil and i change the oil between 4500 and 5000 miles

Alright, when I get back from the barn(I have a lesson to give in about 3 min.) this evening I'll try to whip up something for you to give you an idea of what to be looking for.

How do you know you need headgaskets?
I replaced my HGs and added ARP studs only to continue purking.
It was my EGR cooler all along.

thanks tex25025

low compression on 3 and 5 cylinder. I want to remove the EGR also I am trying to get every thing i need and hit the truck at one time. what did you do about your egr problem

Forget the Lucas in your 6.0, and also the same goes for the CAI. The stock air filter is much better for your engine as it doesn't allow the fine particulates thru to "dust" your turbo. There are no power gains or benefits with a cold air intake.

You should also get gauges and rebuild your oil cooler while you are doing the head job. A rebuild kit on eBay is only like $200. You can get the upper gasket set (head gasket set) for like 500 on there too. You might also want to look into the regulated return while the heads are off it will be much easier to get to the back fuel plugs. And put on a coolant bypass filter. That is one of the best and cheap mods for reliability.

Oh and I agree with Tim on tge Lucas and CAI. You will find that most people on here will agree too.

In extreme cold (-30F or lower), there is actually a loss of power from the air being too cold.