Advice
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Advice
Hello All!!
I am a new user and love the information that I have found thus far on your site!! I do not have very much knowledge of the diesel mtrs, however I am in search of a good used diesel F250. My goal is to not spend more than 20K on a used ride as I am looking to replace a 2001 GMC 1500 gasser that I used to plow and tow my 24ft boat. It seems that I am a bit underpowered for what I am using for. Does anyone have any recommendations for me? I live in PA. (so its cold) I will use this as a daily driver (only under load for pleasure and plowing). I would like the most reliable as, my father has an 03' 6.0 350 and has had nothing but headaches from that motor.
Can anyone reccomend any motor/year combos I should start my search for? I have been looking at the 2005-2007 250 6.0's, have they been any more reliable ?
Thanks in advance for sharing in your expertise!!
-Roc
I am a new user and love the information that I have found thus far on your site!! I do not have very much knowledge of the diesel mtrs, however I am in search of a good used diesel F250. My goal is to not spend more than 20K on a used ride as I am looking to replace a 2001 GMC 1500 gasser that I used to plow and tow my 24ft boat. It seems that I am a bit underpowered for what I am using for. Does anyone have any recommendations for me? I live in PA. (so its cold) I will use this as a daily driver (only under load for pleasure and plowing). I would like the most reliable as, my father has an 03' 6.0 350 and has had nothing but headaches from that motor.
Can anyone reccomend any motor/year combos I should start my search for? I have been looking at the 2005-2007 250 6.0's, have they been any more reliable ?
Thanks in advance for sharing in your expertise!!
-Roc
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Canton, IL
Welcome to FTE!
06-07 6.0L are OK, but still have problems from time to time. If you want reliable, and powerful, find a 99-03 F250-350 with the 7.3L PSD. Really is your best option, IMO. For 13-15K you can find a VERY nice used one with LOW miles (< 100k)
If you have the means, 08-10 6.4L are very nice, MPG a little low than most people like, but power, oh boy, hang on.....
The interiors are nicer in the 08s, and the ride is better after 04 due to coil sprung front axle in 05+ trucks.
Good luck with your hunt!!
06-07 6.0L are OK, but still have problems from time to time. If you want reliable, and powerful, find a 99-03 F250-350 with the 7.3L PSD. Really is your best option, IMO. For 13-15K you can find a VERY nice used one with LOW miles (< 100k)
If you have the means, 08-10 6.4L are very nice, MPG a little low than most people like, but power, oh boy, hang on.....
The interiors are nicer in the 08s, and the ride is better after 04 due to coil sprung front axle in 05+ trucks.
Good luck with your hunt!!
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Thanks for the advice! Hows are the 7.3's in the cold? Do you have the 7.3? How's the MPG's? And as it seems the 7.3's used are hard to come by. I have been looking for the last 3 weeks and most that are listed are in the 150-200K range, which I hear is nothing for a diesel, but that's a big pill to swallow, dropping 12K on a 200K vehicle!
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From: Stephensville WI
7.3L are pretty easy on fuel for such a large vehicle. 100k-200k mileage on the engine isn't a lot. You should be able to easily do 500k+ with proper maintenance.
Where the 7.3L does fall short, especially for your application, is the automatic transmission. The 4R100 doesn't like to overheat and doesn't take a lot of abuse of something like plowing well. They can be made bulletproof, but were just adequate stock.
For example, an ATS rebuild will set you back about $4000, but carries a 500,000 mile warranty regardless of what you do to it (plowing, towing, tractor pulling).
The 6.0L and 6.4L used the 5R110W transmission, which is a much better automatic. The 6.4L is a reliable engine. The only issue I have seen is occasional injector problems which I suspect are caused by lack of ULSD fuel lubricity. Religiously using a fuel additive like Diesel Kleen should help there.
Where the 7.3L does fall short, especially for your application, is the automatic transmission. The 4R100 doesn't like to overheat and doesn't take a lot of abuse of something like plowing well. They can be made bulletproof, but were just adequate stock.
For example, an ATS rebuild will set you back about $4000, but carries a 500,000 mile warranty regardless of what you do to it (plowing, towing, tractor pulling).
The 6.0L and 6.4L used the 5R110W transmission, which is a much better automatic. The 6.4L is a reliable engine. The only issue I have seen is occasional injector problems which I suspect are caused by lack of ULSD fuel lubricity. Religiously using a fuel additive like Diesel Kleen should help there.
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From: Frederick, MD
I have the 6.4. Only real issue in my eyes with the 6.4 is that it does not like low speed low rpm city driving for too long.
You can plow with it no problem. But it will eventually need to have the exhaust cleaning cycle and then take it on a hwy run to get it done.
How often for this? Hard to say..somewhere around 150 miles to around 650 miles. Excellent towing/hwy motor.
You can plow with it no problem. But it will eventually need to have the exhaust cleaning cycle and then take it on a hwy run to get it done.
How often for this? Hard to say..somewhere around 150 miles to around 650 miles. Excellent towing/hwy motor.
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Thanks all for the great info!! Are there any "Happy" 6.0 owners out there? As it seems the most truck I would like to afford at this time falls within the 05-07 range which incorporates the 6.0. What are the major pitfalls with this motor? And this may seem like a dumb question, but does the diesels generally get a higher MPG for highway driving not under load? As I know that under load its definitely the way to go. My biggest fear is that I buy a 6.0 @ 100K (just outa warranty) and everything starts to break..... its the story of my life!
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From: Canton, IL
If you already feel that way, then the 6.0L is not for you, especially if you plan on city driving (short trips) EGR's plug up, EGR coolers are a problem too.
Yes, there are MANY happy 6.0L owners, BUT it's your risk buying a used one, and not knowing how it's been maintained.
If properly maintained, 7.3L's have no more problems than any other diesel in the cold. I started mine this morning at 12* and no block heater. I'm confident that it will start many degree's colder than that. KEY here is GOOD batteries and cables, glow plugs and relay, Fresh Oil, Anti-gell additive in the fuel, clean fuel filter,and if under 0*, a block heater that works.
Most of those apply to any diesel in the cold. The 7.3L is a little more persnickety.
Edit: On prices and miles for 7.3L truck. there's a reason 7.3L's pull a higher used price. PROVEN RELIABLE for nearly 11 years 1994.5-2003. Millions sold, Millions still running. (ford PSD and IH branded T444E engines) I have 247K on mine, bought used last Feb for $7500, best truck I've ever had.
Yes, there are MANY happy 6.0L owners, BUT it's your risk buying a used one, and not knowing how it's been maintained.
If properly maintained, 7.3L's have no more problems than any other diesel in the cold. I started mine this morning at 12* and no block heater. I'm confident that it will start many degree's colder than that. KEY here is GOOD batteries and cables, glow plugs and relay, Fresh Oil, Anti-gell additive in the fuel, clean fuel filter,and if under 0*, a block heater that works.
Most of those apply to any diesel in the cold. The 7.3L is a little more persnickety.
Edit: On prices and miles for 7.3L truck. there's a reason 7.3L's pull a higher used price. PROVEN RELIABLE for nearly 11 years 1994.5-2003. Millions sold, Millions still running. (ford PSD and IH branded T444E engines) I have 247K on mine, bought used last Feb for $7500, best truck I've ever had.
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Thanks for the input! I have taken the advice given and gone to Ford SA and researched 4 vehicles that I had interest in and from there he pulled the Oasis (I rightfully compensated him for his knowledge and time). With that there are 2 vehicles that came back as being worthy of a purchase and that was a:
2005 PSD King Ranch Crew Cab 146K
2006 PSD Lariat Crew Cab 88K
Both of these vehicles came up clean with no known warranty history for EGRs, turbos, head gaskets, etc. He said that if they are well maintained he said that there would be good chances of success.
So I ask what would you choose between these 2? For the mileage I like the 88K vehicle, but for the proven track record of a 146K with no known repair work, that says alot also.
Any Advice and questions I should ask these owners?
2005 PSD King Ranch Crew Cab 146K
2006 PSD Lariat Crew Cab 88K
Both of these vehicles came up clean with no known warranty history for EGRs, turbos, head gaskets, etc. He said that if they are well maintained he said that there would be good chances of success.
So I ask what would you choose between these 2? For the mileage I like the 88K vehicle, but for the proven track record of a 146K with no known repair work, that says alot also.
Any Advice and questions I should ask these owners?
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