Hello good people,

I am a noob to the forum and I am looking to buy an F250 or F350 (non dually, preferably King Ranch) Diesel truck. I have learned a lot of information from reading through some of the forum topics. I have a few questions:


1. I was looking at getting a 2000 - 2007 model year. But it seems that the later ones have a worse engine..the 6.0? Is this something I should try to avoid, by perhaps getting an earlier model year?

2. I have seen different ones for sale with varying mileage, and from what it seems 150k on a diesel is still pretty good. What i am wondering about is the other parts on the truck? Like the tranny, rear - end, etc...how do those hold up when approaching 200k miles?

3. I live in Atlanta, Ga where the weather is not bad and i do not do off-roading...would there be any advantage /disadvantages of getting the 4x4 model?

4. One more thing, what are the main differences between the F250 and F350?

Just a little background info, i plan to use it as my daily driver. I want to outfit it with custom wheels, exhaust, hard bed cover, and "lift" it. IF there are any suggestions, tips or comments that you guys think will be helpful in my search, please let me know! Thanks!

Cheers,
Gene

 

A lot of guys swear by the 7.3 (early '03 and older trucks) without all the computer stuff on it. The 6.0 is a lightning rod, early ones had several issues and it seems like they are either good or bad but you usually hear about the ones that are problematic. I like mine and have not had issues. Anything after the 6.0 ('08 and newer) has the DPF and hence worse mileage. From what you are intending to use your truck for I don't think you need 4X4 with the greater weight and drivetrain complexity. Badging and tow ratings are about the only real differences between the 250 and 350.

 

All engines have their problems, and even the 7.3L is no exception. They had an inferior transmission, for one. I have a dreaded first year 6.0L (2003) and it has 107K trouble free miles on the clock... not one single problem. As long as you get an Oasis report, you should be fine. The biggest thing against the 6.0L is that people did not treat them right. They tend to treat them like a 7.3L, and the "I'll change the oil in the next thousand miles" type attitude will not cut it with the 6.0. Proper service is the key to a long lasting 6 liter. You might also hear of head stud issues, or blown head gaskets. This happens when people mod the trucks, for more boost, for example, and the studs stretch. As long as you keep the truck stock performance wise, this will not be an issue. Lastly, you will hear about the faulty EGR. Okay, ya got me there. The EGR is a flawed design, especially in newer 6.0's. Proper cleaning and not letting the rig idle too long can definitely prevent issues, but again, this is the primary design flaw of the 6.0L. All in all, the 6.0 is a much stronger, more efficient engine than the 7.3L, more powerful and quieter. I would not steer clear of a 6.0L at all, and would not hesitate to buy another one in the future.

 

Oasis does not show everything, but can be a good indicator. I'm assuming you bought yours new?

The main problem I see buying a used 6.0L is you really don't know what the PO did or didn't do. For my money, I would stick with a nice used 7.3L, or go to a '08 and get a 6.4L, (admittedly, they have there faults too, and so do 7.3L's, just usually not as expensive to fix though. )

 

Do you intend to tow? If not I would reconsider the diesel.

 

Nope, bought mine used with 80K on it a year and a half ago. It has been a great truck for me, not a single problem, came with all notes and records of service and nothing was in there other than oil and fuel changes, rotations, etc. One day I was outside Kroger about a half a year after buying the truck and some guy was standing beside it looking at it. He and I started talking, and it turned out he was the original one owner of the truck. He and I talked for an hour or so, and he told me how he did nothing to the truck, only scheduled service. He even told me about the service records in the rear center console, which I had already known about.

 

Thank you all for this information....I guess I will look for a 2000s model and try to avoid the 03 and 04 models seems to be the way to go.

I would intend to use it to tow in the future, as I want to trailer my vintage Caddy around to shows and what not. But that is in the future...why should I reconsider the Diesel?

 

Diesels take much longer than gas engines to warm up. If they are not driven to that point condensation builds up. Diesels do not perform well as "grocery getters." While older diesels would seem to run forever with little attention, modern diesels do not. Preventive maintenance is a must -- regular oil changes and fuel filter changes especially.

If you're not going to put the diesel to heavy use the increased procurement and maintenance costs along with the fuel price differential could buy quite a few gallons of gas.

 

No offense, but I would completely argue that. Diesels do not take any longer than gasoline engines to warm up. Matter of fact, by the time I am three miles from the house, my 6.0L is at operating temperature. My 4.6L V8 in my fiancee's daily driver is still warming to temp by the time she gets to work, ten or so miles away.
Diesel technology did not go down on modern engines, they went up. Modern tractor trailers can now get a million miles before their first scheduled major service. I personally know of 3 and 400K mile 6.0L that are still running strong as ever. You are right, preventative maintenance is a must with modern diesels, but this is the case with any modern engine. Some diesels are more finicky than others on this though, mostly because a lot more is dependent on the oil such as fuel injectors and turbochargers.
Diesels can make great daily drivers and can also make great grocery getters. Again, it all depends on what you want out of the truck, but they are just as good a truck to drive every day as they are to drive once a week. Driving the truck once every other month and letting it sit is not good on it, but that is not a diesel thing, that is a vehicle thing. No vehicle likes to go untouched for extended periods of time.
Not to say that diesels are the only choice, that depends on the owner and what he or she wants or needs out of a truck. Just saying not to rule them out just because you don't intend on towing 20K lbs. every day.

 

Think hard about "not" getting 4x4. These trucks are heavy and you will find that you can use 4 wheel drive more than you think you would. I often tow antique tractors to shows and even with a small, light load I find myself reaching for the 4x4. Slight grade, wet grass, mud etc that is often in show lots can give you some problems. Just a thought. I'm glad I have it even though I don't use it much. Good luck on your search !