Ok guys, hit me with it all, when I get home The IDI is going to see a lot less service if i can find the following:

a 2008 F-350 reg cab long box XL model

What do I need to know about this truck? Whats the major maintainence issues? What kind of mileage do you guys get? Does this engine have the major issues like the 6.0 does? After the 7.3 Powerstroke I stopped paying attention to the Powerstrokes because I ended up with my IDI. I love that old truck, but I need a newer rig. What are the ups and downs of these trucks basically is all i really wanna know.

 

First the mileage sucks unless you do a dpf delete and a tune and then it is better. 11-12 mpg in city and 16-17 hwy. That is with no load. Towing you will get anywhere from 8-10 but closer to 8.5-9.

Maintenance is huge on these 6.4's. Oil change every 5,000 miles and fuel filters every 10,000.

The biggest problems on the trucks have been radiator problems but those have been on mostly 2008 Job 1 trucks.

The motor is agood motor and will pull all day long. The biggest complaint is MPG and the darn DPF.

Hope some of this helps. Good luck.

 

X2 with what was basically said above. This is an excellent hwy/towing motor. While it is made to drive in the city..that kills it.

So what you need to do is understand how you would use the truck. If you work commute is long enough to get it up to temps and not a lot of stop and go this can work for you.

Or do what I have which is a car for that work commute.

Use only motorcraft filters on it. Run it hard and it will work for you.

 

Not sure if it's a single cab long bed or not and I'm not sure where you live but there is an 08 XL 6.4L on the Atlanta Craigs list for $20,000 or right around that. ON EDIT never mind it's gone. There is a XL still there but it's a crew cab DRW for $21,000.

 

Why does the mileage suck so bad? What exactly is a DPF and what does it do?

 

Mileage is rough because of the amount of EGR that is used. Also the DPF traps the soot and that is back pressure and then of course it requires the cleaning when full.

Keep in mind on the average this truck comes in at 8,000 lbs.

 

Not to put you down because I think in general the 6.4 seems to have a lower failure rate than the 6.0, but be warned, the one time when it does break down it will make the repair costs on the 6.0 look like child's play. Good engine otherwise. I know several people who have had great luck with it

 

And now the rocker arm issues that keep popping up.
JL

 

the rocker arm issue is not as common as some will lead you to belive. IMO there seems to be a trend with it. seems like fuel delution and lack of maintace is the biggist cause. That of corse is looking at it from what trucks pass threw my bay.

 

The same can be said about modulars and spark plug issues.
JL

 

having owned 3 mod motor cars and trucks + another 6 or 7 in the family I still havent had to time cert one of mine

 

Exactly. I'm at roughly 1 million miles driven in modular powered vehicles,and have never had a spark plug problem-either "stuck" or "spit out",and the entire fleet of modular powered trucks at work are the same.
Of all of those, I've only had one problem with a rocker arm(follower) that was defective from day 1. I've never seen anything like these rocker arm problems on a 6.0L or a 7.3L either. Something's not right,and with the current information I have looking at the failures, I'll stick with poor design or flawed construction of the part by the vendor in my diagnosis.
JL

 

OK guys, help an old shade tree guy out please, what is a "modular" vehicle?

 

They are referring to modular engines. The 4.6, 5.4 and V10.

 

over head cams.....