Advice, please.....
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Advice, please.....
Since your truck people.......I just bought a used 2003 f250 6.0. It just came back from the shop to repair all the oil leaks. Truck has a 6 inch lift and some mud tires on it. Truck rides like crap because of the tires,yet they have plenty of tread left. ( I am considering lowering it and putting on more street tires to consider hauling a slide in camper.) I like the truck but based upon the horror stories of the 6.0, even the ford service writter said he would not own a 6.0 or a 6.4. ( Candid opinion)
The truck will not be used except for a few weekends a month. I have heard this truck should not sit, it will cause ALL sorts of problems. Since this is my first diesel, I am not sure if I should keep it. Maybe I should find a gas f250 truck? Afterall, my mileage pulling some skies yesterday was only 15.5mpg. Same as my 5.4 Triton Expedition.( Excellent track record) The little voice in my head says sell it.
Appreciate your comments.
The truck will not be used except for a few weekends a month. I have heard this truck should not sit, it will cause ALL sorts of problems. Since this is my first diesel, I am not sure if I should keep it. Maybe I should find a gas f250 truck? Afterall, my mileage pulling some skies yesterday was only 15.5mpg. Same as my 5.4 Triton Expedition.( Excellent track record) The little voice in my head says sell it.
Appreciate your comments.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 824
Likes: 0
From: Maryville (Mur Vul), TN
The word here seems to be, if you get a 6.0 stay away from the early years. I have only had a 7.3 and my new 6.7 so no first hand experience. I would look for a later 6.0 that hasn't been lifted, greater chance for reliability and no need to remove the lift kit and lower. From what you say about expected use a 5.4 would be the better purchase. IMHO
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 208
From: Cincy area
I have heard not to let the diesels sit. I only use my truck on the weekends mostly and to haul a light load, so I went with a gasser. I prefer not to buy a truck thats been tinkered with much also. Just my opinion.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
It would be best to drive the diesel once a week or so. Let it everything get to operating temperature, work the turbo to prevent the vanes from rusting. Now only you can decide where to spend $$$. 6.0's repairs can be very costly. Especially when buying one that was abused or not maintained properly. Go to the 6.0 section and read up on things and decide whats best for you. For the record there are plenty of 6.0's out there that have been great trucks. I own one of them.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Letting a diesel sit isn't real bad. Just treat the fuel with some fuel stabilizer made for diesel fuel and you'll be fine. Short trips are what is bad for the 6.0L PSD, especially with the EGR cooler and variable turbo vanes. Working the engine hard (like towing) tends to keep those parts clean and working properly.
A 2003 6.0L can be a great engine. Many owners here have them and love them. Drop down to the 6.0L engine forum and start asking questions about what you can do to make the engine happy and live a long life.
As for the 6.4L, it isn't a bad engine at all. If I owned one I would delete the DPF, plus use a fuel additive to add to the fuel lubricity.
A 2003 6.0L can be a great engine. Many owners here have them and love them. Drop down to the 6.0L engine forum and start asking questions about what you can do to make the engine happy and live a long life.
As for the 6.4L, it isn't a bad engine at all. If I owned one I would delete the DPF, plus use a fuel additive to add to the fuel lubricity.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 0
From: Kerrville, Tx
dont let it sit to much or you might be putting turbo after turbo in it. i would sell it and buy one without a lift on it if your gonna be towing a camper unless you like the look of it. they are great trucks but you have to keep your maintenance records UTD!! if not your asking for trouble with this engine.
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 19,055
Likes: 235
From: Saratoga Springs,UT
for me I think just the opposite early years was the good ones
eairly ones have a round egr cooler already looks like the BPD one,low failure 05 and up have the square egr cooler with a very high failure rate
eairly ones dont have all the STC,Dummy plugs that fail on the HPO system,
early ones usually dont get the cel because of egr deleate
you get that cool turbo whistle with an 03/eairly 04
they dont have the plastic cac tubes that crack
-----------------------------------------------------
but along those lines the 05 and up
have updated injector plugger
a bigger water pump
an updated ipr screen
updated egr valve
I probably missed some stuff but really any 6.0 thats taken care of will be a great power plant for ALOT of MILES no matter the year you have
I love my 6.0 its been a solid ride
these trucks are made to haul alot of weight and pull hard my truck has the 6 in lift to and rides hard but as soon as I put a ton in the bed it rides very smooth just have to use it for what its made for
eairly ones have a round egr cooler already looks like the BPD one,low failure 05 and up have the square egr cooler with a very high failure rate
eairly ones dont have all the STC,Dummy plugs that fail on the HPO system,
early ones usually dont get the cel because of egr deleate
you get that cool turbo whistle with an 03/eairly 04
they dont have the plastic cac tubes that crack
-----------------------------------------------------
but along those lines the 05 and up
have updated injector plugger
a bigger water pump
an updated ipr screen
updated egr valve
I probably missed some stuff but really any 6.0 thats taken care of will be a great power plant for ALOT of MILES no matter the year you have
I love my 6.0 its been a solid ride
these trucks are made to haul alot of weight and pull hard my truck has the 6 in lift to and rides hard but as soon as I put a ton in the bed it rides very smooth just have to use it for what its made for
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