Just because you have a 6.0 does not mean that
you have to do the head gaskets. If there is no problem leave it alone.
Same with the turbo the VGT system is good you just need to DRIVE it.
This truck LOVES to be worked. The Oil cooler is easy to care for. If your deltas are
good to start with then make sure that you flush the system every 36K or 3 years.
And wit ha SGII you can keep an eye on things and save a lot of your money.
The two thing you need to make sure of are oil changes and filters both fuel and oil
from Ford OEM. Yhe other thing is fuel pressure if the upgraded (blue spring)
has not been done that is one must and it's only about a $60.00 part you can get
it for less just ask how. After that you don't need studs but if you tow or mod for
power then it a good idea. You don't need to remove the EGR cooler just keep
the coolant serviced. The thing about the turbo is related to the vanes sticking
and that can be traced back to a few things like letting the truck sit for days/weeks
with out being driven. I use the Ford PM22a additive and that seems to help
with sooting. I have said this before but the truck LOVES to be worked and that gets the
turbo vanes moving and then they tend not to stick or if you think it's sticking
you take the turbo out and clean it. You should also pull the EGR valve out at oil
changes and clean it off with some carb cleaner. Just don't invert it so that the
controles stay dry that is all.

The $5000 that everyone talks about is if you buy one that is about to have a
catastrophic failure and has to have a head work or a bunch of the injectors
replaced. The if you ok working on it that cost can get smaller.
Yes some of the parts are very $$ that is the reason to test before you buy
so you know what your getting. If you can an OAISIS report from Ford is a very
good thing to have if you can get it and also something from Carfax.
After all of this you have the normal basic care.
The first few things don't cost too much coolant filter, the blue spring and get soemthing
like the SGII
Tired fingers

Sean
P.S. When I was truck shopping last March I went looking for a 6.0 I knew what it would need and where to get help.

 

OK...

Will the Torque Cell phone app and an OBD2 bluetooth scanner work instead of the scangauge?

Anyone with more opinions on the 6speed versus the 5 speed auto? I wish I could drive it longer so I could get used to the shifting...

Fuel economy, power, and utility in one package WITH A TURBO is the ideal I want to replace all my garbage vehicles with. I want to feel secure in a choice, have nothing to worry about so I can get OFF the automotive forums, dreaming how to turn crappy vehicles into dream vehicles, and get back to living and driving happily. I am going to run a cost analysis on the truck on the maintenance costs and the financing costs and fuel costs (gulp...) which I will share here.

Hink10, thanks for sharing your experience. I'd feel much better buying a bulletproofed truck. The truck I am looking at is a 2007 at the dealership for 16k. Its a white XL extended cab with rust STARTING but not visible on the door bottoms and the tailgate. I am thinking a deal like yours sounds way better... I'll look farther and wider with that in mind! Good post.

Yes, it was comical to see me in a Ranger. However its just comical to see me in a CRX, a Subaru, a Jeep, or other liliiputian smallmobiles. On the jeep I cant see the stoplights cause my head is way up in the top of the windshield, so at night I watch the reflection off the hood or gangster lean during the day. Ranger had the same problem.

Sean, I really appreciate your tired fingers. You are giving me more hope on the engine. If the turbo and EGR are at least somewhat easy to get to, cleaning them is not a problem. I'll be driving it every day which will eliminate the VGT issue... I also have the number to a gentleman who did many 6.0 warranty jobs himself as a Ford dealer tech, (although he DID tell me he'd kick me in the ***** if I bought a 6.0...) and my father in law is a 30 year experienced heavy diesel mechanic.

 

There are probably more 6.0 that have no problems that you never
hear about.

Think Ford Pinto - OMG they blow up in a rear impact.
But in reality how MANY of them ACTUALLY did that??

I think what "we" on FTE tend to do is preempt the POTENTIAL
problem - usually - before it happens. Now, that comes at a
cost vs. having the problem happen on a long drive on a holiday weekend.

My Ex had a 15-18* delta on the highway when I bought it 2 years ago.
If I hadn't found FTE I might have driven it for 10 more years and
NEVER had a failure - or it might have failed. I planned for and
installed of the $2300+ BPD system and don't worry about it any more.

I spent $4500 to replace my trans and rear end on my Tahoe 3 yrs ago
so ANY vehicle can suffer an expensive repair - buy what you like and
just be aware.

WRT your Q about mods for more fuel economy...
There isn't really any cost effective way. The BEST way is "free"...
don't romp on the skiny pedal all the time.

I like the ease of an auto, but 6-speeds are cool also...

 

I can only speak of my own experiences. The 04 in my sig has been with me since Dec 05, so we've logged 116k on her, and it's only been in the last year and a half or so that the mileage slowed down, I was piling them on. Since my occupation change earlier this year, it's going to take more effort to keep that turbo worked. It sat for the most part of a year and a half while I was deployed, 05 to 07. Turbo started sticking, Ford cleaned it and it subsequently had to be replaced. She hadn't caused me any major problems until between 105k and 120k, had four injectors kick the bucket, that was about a six month span.

Also had to put new hubs in it last year. However, I'll mention I hit a cow and calf three years ago. 1800 lbs of solid object at 55 doesn't do any vehicle any favors, and that was at 95k. Not sure if any issues since then would be related or not, but I wouldn't think so.

Mileage. I've road tripped from KS to NY more than once with it, and it's done between 19.5 and 20 every time, keeping the tach just under 2000, which is 68 mph. Normal highway driving tends to be more the 17.5 to 19 range. Doing more farm/back roads driving, or city type, is 15 or 16. Grossed just over 14k going to NY with my 20' gooseneck stock trailer, avg 13.5 mpg. Grossed 20k or so coming back with it and it did 12.5. Around home pulling is about 11.

 

I live in Las Vegas, NV. Bought my 04 Excursion 6.0 PSD Early Dec 2011, the best average mileage I got is 15.5 mpg driving from Las Vegas to southern CA and back. Went to yosemite NP back in Aug 12 with over 1,500 miles drive and got 15.4 mpg (with a roof top carrier).

I have not seen my mileage even close to 16 mpg yet. I drive at 71-72 mph and about 2000 rpm.

 

1. This is the problem: You said that this would be a reach for you economically. Some 6.0 trucks are great. Many suffer expensive failures. Even if the risk of failure is low, the cost of risk realization is that, without $2500 - $5000 available, you are walking if the 6.0 goes down. (Yes, I know DIY is cheaper- but if you lose the truck away from home or you do not have time available, you have to hire a shop. There are plenty of options out there with a lower risk of failure and are cheaper to repair when they do fail. For example, Dodge front ends are pretty light, but you can afford to fix them because it is not 8 hours of labor. The only way a used 6.0 is a safe bet is if you can negotiate the price down far enough to give yourself a repair buffer. I'm guessing that is why you can pick them up for well below KBB values these days.

2. The 6sp is a really good transmission. The factory oil cooler is a nice specification. The shift pattern is annoying- 1st to 2nd when loaded is not quick and easy because you have to come out of 1st, find the proper detent for 2nd by moving right and then back left again. I do not like it. But when loaded, you do not need to shift quickly anyhow. I like the drivetrain- but I have to admit that the automatic transmission makes more sense for most applications because you do not lose boost pressure between gears.

3. 4x truck with a 6 sp? You will not get more than 19 mpg out of a tank. Count on 17 for highway miles.

-Mike

-

 

Yeah, but when it happened, you and your family died. So, maybe a good idea to buy a car that is not predisposed to explode upon rear end impact. Right?

-Mike

 

That's about what I was told!!! I had a no start condition one day at a place I work. The owner was just tickled to death that it happened as he told me not to go with the 6.0. I came back the next day and cleaned up the battery terminals and all was good. Anyway, good luck in your search!
Steve

 

2007 Ford F-250 4 Door Extended Cab Truck - Used Vehicle Details at Mike Finnin Ford Inc - Your Dubuque, Iowa Ford dealer

Make sure you turn down the sound before clicking that link...

Misky, that is true... I see alot of these trucks on craigslist (been looking all over the place) for $20k up with "no problems," but in turn "no mods" to fix problems they never had. Also several bone stock 200k trucks. Sucks about your Tahoe... I drive pretty smooth usually, so the skinny pedal is totally merited and I am sometimes "that guy" going 58 in a 55 instead of 63 like everyone else does. Breaking the law fractionally and holding these folks up really gets them mad.

Spence... The injector thing sucks. I know on duramax's they replace them all at once because they are so hard to get to, is that what you had to do with your truck? or one at a time tearing it down every time? Thanks for the mileage info. If I hit a cow with my Subaru I would not live to tell about it... Impressive the truck wasn't totaled out.

VQT... I am terrified of experiencing what you are experiencing. 16mpg would irritate me especially if I was trying to be good. Its what I got with my Jeep average in the summer driving conservatively.

IHBase... Good points, great points... I don't have a money buffer. Period. This would be very seat of the pants until I get a raise at work. Which is likely, but impossible to know for sure.

Thanks, Steve!

Ok, sorry guys I had a big long cost analysis typed up, I lost it, recreated part of it then lost that one... Power keeps going out...

Essentially, my out of pocket per month to put this rig on the road and drive it every day is going to be around $800 with a payment, insurance, oil changes at 3k, fuel, and I didn't even factor in license or sales tax. Thats pretty steep. $300 payment in and of itself doesn't look so bad... The rest is fuel, car insurance and oil change intervals ONLY. Fuel ends up being half the cost, even at 19mpg. $800 is roughly 40% of what I make per month right now...

Currently my out of pocket for the Jeep and the Subaru per month is $375-420. That is a pretty dramatic change in cash flow... Going to take some careful analysis to evaluate if this is all going to fly...

 

Is there a reason it has to be an 07? With a quick autotrader search I found several trucks in your general area for a better price that won't stretch your budget so thin depending on mileage that you'd be comfortable with, example :
Cars for Sale: 2003 Ford F250 Lariat in Fremont, NE 68025: Truck Details - 329606388 - AutoTrader.com

I personally wouldn't be too afraid of mileage. I bought my truck a few months ago at 260k and have had very few issues so far. Buying a truck with a little higher miles at a little over half the cost of the one you are looking at would make it a lot easier on your budget, and easier to manage the upkeep and/or repairs when they come along, and it would get you into something more what you would need for the farm.

Dwayne

 

Here's my two cents for you... I'm kind of like you. 6'7", previous vehicle was a Honda accord. I moved from Tennessee to the Rocky Mountains and bought an 03 f250. Talk about a fun truck to drive! But when I bought it I didn't know about this site. Didn't test things. Ended up dropping $3k into it before trading it in last month n an 06 f250. That time I also sprung for the extra warranty. And glad I did! Just had three injectors done under warranty, and I've only had it three weeks.

I'm in even tighter financial position than you are... I'm putting $118 retreads on my truck to replace my bald tires and can only afford two at a time. It hurt to set aside the $250 for the deductible for the injectors.

Unless you get a truck with full maintenance records, you need to change all your fluids right away... Think $120 for your oil change by the time you get oil and filters. Another $80 for fuel filters. Another $120 for a coolant flush. Another $80 for a hot transmission flush. Another $200+ for a good coolant filter is highly advised. $50 for a blue spring upgrade is also advised. And $120 for the SGII or whatever scanner you prefer (and yes, lots of folks here use Torque with a Bluetooth OBDII plug). So basically, prepare to spend your $500 immediately up front to get to a good starting point. Once you're there, you can monitor things and run with it and as long as you treat it right, you should be okay.

If you have a family and money is that tight, I'd talk long and hard with your wife about it. Nothing puts a strain on a marriage like tight finances. Thankfully my wife loves trucks even more than I do, and was excited for me to bring one hme from the dealer.

Good luck, and yeah... Whatever happens, you've got an amazing resource here, from ford master techs like cheeseit and mchan to guys who have gotten 500k out of their engines and then torn them all the way down and replaced them, like run6.0run. This is the best spot for a powerstroke user to hang out!

 

If it makes you feel any better- a lot of the ag guys park their diesel trucks unless they need them. Some have gone to new 1/2 gas trucks (a lot of Tundras) and some have gone to used small trucks like Nissan and Toyota and bought medium duty trucks to move hay and equipment. When $5 diesel returns - and it will someday, the heavy diesel pickup segment just does not make economic sense for 90% of the people driving them.

The 3k miles oil change is pretty stupid. That is 60 hours on an oil change- ridiculous. We typically run 200 -250 hours. The pickups may get changed at 150 hours if they have been idling or running short trips a lot. No injector problems.

I'd save the money- just the cost of repairing a 6.0 could go a long way towards a solid commuter vehicle. If you need to pull or you have a line on a bargain and you can do the work yourself, that is one thing. As a commuter... not so much . -Mike

 

My MPG mileage is about the norm here if you search for fuel consumtion threads. The 17-19 mpg trucks maybe they lives in flat areas.
I also have larger size tires than factory. Currently I am running 275-70-18, still contemplating going larger size tires.

I didn't buy the 04 EB Excursion 6.0 PSD for daily driving, wanted something capable of towing up the grade and has to be an SUV so Excursion it is. Haven't tow a thing since I brought this home and been driving it more than 70% of all the vehicles. Spent more than $4,800 in parts to upgrade the suspensions, ERG/Oil cooler along with all the stuffs while you're in there kind of things. All this were done at home with the ford truck forum help. Drove more than 18,000 miles with an average of 15.5 mpg in less than 10 months; lots of $$ just to drive a diesel..

So figure out an extra few thousand dollars a year to fix the truck just incase, along with your usual expense if you really want a diesel truck.

 

I do really want a diesel truck, however its not feasible at this time, thats all there is to it. It would make me happy in one aspect, but miserable in others.

Going to pass on the diesel for now. I understand what needs to be fixed, but the sensibility is just not there for using it every day for commuting as well.

Dwayne, I am not a fan of the 4R100, and I was under the impression that the older trucks had more problems than the newer ones. Thats why the 2007 was so appealing.

David, best of luck with your financial situation. I don't have a wife to discuss it with, but almost everyone is saying not do do it A because they don't like the particular truck I am looking at. Good, concise list of the low buck fixes. I drove an Accord for awhile, my Subaru reminds me of the Accord. I'd prefer if it came without the Subaru rod knock...

IHbase: Consider it done (moneysaving). Thanks for all your advice!

VQT, mileage is really the nail in the coffin for me and this 6.0 dream. I guess you can be glad you don't have a V10 excursion, which would gobble fuel at 11-12 mpg highway unladen...

 

I've been meaning to post but been out of town. After looking more closely at your situation, I would have recommended against a diesel purchase. Although they are great fun, unless you are towing or hauling or just have the extra cash to buy, maintain and operate it's just not practical. kudos for doing the analysis and thinking it out. I have my diesel Excursion for a few reasons. First I need an SUV to haul the kids and their friends around, that's the Excursion aspect. I need the diesel for towing a 10K lb travel trailer. Lastly I just love the diesel, would probably have one even if I didn't tow. I have the good fortune of being able to afford to drive and maintain one. Well, not a new $50-$60K diesel, but an older one for now. Honestly, I will probably keep putting money into the Excursion until my kids are grown.

I think you are making a good choice my friend, sorry you aren't able to do it now, maybe in the future. You need to get an RV to tow so you can justify the diesel! Another budget problem right! BTW, I just noticed you are in Galena, I'm right up the road between Coal Valley and Orion Illinois. Hope you drop buy to board even if you aren't buying the diesel, lots of good people here. Good luck to you. Again, good call, too many people impulse buy and get into trouble.

Steve