6.0 reliability
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
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6.0 reliability
Hey guys I've owned my 05 6.0 for almost a year. I plan on keeping it stock for awhile. I was wondering how to make it a good reliable stock 6.0. I've put a new stc fitting oil cooler blue spring mod new batteries new cac boots an egr delete and I've cleaned the turbo I use synthetic oil and ford filters. Do I need arp head studs or will it be OK if I leave it stock. But anyway wat other things would make it more reliable
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 7
From: Francestown, NH
Get yourself the necessary gauges to monitor what the engine is doing. Based on the list of work you have posted I'd say you already know that.
This engine can be reliable on its own, but the gauges will stop a minor battery problem from becoming FICM or injector blues for example.
When the time comes for a new alternator, upgrade from the stock one.
These engines can survive fine with stock bolts if you don't tune it. If you are ever into the oil cooler again, then maybe consider a swap to studs at that time.
This engine can be reliable on its own, but the gauges will stop a minor battery problem from becoming FICM or injector blues for example.
When the time comes for a new alternator, upgrade from the stock one.
These engines can survive fine with stock bolts if you don't tune it. If you are ever into the oil cooler again, then maybe consider a swap to studs at that time.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
I am still trying to figure out new to me 2007 model and I found the information about those engines pretty much scattered all over and confusing.
Do we have a topic summarizing new owner advices, or is it necesary to do each point separately?
My truck come with 144k on it, so it can't be bad making it so far? Than I found advice about EGR delete and fuel regulator spring upgrade.
Those sound like things worth doing, but could not find any info about time involved. Looks to me like EGR is having several options to delete and some of them might take 2 days of labor?
Now on my engine down under I have something that looks like coolant filter to me. Would that be factory option for my MY?
Do we have a topic summarizing new owner advices, or is it necesary to do each point separately?
My truck come with 144k on it, so it can't be bad making it so far? Than I found advice about EGR delete and fuel regulator spring upgrade.
Those sound like things worth doing, but could not find any info about time involved. Looks to me like EGR is having several options to delete and some of them might take 2 days of labor?
Now on my engine down under I have something that looks like coolant filter to me. Would that be factory option for my MY?
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,335
Likes: 343
From: Breckenridge, TX
Yes, we have a couple of concise "do this" threads:
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - Just bought 06 F350 FX4 6.0!!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...used-6-0l.html
Ignore the "before you buy part" and change it to "now that you've figured out what you bought", and follow the checklists.
Detailed walkthrough of the blue-spring upgrade, also doubles as a pictorial walkthrough of how to change a thermostat:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ue-spring.html
EGR cooler/Oil cooler R&R with STC replacement. doubles as pictorial guide to EGR delete, turbo removal, and secondary fuel filter/oil filter housing work:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...many-pics.html
Coolant filter:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...nt-filter.html
This is a home made one, the kit's won't be drastically different. A coolant filter was never an option on a Ford 6.0L.
And finally, this guy:
6.0 Liter Ford Powerstroke EGR & Oil Cooler Replacement - YouTube
He has video series that cover everything from removing the turbo all the way to a complete head gasket job. If you want to replace standpipes/dummy plugs, watch his injector replacement video. If you want to do an STC fitting, he has a video, if you want to do an EGR delete, watch his oil and EGR cooler replacement video and know you won't reinstall the cooler and you'll change the passenger's side up-pipe out.
Pretty much all of these come from the Tech Folder:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ch-folder.html
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Single Post - Just bought 06 F350 FX4 6.0!!
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...used-6-0l.html
Ignore the "before you buy part" and change it to "now that you've figured out what you bought", and follow the checklists.
Detailed walkthrough of the blue-spring upgrade, also doubles as a pictorial walkthrough of how to change a thermostat:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ue-spring.html
EGR cooler/Oil cooler R&R with STC replacement. doubles as pictorial guide to EGR delete, turbo removal, and secondary fuel filter/oil filter housing work:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...many-pics.html
Coolant filter:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...nt-filter.html
This is a home made one, the kit's won't be drastically different. A coolant filter was never an option on a Ford 6.0L.
And finally, this guy:
6.0 Liter Ford Powerstroke EGR & Oil Cooler Replacement - YouTube
He has video series that cover everything from removing the turbo all the way to a complete head gasket job. If you want to replace standpipes/dummy plugs, watch his injector replacement video. If you want to do an STC fitting, he has a video, if you want to do an EGR delete, watch his oil and EGR cooler replacement video and know you won't reinstall the cooler and you'll change the passenger's side up-pipe out.
Pretty much all of these come from the Tech Folder:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...ch-folder.html
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 42,085
Likes: 6
From: Lakewood, Ca.
If what you are looking at is on the passenger side frame rail, that's the transmission fluid bypass filter. No factory option coolant filter was offered for our trucks.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
At this point I am not sure any of them have been made on truck, but coming from utility company, most likely the engine is original.
I am not planning to chip it as the 325 ponnies is already improvement from 250 I had in 7.3, so not seeing dollar or hours amount behind the jobs, it is hard to figure out priorities.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,881
Likes: 3,595
You can do all the necessary mods on a 2007 for $2k-$3k, not $10k. You almost certainly do not need head studs unless it was not maintained or it was abused. When people are getting 300k miles out of the 6.0L, then what is considered "mid-age"? Even 100k miles is not yet mid-age in my mind. Buying a used 6.0L can still be a good financial decision - even w/ spending the $$'s on reliability upgrades.
If the oil cooler is not plugged, the highest cost upgrade is a BPD EGR cooler. Some say delete it, but IMO, a PROPER delete would also include a tuner to account for the change in combustion parameters due to no longer having the exhaust gas recirculating back. The next highest cost is the STC fitting upgrade. Doing it all at once is cheaper.
If the oil cooler is not plugged, the highest cost upgrade is a BPD EGR cooler. Some say delete it, but IMO, a PROPER delete would also include a tuner to account for the change in combustion parameters due to no longer having the exhaust gas recirculating back. The next highest cost is the STC fitting upgrade. Doing it all at once is cheaper.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Bought the truck with 144k and not likely I will put another 144k with my usage.
So coming down to the point, would monitoring the engine be sufficient to guarantee long engine life? I am using $20 ELM with my computer to see what the engine is doing, but than see others spending $2-400 on other monitoring system.
Did someone made a program that would ring a bell on the computer when engine goes in wrong direction? I read that my 2007 model will light CEL when coolers temperatures will go too much different. Is that sufficient protection?
The PO did not make those upgrades and I doubt company drivers babied the truck.
It shows average 25 miles per engine hr, so it was idling a lot, what is understable as it had small crane mounted on it.
What are my chances to make another 144k doing nothing?
So coming down to the point, would monitoring the engine be sufficient to guarantee long engine life? I am using $20 ELM with my computer to see what the engine is doing, but than see others spending $2-400 on other monitoring system.
Did someone made a program that would ring a bell on the computer when engine goes in wrong direction? I read that my 2007 model will light CEL when coolers temperatures will go too much different. Is that sufficient protection?
The PO did not make those upgrades and I doubt company drivers babied the truck.
It shows average 25 miles per engine hr, so it was idling a lot, what is understable as it had small crane mounted on it.
What are my chances to make another 144k doing nothing?
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,693
Likes: 7
From: Francestown, NH
Transmission may last, may not. I think 230K-250k range before an overhaul can be expected. Also expect an oil cooler, alternator, maybe HPOP, some injectors, turbo cleaning.
You may not see all these, but I think you will see 1 or 2 of them.
When FICM volts go bad, acting on the info provided could save you injector $$$.
When oil and coolant temps get far apart, acting on the info can save you head gasket $$$.
When fuel pressure gets low, acting on the info can save you injector $$$.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
I meant doing nothing from the engine modifications. I still plan to do factory recommended maintenance 
I am still playing with my ELM.
It gives me a message that I have 3 car computers like ECU$7 with E9, E7 and ED on the end. I connected into E7 and it gave me several readouts like coolant temperature and control module voltage, but I don't see oil temperature.
Shall I connect to other modules to find the data?
I am still playing with my ELM.
It gives me a message that I have 3 car computers like ECU$7 with E9, E7 and ED on the end. I connected into E7 and it gave me several readouts like coolant temperature and control module voltage, but I don't see oil temperature.
Shall I connect to other modules to find the data?
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