Vague CEL Question
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
Vague CEL Question
Hey guys and gals,
I have a cel question, and I know its very hard to answer, and really vague, but thought Id give it a try anyways.
Im looking at a 2008 f350 with a 6.4 to replace my 03 7.3 (the 08 is a crewcab, my 03 is a supercab, only reason Im looking at upgrading)
Anyways the truck is at an upcoming auction, and it has the cel on. The cel doesnt really scare me at all, except for the fact that I would be looking at driving the truck 900 miles home.
So Im not looking for opinions whether or not to buy the truck sight unseen at an auction or anything like that, Im just wondering from some more experienced guys, is the CEL on these 08+ 6.4 trucks ever something "minor" where a guy could drive it 900 miles and then repair it?
I realize without the exact code no one can say for sure, I realize I dont have a ton of info.
I would prefer not to go get it with my truck, and just fly and drive it back. Ive done a fair bit of reading, but the cel on newer vehicles always seem to cover a wide range of stuff, from very minor, to major.
Any insight on the CEL would be great. Thanks!
I have a cel question, and I know its very hard to answer, and really vague, but thought Id give it a try anyways.
Im looking at a 2008 f350 with a 6.4 to replace my 03 7.3 (the 08 is a crewcab, my 03 is a supercab, only reason Im looking at upgrading)
Anyways the truck is at an upcoming auction, and it has the cel on. The cel doesnt really scare me at all, except for the fact that I would be looking at driving the truck 900 miles home.
So Im not looking for opinions whether or not to buy the truck sight unseen at an auction or anything like that, Im just wondering from some more experienced guys, is the CEL on these 08+ 6.4 trucks ever something "minor" where a guy could drive it 900 miles and then repair it?
I realize without the exact code no one can say for sure, I realize I dont have a ton of info.
I would prefer not to go get it with my truck, and just fly and drive it back. Ive done a fair bit of reading, but the cel on newer vehicles always seem to cover a wide range of stuff, from very minor, to major.
Any insight on the CEL would be great. Thanks!
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
Thanks for the replies, I kinda knew it was a hard thing to guesstimate.
The truck runs and drives although my tester only was able to drive it back and forth about 50 feet. The truck looks really good, no worries about the general condition of it. Its a damn nice truck, and everything looks great on it, except for the cel coming on. The truck does have 110,000 miles on it, but Ive never been too concerned about the mileage when the rest of the truck looks so nice.
They wouldnt let my tester hook up a scanner to the vehicle either, and the auction place is a reputable place. Its being auctioned off as having a cel on, and given full disclosure there, but they told my tester that they cant allow people to come in and hook stuff up to the truck, cause someone may go messing around with stuff and blah blah blah.
Again im not looking for advice whether or not to actually buy the truck, that part will ultimately depend on what it auctions off for, but I was looking for any insight on that lovely little CEL that seem to be so popular on the dash's of these 08+ trucks i keep looking at!
The truck runs and drives although my tester only was able to drive it back and forth about 50 feet. The truck looks really good, no worries about the general condition of it. Its a damn nice truck, and everything looks great on it, except for the cel coming on. The truck does have 110,000 miles on it, but Ive never been too concerned about the mileage when the rest of the truck looks so nice.
They wouldnt let my tester hook up a scanner to the vehicle either, and the auction place is a reputable place. Its being auctioned off as having a cel on, and given full disclosure there, but they told my tester that they cant allow people to come in and hook stuff up to the truck, cause someone may go messing around with stuff and blah blah blah.
Again im not looking for advice whether or not to actually buy the truck, that part will ultimately depend on what it auctions off for, but I was looking for any insight on that lovely little CEL that seem to be so popular on the dash's of these 08+ trucks i keep looking at!
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From: Frederick, MD
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
Got ya, well thanks very much, I do appreciate the info and knowledge to my very vague question! I know how hard it is to even take a guess at something like this online, with the guy providing the information clueless about the engine, and unable to get anymore info.
Guess worst case I could always hop in my trusty truck and drive down and trailer it back if need be.
Guess worst case I could always hop in my trusty truck and drive down and trailer it back if need be.
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From: Frederick, MD
Got ya, well thanks very much, I do appreciate the info and knowledge to my very vague question! I know how hard it is to even take a guess at something like this online, with the guy providing the information clueless about the engine, and unable to get anymore info.
Guess worst case I could always hop in my trusty truck and drive down and trailer it back if need be.
Guess worst case I could always hop in my trusty truck and drive down and trailer it back if need be.
Take a pic of the Air filter and degas bottle.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
Ill post a few pics I got from the listing. The exhaust has the normal stock tailpipe, my tester said it looked good underneath, looked stock but he didnt know for sure for sure.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
So if it is on the add line, would you guess that there is something seriously wrong?
I mean my plan if I did get the truck would be to do the dpf and egr deletes to maximize the potential for reliability, and fuel economy.
But if there is a huge possibility that the engine is screwed because the coolant level is low like that, well then I might end up rethinking this particular truck, or only get it cheap and perform a cummins swap or something along those lines.
I mean my plan if I did get the truck would be to do the dpf and egr deletes to maximize the potential for reliability, and fuel economy.
But if there is a huge possibility that the engine is screwed because the coolant level is low like that, well then I might end up rethinking this particular truck, or only get it cheap and perform a cummins swap or something along those lines.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Frederick, MD
It could be low from a leaking hose or a radiator as well. See just hard to say for sure.
A pic down by the tow hooks and one in the drivers front wheel well can help determine if the leak is a radiator seam or a hose.
It is all hard to say. Don't rule it out yet but more pics is helpful.
A pic down by the tow hooks and one in the drivers front wheel well can help determine if the leak is a radiator seam or a hose.
It is all hard to say. Don't rule it out yet but more pics is helpful.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
I dont have any more pictures that would come close to showing that unfortunately, and my buddy isnt around the truck anymore, I was lucky enough to catch him passing by the city where it is.
I did ask him if he noticed any leaks, and he said he didnt, but then he said to be fair he didnt look really close at the tow hooks and whatnot. He did crawl underneath and said it looked ok, but I mean that could have been pressure washed before it got to the lot as well?
Thanks though, Im not going to rule it out yet either, as I am really starting to like the idea of this truck. Good and bad thing about auctions is they can sell cheap and make a decision easy for me, or sell super high and make that decision easy for me lol.
I did ask him if he noticed any leaks, and he said he didnt, but then he said to be fair he didnt look really close at the tow hooks and whatnot. He did crawl underneath and said it looked ok, but I mean that could have been pressure washed before it got to the lot as well?
Thanks though, Im not going to rule it out yet either, as I am really starting to like the idea of this truck. Good and bad thing about auctions is they can sell cheap and make a decision easy for me, or sell super high and make that decision easy for me lol.
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: The Woodlands, TX
Upper rad house was replaced I believe. Has sticker on it which I don't think are on factory hoses. Looking on my phone, looks like worm gear style hose clamps on intake rather than crimp style factory clamps. Possible aftermarket intake at one point which means potential tuner. Low coolant as well... Definitely a coin flip on that one. If it were me.... Id assume worst case scenario and set my limit at NADA & Blue Book pricing minus $15,000 (New Engine) Give or take.