Yep, I own a 6.0 engine and it is a POS engine; stock. I will own it for some time and it is a POS and I paid for the right to call it a POS. My engine failed at 72,000 miles. Yes, that is 72,000 miles. Any diesel engine that fails catastrophically and consistently before 250,000 is a POS; by definition (for me).

I put the stock 6.0L diesel engine on par with the Chevy Vega aluminum head engine. The one sold in the 1980s I believe. You could spot them by the cloud of smoke behind them and they were not a diesel. If you owned such a Vega, you pulled into a gas station and said: "Check the gas and fill up the oil."

Now it is OK to own a POS engine as long as one understands what they have and obtains the knowledge needed to keep the POS from failing.

I am banking on the following being true: With the right knowledge and care one can convert a POS like the 6.0 into a excellent engine.

It can also be a source of pride to keep a POS 6.0 running for over 200,000 without a catastrophic failure.

Anyone can keep a Dodge Cummins running without a catastrophic failure for 500,000 up to 1,000,000 miles. I have 18 year old Cummings that has pulled countless loads that shows no sign of slowing down. Nothing ever done to the engine. The engine oil was not even changed as regular as it should have been. No challenge here.

But if one keeps the POS 6.0 running for 500,000 without a catastrophe, one is the MAN. So I accept the challenge. Through reading, the help of others and a good mechanic, I think it can be done.

Plus, I like the looks of the 2006 Ford F250 better than any other truck. And I like Fords in general.

Further, while the POS 6.0 has issues, when it runs correctly it is a very good engine. It achieves great gas mileage and puts out great horse power. It gets the POS rating from me for lack of dependability, not performance.

 

Monty,

High praise to the Cummins engine. High praise to the Ford "truck". Don't tempt me to do the swap. I am about to pull the trigger...

What I can't understand is that the base conversion kit to get me on the road is only $4500 to bolt the 12 valve into the excursion (5R110). I realize a lot of labor is involved but can somebody tell me where all the rest of the money everyone is talking about is coming from? Everyone tells me I am looking at $10-$15K.

A motor that runs to 500,000 or 1,000,000 miles with no problems is what I am looking for. Mine only has 190,000. And it is true, the Ford is the prettiest vehicle on the road and takes a nice beating - in my opinion. Perfect combo to me. But again, if the "frankentruck" causes me continual grief, I don't want anything to do with it. I love my 6.0 dually. I really do. But when I fire up that 12 valve (sometimes in sub-zero temps), I get all warm and fuzzy inside.

 

I would not attempt to advise someone regarding putting a Cummings Engine in a Ford vehicle although I certainly understand the desire to make such a conversion.

Note that my Cummings is 18 years old (1995, probably built in 1994). I guess it is going on 20. I have heard the new Cummings has their issues as well. I simply do not have the knowledge to advise.

To complicate the issue further, I am told if one performs the correct Mods on the 6.0 (ARP head studs and EGR Delete are big ones) and maintains it well the 6.0 is a dependable engine. But apparently one has to baby the 6.0 its entire life - like a trophy wife (is one example I have read). If one likes being a slave to a trophy wife the 6.0 is the right engine to own. I guess that is my future now, until the trophy wife finally becomes more of a problem than I am willing to tolerate. Then the divorce will be quick.

All that said, I must admit, if I had my 1995 Cummings in the 2006 Ford truck and Ford Transmission, even with the significantly reduced performance, it would be a great truck (to me).

 

Your so badly misinformed its disgusting. The trucks that actually get worked hard daily are the ones that have a better track record. But we both know your not going to listen. You have proven that more times in this one thread then is countable. Also I wouldnt consider head gasket failure to be catastrophic engine failure. Your just being dramatic like a 9 yr old girl. Ford did themselves no favors by not addressing the headbolt issue. But the egr crap was mandated by the government. And the first design didnt cool the exhaust gasses down far enough. Thats why it changed.

 

Very well said Sir, very well said.

 

I have the most feared model year to own. Bought it used...Oh my! with no knowledge of OASIS or the problems. I babied it with head studs and by-passed the EGR up-pipe feed tube. Switched to Rotella Synthetic, insert key and drive.... life is hard, I have to wash the pig every now & then.

 

You point to nothing I said that was inaccurate.

What specifically do you contend I typed that is not accurate?

Until you do, your comment is just "internet chatter."

 

Its in the quote, if you cant find it there is no hope for you!

 

Did I miss something? Would y'all like to look at my weasel? Lol

Sent from my iPhone using IB AutoGroup

 

Ok, above is the quote. Let us examine each statement and see which one is "misinformed".


First statement

I can not image any reasonable person fairly holding the opinion that such a statement indicates I am "misinformed."



Second : two relate statements


I know my Cummins engine is 18 years old AND I know I have heard the new Cummins engine has issues.

Both Statements absolutely true.

I can not image any reasonable person fairly holding the opinion that such statements indicate I am "misinformed."


Third Statement

Once again, I know for a fact I was told the 6.0 engine can be made dependable with the right mods and care.

Perhaps this is the statement that indicates I am "misinformed". If so, I stand corrected.


Fourth Statement set


Well, I know someone has compared the 6.0 to a "trophy wife" . . . In fact, that person did so on this forum.

But perhaps this is the "misinformation" ?


Fifth : statement

Well, this is my opinion and by definition I get to have my own opinion as to what is a great truck for me. I cannot see how anyone can say I am misinformed on what I believe is a great truck for me (unless, perhaps, you are saying I am a Schizophrenic).

So I ask again, which of the above statements fairly indicate I am misinformed?

Or are you "just being dramatic like a 9 yr old girl" ?

 

Well I am the one said the 6.0 is like a trophy wife. Meaning that if you do maintenance on it as you should your truck will take care of you. If you go cheap and dont do proper maintenance on it she will "leave you" stranded. Owning a diesel is not for the cheap bottom line. Almost all the problems the 6.0 gets is from poor maintenance. Even the head bolts are fine but eveyone wants to tune it to extreme and it lifts the heads. Hmm, is that fords problem. Not really. People drive their stock trucks and dont keep track of eot and ect and it starts to smoke or not run right. Well they are to cheap to do a coolant change. Thats the reason the oil cooler got plugged blows their egr cooler, keeps driving it because they are to cheap or ignorant and it builds pressure lifts heads and hg time. Proper maintenance would of avoided all that. Im not a slave to my truck but I keep proper maintenance on it. Thats why I have 130k miles on mine completely stock, oh I have tuner as well. Now this is a general statement. There are some that keep proper maintenance and hg or egr issues arise. But they are rare.

 

Another excellent post!

 

Thanks Mark. Nothing but the truth. Everyone that complains about the 6.0's are the ones that run oil 10- 15k miles and probably dont know how to even check the oil.

 

I hope such is true.

I purchased the truck with about 70,000 miles on it and I am confident the HGs were bad when I purchased the truck I just did not know enough to test it before purchase. And the car dealer was not very ethical (the truck was the maintenance department manager's sister's truck).

So he screwed me to save his sister. Story of my life. He has to live with the deed, I do not.

But perhaps I can make the truck work out in the long run via the repairs and maintenance.

 

It sucks when someone inherits the problem of someone else's neglect. Once you get it fixed and take care of it you will be happily surprised just how reliable these trucks are.