I really don't have a lot to go by but I know of an 03 that has 380,000 km and still has original gaskets and head bolts according to the owner. Says he never did anything to the engine. Seen a lot of pipe too, that one has. Then who knows whether that's just talk? Not I. But I do realize that the modern highways still see a lot of 6.0L traffic. They can go a long time.

 

Yet another good thread for checklist prior to 6.0 purchase -better than the first quote I provided.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...used-6-0l.html

 

As a dealership technician, I have seen trucks with varying mileage's, and with varied repair history's and maintenance schedules. Maintenance is the key in my opinion. I have seen trucks with low mileage and storybooks of problems, and I have seen a lot of high miler trucks as well. it is not uncommon for me to see 500K odometers on a regular basis; some with lots of repairs done, and some with minimal.
A good friend of mine has 2 cube vans, an 05 and an 06. These trucks are on the road every day, and log the miles. Both are over 1 million kms. He has a very stringent maintenance schedule that we follow. No major problems, other than some injectors and turbo cleaning.

 

Thanks for the good words Jeff, and welcome to the FTE 6.0 forum. We always look forward to technician experience.

 

Let's get back to the subject at hand, shall we? We all have our opinions, and are free to give them, but continued bickering is senseless and has no place in a technical forum.

 

YES LETS PLEASE DO THIS!
To the Original Poster this is not how "we" normally act on this forum. Everyone is usually pretty good and respectful. This is by far the best forum I frequent we are normally right to the point, helpful and at times quite jovial.

I must say if was my first post here and didn't read the rest of the 6.0 forum I would say this is not a place I want to be. Just another everybody getting after each other forum.
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I like my Truck.

 

I think the 6.0L can be a very reliable engine. The 6.0L problems for the most part can be blamed on the EPA and their emissions requirements on newer diesel engines as a good number of the problems experienced are a result of failed EGR coolers, other problems are self inflicted like running tunes that create too much boost or lack of maintenance or trying to save a buck on filters or extending OCI's. Another problem is people that are use to driving gassers, where ignoring routine maintenance isn't a big deal, end up buying one if these trucks and find out in short order that this isn't your grandpa's old mechanical diesel that can be ignored and abused and continue to run. They are maintenance princesses that need to have proper maintenance preformed on a regular basis and they need to be used and not as a grocery getter. Also because this engine is fly by wire they should have monitored more PIDS and tied them to the CEL to warn the driver of impending doom if they don't correct the problem, like warning of low FICM voltage, low fuel pressure or EOT/ECT spread, this would have gone a long way in helping the driver prevent enormous repair bills. I must admit it is the only vehicle I have ever owned that a set of gauges that read live data are required so you can keep an eye on things so you can head problems off before they become catastrophic failures, but at least we know now and with the aid of gauges we can have a dependable truck. Unfortunately Monty was one of the ones that got one if these trucks that had been neglected and it cost him a pile of money but even with the repair cost and cost of the truck he is way ahead of where he would have been had he purchased a new truck to the tune of around 60 grand. In closing I say the 6.0L is an awesome engine and in no way is a POS you just need gauges to keep an eye on things, do the required maintenance without cutting corners and just drive it and enjoy the ride.

 

Very well said.

 

I'll be the first to say that it was engineered wrong,but that's water under the bridge. We know what to add to get the problems under control and have a great truck with power and economy,still get by emissions even without the emissions working.This motor had one too many engineers over engineering it and no real hands on experience with the real world truck and customer. The motor is a GREAT motor,even with it's short comings

 

My experience with these engine is you don't cheap out on important parts ipr valves, injectors, hpop, filters, gaskets, I think there are longer lasting engines out there but those days are long gone my 6.9 has 340k doesn't show any signs of dying yet buts it loud smokey and doesn't tow like my 6.0. Diagnosing them to me is easy but I had a few that I shake my head at the shops working on them before me replacing injectors and ipr valves when it only needed a hpop or when a customer does there own oil cooler and it keeps blowing ipr's cause they did a messy job then calling the engine a pos list goes on and on a lot of stuff is preventable. I think if ford/international didn't rush this engine out to compete with dodge and gm it would have 1/2 the issues, mines got all the updates/upgrades and I couldn't ask for a better performing truck.

 

I'd buy it again if I had the choice,even if there was a GMC or Dodge with the same options sitting right next to it......maybe not if the GMC was white and silver

 

No rush, International developed and had in use the VT365, Ford had to meet Federal Emission guidelines. Combined with poor quality control at Internationals engine assembly plant, the rest is History.

 

I think that this is a great post that really sums it up.

 

Originally Posted by mustang_309
I think the 6.0L can be a very reliable engine. The 6.0L problems for the most part can be blamed on the EPA and their emissions requirements on newer diesel engines as a good number of the problems experienced are a result of failed EGR coolers, other problems are self inflicted like running tunes that create too much boost or lack of maintenance or trying to save a buck on filters or extending OCI's. Another problem is people that are use to driving gassers, where ignoring routine maintenance isn't a big deal, end up buying one if these trucks and find out in short order that this isn't your grandpa's old mechanical diesel that can be ignored and abused and continue to run. They are maintenance princesses that need to have proper maintenance preformed on a regular basis and they need to be used and not as a grocery getter. Also because this engine is fly by wire they should have monitored more PIDS and tied them to the CEL to warn the driver of impending doom if they don't correct the problem, like warning of low FICM voltage, low fuel pressure or EOT/ECT spread, this would have gone a long way in helping the driver prevent enormous repair bills. I must admit it is the only vehicle I have ever owned that a set of gauges that read live data are required so you can keep an eye on things so you can head problems off before they become catastrophic failures, but at least we know now and with the aid of gauges we can have a dependable truck. Unfortunately Monty was one of the ones that got one if these trucks that had been neglected and it cost him a pile of money but even with the repair cost and cost of the truck he is way ahead of where he would have been had he purchased a new truck to the tune of around 60 grand. In closing I say the 6.0L is an awesome engine and in no way is a POS you just need gauges to keep an eye on things, do the required maintenance without cutting corners and just drive it and enjoy the ride.

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Great post, I believe you have hit the proverbial nail on the head. I love my truck and it is still pretty much bone stock.....and I do understand that at some point I will have to do the common mods but I will wait and drive it until the problems start to present themselves and deal with it at that time. The thing about buying a 6.0 now as opposed to when they where still in production is the fact that most of, if not all of the inherent problems have already been experienced by someone before now and we have the luxury of that experience to help us stay ahead of the curve when it comes to PM. I understand Ford sold something around 5 million of the engines ( or at least that number was kicked around ) so there are a lot out there that have treated their owners somewhat better than Monty, I fully understand his discontent with HIS truck but he really doesn't speak for me and mine or I'd venture to say a lot of the others that own these trucks. So to the OP be an informed buyer and you should be fine.