Hey guys,

I'm new here, and I'm in the market for an f250! I'm on the power stroke forum because I'm looking for a 7.3. However, I got an offer for a 2001 6.8L V10 2wd crew cab Lariat. I was initially worried, but its the exact truck I want, just without the 7.3. The truck has 189,000 miles on it. Owner 1 was an older gentleman who used it to haul his travel trailer with his wife. he passed away about 9 months ago and the gentleman's wife sold it to the current owner. The current owner uses it to haul his racecar and has put about 9000 miles on it in 6 months. He told me its just too much truck and wants to downsize. The offer is to trade my 04 f150 Lariat 5.4 (120k, new trans, ext cab, 2wd, great shape) for his truck plus $1750 cash.

I want the f250 just cause I like f250s to be honest. I can always get away with a half ton, but it would be nice to have the usability of a 3/4 ton. I don't tow or haul much.

So my question is, will I be happy with a 6.8? Is this too many miles? Let me hear what you think, just don't know much about this motor.

 

I have no idea what either vehicle is worth but I do have this thought ... you'd be accepting a truck that's 3 years older and has an additional 69K miles. He'd gain the opposite thing, a truck that's 3 years newer with 69K miles less.


I think that would be fair exchange by itself.

 

If you use the truck daily your fuel economy will suffer. Trust me i was driving to work about 4 miles one way getting 9mpg's best I have gotten is around 13.5mpg all hand calculated.

My questions would be do you need the truck? What kind of shape is it in? Service records? If its been towing its whole life it has definately been worked hard.

 

I just want a new truck. I can do 99% of the maintenance on the truck. So guess what I'm asking is a v10 with 190k going to give me issues? I'm coming from the 5.4 triton, so should I expect similar issues? The first owner and this one have done meticulous maintenance, oil every 5k, plugs about every 70. As far as I know the first owner just towed a little travel trailer part time. but it was otherwise just a daily driver.

 

anyone have any advice? is 190k too much even if the truck was very well maintained?

 

Even well-maintained, the truck is two-thirds through its service life.

 

I guess I should mention that I need this truck to last me 2.5 years. and i can't forsee putting more that 35k on it. I realize every vehicle poses a certain risk, but I just want to know what types of things typically pop up around 200k. do you think I'm better off just getting a 7.3 for a little bit of added security?

 

If those are your parameters, then the truck will likely be fine. My V10 is at 207,000 or so miles and is just now beginning to use some oil.

Expect there to be some dry rot on rubber vacuum lines. Check out the 4wd system pretty good. If the previous owners did not have occasion to use it much, you will likely have issues with it sticking.

Hopefully the P.O.s also changed the coil pack boots with the plugs. Maybe they even changed the coil packs too. If not, you may experience some misfires soon.

 

Well I'm looking at a 2wd, so luckily I don't have to worry about that. I will probably rebuild the front end anyways to replace the coils and bushings and such. I guys I should expect similar issues to my 5.4, as I'm told the 6.8 is literally a 5.4 with 2 extra cylinders. I'm meeting the gentleman who owns it for a test drive this saturday to see how she runs. Thanks.

 

I've watched some videos, looks like if its an issue I can spend $400 on a set of motorcraft COPs and $150 on plugs and she should run like new. Can't be that hard!

 

I wouldn't replace all the COP's unless absolutely neccessary. When I did my plug change it was just that. Only needed one COP due to misfire afterwards. If anything use motorcraft platinum plugs, plenty of anti-sieze and die-electric grease on the boots. Also check out the thread below regarding the water in cylinder's and misfires. I like the o ring idea myself. Seems farely simple and would make it a little bit stiffer.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...s-the-fix.html

 

Yeah, only change the COPs that need changed, for sure. Go with Motorcraft COPs and plugs.

 

I believe you have your engines mixed up . The 250 that your looking at is a two valve engine which uses your regular sp-479 3 dollar spark plug not the 12 dollar sp-515 plug . Coils are pretty much same price tho. The v10 2 or 3 valve is a pretty reliable engine they don't suffer the annoying cam phaser issues that the 3 valve 5.4 has. Honestly tho I don't think the trade should have money kicked in unless your truck is in worse overall condition. Unless you absolutely need or have to have the 250 I would at least try for a strait forward trade.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. Just to clarify, I will give him my 2004 f150 lariat 3v 5.4 with 120,000 miles. In exchange, I will receive his 2001 f250 lariat 2v 6.8 with 190,000 miles and he will give me $1500 or so on top. I feel like that is very fair. Both trucks are basically in the same condition, immaculate. Both are 2wd, both have similar audio upgrades, etc. . $1000 is the difference in blue book (my truck is just worth more), the other $500ish is cause the f250 needs a wheel bearing and the hood repainted. That seem fair, no?

 

Sounds like a reasonable trade.