Hello everyone,

Long time lurker, first time poster. Looking to purchase an Excursion and stumbled upon a 2004 with 235k miles with a new engine with less than 100k miles. It is the 6.0l Diesel. Now I am not sure why the engine was replaced, perhaps the issue was the egr, not sure, will be asking. I went and looked at it after closing time and the body is immaculate. I will be going for a test drive tomorrow. What should I be looking for when I drive it tomorrow? I will be asking if it was bulletproofed, car fax, service records etc. Is there anything else I should be looking for? Should I stay away?

Thanks.

 

WELCOME to the world of XXXXXXXXXXXs.. please fill in your general location in your profile.


What should I be looking for when I drive it tomorrow? (The other cars)


I will be asking if it was bulletproofed ( do you know what that means ?? Cause they probability won't )


car fax ( by now you should have already studied it )


Is there anything else I should be looking for? ( after you start it (( assuming it starts)) look under the front of the truck for 8 to 10 quarts of oil & random metal engine parts )


On a more serious note: If you are asking here, you should most definitely take it to a qualified shop to give you a real assessment.. You are looking a large investment spend a little extra to know what you are buying Good luck on the quest

 

Thanks for the response. Unfortunately the mechanic is far away from where I will be heading. Perhaps there is one nearby that I could get to look at it. Coming from Northern Illinois and going to a small town in Wisconsin. It definitely will be an investment. Will let everyone know what happens tomorrow.

 

How savvy are you with the basics of mechanics? Also, do you know your way around a vehicle to look for obvious signs of neglect? Check fluids, etc.. Just a basic check could save you a ton of problems. For instance pull the oil if it is dark as anything can be and smells burnt walk away. Not saying that is the case with this 6.0l your looking at but it's just a rule of thumb. My brother always said taste the oil, Not sure I would take it that far but he is a mechanic by trade so he probably drinks oil daily with his lunch.

6.0l are a solid engine that is if it was taken care of, the fact that it has been rebuilt or new engine installed leaves me to believe the previous setup was not in fact bulletproof and resulted in the typical 6.0 problems. Sitting now at 100k could be good could be bad. I would ask to see what year that 6.0l came out of or if it were a new crate setup.

Yes the people your buying it from if they are not savvy around a diesel engine most likely they will never know what your talking about when it comes to bulletproof. I would do some research on the 6.0 if I were you. Few little items could be easily checked by yourself to know if any work were performed. Head studs alone are a easy check.

Good luck with your future purchase if it performs and acts the way you ever hoped. Photos please!

 

"pull the oil if it is dark as anything can be and smells burnt walk away."


As a life long gaser running synthetic oil for as long as I can remember ( what is my name again ) I would have changed the oil every week in my 7.3 under that rule of thumb!!!

 

"Wisconsin"
RUST, RUST, RUST, Look at the rocker panels & running boards from the back side underneath the truck. The front & back of them seem to be the worst . As well as the rear a/c line mounting locations...

 

SOOOO HOWD IT GO JOE ??? You smokin it all the way back home ??

 

Unfortunately not , I had become busy during the day, went to the dealer after everything was sorted and it was sold. Damn. It was a steal for a price of 7 grand. I am not giving up yet, I will find something eventually. Thanks for the advice everyone.