This may sound crazy but that's why I am asking. Found out last night from dealership "you have head gaskets that are leaking but not fully blown." I've owned it 3 months -- 2004 6.0 excursion Ltd. 4 wd. Overall car in very good condition with 106,000 miles, transmission has 48,000 miles. The previous owner I have since found out is best friends with the truck service manager and the service writer. Gee, I wonder if he knew about the head gasket situation? Buyer beware, I did not take the vehicle for an evaluation, so shame on me.
Their estimate to do the head gaskets was $5,300.00 and to reseal the engine another 1,200.00 (6500.00 total). They did not spell it out but it did not include the EGR cooler but did include new oil cooler. He said "it needs new lifters" which took me by surprise -- not a diesel mechanic but I have not heard of someone needing to replace the lifters. No mention of injectors or turbo at all.
Because it has some "significant oil leaks" the total comes to $6,500.00 (there is not a single oil drop on or in my concrete driveway so I am not sure about that at all).
My question: Performance Machine and Mfg. has crate engines (long block) for $5,000.00 plus shipping plus 1,000.00 core. They have a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty. If I have to foot the bill for an egr delete and oil cooler myself, would it make sense to pay someone to swap what I need off of my engine to the crate engine, put in a new delete and oil cooler, and swap engines for the same (guessing) $6,500.00 total?
I have no experience with Performance or any other engine manufacturer -- I am open to thoughts and idea and alternatives.
I intend to keep this truck until they take my license away because I am too old (hopefully not for another 20 years or more).
Is this idea crazy?

 

Seems like the dealership charges mostly labor, which is high these days. If you buy a new engine, there is still the labor to think about. If there is a decent diesel shop around, I would take it there and get a second opinion. This thing they call "bulletproofing" means the heads come off anyway, might be something to look in to. Other 6-oh owners can chime in here but I've read final costs less than the 6500 clams you are being told.

 

We do have an authorized "bulletproof installer" here and their estimate was $8,000. I walked out the door!

 

Not sure what all your estimate includes, but if they're going in deep enough to remove the lifters I'd certainly replace them. They're not expensive and require a complete engine teardown if and when they fail.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...lifters-2.html

 

After more conversation with the bulletproof installer and the dealership, neither includes replacing one or more heads -- which I am not sure is a problem anyhow -- both said 1,500+ for each head if needed. Having said that, can anyone think of a valid reason not to go the crate engine route IF money is anywhere close to the same? I am really looking for pros and cons, please chime in.

 

Tom,
I think you are absolutely correct.
Is it common for an engine to need lifters after 100K? I haven't read about them being an issue. Should I be thinking about lifters every 100,000 miles?

 

Get a quote on installing your 5k crate engine before you get too excited. The headgaskets are almost all labor because the engine sits under the firewall and the body is typically lifted off the truck to do the headgaskets. Parts are typically only $1200 or so. I paid around $2500 all together for all the new oem Ford parts plus the egr delete and the machine work, and another 3k for labor. That included a new belt and tensioner, new oil and filters, transmitting fluid flush and fill, a new Ford ficm, and a few other maintenance things. So your 5k engine may end up being 7500 out the door but you should be able to find a reputable shop to do your headgaskets with a warranty for 5k or so. I had quotes from 4k to 6k for the most part but went with a shop that had a written warranty and good reputation. The only reason I'd go with a crate engine is if your rods are bent from coolant into he cylinders or the cylinders are scored, or if you just want to turn around and sell it, it might make the truck more valuable to have a warranted crate engine in there vs just headgaskets.

 

Hasteranger,
I do not know if they lift the body on an Excursion. Looks like a brute of a job if they didn't.
If I ballpark your numbers, you must have come in around something like this: So $2,500. OEM plus $450.00 for ARP's plus 250.00 for egr delete and machine work (I have no idea -- $500.00?) plus $3,000.00 in labor = about $6,700.00 or so. I may have read your post wrong and it was $2500.00 INCLUDING egr delete and machine work? Not sure which way to take that. Does that sound about right? I truly am just trying to get a feel for what current costs might be. I realize I may have to take it away from here as this town is too small to make shops compete -- only 3 or 4 places I can find thus far that will tackle it.

 

Tom,
Great link to that lifter install thread, thank you.

 

Moved over to the 6.0L PSD forum.

Stewart

 

Thank you. I didn't think about that. Sorry for the inconvenience. Still trying to learn my way around these forums -- old dog, new tricks.

 

No worries, it wasn't inconvenient at all.

There are a lot of guys in the Ex forum with 6.0's that will give great advice, but there are exponentially a lot more guys here in this forum that will help you get squared away.

One of these days, the Lord willing, I will have a 6.0 of my own.

Stewart

 

What were the problems that caused you to take to the dealer? I would be looking for a second opinion, too many back room friends.

 

Im no expert but I do turn my own wrenches on mine, so take this as just another guy with a 6.0 opinion. I would definitely get a few opinions first but like was mentioned above, you might lost the symptoms you had prior to this that made you take it to the dealer. That will help these guys help you. I Didn't know jack about Diesel engines prior to getting on here several years ago and I've changed my own oil cooler, injectors, stand pipes, dummy plugs and as soon as the holidays are over will be doing my own head gaskets. I just can't afford to pay those kind of labor costs. Anyway, if that's not an option keep searching for mechanic that knows the 6.0.
dont let someone sell you on " bulletproofing" your 6.0 and think that you'll forever be trouble free. Depending on what you'll be using it for will depend on how far you want to go with it. There are tons of 6.0s out there that are still going strong without "bulletproof" accessories on them. Maintenance is the key.
Back to your truck.. I would get a oasis report form the dealer and that might give you an idea of the trouble it's had before and what it's had done to it. Sometimes a failed EGR cooler can give indications of blown gaskets. I would also troubleshoot to see if the oil cooler is bad. To do that you need a scan guageII or a app like torque pro to get some numbers and go from there.

People a lot smarter than me will chime in for sure. This is the best forum out there for help. I promise that!

 

Anyone that will lift an X cab for studs for less than 2500 labor,, prob shouldn't be touching it. So let's run down some numbers.

Labor. 2500
Studs. 450
Headgaskets. 400
Machine shop. 1000 (any less than this and I'd question how thorough they were)
Rocker box gaskets. 60
6.4 banjos n washers. 20
6.4 push tubes. 70
Back head plugs. 20
Blue spring. 65
Coolant. 100
Oil dip stick oring. 5
Dummy plugs. 25
Ebp adapter n tube. 25
Exhaust manifold hardware. 60
Fuel filters. 25
Glow plug wires 130 (both sides)
Glow plugs. 100
HFCM drain plug. 20
Injector orings. 45
Intake elbow gasket. 5
Oil n filter. 100
Oil cooler. 350
Oil filter base orings. 15
Stc fitting 05 n up. 65
Turbo hardware. 15

That's all I can think of right now. So add this up. This is JUST Headgaskets. There's a whole other list for engine swap. Id call Asheville engines LONG before calling performance machine. Jmho