Ok, here's the situation:

Went in to my stealership yesterday for an oil change and a "Checkup". I had noticed some sluggishness and strong exhaust smell over the last few months. I wanted them to just check it out and their synthetic blend oil change is only $69.99...so what the heck...WELL...

When I pulled in and turned her off...she did not start! First time this has happened EVER. I was scared!

Fears somewhat realized. The mechanic tells me I need to replace my STC's and the dummy plugs on the truck because they are leaking/damaged. He also said I should replace my injectors because he said they are leaking slightly. I asked, "ALL EIGHT INJECTORS?" he replied YES and I started to imagine this guy is trying to clean my clock.

Stats:
2005 Ex 6.0 Limited
Headstuds, EGR delete, Tow Safe Tune by Innovative, Coolant Filter, Blue Spring Mod, FICM mod with Atlas 40, and meticulous oil changes, fuel filter care.

180,000 miles mostly around town and airport runs...(65 miles each way)

A couple of questions:

1. What should I expect to pay for the STC fittings and the dummy plugs replacement?

2. How many STC's are there? The advisor said "three" but I thought there were only two(Advisors are not mechanics, so I know they can give bad info at times).

3. Is there anything else I should be worried about while the mechanic is in there?

4. I am sure as heck not replacing all eight of my injectors if I don't have to, but if they are leaking, can they be rebuilt or re ringed or something? I have not heard of replacing all eight at one time if there isn't a major issue, but you tell me FTE!

5. What would you do if it was YOUR money and YOUR truck?

Thanks for always being there for me people!

 

Here is my opinion based on my recent experience. Get a second opinion.
My truck was running sluggish and it was taking longer to start. I have already had the engine gone through completely a of years ago. The mechanic said it was the HPOP. Picked the ex up drove home and now no start. Long story short it ended up being the o rings on the injectors that fixed the problem.

 

YES! I was wondering about the O rings on the injectors....if the injectors aren't bad, why replace when O rings could fix it? I think I need talk to the actual mechanic...

 

The other thing to check if you have an Insight or monitor is pull up your ICP psi. Once the ex got warm it struggled to hit 500psi. I would definitely check o rings first though, then go from their.

 

Prices will vary on parts/labor. The STC and dummy plug issue proved it needs to be done with the hot no start.

Do you have fuel in your oil?

To verify the injector operation, have them do a contribution/ balance test with a laptop. Have them run it with smoothing on, and off. Real problems are obvious on the graphic. Go from there.

 

I hate it when mechanics are so pompous they don't want to talk to their customers. Why do they think they don't need to talk? I have asked twice to talk to the mechanic and the service advisor keeps bringing me "messages" from the mechanic. I am going to stop them from working until I can go over and talk to this cat.

The messages I got recently are:

1. dummy plugs to be done

2. STC's are to be done

3. Injectors are "leaking" but I don't know what that means...is it O rings that are leaking? The service advisor has told me teice that the "Don't replace O-rings on injectors" I said WHY? He said he will talk to the mechanic and I said....I will see you BOTH on Monday.

 

OK, update:

Truck was tested by Master Diesel Mechanic(FWIW) and the flow test showed the stc fitting was leaking like a son of a gun. The testing showed the o rings at the top of the injectors were also leaking slightly(not like a son of a gun).

The stc's were replaced. The standpipes were replaced. The dummy plugs were replaced. Nothing else was replaced as far as I know.

More to come as I look into injector rebuild/re-o-ring

Thanks!

 

OK got my truck back and found a coolant leak around the small top coolant nipple. The Ford service writer was at first telling me I had a "Pinhole leak" in the MIDDLE of the inside of the radiator. My question to him was,"How do I all the sudden have a leak in my radiator?" And how did it appear on the INSIDE of my fan/shroud but I'm seeing coolant come out of the top of the radiator and spewing across the hood?

I am forcing them to repair/replace my radiator and I'm taking my truck and running away from this stealership. I hate lying...especially when it is so obvious to anyone with any common sense exactly what happened here.

I'm heading back to my old mechanics shop, even though the dealership in question is literally 2 miles from my home and the diesel shop I like is 35 miles away...it's just WORTH it!

 

I know the feeling man, I have a steelership about 1 mile (maybe 1.5) from my house, they didn't really help out much, granted it was with my Mustang, but missing a major safety issue and not catching a leak either, then having me buy and supply all the parts to them and making it a wash as far as cost/labour which would have worked out to being the same price if I had let them order the parts (just longer wait) was not right and just put me over the edge, but thankfully I have another Ford dealership which isn't bad (so far) that is about 10 miles away, but they don't try to rob me and kill me when I have them perform the works package on the Stang....


as for the Diesel shop I haven't had an opportunity to have them check out my truck yet but they are highly recommended by one of my work buds and they are also 34.5 miles away...but hey if they are as good as he says it is worth it!


As for the radiator, I would just say no thanks and RUN!!!

 

Found out the small nipple tube is EXACTLY what was damaged and the service advisor threw the mechanic under the bus for lying to him about the problem. I should have my truck back tomorrow and will take this as lesson learned...don't trust my stealership.

 

hmm, I woulda thrown both of them under my truck and said time to learn a thing or two about identifying the correct failed part, but thats just me....but hey I kinda expect that type of "I will throw the blame on someone else" BS from steelerships....

 

What is the build date of your motor. I'm wondering if you even have an stc fitting...

 

Injectors arent hard to do if you have the tools! i was having a loss of power had my technician check it had a few bad o rings and two injectors werent performing properly so i upgraded did it all my own and ive never done anything to a motor this size!