I just purchased my first super duty.

I have always had 150s up until now.

I started this process looking at Excursions because I think they are awesome, but between the 7.3 people thinking their have platinum, and the 6.0 possible issues & over all maintenance requirements for a diesel, I started wavering. I looked for V10 Excursions, but in the end I just don't want to give up a truck.

I looked a three 250 CC SB super duty trucks before I purchased.

a 2011 Lariat w/ 6.2 and 101K: 1 owner, but the driver must have been a big boy because that seat was trashed.

A 2010 King Ranch w/5.4 and 106k: It had 4 owners and was also 'beat down' on the front seats.

A 2011 XLT w/6.2 and 68k: It was a one owner; purchased from the dealer who took it for a trade. It was serviced regularly during the 5 years it was owned. The guy buys a new truck ever 5 years; and uses the truck to tow his boat to the lake in the spring and back home in the fall. It really is nice.

The XLT was what I purchased. It has some nice features that I wanted too: locking rear axle like the FX4; 6spd automatic transmission w/manual options; tow mirrors; brake controller; blue tooth, synch, rear backup sensors, NO moonroof; steering wheel radio/phone controls; tailgate step w/stripper pole; power pedals; power slide rear window and cloth interior.

I end up with a super duty 2 years newer than my F150 with 1/3 less mileage. I had to kick some cash on top of what I sold my 09 F150 for, but I am satisfied with my nused truck.

I like the power and sound of the 6.2! Plus oil changes more in line with my 09 from a cost/frequency perspective.

If I read the manual correctly, it takes the same oil filter as my 5.4?

PICs to follow if the rain ever stops.

 

Congratulations! Sounds like a great truck.
Yes, the filter is the same.

 

I was following your thread over in the excursion forum, I think this was a good choice for your needs.

 

I am pretty sure you will like your truck. I have owned my 2011 F250 6.2L for 3yrs. According to my MPG indicator on the dash say I am getting 14.8 in the city, 17.0 I tow a 24 foot car hauler, the MPG while towing is 9-10 MPG. When I bought my it had 32,000 but now it has 78,500.
I researched the diesel option and I couldn't justify the extra maintenance cost and at the time diesel price was $4.75 a gal.

 

Congratulations! I just bought a new one, but I should've got it five years ago! Live and learn.

 

Thanks, I hope I did not make a mistake with this truck...

I was driving home and got on I95 to stop somewhere first. It was driving fine but then I drove over an expansion joint and the front of the truck started to shake violently. I had to pull over and stop for it to settle. It was a bit unerving. I thought I was losing a wheel. I could not find anything wrong so I started driving again. It did not happen again, but it has me very concerned.

I called my BIL who works on super duty trucks. He was very nonchalant about it and said they call it death shake. He says it happens to some gas super duties. I called the dealer who is pretty far from me, and told them I was not driving it back to them but they were to come get it. After a series of serious conversations they told me to take it to my mechanic and they would take care of it.

My BIL's dealer only works on super duty trucks so it is going there.

Has anyone heard of, or experienced this?

Is it really a thing?

I hope I did not just buy a turd.

 

I've heard it to be common on the 05 and up trucks. Never experienced on any of mine, but lots of info on it if you research it on here.

 

Known as "death wobble", happens to coil sprung solid axle Ford and Ram. It is not limited to gas motors, it has to do with front end parts that usually need replacing or tightening.
I had it happen on a Cummins and on my 6.0 powerstroke. I feel it is a pretty rare problem on the SD compared to Ram. It was years ago on my '06, but I think my track bar was loose for some reason. I never had the problem again. There are aftermarket track bars that help fix this problem too.

 

Sorry for the hijack, OP. How are you getting 14.8 in the city? I have a 2011 f250 Lariat CC SB and the best I've seen on it is 12.8 and that's driving like a senior.

 

Truck passed MD state inspection. Work to address the death shake uncovered a belt issue in the left front tire. So, tires pass inspection, but still need to replace them. Great!

At least I know the issue is not the ball joints, sway bar, steering stabilizer, or other front end component.

This just consumes some 'mad' money for bed liner & cover, and seat covers.

 

I too drive like a grandma. I do a lot of coasting when i come up to red lights, I only drive 10 miles each way to work. Now I have never figured out if that gauge in the dash is true or not.

I guess now it is time to search this forum to see what other ppl are saying about the display if it is true or not.

Rancho 9000 Series shocks will be going to tomorrow or Friday

 

I have never experienced the death wobble with my truck. I'm at 13.4 mpgs over 27,000 miles. I did find on the highway 16 is possible if you can drive 60 or less. It's really hard to drive that slow.
Congratulations on the new truck!

 

I would put a new steering stabilizer on it regardless. It won't fix the underlying issue but will mask it and it isn't very costly. Assuming everything else is fine, you may have to go with an aftermarket caster kit. Some Super Duty' are more acceptable to this due to wear on the parts even though it may be within limits. Just my $.02.

2005 Ford F250 Crew Cab 5.4l 3 valve

 

When I had my 05 F250 had the famous death wobble. Replace the steering stabilizer and it went away. I would still look into the steering stabilizer like mentioned alread

 

Thanks, I trust my BIL who works on Super Duty trucks only and has dealt with this in the past. I will ask him again about the steering stabilizer.

He remembers when there was no recommended way to address this from Ford. He says eventually the recommendation came to use some slugs to adjust the caster and that has addressed the issue. He checked everything else out on the front end for me too, and says it is all good.