Okay so let me start by saying this is a very good problem to have. My grandfather has decided to give me his 2004 Ford F250 Lariat with the 6.0L diesel for free. It is in amazing condition on the inside. He has used this for hauling 5th wheelers, but has always kept in well maintained from what I can tell. Okay now here's the bad: it has 233,000 miles on it and the reason he is giving it to me for free is that the engine is shot on it and it needs a new one. So now to explain my personal situation. I am in college and busting my a** off to not graduate with debt. I currently have a 2005 Nissan Murano with 140,000 on it that has been reliable to me so far. When I first heard the news I thought it would be an easy decision, just sell the Nissan for roughly 5,500 then use that and maybe have to pay a tad bit out of pocket to put a used 6.0L in the truck, but everyone has me scared of the reliability of the 6.0. I am just very scared to do the engine switch, then be stuck with a $5,000 repair in 6 months. So I'm looking for some advice here. Should I just get a used 6.0 from a different ford? Is there another type of engine I could drop in it? Just sell it as it is and not get into it(I don't want to disappoint my grandpa)? I could spend at most $7000 on a new engine and install and that would probably be a stretch.

Thank you guys in advance.

 

Also, I don't plan on hauling anything crazy. Just pretty much an every day driver. I would definitely be fine with downsizing the motor if that was an option.

 

Why do you think it needs a new engine?

 

It doesn't start/run and he said he got some couple hundred dollar diagnostic test done, and the end result was that he needed a new engine.

 

No start doesn't necessarily mean it needs a new engine. Could just be a high pressure oil leak

 

I agree that is a possibility, but wouldn't the diagnostic test have shown that? I will have someone look at it before I just throw a new engine in there. But if is does need a new engine do you have any advice on my options?

 

Where you at in Iowa? There's a guy who runs a shop in Grain Valley, MO right outside Kansas City that would shoot you 100% straight, no BS. Definitely call him, combine that with reading here to see if the "needs an engine" diagnosis is even remotely correct.

Super Duty Service in Grain Valley, Mo

 

It depends. Did the shop that performed the test want to sell your Grandfather a new engine?

 

My opinion. For a daily driver college student.....stick with the Nissan. Love my 6.0 but it's not budget friendly and they weren't built to be a daily driver. Lots of people do. I know that. A used engine could eat your lunch financially. As well as all your spare study time if you end up having to put head gaskets or who knows what in it. Tell grandpa thanks anyway.

 

I agree 100 percent. In fact, if pap will let you have it anyway you could probably still get 5-7 k for it and use that to pay down your student loans. Keep driving the Nissan and get yourself a truck later on down the road.....gas preferably. Be financially smart here, its a rare thing to be said on this forum, but you can drive whatever you want when you become wealthy from the good decisions.
BTW, I got rid of my diesel a while back because it was a pain to maintain, and I hated driving without heat in the winter due to the insane warm up times.

 

Let me run this idea by you guys and see what you think. Sell the Nissan and use that to put the new engine in the truck(if that is really whats wrong). Then see how I'm feeling about the truck and if I'm not liking it then I could always trade it in at a dealership and probably get a nicer car than I already have now on an equal trade. The prices for these trucks are crazy.

 

Lets say you sell the Murano, put a new to truck engine in and it goes kaput! What will you do? Do you have the funds to get it back on the road? It won't be worth anything on trade in.

You best stick with the Nissan until you finish school! Wants over needs can make a man miserable if you don't have the means to get yourself out of the predicament you got yourself into!

 

Never in a million years did I think that I would come on to a Ford truck forum and say "Hey guys I just got a completely free ford f250 Lariat diesel in spectacular condition at least on the interior what do you think I should do?" and everyone is telling me to keep my crappy Nissan hahaha. But this has definitely been eye opening and I'm still not 100% sure what to do.

 

We know that a blown up diesel can be a money pit, and should only be tackled by someone with disposable income who wants a toy. While a 20 year old version of me would be putting on a lift kit while the motor was out for rebuild, adult me knows that a college student trying to stay out of debt would be making a suckers bet trying to fix a blown 6.0 and would quickly turn from a gift to a burden.
Good luck whatever you choose!

 

How close are you to graduating and getting a full time job? Any chance you can store it a year or two and then figure out the engine problem? If you'll have a better chance of using it after graduating then might be worth storing it. New ones are dang near cost prohibitive for youngsters and used ones are a big question mark. At least you know what you've got with this one...worst case is it needs a new engine.