I'm planning a bit of a road trip, and I'd like to work on some of the common failure points to ensure we have a pretty smooth trip. On our trip last summer we did well, only lost an alternator and the fuel bowl heater shorted.

I'm looking for feedback on my list, some of this stuff I've done before on the excursion, some not. If I need a specialty tool or extra seals etc. please let me know!

F350 with mods listed in signature, 104k miles

1. Power steering hose, is it the pump to hydroboost hose that bursts?

2. hpop hoses, they're original, should I go ahead and replace? Anything needed besides the removal tool?

3. I haven't been under the valve covers, it runs fine, no hiccups or anything, should I do the .50 mod or replace the harnesses while I'm there? Worthwhile to replace glow plugs while I'm in there? I've done the .50 mod on the ex, but that's all I did there, looked overwhelming to me at the time under there so I closed it back up before I forgot where all the bolts went!

4. Turbo stuff.... I've got the ats housing, I just bought a set of up pipes, I've done them before on the ex, not looking forward to it... Thinking about getting a billet wheel and putting the stock housing back on while I've got the turbo off, might be able to sell the ats housing to recoup cost of the wheel? Also going to gut the pedestal while I'm that deep. I've got a turbo re install kit and everything needed for gutting the pedestal.

Anything else that's simple to do while I'm doing this stuff? Thoughts on what I'm doing?

 

I wouldn't get too fancy in preparation for a trip. If any one thing goes wrong, then you're in this frantic "I have a trip soon" mode. Hoses? They don't have a lot of miles, but they have a lot of years... so take a good look at them to see if they look or feel compromised in any way. They aren't expensive if you don't buy them on the road with the truck on the hook and the engine compartment drenched with slimy fluid.

The PS hose is between the pump and the brake booster - it is the only one with pressure. HPOP hoses are quick and easy with the removal tool. UVCH.... It's always a good idea to at least inspect how that's doing after all these years - but given the failure rate of the UVCH, a new set is cheap insurance. GPs? Naw. You don't have enough miles to warrant that.

That turbo mod needs time to troubleshoot and correct before the trip if things go sideways. Will you have that? When was the last time your transmission was maintained? The fuel bowl likely has tired seals, unless you replaced those when you addressed the heater. What is the condition of your spare and its hardware? When was the last time you greased your brake caliper slide pins?

You might surmise my theme here - I would make sure it's 100% before looking at going to the next level. At the very least, conducting these "chores" will familiarize you more with your truck - giving you a higher degree of confidence and comfort if things do happen on a trip.

 

I'm planning to do the work this month, which will give me a few months to evaluate before the trip. Last year I installed new boots the week before we left. The first "hill" i.e. overpass, I found that I hadn't centered one well and it blew off. Had to limp to next exit, I was glad to have a pyrometer which showed I couldn't give it much accelerator or it would have gotten hot.

Yes the transmission had a full flush 35k miles ago when I installed the 6.0 cooler. Planning on a dump and fill but I didn't mention it.

Last summer when the fuel bowl heater shorted I unplugged it, taped it up, and haven't done anything since. I did rebuild the fuel bowl about 2 years ago so all the seals are in fine shape. Spare is a recent take off with some decent tread left and not horribly old. Replaced rear calipers last summer, definitely a great idea to grease up the fronts.

 

Perhaps radiator hoses, thermostat, and serpentine belt? Shoot, those are cheap enough and small enough to where you could also just purchase them and take them with you if there is no time to get them installed (and take extra coolant as well if not changed pre-trip).

Perhaps an oil/filter change and a fuel filter change? If near their time, I would do it early enough to have several days of driving BEFORE the trip just to make sure there are no post-change leakers.

 

Check the pulleys, pay special attention to the idler pulley.