Notices
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel 2003 - 2007 F250, F350 pickup and F350+ Cab Chassis, 2003 - 2005 Excursion and 2003 - 2009 van

6.0L big problems?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 01:21 PM
  #1  
Bzfoster's Avatar
Bzfoster
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
6.0L big problems?

Howdy. This is my first time ever posting to any forum of any type. I've tried to research and answer my questions without posting another problem that has already been answered somewhere on here, but I couldn't locate it. Anyway, I have an 04 6.0L with 257,000 miles. It has head studs and has apparently had the egr delete. However, I just acquired this truck (knowing it had issues), I just didn't know how deep the rabbit hole went. There is oil in the coolant reservoir, runs with hardly any power at all and blue smokes like crazy when driving. I climbed under it and it really looked like the truck was leaking fuel from the rear of the head gasket on the driver's side head. I started it just a minute ago and unscrewed the cap on the coolant tank trying to see if it was a blown head gasket but the oil/water mixture was like a calm pond in there, not the first bubble. What do I do? I am at a loss diagnostically on whether or not to tear it down to see if the head gasket is blown. Could there be another problem that would cause the loss of power and smoke and leak from the cylinder?
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 01:47 PM
  #2  
TooManyToys.'s Avatar
TooManyToys.
Hotshot
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,823
Likes: 3,103
From: Jersey Shore
Pictures of the coolant soup would help and what does it smell like?
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 01:54 PM
  #3  
Bzfoster's Avatar
Bzfoster
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Smells like oil I suppose?
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 02:10 PM
  #4  
TooManyToys.'s Avatar
TooManyToys.
Hotshot
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,823
Likes: 3,103
From: Jersey Shore
There's no easy diagnosis of a modern diesel other than a rod through the side of the block with proper monitoring tools and a lot better view of that coolant. Looking for bubbles is not a good tell. Considering you have coolant contamination and blue smoke when driving tells of a major issue, but it could be singular like a head gasket or multiples like oil cooler gasket and cylinder issue. Without the prior history and knowing the quality of the work is going to require a lot of work to sort.

How much work and money are you willing to go through?
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 02:18 PM
  #5  
Bzfoster's Avatar
Bzfoster
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Plenty of work... Minimal dollars. Ha! I've just discovered it has a cracked fuel filter cap on top of the engine so I'm willing to mark that under temporary consideration that it is the culprit of the fuel source its leaking pretty heavily. Previous owner said his shop diagnosed a bad oil cooler but that's all he said was wrong due to lack of power and it burning oil I believe now that it may not be a gasket at all, but worn rings. I'll post a video of just the truck cranking with no start. Will the lope in engine rotation point to low compression?
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 02:42 PM
  #6  
Bzfoster's Avatar
Bzfoster
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Copy and paste this in your url and see if this gives any indication about cylinder compression.
https://youtu.be/8WwQewaJMag
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 03:47 PM
  #7  
TooManyToys.'s Avatar
TooManyToys.
Hotshot
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 17,823
Likes: 3,103
From: Jersey Shore




Not that healthy. Good guy to follow, although he is deceased.





 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 03:54 PM
  #8  
mattdoc88's Avatar
mattdoc88
Laughing Gas
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 817
Likes: 6
I just listened to your crank video and that's bad... It's not compressing on one cylinder.
Scan it for codes and see if you get an injector balance code on one cylinder. That will tell you which side to start on.
When mine sounded like that, I had a melted piston, scored cylinder wall, and burned exhaust valve in cylinder 7... the engine had to come out. You might get luckier on that front, maybe only have to pull 1 head, but you have other issues too, with the fluid mixture.

Here's how mine cranked... Sorry but this sounds the same as yours...
https://youtu.be/GOSrVP2_XB4
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 04:13 PM
  #9  
Bzfoster's Avatar
Bzfoster
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mattdoc88
I just listened to your crank video and that's bad... It's not compressing on one cylinder.
Scan it for codes and see if you get an injector balance code on one cylinder. That will tell you which side to start on.
When mine sounded like that, I had a melted piston, scored cylinder wall, and burned exhaust valve in cylinder 7... the engine had to come out. You might get luckier on that front, maybe only have to pull 1 head, but you have other issues too, with the fluid mixture.

Here's how mine cranked... Sorry but this sounds the same as yours...
https://youtu.be/GOSrVP2_XB4
Bummer. It's exactly like mine. The only scanners I have are an obdII code reader and my sctx4 programmer both of which say that zero codes are being thrown. I have a gauge to test compression, can I check compression with the engine fully assembled as it sits?
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 04:39 PM
  #10  
mattdoc88's Avatar
mattdoc88
Laughing Gas
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 817
Likes: 6
Get the adapter to hook your tester up to the glue plug holes and you can.
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 04:48 PM
  #11  
Bzfoster's Avatar
Bzfoster
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mattdoc88
Get the adapter to hook your tester up to the glue plug holes and you can.
Perfect. Thanks! I'll check back in with results after I get it done. Forums are awesome!
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 05:24 PM
  #12  
mattdoc88's Avatar
mattdoc88
Laughing Gas
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 817
Likes: 6
Just a warning, you'll probably break the glow plugs harnesses getting them off the glow plugs. They're just known for that. Amazon harnesses are cheap though. I've been using them for a year with no issues.
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 05:25 PM
  #13  
Bzfoster's Avatar
Bzfoster
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mattdoc88
Just a warning, you'll probably break the glow plugs harnesses getting them off the glow plugs. They're just known for that. Amazon harnesses are cheap though. I've been using them for a year with no issues.
Okay, great. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2018 | 09:27 PM
  #14  
xcrsp440's Avatar
xcrsp440
Fleet Mechanic
5 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 94
There are inexpensive apps that will read Ford diagnostic codes. Check out Forscan and get a wireless obd2 adapter. Perhaps $35 total cost. Reads everything you need.
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2018 | 02:55 PM
  #15  
Yahiko's Avatar
Yahiko
Fleet Owner
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 27,307
Likes: 549
From: Spanaway
A few things.
If you think you have oil and colant mixing then pop the oil filter out and look at what you have in there. Nice oil or brown/black milkshake?
The next one I should of made the first one. You always want to use a socket on both the oil filter and the fuel filter. NEVER use the 1/2" square. If you do it will crack.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:57 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE