6.4 Daily driver?
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6.4 Daily driver?
I am looking into a 2008 f250 6.4 as a daily driver and I'm looking for advice and thoughts from people who have owned diesels because it would be my first. I have a 2004 f250 5.4 triton and it's been a champ, currently at 268k miles but I'm looking to get into diesels as the 5.4 is nearing the end of it's life. The 6.4 I'm looking at has 140k miles and was well maintained.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Oregon
No way. A 6.4 as a daily driver is about the worst mistake one could make. Keep your current truck or go 6.7 if you want a newer diesel. The DPF system hates being used under low load like daily driving. It is the most common cause of 6.4's dying.
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Joined: Jul 2013
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All you need to do is google 6.4 issues, problems, etc
all the stories are true.
if I were to list all the potential problems I would run out of letters in the alphabet .
ford decided 8 months after introduction that putting an emissions system on a school bus engine then fitting it into a truck was a mistake.
i personally would look for a low miles 6.8 or a 6.2
6.7’s are nice but I would be scared of a 2011,2012,2013.
all the stories are true.
if I were to list all the potential problems I would run out of letters in the alphabet .
ford decided 8 months after introduction that putting an emissions system on a school bus engine then fitting it into a truck was a mistake.
i personally would look for a low miles 6.8 or a 6.2
6.7’s are nice but I would be scared of a 2011,2012,2013.
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Fleet Mechanic
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OK, you say it was well maintained. Are you buying this from someone you know? If so would they be willing to lose a friendship over a truck sale? Are you getting a deal that you can't resist? If it was from someone you know and can somewhat verify that it has been taken care of and you like the truck then pull the trigger and get it if the deal is right. If it's a unheard of deal from a stranger then it would be better to pass on it. Me, I love a great deal but I can work on them myself. I couldn't afford to pay someone else on a lot of stuff I bought and repaired. There wouldn't be any profit and I wouldn't waste my time for that reason. So, unless you absolutely know the trucks history and the seller is someone that can be trusted I suggest you pass. If you can work on it yourself then you need to decide how much work you would want to be doing. I bought a F550 that I knew had a bad engine and I wasn't afraid of doing the work. I didn't realize the price of parts but that's my fault. I will still come out on it but not as much as I wanted to.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2013
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The long and the short is do your research. It was a three year engine run for a reason(s). Most wouldn't consider one unless they didn't know better. That said I have a friend with a gorgeous '08 6.4 that he's owned for seven or eight years? He's done crazy preventative maintenance on it and only pretty much uses it for towing. Daily drives a 6.2 gasser.
Youre reaching the realm of age where if that diesel motor has any serious issues arise it will become a money pit.
Youre reaching the realm of age where if that diesel motor has any serious issues arise it will become a money pit.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
I would rather daily drive a 6.0. I sold my two 6.4 trucks for a reason! Now they are someone else's financial pain.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Rock Hill, SC
I have a 2011 250 CC, 6.7 deleted as a daily driver and once a month camper tractor pulling 9000 lbs about 400 miles. Most days it will run long enough to get to nice oil temp of around 197. No problems, 92k. All the negativity about 1st year 6.7l means nothing when you can find a good one, delete it, and take care of it and don't hot rod it. Very light tow tuner only. Lucas in every fuel fill and well maintained. Change oil every 5k and always use 5w20 Rotella 6T, after 5k the oil is still light amber. On the other hand I also have a buddy with a 2009 6.4l bone stock with 299k on the clock he uses to pull his boat and haul his trash that runs perfect - in previous life the truck was a mainly highway commuter vehicle for a NC DOT Exec. So maybe it's the water in the area!
Last edited by Stevereeves; May 14, 2019 at 08:32 PM. Reason: Add info
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I have a 2011 250 CC, 6.7 deleted as a daily driver and once a month camper tractor pulling 9000 lbs about 400 miles. Most days it will run long enough to get to nice oil temp of around 197. No problems, 92k. All the negativity about 1st year 6.7l means nothing when you can find a good one, delete it, and take care of it and don't hot rod it. Very light tow tuner only. Lucas in every fuel fill and well maintained. Change oil every 5k and always use 5w20 Rotella 6T, after 5k the oil is still light amber. .
ford calls for 10w30 if not towing or using b5 thru b20
and either 5w40 or 15W40 if towing or using b5 thru b20
if your oil is still Amber after 5000 miles it’s not cleaning out your engine .