Helped my 16 year old son buy a 2008 6.4 last month. Very nice truck, very little rust and has a lot of extras. 120K miles, truck runs excellent. Deleted. Truck appears to have been taken care of. Since we bought it we are learning more about the truck (I did notice some of this before we bought it). The engine is leaking oil from the front and rear. There is a slight valve or lifter tap. We've noticed once or twice a few air bubbles in the de-gas bottle when you shut the truck off. I just took it to a reputable Ford diesel repair shop and they gave me the bad news: Engine needs to come out to fix everything. They claim the head gasket(s) is on the way out, and it will need new rocker assemblies, and the oil leak repairs require the engine to be flipped upside down.

My ask to you guys: should I sell it and try to get my money back, or drive it and wait and see what happens?

I'd like some opinions on how long we have before we are FORCED to perform this work. We can live with oil leaks.


thanks!

 

It all depends on:

• How much $ you have in it.
• How much you're willing to put in it
• And especially, how long do you plan to keep it?

If this is THE truck that you foresee having for the next 100k+ miles (and your son will take good care of it), put the repair $ into it and enjoy it. On average, it has less than 10k miles per year and lots of life left on the shortblock. Getting the major repairs done with the engine out can also get you the opportunity to fix or maintain smaller items that would otherwise cost more in labor. Fixing it at a reputable shop will also start a relationship with a trustworthy mechanic. Once done, you'll know the engine is solid for years to come.

Selling is always an option but be realistic about it.

• How much $ do you have into it?
• How much $ are you willing to lose to cut ties with the truck?
• What will you replace it with?

Money aside, the last question can/will tell what the next vehicle and potential issues are. Weigh out needs vs. wants for a 16 year old driver. As a parent of an upcoming driver, my focus is on reliability/durability in a vehicle (not judging your vehicle choice at all).

I know this post probably didn't help as it was mostly rambling.

I think if it were me, I'd lean on the side of keeping what you have, biting the bullet and getting the engine right. You'll have a solid truck for years to come.

 

Thanks, and yes all questions I am asking myself. My son worked and saved and paid for 85% of this the truck himself, so he has a lot of personal investment, and undoubtingly will take care of the truck.
This is his dream truck, and he has earned it.

I am leaning towards just running it for a while and see what happens while he (we) save more money.

 

When I was sixteen back in the late 60's I bought my first car. My dad told me that I was responsible for it. He taught me mechanics and when something broke he was there to show me how to fix it but made me do the work. This might be a good time to teach your son the mechanicals of a truck and engine. It has made me a good living working on others vehicles. You have a vast database of knowledge in the posters here on this forum. Use it and learn how to do that work yourself. Everyone here will do what they can go guide you through the repairs. It would be a good teaching moment. JMO

 

we actually are gear heads, spend a lot of time in the garage. My son made much of his money to buy this truck from his car detailing business.
With that said- we are not equipped to raise the cab and do these repairs.

 

Do you have room to install a gantry?

-- Dave

 

I'll be the downer. Its a 6.4, get rid of it while you can. It is by far the worst light duty diesel engine available, especially for a 16 year old kid. That truck will do nothing but suck his wallet dry for as long as he keeps it. Last thing he needs at his age in this economy is to be broke all the time because of a vehicle. It may not be as cool as a diesel to him or his friends, but a gasser F150 or possibly F250 would be much better for someone his age if he absolutely has to have a truck. Far more reliable, much less expensive to fix when things break.

 

I'm sorry to tell you this, and you may already know, but the 6.4L is the worst diesel that Ford or anyone else ever in recent memory put into a pickup. There are many diesel shops that refuse to work on them. The Truck is fantastic, but Ford only put the 6.4L into its pick-ups for 3 years for a reason. That being said having it deleted is a plus. It sounds like at least heads might need to come off and to do that you have to lift the cab off the frame. If it does need the heads off take a very good look at everything. These engines had all kinds of issues. I'm not trying to be negative, but I've heard nothing good about the 6.4L. Good luck with it and I hope you have better luck than most have with this engine.

 

What screams at me is this.....I have pimples older than 16 years.
I've raised 4 of these beast
What they wanted at 16 was not even to be found in a remote jungle, at 19.
Hate to see you dump lots of money into a already tight budget to only suffer more loss down the road.
The big question what can you do to keep it viable until then and hopefully not kill it all together and be reduced to selling it for scrap value? ?

I sure don't miss those days....even tho I miss my energy

 

^^^^^Out of all replies to this thread, THIS is the best advice.

As a Ford dealership technician myself, you couldn't GIVE me any Super Duty truck from Ford that has the 6.4L engine in it, let alone being expected to pay money for one to purchase used. That engine was the LAST Navistar engine to be put into a Ford light duty pickup just prior to the finalization of their divorce. And in my opinion, that was three years too many, that this engine was installed in Ford trucks. From cab bolts that spin the cage nut inside the bodies, to EATING primary drive belt tensioners and radiators, to prematurely wearing rocker arm tips, to failing roller lifters (which requires COMPLETE engine disassembly to replace the cam), as well as cracking pistons from over fueling..... just to name a few common failures, should be enough to make anyone want to look elsewhere.

As much as I appreciate the argument that buying a 'fixer upper' for a first ride is an excellent way for gearhead father and son to bond, THIS vehicle is NOT it. The common and frequent internal parts failures these engines have, will not only deplete all your hard earned funds in the cost of the parts (and may even put you deep into the red as well), but much of your down time as well, in the time it will take to perform said repairs if you choose to attempt to tackle them yourselves.

I strongly second the advice above, to dump it without further delay and get into a gas truck, if he absolutely just has to have a truck.

 

Try asking in the 6.4 engine section. I dont think the responses will be much different, but those are the guys running this engine. If anyone has the right answer for you it's them.

 

Cummins swap it.

 

Thanks for all the replies. We'll probably put it up for sale and see if we can get our money back.

 

A very wise decision. Tell your son to put all his hard earned money into something else that will reward him MUCH more.

 

I feel your pain. I did the same thing and bought a very clean and well taken care of 2009 6.4. 363 days later and over $7,000 invested in that time I walked away wounded but alive. NEVER AGAIN!! Also the fact that Navistar had there hands in this deal makes the parts even more expensive. I say sell and run, don’t look back.