At the check-out stand, I still open the box to be sure that some @ has not swapped the filter.

 

I finally got around to the transmission fluid dump and filter change. Have to say that was the cleanest and easiest time I ever had with a transmission. I ended up using a full 8 quarts to get back to full, I put in 7 quarts and then ran it, then brought it to full. The last time I changed the fluid in my C6 on my 70 f250, I ended up drilling a hole through the pan and draining it. Then pulled pan and added a drain plug. The 2006 was way easier.

 

Yes it's so much easier than trying to drop one end of a pan to let the fluid out over the end.

 

Since only a little less than half the fluid was changed, is this procedure good enough for every 30,000 miles? Or, at some point would you take it somewhere and have the whole system flushed.

 

I do three sets of "drain and fill" procedures every 20k-30k miles. I drive for say 40-50 miles in between just to ensure the fluid is well mixed.

It has only worked for 239k miles.

 

 

Did you change the tranny cartridge filter near the radiator? If you do, be sure to use an air wrench to spin it off to prevent torquing the housing too much by hand wrenching.

I utilize an after market adapter plate on top of the oil cooler to back flush it out the radiator hose when I do a coolant flush. Keeps my oil cooler clean. Learning how to disconnect the EGR hose and get the plate on and off takes a bit of practice and may not be for everyone.

Clean/inspect your EGR valve regularly to monitor cooling health and prevent problems. Getting it out is easy with the proper foot on a pry bar.

There is a (replacement) brass fuel filter drain plug with a knurled exterior to make removal by hand easy. It’s a Ford part.

I buy gallon jugs of Ford cetane enhancer to keep my injectors and exhaust clean. It’s not that expensive and makes it almost impossible for me to “roll coal.” There is a winter formula with anti-gel too.

I just finished a 6000 mile cross country trip with a 3500 lb. slide-in camper during the month of August (it was very hot!) and my engine oil and coolant temps were rarely ever more than 5 degrees apart. Being able to watch all my temps and pressures while driving is paramount to keeping me informed how the systems are working. I use DashBoss on my iPhone — which software you choose is less important than just having something. All my coworkers were worried about my “6 - uh-oh” breaking down on the road. I didn’t blink an eye, even at over 200K.

You sound like you found a nice truck. Don’t go nuts tuning it, ******* it and making it run hotter than it was designed to handle - that will go a long way to keeping it healthy. Over time you can do some upgrades and preventive maintenance to ensure it’s longevity. The 6.0 has some quirks, but it doesn’t require advanced electronics degrees to work on and it doesn’t require def.

 

Yes, I did change the small toilet paper roll filter during the fluid swap. I ended up putting a pry bar up in there to stabilize the filter canister while I broke it loose and then opposite side to tighten back down. Thanks for the other tips as well. Im going to start looking at some of the aftermarket software units. Also, no plans for upgrades. Plan is to keep it stock.

 

I had to work out of town for most of the week and after work today, I drained and filled the trans fluid again.

 

Coolant flush today since I wasnt working. Just hit 70000 miles. In another 3000 miles I will do a transmission fluid swap again.

 

Well, dang, nice to start my day seeing Sean's old posts. Miss that guy. I've not been here much for the last couple of years. Hope everyone else is doing well.

 

I’m still happy with my 6.7 - how are you doing?

 

It's been hard. Not in any way I have a right to complain about, just getting old, and losing so many friends. Seems like someone passes every month. And I hate to say it again, but I've never gotten over my dog. Tear in my eye every day. Triggered by so many things, because we did everything, went everywhere.

Like most, I've had hard times in my life, but for all the struggles, after every job I lost, after every woman who broke my heart, after every time money got tight, I always knew things would get better. And they always did. Every new job was better, every new woman was better, I picked myself up every time and was optimistic going forward. One only need read my misadventures in this forum to see how I persevered and overcame some crazy screw-ups, and always kept a smile.

After losing Brody though, I knew it would never get better. The 10 years we spent traveling around N. America were everything I could ever want. Now, I simply couldn't do that again if I wanted. Just knowing my best days are gone is a big adjustment. I know others here, guys old enough to drive 20+ year old trucks, have to be going through the same mess.

Otherwise, I should be happy. I'm healthier than most people my age (69 next month). Right now, I'm in the middle of putting a roof on my house by myself - and it's not an easy roof. Tear off two layers, re-deck all of it, then new shingles. And it's a steep 1 1/2 story. My neighbors are amazed seeing an old grey-haired man hauling plywood up that roof.

I got a vivacious Colombian GF (American citizen) who's literally healthier than anyone I know - does Zumba 5 days a week. We both are retired with sufficient income to never worry again. She bought a beautiful condo in Armenia, a beautiful city in the mountains, that we will be spending summers in to escape the Texas heat. I have a paid for house here, if I can just get it remodeled - the last "project" of my life. We'll prolly travel another couple of months of the year.

It's crazy, I should be very happy, but I'd rather be with just Brody, sleeping in WalMart parking lots and showering at truck stops. Memories are not my friend.

Geezus, why'd you get me started, lol. Prolly just the broken truck putting me in a bad mood.

 

Thanks for sharing man, I'd been wondering about you in the middle of the busyness of running a business.

It took me a good long while to get over my Pup Bandit who died of cancer August 2013. I cried....a lot and for years would always play "Amazing Grace" on YouTube on the anniversary of his death. I cried and grieved but life eventually got better. You have to face it head on and eventually you will heal. God bless you man

 

Thanks, Roger. I have healed at lot. Yeah, a tear every day, but it was non-stop tears for over a year. I never did fix that turbo leak on my truck - just lazy. I only use it for Home Depot runs and hauling trash to the dump. It's slow without the turbo, but I still get there. This new problem should be minor. I expect an injector blew a gasket. Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll be on the driver's side.

Got a friend to help this morning - latched on to my trailer and hauled it to the dump. That was the urgent need. He then pulled my truck back home, so I can take my time fixing it. I expect it's an injector.