Been wanting an Excursion for about 20 years and finally pulled the trigger on one. 2003 Limited with a 6.0 and 144k. Runs fairly well, temp deltas running about 2* at idle and cruising bumping up on 8 during hard acceleration but come back down fairly quickly. Will tackle the EGR quickly as the gasket is leaking (exhaust not coolant). Weeps and seeps but oil not running out of anywhere and guy said doesn’t really use much oil in 5k. Was his 4th 6.0 and sounded knowledgeable and knew all the things I’ve read about on the forums so feel like he probably took pretty good care of it over the last 5 years pulling his boat. LOOSE steering, will tackle that in the morning at the gearbox to start. Cruise not working currently, found lots of great info to troubleshoot that. Need to order a OBD Bluetooth to get forscan going to fix rapid blink with the LEDs. Rocker rust on DS but should be repairable. Minor dings and cosmetic issues but easy to overlook on a truck that can legally buy beer 🤣
6” Rize lift
5” turbo back exhaust
35 Toyo MT that will stay until their worn out

 

great looking ex. The window rain guard better be in the mail!

 

Looks like a great rig, welcome to this side of the forum. Lots of Ex knowledge here, add the tow mirrors to your list for the complete package.

 

didn't even notice the wimpy mirrors. OP get mirrors too!

 

We called those the "Dog ear" mirrors in the early days of the Excursion. We called the tow mirrors the "Bullwinkle" or "Jelly Bean" mirrors.

 

yes wife loves windows cracked and fresh air so they are on order 🤣

 

I love the rain gaurds too, keep the passenger window cracked when someones over there so I don't have to breathe their hot breath

 

Driving through hill country of PA today and the temps were about 14-16 different on the couple big uphill pulls. Started coming right back down once there wasn’t the load uphill but I know this is not good. Have an EGR kit on the way but I’m assuming these deltas mean it’s already too late for that. Was really hoping to get another month or 2 of DD (not towing with this until I’m confident in the 6 and get it studded) since we are on the road 2,000 miles from my shop. Also coolant bounces from 180-200 so thinking thermostat may need to be replaced though I thought they fail open so temp should just keep rising. Anyway, got into this at a good price and knowing based on test drive and talking to PO that it was likely on the edge so have new engine (ahem junkyard) built into what I budgeted (purchase plus maintenance) so not one of those “OMG I bought a 6.0 and now I’m screwed” posts. Just letting everyone come on the journey. FYI changed the title to reflect that I will just post all my trials and tribulations here 😂

 

Was having intermittent issues with the air filter light and reset button, turns out most of the air piping has DK stamped all over it. PO said he put the intake on himself. Apparently DK is crap (please correct me if I’m wrong, never heard of them as a truck parts supplier before but this is my first diesel) due to PO stating less than 15k on the intake since installed last year and filter is trashed and collapsing under the pull of the turbo. Replaced with K&N 4” universal and runs great, no light and got 19 MPG on the way from Maryland to NY. Maybe even better than that since phone GPS Speedo app shows Speedo reading 5% slow compared to app. Also reading up more on the temps and not as worried as I was before, still may order an oil cooler prior to the big NY to MT trip but trying to research how much of a hassle to do in essentially a gravel lot with only hand tools and limited battery tools (at an RV park currently)

 

19 mpg? dayum. I average around 13 with my ex on 35's. Do you know if yours was regeared? Any tune?

And yea, if your oil and coolant temp are within 10* or so on a long highway pull then your oil cooler is not clogged....yet.

 

Does have a canned sct tuner intake and turbo back exhaust. I think biggest cause for the good mileage was 250 miles nonstop wife following me in our class A at 60mph. Looking to fix EGR for good next week. Also a new set of issues to check out after having it for a week, seem to get an intermittent long crank issue, starts fine cold but when warm it’s taking extra cranks.

little TLC yesterday greasing all front ent joints, PO had 90 elbows on all zerks for som stupid reason so after broke the second one trying to contort the gun nozzle swapped all to straight screw in.

also have a rough idle to diagnose, seems to surge just a bit (50-70 rpm on the sct) so not sure if it’s related to another problem though would make sense. alternator which PO said is new seems to be acting up, overcharging causing battery light to come on occasionally and all interior and exterior lights to surge bright and dim, spikes up to about 15.5 then as fast as you look back down in 13s. Going to check connections tomorrow. Maybe both related when alternator locks in pulling rpm down and brightening lights 🤷‍♂️ the joys of an older truck, still love it though.

 

Tightened and pushed down battery cables and that fixed both alternator and idle issues, until I started driving then intermittent problem as I went around town. Assuming that means battery cables need replacing as I jostled them around to clean before clamping back down.

 

Got back to the campground from doing bottom paint on the boat with just enough light to get an oil change done. PO said would be due in 500 miles, drove 4 and man that oil is black as night and the filter was gross. New motor craft filter and o ring on the cap (also came with second identical o ring that I couldn’t find a place for so guess I have a spare. Ran out of light so will try to do fuel filters in AM before head to the marina and then off to MT on Wednesday. Really wish could have gotten EGR delete done for the big trip but oh well.

side note, battery/alternator issue resolved with just cleaning and tightening terminals plus dielectric grease. Also temps are not nearly as far apart now for some odd reason, running 4-8 degrees apart since voltage issues fixed. So that’s a plus.

finally, cruise still not working, installed new brake valve, didn’t work, all fuses good, PO has all LEDs on taillights, going to spend $10 and swap to incandescent to see if that may be issue, fingers crossed.

 

Well, pretty sure I lifted the head today, does not appear I fully blew the gasket. changed truck to stock tune shortly after we got it (PO had canned act tow on it), temps have been bouncing around but for most part stayed 8-12 deg. Anyway had planned to head out on a long road trip today for a funeral. About 2 hours in truck started a consistent black puff under any minimal load and I thought ok maybe an injector going, then pulling a hill and all the sudden both temps took off within seconds, by the time I pulled over oil was at 240 and coolant at 220. No puff of smoke and didn’t puke coolant, but we turned around and engine ran like crap all the way back, temps were a consistent 14-18 different and engine labored to hold speed above 50. In that 45-55 range in 5th gear it bucked like it had a misfire or I had concrete in half a front tire. Won’t make the funeral but hopefully haven’t cratered the engine yet.

 

If there's no excessive pressure when you remove the degas bottle cap, I'd think elsewhere. Doesn't mean you're outta the woods for a head gasket............but, one of the first things that needs to be done on an unknown 6.0 is pulling the oil cooler and either cleaning it or replacing it. I'd start there, because you should do it whether your head gasket is bad or not.

No coolant in oil? And no excessive pressure in the degas bottle? If no to each, it's prob not the HG. Now ya just have to do regular 6.0 ***** before ya do anything else.

Leave the truck in a safe place and get a rental car, go to the funeral. Don't be the guy who lets his 6.0 interfere with life, it'll be there when you're done with the funeral and then you'll fix it.