So I have the opportunity to buy an 06 F350 Crew cab 4x4 dually with a 6.0L diesel that an older rancher has that's been sitting in his pasture for close to 10 years.

The batteries are dead so I do not know the miles. The story I got was that he was driving it and the AC compressor froze up and took the serpentine belt. There are not too many mechanics in this part of Montana and he called all that he trusted and they were 10 months to a year out and one thing and another it just never went to the shop.

I've decided to see if it will fire up and if so, then make a decision whether or not to buy. I'll need to buy 2 new batteries and a serpentine belt (a short one to bypass the AC compressor if possible) and I was hoping to get some advice on what else I absolutely need to do before I try to fire it up. Obviously I don't want to put too much into it before I hear it run but I also don't want to ruin something that could be avoided.

I have very little experience with the 6.0L diesel so any and all feedback and advise is greatly appreciated

Thank You.

 

This is an engine that requires good knowledge of it and a person with very good mechanical skills, as it can be a deep-pocket engine, especially if you don't have the skills and desire to do something as deep as replacing the heads. Also, we are seeing a degradation in the quality of parts from Ford, which will be the best source for sensors and possibly other things. The entire industry, OE and aftermarket, has seen the decline of good replacement parts.

Mark (Bismic) has compiled a very good guide in the tech section of what to look for when checking out a truck with this engine.

You might want to take more than two batteries, as with it sitting that long, extended cranking may be necessary to get the oil into the HPOP injector circuit. Hopefully not. Ten years will also degrade the diesel fuel, so if there is an algae build-up, it can either prevent flow, and potentially damage the injectors. If I were really hot under the butt for the truck, I'd bring 5 gallons of diesel and five feet of 3/8" vinyl tubing and a hose clamp for it, so I could detach the inlet tube to the HFCM and run fresh diesel into the system when starting it for the first time. You may need a plug to prevent the fuel from draining out, so as not to PO the farmer. Not that it would be a bad thing - to drain it out.

My video shows the belt to get: Turn the volume down for the Queen/Bowe song.

 

Sitting in a pasture for 10 years.....walk away.

To even consider buy something like this would be pretty stupid IMO. These engines are troublesome when maintained, let alone sitting in the elements in a field.

I can presume the wiring is chewed to $h*t from rodents and that is just for starters.

Do yourself a favor...walk away my friend.

 

Thank you, that is very helpful. I'm not sure I want to do this though, I asked the same question elsewhere also and most responses where "don't walk away, RUN!" I need to think about this some more.

 

I was trying to be positive ...

 

Not a truck. It will be a hobby.

 

I resurrected a 6.0 , 2006 ,that had been sitting outside , for 6 years.
With the suggestions from 2 many toys , and others, it was rather painless .
in my case , the truck had 3/4 tank of fuel and what I did ,was look into the top fuel filter for contamination, found none .
2 fresh batteries , and 2 fully charged jump packs .
I cranked the engine with the factory jumper wire on the passenger side of engine bay.
I cra ked in short bursts of maybe 20 seconds , stop for 10 , wash rinse and repeat, untill I saw oil pressure on the factory gauge.
then I used the key , and cranked it the same way a bit more , and it started.
in my case , the truck appeared to have been freshly serviced before it was parked .
oil was clean , fuel clean, filters appeared to be new.
it is always a challenge , that I was willing to take on . Truck runs perfectly , and only codes are for 3 glow plugs .

 

IMO - one of the worst possibilities is what was mentioned above - rodent damage (especially wires, but can even include other parts).

Embrittlement of plastic parts (especially wiring connectors) is a close second!

OEM sources for these components have essentially "dried up" and the aftermarket is often providing more cheaply made parts.
Such is the life of owning an old vehicle!

 

If the body and interior are in still in nice shape, it could be a good candidate for an engine swap.

Everything else aside from the engine is good stuff on those trucks. Coil spring Dana 60 front with lockouts from the factory, Dana 80 rear (on the DRW trucks, Sterling 10.5 in the SRW ones), disc brakes all the way around, best automatic transmission of the era (the 5r110 makes the famed Allison its b!tch in stock form), the interiors are also just a nice place to be with comfortable sets, and plenty of rear seat space, overall pretty great trucks that are just sorta let down by the 6.0.
...

 

The engine is great once all the issues are addressed, but that takes quite a bit of money. I paid $39.200 for my truck in 2004. Since then I have easily put in that much money not only in parts but labor. Luckily I have done everything to this truck including yanking the engine out to freshen it up. If you are paying someone you might as well mortgage your house for this Junk you're looking at IMO.

If you're savvy and REALLY mechanically inclined it may be a steal, but to be honest the truck you are looking at is probably suited for a scrap yard.

Save your money and find a drivable vehicle that has a reputation for being at least decent and currently on the road.

 

You'd think the guy would pay you to haul it off. Certainly worth less that parts value since you're out in the boonies. No more than $1000, if the body parts are all good. It's worth about $800 I'd guess from the crusher.

 

Listen to CommieCars.

He's owned more of these than 20 people combined.

 

Oh my, Joe. You're making me cry. I doubt anyone here has ever said that. I wouldn't even listen to me. My history here speaks for itself. I've certainly tore up more of these trucks than all these other guys combined. I was trying to tell him that if he could get it for free or, at most, a few hundred dollars, maybe he buys it. The best buyer is someone with a wrecked 6.0, if this one has good body parts. Buy it cheap, and if it doesn't start, salvage the body parts to fix your other truck.

 

 

I finally converted some checklists into one pdf document (good for checking out a purchase OR for troubleshooting). Attached.