6.0 vs 7.3 Excursion
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From: The heart of the heartlan
6.0 vs 7.3 Excursion
I own a 02 EX 7.3psd. It's a critical part of my daily work as a freelance cameraman. I've been very pleased with it but I've been enchanted with the much quieter 6.0psd and the smoother ride of the 04 Ex. My question to all who care to respond is what do we think of this new motor? I've read some troubling posts over in the 6.0psd forum. Can anyone share with me their experience with this motor in the newest EX? Thanks in advance 
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My experience has not been good. AAMOF, I'm going through the DSB on my 5/03 build 6.0 w/9000 miles to try and get Ford to buy it back. It's been one thing after another and now it's got a dead pedal ever since they replaced the turbo.
BTW, the motor is not quiet. Ford has turned off pilot injection, which is what makes all the modern diesels so quiet, off on ALL 6.0's. Seems it was causing them a lot of problems in other areas. If you find a quiet one on a lot somewhere and buy it, don't EVER let Ford work on it or they'll likely flash it and make it loud. That's happened to a LOT of us.
BTW, the motor is not quiet. Ford has turned off pilot injection, which is what makes all the modern diesels so quiet, off on ALL 6.0's. Seems it was causing them a lot of problems in other areas. If you find a quiet one on a lot somewhere and buy it, don't EVER let Ford work on it or they'll likely flash it and make it loud. That's happened to a LOT of us.
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Actually, the loss of pilot injection has not made me the happiest, but overall I LIKE my 03 Ex in everyway...
thought I had an oil leak and started to bring it to the dealer, but found the idiot savants at the Kwik Kar didn't tighten the drain plug after my last oil change...
thought I had an oil leak and started to bring it to the dealer, but found the idiot savants at the Kwik Kar didn't tighten the drain plug after my last oil change...
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From: Houston, Texas
I don't own a 6.0 X, but I'm between myself on getting one or not. I currently own a 7.3 X bought new. I think that most (not all) of the 6.0s problems have been worked out. The pilot injection was a really nice feature to quiet the engine down. But they never could get it to work right. But like Jeb said, if you can find a quiet one, don't ever let the dealership touch it. All they'll do is fix something that isn't broken.
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
Originally Posted by Toreador_Diesel
I think that most (not all) of the 6.0s problems have been worked out. The pilot injection was a really nice feature to quiet the engine down. But they never could get it to work right. But like Jeb said, if you can find a quiet one, don't ever let the dealership touch it. All they'll do is fix something that isn't broken.
And I really do not understand the search for a "quiet" diesel. OK, running around town with the windows down my 7.3 makes it a little hard to hear the radio, but at highway cruise speed, my X is as quiet as a gasser. Easily as quiet as the 8.1L 3/4 ton 'Burb that I drove. The X is a huuuuuuuuge improvement over my early '99 SC SD PSD. As 90% of my miles are highway miles pulling my trailer, highway noise levels are the most important to me. But with that brick front end and "Dumbo" trailer towing mirrors, you can only quiet the X down so much. Tire and wind noise are much more pronounced than the diesel noise at 65 mph.
As you saw above, this is my second 7.3. My '99 was perfect. No drips, leaks, blown hoses. I parked it in the same spot in my barn for 3-4 years. Come over and look at the concrete floor. Try to find any stains. No, not all diesels leak oil.
So far, my '03 7.3 is just as good.
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From: The heart of the heartlan
Wow, Thanks much to all for the quick replies. This is a fantastic site and a wonderful forum.
These problems with the 6.0 are pretty frightening and sound like trouble I don't need. It sounds like a situation that will be corrected with time and customer feedback. Judging from other threads in this forum it sounds to me like the Mighty X will live on for some time to come. I was thinking hard about trading in if this was reallly going to be the end of the line for the X. I owned two Suburbans before I made the move to the X. I was happy with both but happier with my Ford mostly because of the substantial increase in cabin size. My equipment fits so much better in the cargo area than in the Sub and the second row seating is like a limo compared to the Chevy. This is my first diesel vehicle to own though I worked as a Paramedic for 7 years and spent many 12 hour days in the cab of F350 type I ambulances. I'm quite accustom to the noise level of my 7.3 but my clients that I tote sometimes are not. That's what struck me about the much quiter cab of a 6.0 powered X and the much improved ride.
I'm thinking now that it might be wiser to keep my 7.3 get the gauges, predator and exhaust and let the clients enjoy my amped up stereo.
These problems with the 6.0 are pretty frightening and sound like trouble I don't need. It sounds like a situation that will be corrected with time and customer feedback. Judging from other threads in this forum it sounds to me like the Mighty X will live on for some time to come. I was thinking hard about trading in if this was reallly going to be the end of the line for the X. I owned two Suburbans before I made the move to the X. I was happy with both but happier with my Ford mostly because of the substantial increase in cabin size. My equipment fits so much better in the cargo area than in the Sub and the second row seating is like a limo compared to the Chevy. This is my first diesel vehicle to own though I worked as a Paramedic for 7 years and spent many 12 hour days in the cab of F350 type I ambulances. I'm quite accustom to the noise level of my 7.3 but my clients that I tote sometimes are not. That's what struck me about the much quiter cab of a 6.0 powered X and the much improved ride.
I'm thinking now that it might be wiser to keep my 7.3 get the gauges, predator and exhaust and let the clients enjoy my amped up stereo.
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
Most 6.0 are very good. Say 95 are good, 5 are bad. The problem is, how to tell a good one from a bad one, because the bad can be very bad.
I say this because most of the problems with the early built '03s persist in late built 04s, although less frequently. This tells me that Ford does not know how to fix the problems. So you can still get a bad one, even in a batch of engines made this week.
I do not think that the 6.0 will be sufficiently fixed prior to the demise of the X. If you want a newer X, the '05 will have an upgraded gas V-10 and the TorqShift tranny.
Don't bet on there being an '06 X.
I say this because most of the problems with the early built '03s persist in late built 04s, although less frequently. This tells me that Ford does not know how to fix the problems. So you can still get a bad one, even in a batch of engines made this week.
I do not think that the 6.0 will be sufficiently fixed prior to the demise of the X. If you want a newer X, the '05 will have an upgraded gas V-10 and the TorqShift tranny.
Don't bet on there being an '06 X.
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by jschira
Most 6.0 are very good. Say 95 are good, 5 are bad. The problem is, how to tell a good one from a bad one, because the bad can be very bad.
I say this because most of the problems with the early built '03s persist in late built 04s, although less frequently. This tells me that Ford does not know how to fix the problems. So you can still get a bad one, even in a batch of engines made this week.
I do not think that the 6.0 will be sufficiently fixed prior to the demise of the X. If you want a newer X, the '05 will have an upgraded gas V-10 and the TorqShift tranny.
Don't bet on there being an '06 X.
I say this because most of the problems with the early built '03s persist in late built 04s, although less frequently. This tells me that Ford does not know how to fix the problems. So you can still get a bad one, even in a batch of engines made this week.
I do not think that the 6.0 will be sufficiently fixed prior to the demise of the X. If you want a newer X, the '05 will have an upgraded gas V-10 and the TorqShift tranny.
Don't bet on there being an '06 X.
You only see the good ones going down the road
Sorry could not resist, and I own one!!!
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From: Valencia, CA
i jumped into a 04 EX with the 6.0 so far i have around 3k miles on it, it runs great! has lots of power good enough mpg specially the way i drive it, i luv it hopefully i dont run into those problems
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From: Houston, Texas
Restatement
Originally Posted by jschira
.......And I really do not understand the search for a "quiet" diesel. OK, running around town with the windows down my 7.3 makes it a little hard to hear the radio, but at highway cruise speed, my X is as quiet as a gasser.......you can only quiet the X down so much. Tire and wind noise are much more pronounced than the diesel noise at 65 mph......
The comment I made about the pilot injection on the 6.0 didn't pertain to finding or making a diesel engine quiet(er). What I meant by that, was how it created more problems than it was worth. Diesel engines will be loud no matter what anybody does. Again, I hope I didn't offend you with any of my comments. 
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Originally Posted by jschira
And I really do not understand the search for a "quiet" diesel. OK, running around town with the windows down my 7.3 makes it a little hard to hear the radio, but at highway cruise speed, my X is as quiet as a gasser.
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From: Mansfield, TX USA
I don't particularly want a loud diesel, it's just that I don't find the noise level on my 7.3 objectionable.
With all these farting ricers squirting by me everyday, on top of all the "no muffler-dual exhaust" gassers pickups, the noise that my truck is making is the least of my worries.
With all these farting ricers squirting by me everyday, on top of all the "no muffler-dual exhaust" gassers pickups, the noise that my truck is making is the least of my worries.
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