Hi. I'm looking for a F250 around the 85-86 vintage as a work truck. I've never had a diesel vehicle (other than a small tractor) before and don't know of a good diesel mechanic (yet). So I was hoping that some on this forum might be able to give me some pointers (I am fairly familiar with gas engines and general car/truck mechanics).

Any particular things to looks for or avoid on these older trucks?

TIA

 

I bought my truck used with 100,000 and 10,000 miles later the cam and lifters went out. What next? If you have no mechanical experience with at least the gasoline engines, don't buy a diesel. If you know your gas engines well it will only take a short time to get used to the different fuel system.



1986 F-250 6.9 diesel,4x4,XLT Lariat,Ex Cab, 8'bed,etc...

 

Hi, the biggest thing to watch out for is cavitation. get some test strips from a truck stop or diesel shop and test for the additive in the water. John

 

Thanks for the replies. I've ordered a coolant test kit so that I can test the coolant.

One odd thing, when I talk to respected diesel mechanics in this area and mention cavitation, all the mechanics say they have never seen cavitiation and don't think I should be too concerned.

Odd that there is so much talk about on this and other diesel forums, but that the mechanics have not seen it. Just wondering if that is because these engines are just getting to the age where it will be showing up?

Any thoughts anyone?

 

Dude o'matic, I have two (2) diesel trucks. The first one is a 1990 F-250 EC LB 2WD and it has 367,000 miles on it and will not die. I got so tired of being in that beat up truck, I was going to sell it and get another. So, I bought a 2002, 4X4, PSD EC LB, Lariet, that is loaded, did some mods....SCMP, Bilsteins. Leveling kit, Volant cool air induction, 195/75R16 Duelers, Phantom II,some other assorted sundry stuff, and I can't stay out of it. I love that truck. It goes so good, and I get 20MPG, it's awesome. I am not going to throw dirt or rocks in it for a loooooooooooooong time. So I kept the first truck and it is now the official "WORK TRUCK". I figure it will go another 300,000 before I have to roll some bearings. Gas is good, but when it comes to long lasting brute force, Go early, Go ugly, Go diesel..........

 

I would never be afraid to buy an old 6.9 with over 100,000 miles on it. I bought my 86 with a 6.9 over six years ago and it had about 130,000 on it when I bought it. Im up to 242,000 and it shows no signs of crapping out any time soon. I fully expect to go over 300,000 with it. About the time it wears out I will be ready to step into that new 6.0 power stroke, and the payment book as thick as a Websters dictionary.

 

I'm a little curious about the engine that the cam and lifters went out of. These engines have roller lifters so I'd be curious to know what kind of abuse you have to lay on an engine to make a set of roller lifters (and cam) crap out on you.
These engines were prone to cavitation but it only appeared in the vehicles that were used as heavy duty applications (dump and garbage trucks, school busses and trucks that pulled heavy trailers most of the time).

 

Hi,
I have a 1986 6.9 F-250 diesel and I live in France.Not one single garage has spare parts here for this truck,these monsters just dont exist here, I never would have bought a vehicle I couldnt trust!!

I bought it from a guy that brought it back from Florida, he kept it for three years and I plan to keep it for about 10.
The French have been running diesels for as long as they have been on this earth and all my mechanic friends who tried it out said it might bury me first, all I put in it is top diesel fuel,Stanadyne and castrol oil, fires up every day and works like 300 mules .

Only thing I regret is that he tore out the A/C unit ,%£*§ !!!

Mike

 

Where you at Steve, I got an 89 , 4x4 with a 6.9 that I want to get rid of

 

rjmcgee,

Didn't I see you saying you were in Eastern Oregon?

I am in Portland and am looking for an older f250.

Send me an email with a description.

larry_johnson@indalex.com

Thanks,

Larry