Well, I just joined the ranks of the PSD owners. And might I add I am like a kid on christmas morning! I bought a 2001 PSD Cab and a half XLT F250 4X4. I had to drive 1.5 hours to another state (after a 12 hour work day) and spent 2 hours looking it over, 1 hour haggling price. Here's my question. I looked the vehicle over real well (I think). I have never owned a diesel before, only gas engines. I noticed 3 things that I had them put into writing that I had to have fixed before I took the truck. 1. the passenger valve cover seemed to be leaking (entire side of the block & starter covered in oil), 2. these wierd little rings that "spun" freely around the axles up front between the steering knucle and where the shaft went into the axle (I asked them to identify them and fix if they were not supposed to "free-wheel", and 3. the driver's side front axle was pouring diff fluid, they had to fix those 3 things and I would buy the truck. Here's the main question.....As they went into fix the valve cover seals they call me back and say they have to replace the whole head. Now I am worried. I have looked this forum over now for 3 days and see no reports of head failure. The truck only has 75,000 miles on it but what kind of torture could the previous owner have put the engine through to damage a head (I am assuming it is a sealing surface issue). My only optimistic thought is that they are taking advantage of Ford and saying they are honoring the warranty on the engine to make more money on the truck. Is there anything else I should look for when I go to pick it up. Any help is greatly appreciated. I have built cars, restored cars, worked on daily drivers and played at junkyards all my life, but this diesel stuff is unchartered territory. I have also never owned a 3/4 ton truck.

 

It's a 444 c.i.d V-8. The heads, block, crank, cam, etc. etc. are just like any other V-8, only built with the H.D stuff from the factory. The only unfamiliar part is the fuel delivery system, and it's not all that bad once you get the hang of it. Of course there are plenty of sensors and other electronic gizmo's talking to the computer, but you find those on every modern engine.

The axle seals are not supposed to spin free. One of mine does, but it ain't leaking so I ain't fixing.

Can't imagine why they would be changing the head....maybe cracked around an oil galley plug or something. You are correct in thinking head failures are unusual. I can only remember readnig about one, and that failure was caused by an improper coolant thermostat allowing the head to overheat and it spit a freeze plug.

It does sound like the truck may have had a difficult life, but they are tough trucks with engines that can take a ton of abuse and just keep ticking. Some routine maintenance and a little TLC will probably bring her back in no time.

 

Thanks Cookie, I appreciate it. I guess it's a little late now to worry, it's mine and the one I am driving is theirs I just don't want to get caught off guard. Do you think there is much to this transmission failure thing I have been seeing in the forums? Mine is an automatic by the way.

 

The 4R100 is seems to be kind of a crapshoot. Most of the people that leave the engine close to stock don't have tranny issues, but for the modified crowd it's more of a matter of when it will fail, not if. A big aftermarket cooler seems to be the key to longevity, and some minor mods to increase the line pressure.

 

Biscayne write this down just in case you ever have to get the tranny fixed.

Brians Truck Shop

He puts out a reworked greatly improved very tough 4R100. He replaces a lot of the stock parts with much stronger parts. It cost a litle more than a simple rebuild but worth it.
His web site is brianstruckshop.com
I am already saving up for one and intend to replace my E40D when I get the bucks cause I tow quite a bit and I have enough mods to increase power that I feel I'm really challenging my stock tranny