Mantianence
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Washington Pa
Mantianence
I am purchasing my first diesel motor and do not know a lot about them. I was wondering about what kind of mantianence I should be doing to keep the engine in tip top running condition and what periodic maintence should be done at 50k on the 6.0. Also I live in Pittsburgh and it has been very cold. How cold does it have to be to have fuel gelling problems and what does plugging one in do to help? I am also somewhat nervous about buying a 6.0 so any info on that would be great.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
First off - Welcome to the diesel community and FTE.Second - Follow the diesel owners manual on all fluid changes and filter changes. Best thing you can do for this engine is to get a very good fuel (major brand) at a location which sells a lot of diesel fuel. If they have premium diesel use that as this engine loves better fuel to operate on.
Third - read at the beginning of the 6.0 forum "the diesel tech folder" this has enormous value to a new or older owner of a 6.0 .
Fuel gelling - use a antigell diesel fuel additive available at most auto parts stores. Use if below 20 deg, also use a cetane booster.
Lastly drive it - don't baby it and enjoy
Last edited by bigredtruckmi; Feb 14, 2007 at 04:30 PM.
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19
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From: colorado springs co
You should have a block heater which warms the coolant. This keeps the block warm and allows for an almost instant start. I have a 97 PSD and use a timer on mine. After only 3 hours, I can start the engine right now when the tempature is below 10 degrees. And I don't have to use my glow plugs - they are wired so I can shut them down. No sense in using them if you don't need to. For colder temps, I set the timer for a longer period of time. Also plugging your truck in, gives you warm air right now.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 123
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From: Washington Pa
Wow do I have so much to learn I didnt no you used or didnt used glow plugs. I thought they were simular to a spark plug in some way. Im really in the dark on the whole diesel thing. I just know the sound amazing have a lot o fpower and run forever.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
The block heater is really only needed depending on where you are located and the climate of that area, although seeing the location on your handle, I would suggest having it. The two states I have lived in I never needed it(or atleast where I have lived in those two states, there are areas in those states that would need it or come close to needing it).
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: colorado springs co
You don't have an option as to whether you use glow plugs or not, unless you wire a toggle switch in series with one side of the glow plug relay. I ran my wires in that flexible automotive conduit through the fire wall and mounted the switch
on the lower right side of the dash panel.
The Ford tech at the local dealer told me I would blow out the computer. How wrong he was. If you don't use them often, they last longer and he wouldn't make money replacing them.
The glow plugs are an end of line load and the computer could care less about them being off.
on the lower right side of the dash panel.
The Ford tech at the local dealer told me I would blow out the computer. How wrong he was. If you don't use them often, they last longer and he wouldn't make money replacing them.
The glow plugs are an end of line load and the computer could care less about them being off.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 1
From: Middleburg, FL
The life blood of the 6.0 is the oil and fuel. Stay on top of your routine maintenance. I wouldn't let my oil change interval go beyond 5000 miles. When you change the oil, use a good quality diesel oil rated API CI-4+ or CJ-4 and only use Motorcraft/Racor brand oil filters. Don't let your fuel filter change interval go over 15k miles and again only use Motorcraft/Racor fuel filters. Also, drain your water separator on a regular basis. Water getting to the injectors is a bad thing.
Remember, that engine is about 13k to replace. Don't cut corners on maintenance, including the quality of your parts, just to save a few dollars. It's not worth it. I've never understood people that take the cheap route and then complain when it bites them in the rear.
Remember, that engine is about 13k to replace. Don't cut corners on maintenance, including the quality of your parts, just to save a few dollars. It's not worth it. I've never understood people that take the cheap route and then complain when it bites them in the rear.
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