This is worse than a diesel vs v-10 spat........

 

That's exactly my problem with them. For 6K, you should get something more IMO. But it's over now. We have a much better engine IMO with the 6.4.

But that's totally off topic.

Mike

 

Maybe that would be because people come to this site that are having problems to get a resolution. There are a few posts about people liking their 6.0's, but the idea behind these sites is to help those with a problem, so that's what the posts are going to be about.

 

Thanks for all the input. I have to admit I am looking at buying 04 psd from my uncle. He is loaded and can afford the 08 unlike me. But he would give me a great deal I am sure. From what I have been reading on this site I really need to do my homework on the 6.0

I am a little confused though. My grandfather who is a farmer (along with most of my family) always said to leave the diesel running instead of shutting it off. Granted those are different engines (2 cycle maybe?). It sounds like diesel engines are like gas engines ie.. Don't like short trips, liked to be warmed up and run for a while.

 

Newer diesels are more picky than older ones. Not to pick on the 6.0, but that is now what he's asking about.

With the 6.0, extended idling has led to buildup on the EGR valve and buildup in the turbo vanes causing them to stick. Leaving it sit for a long time can cause the vanes to rust and stick.

If you get a good deal, I guess go for it. If it doesn't have over 100K on it, you still have the 5yr/100000 miles warranty on the engine. Your other options are a late model 7.3 which can idle all day long and not mind a bit or the pricey 6.4.


But there is no reason to drive it hard unless you need to. Normal driving is fine.

Mike

 

diesels don't like to be shut off, they don't overheat from idling like gassers do so you don't have that problem.. but they don't like to just sit idling for hours, any engine needs to pushed every now and then to clear all the gunk and crap out... running it hard also keeps the turbo up to par, your grandfather probably never had a turboed diesel so that's a lil different, but pretty much the same concept of how to use it etc

 

by the way that was my experience from the truck in my sig so it's not a 6.0

 

so if you dissconnect the egr valve would that help with the ideling?

 

That would set off alot of codes and make the engine run awful.

The solution your after is the high idle conversion kit. Look for it in the 6.0 forums they'll lead you right to it.

 

Which leads to this question... BLK94F150, did (do) those 6.0 ambulances have the high idle conversion installed? You said yourself, they spend a whole lot of time idling. I'm not trying to be smart here, I seriously wonder if they do, and if not could it help with some of the problems they're having.

Aside from that, Bowie, surely your uncle would tell you if he's had problems with the truck, and if so what and why, and how it's been maintained and driven. Assuming you trust him to be honest with you about that, I think I'd let that be the biggest guide to my decision. So far I love my 6.0, but I've only had it 3 months and 5000 of it's 62000 miles, so I don't feel qualified to say much about it's reliability yet, except that I'd feel comfortable to go out and get in it right now and drive it anywhere. If you've learned all you can about the truck, and spent enough time in it to feel that way about it, then I'd say go for it.

David

 

blk94 f150

i have to disagree i work for an ambulance srvice that has more than 300 of these trucks with the 6.0. yes they are e series vans and modulars but they are very reliable, i am currently driving an 06 E350 ambulance at work and it is holding up great with 20,000 on iti liked the 60 so much i trded my 01 250 v10 for an 06 250 with the 60.

 

HEY BOWIE

I am new to diesels myself but think about it all engines hate short trips in town driving kills gas, diesels, all engins over time, so does all out hammer down no mercy driving. I have been doing alot of reading myself since I bought my 06 and from what i am hearing about the new 6.4 they are having problems just like ford had problems with the 6.0, its the first year and just like any vehicle in its first year they have problems just be very selective on what you buy and who you buy it from ,i see you said your uncle has an 04 make sure he didnt have a ton of problems with it and you should be ok. remember its all about how its been treated and how you will take care of it.

 

the 6.4 hasn't had any problems besides the flames

 

I hate to see this degenerate into a 6.0 vs. 7.3 slugfest. Let me offer another opinion and back it up with a little fact. I do not own a diesel engine in a vehicle right now but don't dismiss my opinions until you read this.

In my opinion, diesel engines need to be worked hard to remain healthy. Short trips and extended idling will cause turbo vanes, EGR systems, combustion chambers, injectors and the like to get fouled up.

Why do I take this opinion? Let me explain. I work in the telecom industry. I have for 30 years. In a number of past jobs, I was responsible for tracking and scheduling the maintenance of remote telecom sites. Part of this job you track and schedule maintenance of the standby diesel generators. We had many different types, with Detroit engines, Isuzu engines, Cat engines and IH engines.

Diesel generators at telecom sites usually get started once a week, for 30 minutes, without a load. This tests the starting system. Depending on the manager's comfort, we sometimes would schedule a start with the building load, once a month, to test the generator, transfer switch and associated stuff.

As part of routine maintenance, we would also schedule an annual maintenance. As part of this annual maintenance, a technician would bring a load bank on a trailer. The generator would be disconnected from the transfer switch and connected to the load bank. The load bank would be configured to offer the generator a 100% load. The generator would then be started and would run for a minimum of 2 hours at 100% capacity. Usually we would run it 3 hours. These load banks were sometimes the size of small semi trailers. They generated a lot of heat.

Why did we do this? The generator mechanics say the 100% load would burn the crud out of the turbo and combustion chambers (it did, the first 15 minutes of this would be smoke and soot filled), tests the cooling system, assisted in ring seating, tested the generator and just check the overall health of the system.

The one thing the technicians were adamant about as the "blowing out the crud" benefit to the engine. They insisted this had to be done and to a person stated this was the main reason for the 100% load run.

The one time we had a problem with a generator was from a site (not mine) that had not been 100% load tested for a number of years. It failed when 100% rated load was applied, we had to replace 2 injectors and the turbo on it.

How does this translate to a truck engine? Well, it doesn't mean you should break your truck. It doesn't mean you should floor it for 3 hours, or drag race your truck or participate in a truck pull event.

Again, my opinion is you shouldn't drive a diesel if you do a lot of short trips. If you do, it will get crud built up in it; this is detrimental to engine health. Minimum, a diesel engine should be taken out once monthly and driven at highway speeds for an hour or so. I don't care if you have a PSD, Cummins, Mercedes, Isuzu or Cat engine under the hood, all diesels benefit from working them hard every once and a while.

 

Bowie do your homework. This is what you'll find. The 03 and 04's had some problems. The worst thing about the situation was that the tecs did'nt know how to fix the problems. By the time the 05 hit the street this hard working tec{the ones that actually care} had found some soluations and the 05's - 07s dont have much problems. When you spend some time in the 6.0L section you'll notice this. So the good news is there is a cure, and it is'nt a 6.4L.