I understand that the 6.0 and most diesels can last up to 250k miles when properly cared for.

Say you go to 250k and it dies, what happens? Throw a rod, loose compression?

Also, in 5-10 yrs from now or whenever, can you just have a complete rebuild of it, or would it make more sense to install a brand new diesel in your truck?

Kinda a silly question, but I have never run a diesel to the end of its life, but I plan to now.

Thanks.

 

From what I have heard, a diesel engine that is properly taken care of should get 500,000 miles or more. I think the truck would wear out before the engine does.

 

There are many different ways for it to eventually fail. It could be rod or main bearings, top end wearing out, compression loss, injectors wearing out, there's really no way of identifying the main type of failure to predict. If it were my motor, I would rebuild unless the block was physically damaged, but thats only because I trust my work more than others.

 

I have once so far. Died at 219,000km. Threw in a auto wrecker 6.0L with 46,000km on it. Getting ARP studs installed on Nov 5. Tranny and 4x4 still strong.

 

Ford Fleet Warranty is sometimes a million miles

 

who are you getting to install your studs?

 

Daaaaaaang! That's alot of oil changes!

 

Isnt this engine rated for 350,000 miles to rebuild interval. Thats off the top of my head but I know for a fact that the spec is in the diesel supplement manual.

 

something like that...

 

i wonder the same thing. i have 100,500 miles on my 2005 and that is kind of high for the year.
i heard from a diesel tech who was talking to me about 6.0's and he said that if they built the top end as strong as the bottom end it would be an excellent engine.
i took his advice when my heads gaskets blew and heads cracked after my trubo overboosted and replaced with new ford heads, very strong head gaskets, and ARP studs to strengthen the top end of my engine.
i use fuel additives and schaffers synthetic motor oil and keep up on all maintenance and hope my engine lasts for a long time. maybe 500k. i don't know if i would ever own it that long but i think its possible assuming you would be replacing injectors and turbo every 150k or so.

 

My 92 F150 with a 351 has 219K on it...I'm hoping to get twice that from my 6.0!

I drive the 6.0 as my daily driver now...the F150 is lucky to get 3K miles a year on it now.

You know how it goes...keep the oil changed and take care of it!

Joe

 

Heres how long some last, My 1994 Explorer had 281,000 on it as of last year when the brakelines and frame started rusting out. I junked it a few months ago and the motor was still running fine. My son has a work truck (1992) ranger 4 cylinder with 306,000 and its running fine. Goes back and forth from NC. to Pa. twice a month besides work. So if you take care of these autos most of the time they will last a long tme.

 

Here's an extreme example - and one not so extreme.

Proper care is the very reason "any" motor has longevity.

About ~5 months ago, I had a farmer drag a 99 1 ton dually to my shop. When I seen it round the corner into the back compound I almost fell out of the brake chair I was in because the truck was literaly falling apart. The front clip was so beat the intercooler was tied on w/ bailing wire. The rear fender flares were missing, the bed had gobs of rust from wet feed sitting in it, the cab didn't have a clean spot on it, etc.

This truck was rode hard and put up wet and that's putting it lightly.

He said it wouldn't start. I just said put it to the side and we'd have a look at it that afternoon.

I had to pry the hood open and get the hood support bar from my box to hold it open. There was oil and sut buildup for miles. I could hardly see any metalic in the engine bay at all.

I fould fuel filters at complete failure and changed them out - after some battery charging and coaxing, it came alive. I kept the truck for the following week so I could run what fuel was in the tank through and change filters again then get some fresh fuel in it with a little diesel kleen.(I suspect he uses nothing but off road fuel from holding tanks on the farm - the truck didn't even have a tag on it because it never leaves the farm)

This truck had 590k miles on the clock. That 7.3 ran and is still running as we speak - even know the whole truck was falling down around it. They're getting the last cut of hay off the ground and I expect the truck back when they're finished.

In the last few months I've had ro replace several 5.9 lift and injector pumps on trucks w/ less than 150k on them. Now every 5.9 that comes in the shop I make note of the mileage and expect them back at the 150k mark for a lift pump, heh.

 

That tells you how good a motor the 7.3L was. Too bad they couldn't have kept it in production longer...

 

I know this is off topic, but a good friend of mine has a 7.3 that recently turned over 500k. Truck & engine are in great shape. It was his daily driver for 10 + years and he has a 100 + mile daily commute. Now thats some serious saddle time !!!!