Looking at buying my first powerstroke truck and was wanting some advice on the truck I'm looking at. It's 2005 F350 4x4 dually with 103,000 miles, the out side and inside are in perfect shape looks very well take care of, going back to test drive this weekend, and was wanting to know what to look for when driving and what problems these trucks have. Thanks

 

I'll start you off with things to look for. i am sure others will add more.

Look for:
any leaks, of course
any smoke: white, blue or black
oil or residue in the tailpipe
ask about any replacements and when they were done: water pump, radiator, alternator, starter, turbo pedestal o rings, transmission, fuel pump, injectors, U joints, axle assembly
check and see if the fuel pump, etc are stock or replacements
transmission shifting smoothly, especially under low power
condition of the batteries
look inside air filter for dirt
glow plugs should work and truck should start easily in cold
see if block heater works

There is a lot more I 'm sure, perhaps someone else will help.

 

I know that the 6.0 is noted for head gasket and EGR (exhaust gas return) problems. I'm sure that others will chime in with more.

There's a sticky on the top of the 6.0 forum for an OASIS report. If you can get the VIN number, follow the directions in the sticky and somebody will get you the report. This report is what the Ford dealership network uses to track work done on the rig. If there has been a problem with the truck and it went back to the dealership to get fixed (warranty work or not) it will be on that report. Much more informative than a CARFAX report. Once you get that you can post any questions and everybody will be more than happy to help you decipher any of it.

I know that the 7.3 guys have a post with a laundry list of stuff to look at for 7.3 PSD buyers but I don't know if the 6.0 guys have one.

I hope it works out for you. SDs are great trucks so you're looking in the right place! Good luck and happy hunting!

 

There's tons of good information in the 6.0 PowerStroke Forum. Sounds like the cosmetics are good, so that forum will help you with the drivetrain and making sure it's good to go.

 

kystang get a VIN and ask someone here to run an OASIS on it

 

Ask if there are ANY modifications to the truck.

 

Thanks guys I'll get the vin and see what I can do. Been wanting a powerstroke for awhile and me and the wife fell in love with this one. It will only see maybe 500 miles a month and pull a 30ft enclosed trailer 4 or 5 time a year to the track. Thanks alot, looks like if I get one I've found a place to hang out.

 

SHOCK ABSORBERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sure they have been replaced, at least once. Not an expensive item, just, in your mind, add in three hundred bucks to put on new shocks.

 

Early 6.0's had a design flaw which placed the cylinders too close together, making them prone to headgasket issues. Be wary. If it has not happened yet, it can be expected, but as with anything, it is not 100% certain to happen to this truck. Not sure if/when the design was changed.

 

The majority of the head gasket issues were attributed to overly strong tuners and mods that stretched the head bolts, lifting the heads, and causing gasket failures. If the truck is stock and you keep it that way, concerns about HG failures should be minimal. Check the OASIS and the truck. Look for leaks from front to back. As mentioned above, check the 6.0 forum and you'll find a wealth of information. Remember too, that the OASIS will only tell you what has been repaired / replaced at the dealerships. There's always a chance that there has been work performed that isn't listed on the OASIS. When you get the OASIS, get on the 6.0 forum and ask questions about anything that concerns you and you'll receive some excellent advice. A lot of the 6.0 problems have also been attributed to sub-par techs working on them that really didn't know what they were doing.

A few things to look for on the OASIS are:

1) Any recurring electrical issues. These are hard to track down sometimes and can be a recurring headache.

2) I wouldn't be too concerned if it shows the head gaskets have been replaced. As was mentioned, this is one of the weak spots in these engines but if they've been replaced, you should be good to go.

3) Look for anything that says anything about the warranty being voided. This could be an indication of a tuner or some other aftermarket performance add-on that the service dept. at a dealership used as an excuse to void the warranty. If this is the case, you may be looking at further headaches and / or repairs down the road.

There are other things as well and someone else will probably chime in here but the OASIS would be my first step. Good luck.

 

Hey Banger....

Welcome to the club pal!

You're getting great advice. Let me sum it up for you. If your OASIS report comes back good (that means no recurring powertrain problems) THEN go and talk prices.

Your OASIS report should be the deciding factor to buy/no-buy. If the OASIS isn't clean, walk away and find another truck. TRUST ME...you'll find another one. It took me about two years of looking to find what I was looking for. Don't rush and buy the first one that looks good....these are expensive toys so do your homework and you'll really be happy later.

One of the best questions I've seen offered above is about a tuner. The truck you're talking about already has over 100K miles so you don't have to worry about voiding any warranty. In my case, the truck I found only had 34K on it so I can't afford to play with tuners till I'm over that 100K point. Because it was my first diesel and I'm cautious I bought an extended warranty to take me to the 75K point...I never used that warranty. I've had the truck for almost 2 years (Feb 2007) and it has 81K on it now and running like a champ.

Remember, be patient...you'll find the right one!

Joe

 

Welcome to the forum! I'm not sure what part of KY you're in, but we've got an excellent Ford dealership here in Lexington that has a completely separate truck service division. Those guys really know what they're doing and have taken care of me the past 9 years I've owned a PowerStroke. If you're in this area, you may want to take it over to them for an inspection. I think it would be well worth the money.

 

Hi, Im in the same boat, Im looking for a SD. I also want a diesel. Never had one before. Thanks for all the replies to this thread guys, lots of useful info. Ill ckech out the 6.0 forum too. I have found this truck:

Ford F-250, Sanford, FL, Truck, Gibson Truck World Stock: 19343A Orlando, Florida

I just asked the guys for an OASIS report so Ill see what it says. I want to say it has like 70k miles. Lot for a 05 but the truck is in pristine condition. Body, Interior, engine bay look great. I couldnt find any cosmetic flaws. I havent driven it or looked at it underneath yet though.

 

kystangbanger,

Welcome to FTE!

If I were going to buy a 6.0 diesel, I would find one that still had some warranty left on the engine. Looks like the seller knew it was time to get rid of it....just out of warranty.
There are a lot of trucks out there right now. I would keep looking and find a lower mileage truck.

 

Bill: I am in Frankfort. Which dealership are you speaking of, Paul Miller? Do you happen to know their labor rate?