need help for maintenance
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 74
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need help for maintenance
I am not a mechanic and have bought a 2005 F250 6.0L diesel with 89000 miles and read about all the problems with this model. It seems to me that this truck is only for people with a mechanic background who are able to make this truck reliable themselfs. I would like to travel to Alaska next summer but having read posts in this forum I feel now not secure with this truck. I just need to have a reliable truck and can not go into it to enhance or make it more reliable myself. I think I just need an experienced mechanic who is really trained on this 6.0L diesel. Is there somewhere a recommendation for really knowledgable mechanics for this motor in or near Colorado Springs?
Thank you for your help.
Thank you for your help.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Is it possible you are getting freaked out by all the problems you read on this forum? Or are you actually having problems with your truck? You have to remember that when guys post here it is usually because they had a problem. Few ever post just to say how perfect their truck is.
You do not have to modifiy your truck to make it reliable. But you do have to keep up on the maintenance to a higher degree of certainty than many other motors.
I would like to know if you have had any issues before giving any specific advice.
For recommended mechanics in your area, maybe try our Colorado chapter here at FTE:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum81/
The chapter is active, but may not be diesel specific.
For that you could try the CO Powerstroke Club:
http://www.coloradopowerstrokeclub.com/
If anyone knows the good and bad Powerstroke techs, it should be those guys.
You do not have to modifiy your truck to make it reliable. But you do have to keep up on the maintenance to a higher degree of certainty than many other motors.
I would like to know if you have had any issues before giving any specific advice.
For recommended mechanics in your area, maybe try our Colorado chapter here at FTE:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum81/
The chapter is active, but may not be diesel specific.
For that you could try the CO Powerstroke Club:
http://www.coloradopowerstrokeclub.com/
If anyone knows the good and bad Powerstroke techs, it should be those guys.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 74
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I have bought it one month ago and driven to Chicago and back around 2500 miles without any problems and around 17 MPG, all highway. So no real problem more as you said 'freakred out after reading all this problems...
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
I would install a pair of batteries if they were more than a year or two old. On an '05 you might still be on the originals, and that's not good on a Powerstroke. Always replace in pairs, no matter what the tests may say.
Then do all the normal maintenance stuff, and make sure they use genuine Motorcraft or Racor filters for everything. You can't trust anyone to do that, not even some dealers. So if you can't do it yourself, ask to see the parts before they install them. Some dealers have an area for lube that is nothing more than a quick lube place and they may use cheaper knock-offs just like the quickie places.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 919
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From: Smiths Grove, KY
From my research and first hand experience I think the following are essentials:<O
</O
</O- Follow through will all routine maintenance requirements - this is huge for the 6.0 engine.<O</O
- Use 5W-40 synthetic oil<O</O
- Only use OEM filters for oil, fuel, & air. Oil & fuel should be Motorcraft or Racor (who makes them for Motorcraft) and air should be Motorcraft or Donaldson (who makes them for Motorcraft). I order mine from Diesel Filter Online and save alot over what the dealership charges (http://www.dieselfiltersonline.com/). <O</O
- Use a fuel additive - like oil there are many on the market to choose from. I use Stanadyne Performance but recommend that you do research and decide which one best fits your needs.<O</O
- EGR valve - keep it clean and consider replacing with the newest design which you may already have. I think the new design can be identified by a pink dot on the actuator. You might also consider the latest flash upgrade which either eliminates or reduces (not sure which) EGR operation when idling.<O</O
- Avoid short hop trips and really open her up ever now and again (after everything has warmed up)<O</O
- Add a coolant filter - got my from Diesel Site (http://www.dieselsite.com/)<O</O
- CCV route - haven't done this yet but it's high on my list<O</O
- Add guages for critical components - at a minimum this should include fuel pressure, oil temp, exhaust gas temp, & transmission temp<O</O
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2009
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Thank you Greg for this valuable summary. If I drive up north to Alaska what spareparts or maintenance parts (filters, fluids or fuel additives) should I take with me? I have also read that the fuel quality is sometimes bad and an additional fuel filter would be beneficial.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 919
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From: Smiths Grove, KY
Here are a couple of threads that discuss tools and spare parts that various people carry with them. If you use the search function you can probably find additional threads on these topics.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...the-truck.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...are-parts.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...the-truck.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...are-parts.html
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From: Rochester, MN
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,924
Likes: 6
From: Richmond BC
try to consider the number of trucks u read about on here with problems (thats generaly why alot of people post here, looking for help/info)..
vs. how many hundreds of thousands of these trucks are on the road every day...
sure some trucks break down..but if the entire range of trucks were prone to break downs beleive me they wouldnt be the top selling trucks...
i wouldnt sweat it, enjoy ur truck but stay ontop of the maintainence..if u think something might be starting to go wrong, get it looked at, before it becomes a big issue...
once u've had a vehicle for awhile, u learn what is normal, and what is not..."listen" to your truck.. she will usualy tel u when she is sik.. 8-)
vs. how many hundreds of thousands of these trucks are on the road every day...
sure some trucks break down..but if the entire range of trucks were prone to break downs beleive me they wouldnt be the top selling trucks...
i wouldnt sweat it, enjoy ur truck but stay ontop of the maintainence..if u think something might be starting to go wrong, get it looked at, before it becomes a big issue...
once u've had a vehicle for awhile, u learn what is normal, and what is not..."listen" to your truck.. she will usualy tel u when she is sik.. 8-)
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
⇧ True!
One other thing. We always tell guys who are shopping for a used truck to go get an Oasis report from a Ford dealer. Even though you already bought the truck, it's still good advice. It's a record of how your truck has performed up to now. If the report comes back and it's been a good truck up until now, it's probably going to continue to be good for a long time. If the report comes back not so good, well at least you'll know, and we can discuss it here on FTE with you and help you make a decision.
One other thing. We always tell guys who are shopping for a used truck to go get an Oasis report from a Ford dealer. Even though you already bought the truck, it's still good advice. It's a record of how your truck has performed up to now. If the report comes back and it's been a good truck up until now, it's probably going to continue to be good for a long time. If the report comes back not so good, well at least you'll know, and we can discuss it here on FTE with you and help you make a decision.