I recenly ordered a 2010 f-150 fx4, but the place that I bought it from overseas sat on the order for 16 days, so it won't be built until next week (11JAN) and then won't be delivered until at least a week or so after that... I work in Iraq and am coming home on leave this week and will leave at the end of January. With the truck being delivered late in the month, I won't get much time with it.
I am considering cancelling my order and just getting an 05-07 f-250. I've found a lot of them near my home on craigslist, etc for about 10,000 cheaper than what I was going to pay for the 2010 f-150. And most have 40-70,000 miles on them.
I used to have a 99 f-350 7.3 and really loved that truck. I have heared about reliability issues with the 6.0, although from what I can gather, by the later models, most of the bugs were worked out. I plan on getting an oasis report/carfax before even looking at a truck. Anything else to look out for? What actual mileage can I expect from a CC, SB with 3.73s, unloaded? Is a turbo down tube worth it? how easy to install? I remember on my 7.3, the stock tube was very restrictive, so it was worth every penny. How does the 6.0 compare? Anything I should know about maintanance on the 6.0? I know people talk about having EGR problems and that regular maintanace should stop the problems, but what do they mean by "regular mainatnance"? What about the torque shift trans? Anything I should know?
I miss having a diesel, but if the mileage is too bad, I just cant justify getting another, the way diesel prices are now. And if "maintanance" is too much trouble on a 6.0, I don't want to have my wife worrying about it while I'm overseas. I tow my 66 mustang around a bit and have a medium sized toy hauler that usually doesnt exceed 7,000 pounds. I know the half ton would suffice, but I really like not having "lug" up hills. Sometimes I haul hay and a horse trailer for my parents too. Again, the half ton would suffice, but a diesel would really make life easier in the hills.
While I'm gone, my wife will primarily use the truck as a daily driver, but she works in town and doesn't go too many places, although her family is across the country and she may want to take a car trip next spring.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

I would actually advise against the 6.0 for your application. Mainly because of it's use. If you keep it stock(there are some things you could have gotten away with on the 7.3, that just won't work on the 6.0) then your wife is going to have to do some things to make sure that the truck remains in good order. Her using it as a daily driver(and depending on how she drives it) can be an issue with several systems.

1. EGR system is known to cause the turbo vanes to stick when the truck doesn't get a proper workout. You would have to get it up to operating temp(I wouldn't go by the stock gauge either, not worth crap) and then romp on it every now and then and that help clear out the carbon buildup that develops.

This is a side not to the above problem. Don't idle this truck for prolong times, EGR will gum up the turbo doing this as well. You can work around this if you have a high idle circuit installed and you use it.

2. These trucks really need to get up to operating temp for alot of reasons. One it helps get better mpg after you let it get up to operating temp and drive it some. Two it allows you to have a little bit of "fun" romping on the truck without having to worry too much about stretching the headbolts and three it's good for it's longevity.

As to regular maintenance, that means being religious with fluid and filter changes(I would suggest using a synthetic engine oil) and actually being a little more often with those changes as well. You can't skip with service on this trucks, unlike their older "brethren", these "new" diesels are high performance machines and actually have to be treated as such. It sucks, but that's the way that they are.

 

so that's it? just make sure it's warm and gun it sometimes to blow the carbon out? As for the fluid changes, I've always been **** about that with all my vehicles and she has done well in taking care while I'm gone... I think she's up to it.

 

I agree with Tex, as usual. An F150 would work great for your purposes, and your wife would enjoy the nicer ride and much lower maintenance. You don't necessarily have to go with a 2010 - there are nice used F150's out there too.

If you think you want/need an F250, the V-10 is more than up to the task and might be more wife-friendly than a 6.0.

I love my 6.0, but I would never expect my wife to keep up with the maintanance on it. For one thing, it's hard to find reliable service for them, where you know you will absolutely get the right oil, correct filters, etc., even from some dealerships. I know what to get, from hanging around FTE, but my wife would not. I think the 6.0 thrives on personal hands-on care by a loving knowledgeable owner. Now, not all wives are the same, and your lady might be entirely up to the task. But mine would not enjoy that responsibility.

Lastly, these engines are expensive to work on. Make sure you and the wife can handle a $5,000 repair bill should something happen. And it does happen, we hear it all the time around here. Gassers are just cheaper to fix, plain and simple.

 

Well, my wife is one of the "others" you mentioned... she works at an auto parts store and is handling my mustangs' restoration while I'm gone (almost done, again...). I keep in contact with her daily through the computer, cell, etc... And I probably won't stay over here much more than about the next 8 or 9 months or so. I'm not worried so much about her having to make all scheduled maintanance appointments as I am about what weak links/ achilles heal do these 6.0's have?
I know a half ton will ride nicer, but again, my wife is not "that kind" of woman. She actually liked driving my old 99 f-350 CC, DRW 7.3 better than she does my 2000 f-150 SCAB 4x4.
I would think that after 40,000 miles, any problems with programming, ECU, etc would have shown up already on the oasis, right? And as long as I'm not boosting the hell outta the motor, I shouldn't have to worry about head gaskets, head bolts, etc, right?
I make pretty good money, so if it came to it, I could afford a large repair bill, but that is part of the reason we were looking at an 06-07... they still fall under powertrain warranty I think? I just can't see dishing out 50 larger for a brand new truck when I can get one a few years old with everything I could want, just broken in for half the price.
I don't want a v-10... My cousin had one and spun a couple bearings. And the milage is horrible, even in comparison to my old 7.3. Not to mention they don't hold much value.
I'm still considering holding out for the new half ton, but I'd really like to get somthing while I'm home this month.

 

Well then, that sounds good. If SWMBO is onboard, then you should go for it. It seems you've done your homework, know about getting Oasis, know the head bolt issue. EGR is the other issue on a 6.0, but you can deal with that. I advise against any plan for a tuner on a work truck, and you'll probably find you don't need extra power.

I think you've got a good plan.

 

Well if she is on board with it and doesn't mind having to do more then just turn the key on and drive using that truck as a DD, then go for it. Just don't approach this like you did your 7.3. The 6.0 girls have a lot of their own quirks that you just really can't do that.

If at sometime your going to mod this thing, that's especially when you can't go by what you can get away with the 7.3.

I would highly suggest if you are truly thinking you are going this route, I would go down to the 6.0 forum on this site, look up a user with the handle "bismic" and ask him to send you an email with his spreedsheets on the 6.0. There is a lot to go over with this "darlin" and I'm sure I'm going to miss something, so I would try to get his spreedsheets and look those over and see where you stand.

 

I think the only mod I might do to it, if I go for it, is exhaust, turbo down tube and maybe some guages. I think 325/570 is plenty...

 

You say that now. Just you wait.

 

Well, before I went to look at any 6.0's, I went to a dealer and asked what kind of deal they might be able to swing on a new f-150. They were able to give me a comparable price on a new f-150 with even a few more options than I originally ordered. So I guess no new diesel for me in the near future. I am sure the 6.0 would have been a great truck, but the mileage on the new half tons and the FX4 interior sold me on the new f-150... Maybe next year I will get a 6.7... Who knows? Thanks for the replies.

 

I think u are doing the best thing in a whole lot of ways. U will have a new rig with warranty and will not be buying someone elses headache. Thanks for your service.