Hey guys!

I am still lusting BADLY for one of these rigs..... I have found what I think to be a pretty decent deal not too far from here

2003 Excursion Limited
6.0 Diesel
132,000 Miles

Other minor details, but they are mostly my own preference! I know those kinda miles don't mean much on a Diesel, and is it safe to assume that at this point, any major issues this engine would've had, would have happened already?

NOW..... I am so torn on what to do now! I have read and read and read some more about the different engine sizes, and I don't want to buy into a Money Pit basically.....

V8's for an excursion is a no no for me. It just doesn't seem like the right engine for the Beast.

V10's - Sexy Alternative.... Will kill me in gas (but who cares)

6.0 Diesel - It's a Diesel But, it just seems that all I read are TERRIBLE things about the 6.0. It's almost like the 6.0 was Fords ******* Child

7.3 Diesel - It's a Diesel 2.....and the 7.3 part is like music in my ears.... but they are very hard to come by at a decent price. I've read some bad about it, but mostly good.


Can you guys help me out, perhaps give me a push in the right direction. I'm so close to pulling the trigger on this, just need that extra little bit......

Thanks for having this great forum!

 

You need to sit down with youself and make CERTAIN you KNOW FOR SURE what your own personal priorities are.

PERFORMANCE:
What are your REAL needs ? Going to do any towing ? How heavy a load? What are you willing to accept in speed capability ? If you need to pass people on long steep grades, FORGET about the V-10 - it simply dosn't have the power to keep up with big diesel trucks on long up-grades.

NOISE:
Do you need noise - you have a need to have people stop what they are doing and look up to see what all the noise is ? The V-10 is a total failure in this regard. You can pull into the parking lot of a fast food store, market, gas station, with a V-10, and it will make no difference if you leave the motor idling or not. NOBODY WILL NOTICE (unless you engage in a lot of exhaust system mods. that are typically illegal and could get your vehicle impounded). NOTHING annoyes people like a clattering diesel left idling.

FUEL CONSUMPTION
Gasoline ("spark ignition") motors are simply not as efficient, and thus use MUCH more fuel, than a diesel engine. Very simple laws of physics - the higher the compression, the more efficient - meaning, the more energy from the fuel comes out as mechanical energy, and the less is lost in heat. Diesel compression ratios are typically TWO times (or more) higher than a gasoline motor. My EX, again, is a V-10. Pulling 5 and 6 ton loads on long trips, usually involving long grades, I get an average of about 8.5 mpg. Diesels under the same condition will typically get 12 - 16 mpg).

CABIN HEAT
Diesels are so efficient they just dont generate as much heat as fast as the gasoline motor does. I typically get HOT air from my heating system in my V-10 within 4 mins. of initial "cold start". Diesels will take two to three times longer to get even WARM air out of their heating system.

MAINTAINENCE
The FORD V-10 has been proven in industrial use, running typically well over 300,000 mi. without work, PROVIDED you use common sense on oil and filter changes. The various diesel power-plants used in Excursions down thru the years CAN be more durable, but, as you can research in this forum, there have been indicents of expensive and frustrating failures. Takes a little over 5 quarts of oil for a "change" on a V-10. The various diesel motors require 3 times that. V-10 uses ONE battery, and in event of a battery failure of any kind, any 12 volt car can "jump-start" it. Diesels require TWO batteries; the electrical system in the typical modern passenger car will not "jump start" a diesel - however, you can re-charge a low but not failed set of diesel batteries enough to get a start - typically 10-20 mins. using good jumper cables.

BOTTOM LINE:
Whatever your choice, DONT buy a fixer-upper. Buy the lowest mileage BEST TREATED vehicle you can find. It NEVER pays to try and repair someone else's abuse. Yes, you will pay a premium for a well-cared for low mileage sharp vehicle, but economically, it is cheaper in the long run.

 

What he said~!

Plus...this is a biggie! Get an Oasis report on this truck! Many times it will tell you the TRUE history of the repairs and stuff on your vehicle. Carfax and those type of companies only go off public record. Oasis is kinda like a dealer lookup on the maintenance and major repair history through Ford. Some guys on here can look it up for you if you post your future car vin to them.

I would say to have at least $5K in a savings account(or credit card) for repairs on any diesel that is out of warranty. It will really come in handy so that you cn "Upgrade" components if/when they fail instead of getting factory crud that will more than likely fail again.

6.0 is a great engine if you get a good one(as with all cars) and you get it thoroughly checked out. I love mine!

Enjoy the ride!

 

O I am definitely doing my homework on this! Only thing left now is figuring out who to go through for the financing! Damn bad credit from previous marriage keeping me from my larger than life Ford Desire

 

Pretty much what he said, with the only thing I disagree with being the performance aspect.

There's a thread in the SuperDuty forum where a few guys have gotten together to do some real world testing of V10's and diesels, towing up a steep, long grade and the V10 seems to really hold it's own.

Not kinda, it is.

It's Ford's database on all warrantee repairs done at Ford dealerships on Ford vehicles, going back the last 10 calendar years.

Stewart

 

= = = =

HORSE FEATHERS !

You are dreaming! What were YOU doing in your high school physics class? Staring at the cute girl in the next row ? You sure as heck weren't paying attention. No way a anywhere near stock gasser V-10 is going to offer the raw pulling power of a Diesel EX. Look at the torque figures!

I live in the high country of northern Arizona. I make frequent trips on I-40 to Los Angeles, or I-17 to Kingman, than down to Temple Bar Marina via I 93. Dont try and tell ME what the comporable "pulling power" is of my V-10 compared to any of the diesel EX's.

Am I glad I bought a V-10 instead of a diesel ? Of COURSE. It fits my own needs.

You get what you pay for. At the time I bought mine, a comporably "near new / mint" diesel engine EX would have been 8-10,000 dollars more. I had other uses for that much money - can handle emotionally the sight of all manner of vehicles passing me on the long-upgrades (the famous "NEEDLES GRADES" - where you climb from about 400 ft. asl. - going west, up the hill to about 3,000 ft. to cross the high desert, or coming home going east, to just under 6,000 ft. asl just west of Seligman.

Again - these comments refer to heavy towing situations. I would not be surprised if the lighter V-10 would equal, or possibly even out-drag and out top-speed the diesel when "running light". I just dont know ( and dont care ! ).

 

Stewart

 

Whew, I'm glad I don't have anything to tow with my V-10 this is one less thing for me to worry about. Since mine has never towed anything its never been in a strain.

 

I was dueling with my father in his escalade in pulling stumps. The Escalade has 35hp more than the v10 and 50lb torque less. Stumps he couldn't budge were coming out iwth ease on my 6.0.

7.3's are nice, said to be reliable(haven't owned one myself), but on paper their numbers are surprisingly low.

If you're unsure about the 6.0, there's a lot of success stories. I turned 192k this week and going strong, obviously, if I'm pulling stumps all day. Nothing major, just normal crap.

I'd jump on that 03 6.0 if I were you. There was a change from 03-04 that improved reliability. I would find out what it is, and make the upgrade. Then, drive it 500k miles.

 

I was a Ford Tech for 9 years AND then the 6.0l was born. YIKES!!! Scared me so much it turned me into a tool salesman. I also have a V-10 I don't pull much but the maintenance cost alone is a sure seller. Got a misfire on a gasser.....a few bucks will more than likely get you fixed up. Got a misfire on a diesel, you mite have to take out a 2nd mortgage.

 

a misfire in a diesel?

I think we are spinning horror stories instead of actuality. Like I previously said...a used car will require some care and prevention. If you are not ready for that kind of commitment, buy a cheaper newer car...but this man has said he wants an Excursion! That means its older and needing that care we have all mentioned.

The fact remains...if you tune, you will pay! Gas or Diesel.

 

= = = = =

My posts (about my being in the right lane, getting passed by just about everything, when pulling long grades on the Interstate with my V-10) apparently gave you the wrong idea. I do not believe you can "strain" any modern well-designed industrial engine - either the two diesel designs, or the V-10 in my EX. These things were designed to deliver "rated" power (meaning open throttle full load) for as long as you want to feed fuel to them.

I believe our motors have a "rev-limiter" designed into their computer operating systems. I regularly pull long steep grades in 110+ desert heat, and never seen either the automatic tranny temp. or engine coolant temp. gauges move off center ( well, shouldn't have said "never"...) and I KNOW they both work and are accurate - i should explain - i suspect my EX was built in Mexico on a Monday morning, after the locals had a particularly wild week-end. They left off a hose clamp on the tranny cooler. First time I pulled a heavy grade...well..you guessed it...!

Bottom line - for the guy who is wondering what kind of EX to buy - see the earlier posts in here. Good stuff. Dont worry about "straining".

 

So Stewart is a "Trekkie" too ? Small world. I met Shatner and Nimoy a couple of times (when they were just getting started) when they were taking flying lessons at Van Nuys Airport. Great fun guys. Great stories about how some of those cute girls in the supporting cast would sometimes fall completely out of some of those flimsy costumes.....!