Excellent... Now you have a perception about those engines just like your friends in the Super Duty forum have about our 6.0. Some of it's true and very accurate and some of it's not.

I think were' making progress Tex!

BTW...My perception of the 5.4 in a Super Duty is it's a real turd when pulling trailers

 

I have the feeling though that's what's winning with regard to the 6.0.

Oh I agree, the two weeks I had to use one in an F250 to pull the loads that I had to have pulled, it just didn't work out to good. However, I like it in my 150. In fact, I'm actually surprised how much I like that little truck.

 

I'm glad you like your F150, the Platinum is a jewel of a truck even though my distaste for the Triton engines is little to be desired. I'm excited about the 5.0, not sure what to think about the EB engine, and the big question is the availability of the 6.2 which claims to make better fuel economy in the Super Duty vs the 5.4 so I suspect it has the same potential in the 150.

 

6.2 is already available in the 150 platform, just at this point though the raptor model.

 

If you think it is bad at the SD group, try the rvnet forum. The tow vehicle section has some of the most ignorant bashers I have ever seen. What I do not get is they almost all drive Dodges.

 

Yes, and I appreciate your effort on that forum to set them straight. It seems you've become the resident 6.0 expert on there.

 

Very good thread guys. I too feel your pain when the SD forum bashes the 7.3. The thing that gets me is the fact that they pull stock numbers out and only go with those. Tex, in your sig, you say you have more mods then you could list. You made your truck better then stock, as I have. I'm sure you don't have the problems that a stock truck would have. Take my 4R100, I will be the first one to say that trans is not strong enough for these trucks. To fix that problem, I went and had Brian at BTS build a trans that he said I can't break. Not many of us in the 7.3 forum are running stock truck. But the bashing will continue.

 

I think the thing to remeber is that everyone will bash when its broke, everyone will be happy when its not.

I think the other thing to remeber is that the dealers were, and some still are, but "we" as the general user cant fix that. Are ther inhearant problems with the 6.0, yup, but look at any modern diesel with an EGR and you will find problems across the board.

I dont think its fair to compare a 6.0 to a 7.3 because they are not the same. Thats just me.

I have had 6.0 disappointment believe me, my 04 was bought back because of an incompatent dealer. I came back to a 6.0, do I have issues, yup, some of them are my fault some are not. But when its out of warranty I will "fix" it.

Some people have the ability to fit them and some dont. I think the people that get hit harder in the wallet are the ones that bash the most.

I also think there is 3 sides to every story of problems on here, we very rarely see the truth as to what happened, or the truth of what actually fixed it and why, people hide behind the key board for some reason.

I am willing to help anyone on here gain a better knowledge of the 6.0 becuase this engine requires people to think differently about operating a diesel than the older ones.

Kepp fightin the fight Tex, but dont get too agrivated. Everyone has there opinions, I like what I like and you like what you like...so be it.

Sarge

 

An educated operator and/or owner will extend the service life and minamize upkeep and repair cost on anything including lawnmowers,outboards,firearms,homes or you name it. Big rig drivers that have operated for a number of years as well as the mechanics that repair them when they break will afirm that. When diesels were almost exclusive to working machines,they would pull hard and last many times over what their gas counterparts would, "IF" you didn't lug it,over rev it and kept up on maintinance. It was also common for drivers to turn the pump up to increase power which usualy resulted in premature failures. To the point beeing discussed here,the blame was mostly directed at the manufacture when they failed. So you see,this is not realy new at all. The major difference today compared to say from 1980 and back,is inept operators and a shortage of mechanics due to the sudden increase of diesel engines. And yes,there are many examples of poor desighn that are far worse than anything related to 6.0 engines. It has been said over and over but should be repeated "Thank you to those who have took time to study these engines and unselfsly worked to educate the rest of us". I know it must be difficult answer the same questions repeatly then come back the next day and continue to do so. FMC owes the techs big time for coming here and educating us. We owe the techs and gear head owners in ways that probly will never be paid other than for thank you. So new owner and prospective owner,my advice is to use the search feature and research before you make decisions based on street talk. IMHO, taken as the total package,the 6.0 trucks are head and shoulders above the rest. That is more than I have said in six months so forgive the endless ramble if you can.

 

Nice post da-bees!

(Like the title says) I shouldn't jump in on this, but ....... oh well.

The things that are an absolute MUST for reliability (IMO) are also fairly cheap:
1. Coolant filter
2. Fuel pressure spring upgrade IF you determine that you have low fuel pressure (and it is fairly common)
3. Be meticulous on keeping your electrical system healthy (battery load testing, monitor voltage w/ a relatively cheap "power point" 12V gauge)
4. PROPER Filter and Fluid maintenance
5, Proper driving (minimize idle time and don't "rag" on it until fully warm.

The ADVISEABLE things are:
1. Pull EGR valve routinely (suggest yearly); Inspect and clean or replace if necessary
2. ccv re-route (although some folks have had reliability without the mod)
3. Get gauges
4. Find a knowledgeable and competent dealership

None of these things are onerous or excessive IMO. The key thing is to be aware of these requirements. Once the price of our trucks hit $40k(+), then it became pretty reasonable to expect folks to spend a little time learning about the "care" that is required for these beasts - at least that is what I do. I do not like being a "victim" when it can often times be prevented.

 

Thanks for the general maintenance into bismic. Good words to live by. When i was looking to upgrade from my F-250 Gasser (last of the 460s), I tried both a 7.3 and a 6.0. In spite of the maintenance issues i have had to perform, Oil cooler replaced at 120K and just recently, i am having to replace a fuel injector on No 1 Cylinder ak 150K. (decided to replace all 4 in the bank since they had to tear down that system anyway).

My main point is the drivability of the 6.0 is so much nicer than the 7.3. While the 7.3 was a nice truck, the acceleration was a dog. The 6.0 was much more snappy and fun to drive. So we decided on the 6.0. I have not regretted it at all. I tow horse trailers, both 2 horse bumper pull, and 3 horse gooseneck and have no problems at all towing.

 

Yeah that RV crowd is tough on you Rictatic... I don't post there!

I want to say alot of these guys are Ford deffects and got a bone to pick and/or very conservative with their $$$ and expect alot out of their trucks, but as a said earlier to Tex the Super Duty forum is the least testy of the forums I've read.

Keep it up over there as I tune in from time to time.

 

The 6.0 psd is deffinetly the jack rabbit of the two!

Which year 7.3 are you referring to, or said another way did it have an intercooler or not?

 

People like that keep us in cheap 6.0s.

 

I remember I was over there at RVNet one time. One of the users over here wanted me to go over to their towing forum and talk about the DashDAQ. There was one guy that was always trying to make me seem like an idiot. I'm sure that the only person that would have backed me up was the guy that asked me to talk about it to that forum, but being the new kid on the block, they probably didn't care too much for me.

I remember one time we were "talking" about what sensors the DashDAQ monitored and I gave the list, but in the beginning I said that this will very between make and model as not all vehicles have support for every single sensor and I gave the fuel psi example of the 6.0s. That same guy came on the very next post saying that not all those sensors are supported by all vehicles. I replied that's why I posted that caveat before I listed the sensors which said the same thing that you just said and I even gave an example.

Based on rickatic said, probably my giving the 6.0 example didn't endear me any further to them.