I have a 2004 6.0 excursion with 175,000 miles and noticed the head gasket was just starting to leak. Since I take great care of this truck and know I can't buy another, I decided to put in an refurbished engine from Ford. It came with a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty and complete with injectors and turbo except for the starter and alternator which I purchased new. It came dyno tested. The installation was pretty straight forward. I also put in a new radiator and inter-cooler. The radiator had some crap in it and I didn't want to contaminate the new engine.

My questions,

Does anyone have a history of using synthetic oil in this engine?

I have read allot about getting rid of the egr valve. What are the pro's and con's about this.

Thanks

 

Wow! Replaced the whole engine due to head gasket leak?

I would have replaced the gasket and put in ARP studs instead of those torque to yield ones.

 

How much did that set you back?

 

I would have done the head gaskets, but with 175,000 I didn't know how long the engine was going to last anyway. This is my work truck so all repairs are deducted through my business. Still wish they still made this!

 

The engine was just over $13,000. The radiator was $225 and $800 for the inter cooler. Yes, I could have bought a used truck for this but as I said, my truck is in meticulous condition.

 

No disrespect here, but it's a diesel, they are good for 300,00 + with proper maintenance, which you obviously do. Again, no disrespect here, but I'm with jh818, Wow!

 

No disrespect here either. I would hold on to your old engine since you have meticulously maintained it since new. It's barely broken in for a diesel.

What was the history of the donor engine?

 

No disrespect here either. I would hold on to your old engine since you have meticulously maintained it since new. It's barely broken in for a diesel.

What was the history of the donor engine?

 

If he decides to keep it, make sure you store that motor correctly etc. We all know how diesels get when they dont get run for long periods of time. Im interested with what your gonna do with that motor to? Sounds like it was a perfectly runnin 6.0. STUDs and that thing woulda been back to runnin and lasted ya another 150k

 

I thought about doing the same, but building it insane and using my engine in it as a backup. Only if I could find it on the cheap side for maybe $5000 and knew that wasn't happening. You should've put in some studs before you drop the engine back in. Oh well, you're back on the road.

 

The core charge on the new engine was $3500 and I have no intention of keeping something that I will trip over the next 5 years. Putting in this engine was a lot of work! I helped my friend who has a 03 change the studs and gaskets on his x without removing the engine. It was almost an impossible task. I still don't think we got the correct torque on the rear studs! After that experience, I decided to pull the engine out of mine and thought if I was going to do all this work, I was going to replace the engine. I plan on keeping this truck forever! As far a saying this engine is good for 300,000 miles is great but its only 125,000 until I reach that number and I'm getting to old to do this kind of work anymore. If anyone is interested, it took about 3 days to remove and install the new engine remount the bumper, grill, and stuff. I had no idiot lights come on but have spent today chasing a vacuum leak. The engine started right up and purred like a tiger. Its amazing how quit the engine was compared to my old one. I looked at this project like buying a new truck not just replacing an engine. This summer I replaced the ring and pinion gear in the rear end and front hubs and seals on the front axles.

Now I hope I satisfied all the curiosity of why I did this and if someone could answer my questions on the EGR valve and the synthetic oil I would sure appreciate it.