Ok, I know the do's and don'ts of the F series 6.0, but what about the vans ? Seems to me that the van engines were different class, you could get a van with a 7.3 when trucks came with 6.0, and van with a 6.0 when trucks had 6.4, blah blah blah. What are the years of vans that were OK ? When did they have a relatively bug-free 6.0 in them ? I would like to get a cargo van, but the thought of a 6.0 scares the **** outta me. I'm the 300k+ 7.3 daily driver guy and have a lot of faith in the 5.4 and 7.3, as far as low ownership cost. I like the 6.0 cause its quiet(er) and heard some of them are dang good, and most aint. Not trying to offend anybody, but I was not born last night...... and I tend to live in my vehicles.

 

The later years 06+ seem to have the least amout of issues.
the v10 van was a winner. very few v10 issues
so far as the 5.4l goes, I had one worst engine I ever had.

 

I had an 05 e350 with the 5.4 and it was the best gasser I ever owned. 20 mpg on highway and no issues up to the 120k I owned it. I had a truck with v10 and the gawd-awful fuel mileage killed me. Single digit pig, left it sit every chance I got. I put on enough miles that a 10 cyl scares me more than a 6oh.

 

ya thats one down side to a v10 they run good but man they do like to drink.
as I said the later the 6.0 the better then engine. not much changed from 06+

 

I agree. If you insist on having a 6.0L in an E-Series van, get the '06 to '10 model years.

 

I have good luck with an 05 6.0 E


Rule of thumb: If you don't need a diesel, don't get one.

If you must have a diesel, 6.0 is available right to 2010 model year.

Do not get an ex ambulance.

Remember it is harder to work on than an F, but the upside is the engine is detuned and much less troublesome.

I rarely hear of E buyers putting a tuner on it.


Also much better oil and fuel filter location.

 

So, the van must use a diffrent tranny than the F series ? I know of several people that have 04/05/early 06 F Superduty trucks and have had all the bad things happen, injectors, turbo, head gaskets, tranny, etc. I know for a fact that 2 of them were driven by 'mature' gentlemen, never drove hard, never molested. These guys still had all the above issues on a less than 100k truck, 05 and early build 06.

So, armed with that information, are the vans built with the same engine and tranny combo ? I understand that the van will not have the 4wd tranny, but I have no experience with the 2wd tranny behind the 6.0. Do the 2wd tranny's have the same c-clip issue, causing complete failure ? What tranny build was the bad one and which were the good ones.

Here is the rant.....

Trust me, with my past experience with these vans, I WANT a gas engine, but I am not against a diesel, especially since the one I am looking at is priced right. AND, with my normal 100k miles a year, I want something that is going to hold up. I am NOT one of these guys that buy this stuff to get a gallon of milk, I use my trucks and I use them hard. Watch my mile statement in my signature, it is updated on a regular basis and is accurate. As stated, I use my trucks, I drive them, I work them, I DO NOT TAKE THE KIDS TO SOCCER PRACTICE IN MY TRUCK, I DO NOT GET GROCERIES IN MY TRUCK, I DO NOT PULL A TEENY TINY SNOWMOBILE TRAILER WITH MY TRUCK. I have replaced my gooseneck hitch 3 times now, BECAUSE IT WAS WORN OUT...... I replaced my steering wheel, BECAUSE IT WAS WORN OUT, the leather was WORN OFF from use. I replaced the drivers seat, BECAUSE IT WAS WORN OUT from use, need I say more ?

 

1. I am pretty sure all the 6.0 Es have the same transmission since 2003.

You need someone who have Ford data to confirm. My transmission is ORIGINAL.

2. "2 of them were driven by 'mature' gentlemen, never drove hard, never molested"

That may have been the problem.

If you do not drive it hard at least occasionally (once a month) they are highly likely to fail from lack of exercise.

Take out those who do not do maintenance --- especially oil and ALL filter changes regularly --- or use the wrong oil and wrong / off spec filters. Take out those who put in bile-weasel.

Take out of your sample those who are running tuners, running mods like EGR delete, using bile-weasel (of any mix), and who do not regularly do EGR Valve / carbon maintenance.

Take out the ones who did not install a coolant filter, who do not monitor EOT/ECT spread, who did not update the flash to current or updated with the FICM killer flash.

The failure of the remaining sample set --- take out those who do not do Italian tuneups or otherwise exercise their motors.

3. I know for a fact that the casting sand / oil / EGR cooler afflicted all models at least right to 2005.

You must check for EOT/ECT differential to judge the shape of the oil cooler.

Be prepared to replace the EGR cooler, get a NEW EGR valve, and clean / get a new turbo right off the bat or at least have current ones cleaned. Oil cooler maybe, for your use, get a coolant filter.

Factory spec filters and 5w-40 synth oil..

Good news: Not only is there no premium for a 6.0 used on the market, they sell for a sharp discount over a gasser.


My vehicle is stock stock, no mods except for software updates.

A significant percentage of the mods people put on 6.0s only create more problems --- like the EGR delete.

Tuners? They play Dance Macabre for the 6.0

There are people who do it right --- and reliably get 500hp from their 6.0 in an F, but that is a minority.

On a E, lack of air cooling mean it is derated from the factory. Rerating it for higher output means risk.

FICM on the E is a much lower failure risk - because it is mounted on the body and not as exposed to heat and vibration as on the F.


I strongly recommend you upgrade the alternator when it comes time to replace.

 

So you are a Crown Castle king?

 

Gearloose1

nah. I am just a radio jockey, not much for heights. spent my summer on new site construction and UMTS upgrades and now I get to go back to all the sites and install and turn-up the UMTS equipment. I dont know which one I like the most, both construction and integration are great work.

This explains why I am looking for a van. My poor F350 got a real workout this summer. I put close to 20k on it, now she is in the 320k mileage bracket. Starting to need some work, I think I got a injector or 2 giving me problems, I get the occasional smoke ring and odd idle at times. She has been a great truck and served me well, but now she needs some care. I would like to get a spare something, minivan, F150, E250 or 350. I never know what type of work I will be doing next, right now I am using my wifes Fusion and installing Nokia radios, but in a few weeks I may be doing construction, and that requires a larger cargo area. My one concern is room for the flexi cabinet, about 20x20 by 55 or so inches. Can fit 2 in my truck with no issue, but the bed is open, I dont have and dont like toppers. Thats where I lean towards a van. BUT, the van is overkill for radio work. So, here I stammer....... Wonder if a flexi cabinet will fit in an Escape ?

And I work all over, mostly the mid west, been in Kansas, MO, PA, OH, WI. Sometimes it would be really nice to have a 4x4, some sites have poorly maintained access roads, some get plowed in the winter, some dont. Some are in town and on high-rise rooftops, some are not. What to do, what to do.....

 

really wonder if it would fit in a transit connect? looked at them yet?

 

here is a a list of what I have considered: Ford E Series, Chrysler mini van, 2000-06, Ford minivan, 2000-06, Escape, Tribute, Transit Connect, F150 CC, New Superduty, Excursion, Expedition and gasp - Suburban

Now, back to the budget part. New is out. Expensive is out. Gas guzzeler is out.

Leaves me with E-Series and minivans. I still think with my wallet, thats why I have a truck with over 300,000 miles on it. Its paid for and it has now just gotten to the point where I feel it does not owe me much. I figure at the 400k mark, she will be retired to a weekend truck. She is pretty, rust free, dent free, scratch free and has shiny chrome, just a ****pot of miles.