Hey All,

Lurking awhile. Been contemplating a new 2012 F350 SRW 6.7 Lariat for a while and plan on placing the order this spring for delivery before next summer. Tend to keep my vehicles a long time, at least until they are unreliable. Need a large truck to tow toys with have had my heart set on a diesel this go around, but I have never had one before.

Learned a lot from what I've read here. From what I can tell only potential problems so far are the HPFP and the Radiator. HPFP doesn't make me happy at all, but other options out there have cons too. Will watch how it plays out and see if more cases come to light before I order and how they are handled. I don't need to place my order till around April so I have some time.

Question is how much more maintenance is really necessary for the diesel over the gasser? Regular gas additives, DEF fill ups, etc? I can't see getting a truck this size and going with a gasser but significantly lower maintenance seems to be a claim to fame of the gasser folks.

Living in southcentral AK these trucks are everywhere. But, now I am reading from others in Canada and AK that there may be problems with the DEF tank freezing and a significant lack of cabin heat even with the added factory rapid cabin heater? Also no factory or good aftermarket winter front it seems.

Truck was going to be my primary commuter and hobby truck. 20-30 minute trips will be COMMON. Shorter trips to the store will also be common, though I could just as easily take the Explorer for that. Would suck if I never get heat in the cab till I show up to work.

Appreciate your thoughts... IMHO dealers are worthless. Have yet to show up and have a single salesman know even as much as the sales brochure about these trucks. You'd think if you job depended on it they'd at least read the Ford website once or twice and educate themselves on the issues people are or aren't having with their vehicles. I think the service guys are afraid to be honest with you because they know you may be contemplating a purchase.

Lastly, all my AK vehicles have always had aftermarket remote starters for obvious reasons. Is the factory ford remote start a viable product? Anyone able to report on distance, reliability, etc on those or should I just plan on replacing it with a good aftermarket one?

Thanks!

 

This is also my first diesel.

Higher maint. costs: oil changes, fuel filter changes, DEF fluid, and fuel additive. DEF fluid is inexpensive, $11 at walmart and easy to fill. Fuel additives are also inexpensive insurance IMHO, you have probably seen the threads on the additives. Oil and fuel filter changes are expensive. My dealership is around $120 for oil change and $150 for fuel filters. Did my last oil change myself and it was very easy and saved money. Will save even more when I buy my filters online next time. Watched the fuel filter change video and will be doing that myself also next time.

Heat: I live in Buffalo and regret not getting the supp. heat (what was I thinking), but it's not bad. You will want to get it I am sure. I think most people would recommend you get the supp heat and a remote start. Also get the upfitter switches so you can add a high idle switch. (Although it was just recently discussed that it will not work when you use the remote start.) I don't have it yet but am planning on putting it in soon. Also looking at the winter front Darren has, I think it was from Fia?

I had no problems last winter with the DEF freezing. Just make sure that it is not overfilled before the cold weather hits or it will freeze (per the manual)

Hope this helps, I am sure others will give you more input. Overall great vehicle.

 

Living in south central depending on where, if you can't/dont make trips up north you won't need cold front, but if you do get one, @ -30 the eng temp will not rise enouph, trust me, wife n kiddos wont be happy, if she aint happy, well you no the drill.
I get the change your own oil thing, but with no records of Maint being done, warrenty issues come into play, son is dealing with that issue as I type this.
I have yet to have issues with DEF freezing, been -40 and all is well.
Get the truck you will be happy with it.. this is my first big boy as well, I am nothing but happy with it.

 

Live in Fairbanks and the Interior is having some record breaking cold, 5 straight days of -35 below or colder, had -45 below at the house couple days ago. These are record breakers for November, something we'd normal not expect until Jan or Feb.

What that said, no problem with DEF tank, although I di make sure to have a heat pad added with my winterization package. Biggest problem is cab temps. Getting a nice padded grill front bra from Alaska Tent and Tarp tomorrow and also adding the rapid cabin heater from the dealer.

When I talked to the service rep at Seekins the other day, he said cab heat is a problem with new 6.7's, they don't know why and haven't come up with a solid solution yet. But I think the rapid cabin heater and bra will fix that.

If not, I'm getting heated seats from Auto Trim Design

 

I've got 300,000 miles of experience in Ford Diesels. I don't think there is that much more maintenance than any other truck. Yes the diesel uses more oil per oil change. Yes filters are typically a little larger so they cost more than the filter on your wifes explorer. But buying online you can get them pretty competitive.

Fuel filter, Air filter, and oil filter are about $80. I can change the fuel filters in 15 minutes, easier than doing an oil change. If you don't like doing the oil change, my Ford dealer charges about $70 and every 5th oil change is free. Making my average about $56.

Fuel additives are up to you. I've used them sproadically in the past. But will probably use them more after the recent discussions on HPFP. If you are in AK, I would at least add an anti gel to your fuel. My truck has never had a problem (it's garaged) , But some of my construction equipment won't start after sitting outside in below 0 temps. Fuel additives will add $0.05 per gallon of fuel. Unfortunately diesel is already about $1.00 per gallon more than regular gas. Hopefully that gap will return to more normal price by spring.

My truck is a daily chase around truck. Home to 1st jobsite, then to lumber yard, back to 2nd jobsite, over to bank, next to city, back to jobsites. After work, I load up horses. Lots and lots of short drives. And the trucks have held up well. I do seem to go thru more glow plugs than the avg diesel owner.

I press the remote start in my house and the truck starts out in the drive way. You can set it for 5-10 or 15 minutes of runtime. The remote will not work a football field away. I understand that Ford has a extended distance remote start that can be retro fitted to give you a longer distance. It also comes with two additional keys, that are much cheaper if you need spare keys.

 

Thanks all for your replies. I appreciate all you northerners chiming in here. If the DEF freezing isn't really an issue then that's great. Doesn't sound like that much more maintenance, of course adding an additive with every tank of gas will get old. I imagine its all spelled out in the service manual so if I follow that I should be good.

Afraid for the next few years anyway, this truck will be in the driveway and not the garage. Easily plugged in though, but that's another thing to consider.

Few more questions:

1) Is there a "Low DEF" indicator light in the cab like the low fuel indicator?

2) I understand the oil changes are cost more but come up less often (7-8 k miles instead of 3k).... true? Any reason not to use the local Johnson Tire as long as I save receipts or do I need to be taking it to the dealer for those as well? Had good luck with them with the changes on our other vehicles (gas).

3) How many of you are using Synthetic oils and which one?

4) As for gas additives, do you just get them from your Ford service center? Seems like the safest way to go might be to buy the Ford branded additives with all the HPSP stuff floating around.

4) For those of you who travel in and out of Anchorage, does your SD fit in any of the parking garages (hospitals, 5th Ave Mall, etc) or are you out of luck there. Assuming stock height of course.

I think the cabin heat is the last big question mark. I will add the cabin heater and the uplifter switch for the high idle (great idea, much appreciated) and will have to get an after market starter if the stock one won't travel 100 yds. Hopefully those things will warm me up.

All this just to tow some toys!