Hello all, I'm new to the forum and new to Excursions. Just picked up my first Excursion, a 2005 Limited 6.0 PSD w/ 106,000 miles on it. This truck is also my first diesel.

It's had most, if not all, of the bullet proofing already completed by the previous owner w/ receipts for the following (Ford Dealership):
- Engine pulled from the vehicle
- Removed heads and replaced studs with ARP head studs
- Resealed the engine w/ new gaskets (heads, oil pan, bed plate, rocker box, and valve covers)
- New water pump and belt
- New STC fitting
- New Dummy plugs
- New Stand pipes
- New Glow plug harnesses
- New Oil Dipstick
- New Oil Cooler
- New EGR cooler (bullet proof diesel cooler)

It's also had the fuel regulator replaced recently due to a leak.

Hopefully I won't have to do too much more to the engine.

Through searching and reading on the forum, I've learned there are quite a few nuances and do's/don't with the 6.0 engines if you want them to last a long time...
- Take it easy until the engine is up to full operating temperature
- The engine just sitting and idling won't build heat in the turbo (needs to be driven to fully warm up)
- Once warm, I've read the turbo on these likes to be exercised rather than babied
- Once parked, let the turbo cool down for a few minutes before shutting off the engine
- Don't let it sit for more than 5 or 6 days, it should be driven regularly
- Trips should be 15+ minutes to allow the turbo to fully warm up and remove any of the condensation inside

Did I miss any big do's or don'ts?

I've already ordered the following to keep an eye on the vitals (turbo timer so I don't have to wait to turn the truck off):
- Edge Insight CTS2
- EAS Starter Kit Cable
- Edge Universal Turbo Timer

I have a couple more specific questions about my particular Excursion which I will start a new thread for after I'm done researching.

Thanks for reading

 

Welcome to FTE!

 

Welcome, sounds like you have a solid platform! There's lots of good info in the tech stickys at the top of the page... you're well on your way!

 

Welcome to FTE, looks like you have a good grasp on the 6.0....
Also, there is a lot of good reading on the 6.0 side of this forum...

After all that's been done you should also look into ELC (red) coolant, this will assure better health to your new oil cooler and cooling system in general. I find that most Ford Dealers even if they bulletproofed usually go back to ford gold coolant (that's a no no).

Once your monitors are in place and all checks out, just drive the hell out of it and enjoy.
It's been about 2 years since Ford of Fort Lauderdale bulletproofed mine and it's been a very reliable no issue driver.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome and the tips! I attached a pic of the new-to-me Excursion

LivingLarge - you are probably right on the coolant. I will flush that out and refill with CAT ELC as soon as possible. Luckily, it's only been ~10k miles since all this work was done, so hopefully that Ford coolant didn't do any damage yet

 

Good looking Ex!

You will be fine, but definitely needs to be on your list

 

I seriously have not heard of this. Where do I get ELC? Ford?
Thanks in advance.

OP: Welcome! Beautiful rig!

 

Cat ELC concentrate....Not A Ford product
I think I got this at Napa
Aaron I'm guessing you have a 6.0?

 

Any parts store will have ELC but there is more to it then just pouring some in.

Should be a procedure for back flushing your coolant system and switching to ELC in the tech folder.

ELC still should still be tested annually but you don't need to use supplemental cooling additives, just top off the coolant level with a 50/50 ELC mix.

Here is some light reading

Any parts store will have ELC but there is more to it then just pouring some in.

There is a procedure for back flushing your coolant system and switching to ELC in the tech folder.

ELC still should still be tested annually but you don't need supplemental cooling additives, just top off the coolant with a 50/50 ELC mix.

Some ELC 411
Is Your Extended Life Coolant Contaminated or Diluted?

 

I sure wish that was the case everywhere. I went to all the big chain stores here and no one had it. Some places didn't even know what it was. Found 2 gallons at tractor supply but that was it. In the end I ordered 4 gallons of Delo ELC from Amazon. Prime was a lifesaver on shipping costs that day.

 

Same here, I had gone everywhere including Caterpillar in Fort Lauderdale but no had the concentrate except Napa here locally.

 

Nice looking Excursion!! Don't worry to much have fun with it! Sounds like you got it under control.

 

Thanks guys. Great info.

Got my Edge Insight CTS2 in today from Amazon...hooking it up tomorrow!

 

How that for overlooking an addition to the tech folder? I never added my Gooch Back-Flush ELC Coolant Info thread to the tech folder.

I disagree. I don't see the need to test the ELC in our rigs because we just don't see the idle times/hours driven like the semi's do. Besides, I don't think there is a universal test strip that will work for all OAT coolant manufacturers yet.

ELC coolants that meet the CAT EC-1 spec all have a minimum of 500,000 miles driven. Chevron Delo ELC has a 750,000 mile spec, going up to 1 million miles with an extender. We'll never reach those miles within the time frame of the coolant life, but we will reach the maximum life years of the coolant, which for the Delo ELC is 8 years. Longer with an extender added before (IIRC) the 5th year.

Stewart

 

Thanks for the follow up input Stewart_H! Much appreciated.

And thanks again to all the members for all the info around this site, its a wealth of knowledge.