Repair 4 diesel

My neighbor had one of those Fords. He had so many problems with it that he finally got disgusted enough to get a HO Cummins and 6 speed manual transmission out of a Dodge and had it stuffed in the Ford.
He is quite happy now.
It was expensive, but much less than a different truck!

darsben1 wrote:
GO TO
http://rvservicereviews.com/
Find your state and city and read the reviews

are you still stuck or have you found someone and wht cg are you at we live in eugene

You are all correct. He did say that in another 30,000 miles I should have the head gaskets replaced. He also mentioned that around that time they do go and Ford also recommends it. He also mentioned the EGR Delete, Oil Cooler upgrade and to replace to use head studs and NOT bolts. I have 80K on my truck now. That would put it about 110K when this work should be done. This mechanic did not believe in fixing something if it isn't broke. He is in Eugene, OR and I will be on the East coast, so he has nothing to gain. The name of the place and I recommend them highly is Randall's Automotive. I think I mentioned I am full timing and I had to get back on the road quickly or loose many CG reservation fees. He also gave me a loaner vehicle at no charge.

All the work mentioned above will be done shortly after I get back to the East coast, plus some new tires. Yes, the truck is a $$$ pit. I am finding that out, but at least I don't have a Class A diesel that might cost me more to maintain.

Now that the truck is running, I would sell it and look for an earlier Ford with the 7.3 diesel, or a Dodge with the 5.9 Cummins diesel.

OP, I know it's probably too late but if it were me I would have the oil cooler replaced along with the EGR cooler if you want to keep it on there if not delete the EGR cooler. This will give you a much better chance at keeping the heads on it. What causes the heads to go on the stock 6.0 is the oil cooler's coolant side gets clogged which starves the EGR cooler of coolant. The exhaust gasses that run through the EGR cooler then will melt the inside of the cooler allowing coolant to enter into the intake manifold in turn getting into the combustion chambers. This causes a hydra-lock in the cylinder on the compression stroke that will stretch the head bolts blowing the head gasket. If your truck does not use coolant to where you have to put coolant in the degas bottle every so often then there is a good chance you can save your head gaskets by doing this. I have a truck with 320,000 miles on it with original heads, gaskets and bolts and another one with 290,000.

mabynack wrote:
My 6.0 blew a head gasket around 110,000. I had it bulletproofed when they replaced it, but that didn't stop it from blowing up again within 5,000 miles. Something in the valve train let go and caused bent pushrods, bent valves, damaged fuel injector and metal fragments from the needle valves in the cam follower to be scattered through the engine. $8000 for the head gasket and bulletproofing and $7000 to redo a lot of the work less than a year later.

I miss the days when diesels used simple mechanically actuated injectors and would last for 500,000 miles between overhauls. They were less efficient and dirtier, but they didn't cost 8000 dollars to repair.

Depending on who you had do your head work it's possible that they caused the damage. If they don't turn the engine to the proper positions while installing the heads it's a real good chance they bent a push rod or did other damage. I've seen it many times.

My 6.0 blew a head gasket around 110,000. I had it bulletproofed when they replaced it, but that didn't stop it from blowing up again within 5,000 miles. Something in the valve train let go and caused bent pushrods, bent valves, damaged fuel injector and metal fragments from the needle valves in the cam follower to be scattered through the engine. $8000 for the head gasket and bulletproofing and $7000 to redo a lot of the work less than a year later.

I miss the days when diesels used simple mechanically actuated injectors and would last for 500,000 miles between overhauls. They were less efficient and dirtier, but they didn't cost 8000 dollars to repair.

Bird Freak wrote:
I want one of those crystal balls that will tell me when something is going to fail.:S

Not going to fail, LIKELY to fail... :S :S

Maybe that's not what the mechanic said but that is what he MEANT. Obviously he does not have a crystal ball, but he does have his experience.

We had an '84 Cadillac, and were told that the transmissions tended to fail at around 70,000 miles. Well, at 71,000 and change, Mom stopped to get the mail at the mailbox, put it in reverse to back up and pull in the driveway and... nothing. Reverse, 2nd, 3rd, and overdrive were all gone.

So, this "part X tends to fail at YY,YYY miles" is not a new thing by any stretch.

If you want to bullet proof it I have a friend here in Calhoun Ga. who was doing them under 3K.

Greene728 wrote:


Yep on the head gaskets. Also, I'd do a full EGR delete and new turbo back exhaust while I was at it with the heads (search powerstroke 6.0 bullet proofing when you have plenty of time to read). Then it's probably gonna be the FICM or something else. Sorry for your troubles my friend, but those 6.0 can become a money pit in a hurry. Hope it works out for well for you!

Lots of recreational reading above - a bullet proofed 6.0 is a fine truck... but it'll cost 5 to 7 grand to get it.

Cedar point NC? just went thru July 4 weekend - I took the ferry to Ocracoke - all 55 ft of my truck and trailer and spent 10 days on the outer banks. Great time!