04-05 Ford Excursion diesel towing?
Anyone tow with a 04-05 Excursion diesel? Have you had any problems with the 6.0 engine, front end, brakes, electrical, trans, 4x4 system or any other issues? I am looking into buying a low mileage Ex...
Forum Discussion
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If it has to be a diesel, then that's it. I think the 6.0L is a nice motor after mods. Some say, "just install a coolant filter on it and it will stop plugging anything more than it already has".
The ARP studs seem like way, way overkill to me, especially at $500. Less costly studs should do the same thing; that is adequately improve the stretchy yield bolts they came with. Afterall, how much torque does one need to crank down the much softer heads? The stingy 4 head-bolt per piston pattern is why they are critical, but if left stock or moderately boosted, any new solid bolt/stud should do the trick.
One may note that Fords older Windsor and Cleveland V-8 gasoline blocks also used only 4 bolts as compared to SB Chevy's 5. The advantage for these Ford gassers was more room for improved ports, but the disadvantage was head-gasket leakage at high boost levels. More than one 4-bolt blower 302 (5.0L) block had copper oringed heads for sealing. Therefore one might expect the 4-bolt 6.0L heads to breathe exceptionally well... except nobody worries about it anymore when they can just turn up the boost. Aha! The charge air entering the cylinder can be cooler however, since less overall boost is required. Very efficient.
If it doesn't have to be a diesel, why not a 2015 Expedition XL with EcoBoost? If the Expy is rated anywhere near the F-150, it will have superior tow numbers (11,400) to the old Excursion (11,000). Maybe not as much mass, but the Excursion has a ton and a half frame under it that never gets fully utilized anyway. Besides, I believe the Expy has built-in OEM towing stability control and better brakes than the old Ex.
Wes
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If it has to be a diesel, then that's it. I think the 6.0L is a nice motor after mods. Some say, "just install a coolant filter on it and it will stop plugging anything more than it already has".
The ARP studs seem like way, way overkill to me, especially at $500. Less costly studs should do the same thing; that is adequately improve the stretchy yield bolts they came with. Afterall, how much torque does one need to crank down the much softer heads? The stingy 4 head-bolt per piston pattern is why they are critical, but if left stock or moderately boosted, any new solid bolt/stud should do the trick.
One may note that Fords older Windsor and Cleveland V-8 gasoline blocks also used only 4 bolts as compared to SB Chevy's 5. The advantage for these Ford gassers was more room for improved ports, but the disadvantage was head-gasket leakage at high boost levels. More than one 4-bolt blower 302 (5.0L) block had copper oringed heads for sealing. Therefore one might expect the 4-bolt 6.0L heads to breathe exceptionally well... except nobody worries about it anymore when they can just turn up the boost. Aha! The charge air entering the cylinder can be cooler however, since less overall boost is required. Very efficient.
If it doesn't have to be a diesel, why not a 2015 Expedition XL with EcoBoost? If the Expy is rated anywhere near the F-150, it will have superior tow numbers (11,400) to the old Excursion (11,000). Maybe not as much mass, but the Excursion has a ton and a half frame under it that never gets fully utilized anyway. Besides, I believe the Expy has built-in OEM towing stability control and better brakes than the old Ex.
Wes
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