Forum Discussion

klr650goldwing's avatar
klr650goldwing
Explorer
Feb 16, 2020

2017 F350 6.7. Inspection?

We are buying a 2017 F350 with the 6.7 diesel near Houston, TX. Is there any way to get this vehicle inspected before we buy? The carfax on this vehicle shows no maintenance. So either the previous owner did preventative maintenance himself, or he didn't do it. The vehicle looks like new in cosmetic condition, so it appears the previous owner took good care of it. However, that doesn't mean he changed the oil and filters regularly. I'm new to diesel engines, this is my first one. What do I need to look for when I take this vehicle for a test drive?
Tow Vehicles
  • FishOnOne's avatar
    FishOnOne
    Nomad
    Feb 16, 2020
    klr650goldwing wrote:
    The truck had 63,000 miles and looks like new. I would also like some verification that regular, preventative maintenance was performed, but the carfax shows none at all. So some sort of prepurchase inspection seems like the best option, however the truck is at the local Ford garage now so who, other than the Ford dealer, could I get to do the inspecting?


    So the engine has 5 years/100k miles warranty so you still have some time on warranty to cover any issues there. Also these trucks tell the driver when to change the oil and change the fuel filters so if the truck looks like new it most likely wasn't abused. Most dealers thoroughly inspect a trade in and use any findings to reduce trade in value so they should know if they found any issues.

    I would have the dealer provide you their inspection report to see what they inspected or didn't inspect and work from there.
  • blofgren's avatar
    blofgren
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    klr650goldwing wrote:
    The truck had 63,000 miles and looks like new. I would also like some verification that regular, preventative maintenance was performed, but the carfax shows none at all. So some sort of prepurchase inspection seems like the best option, however the truck is at the local Ford garage now so who, other than the Ford dealer, could I get to do the inspecting?


    Was it a trade in? If so, the dealer should be able to contact the previous owner to find out some details for you. I've actually had dealers where I have traded in ask me if I was OK with a prospective buyer contact me to ask me questions, which I have no problem with.

    Personally, I would not buy a used vehicle without some sort of documentation of maintenance or a good discussion with the previous owner to get a feel for how it was maintained. I would especially be interested on that particular truck how frequently the fuel filters have been replaced.
  • klr650goldwing's avatar
    klr650goldwing
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    The truck had 63,000 miles and looks like new. I would also like some verification that regular, preventative maintenance was performed, but the carfax shows none at all. So some sort of prepurchase inspection seems like the best option, however the truck is at the local Ford garage now so who, other than the Ford dealer, could I get to do the inspecting?
  • klr650goldwing's avatar
    klr650goldwing
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    NRALIFR wrote:
    Yes, you can have the truck sent to a local Ford dealer (or any other place you choose) for a presale inspection. In fact, I did that several years ago myself when I bought a 2010 F450 from a big used car dealer near Galveston. The inspection found several things that needed attention, and I used that information for leverage in the sale.

    But, (there’s always a “but”) the owner of the truck may want you to put down a deposit to take it off the lot, and if the inspection makes you back out of the sale you could lose the deposit. If the owner is an individual rather than a dealer, he may not even ask for a deposit. I would ask for one, if it was my truck.

    In my case since I wasn’t local, I wasn’t going to fly down without having the truck inspected first. It all worked out ok. I kept the truck for 3-4 years, and used it as a trade in on my current truck.

    :):)
  • blofgren's avatar
    blofgren
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    You don't state what mileage it has, but personally I would want some sort of proof of maintenance that has been done to it, especially since it may have some factory warranty left.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Feb 16, 2020
    “So either the previous owner did preventative maintenance himself, or he didn't do it.”

    Without a handwritten maintenance notebook...he didn’t do it.
  • FishOnOne's avatar
    FishOnOne
    Nomad
    Feb 16, 2020
    My BIL purchased a truck in Arizona from a individual and had him take pictures of undercarriage, under hood, interior, body panels. He rolled the dice and purchased a plane ticket to inspect it himself. He purchased the truck there and drove it back to Texas.
  • Bionic_Man's avatar
    Bionic_Man
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    spud1957 wrote:
    I'm quite sure Carfax doesn't report regular maintenance.


    If maintenance is done at a reporting dealer, it will show up on Carfax. Not all dealers/shops report to Carfax though.
  • NRALIFR's avatar
    NRALIFR
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2020
    Yes, you can have the truck sent to a local Ford dealer (or any other place you choose) for a presale inspection. In fact, I did that several years ago myself when I bought a 2010 F450 from a big used car dealer near Galveston. The inspection found several things that needed attention, and I used that information for leverage in the sale.

    But, (there’s always a “but”) the owner of the truck may want you to put down a deposit to take it off the lot, and if the inspection makes you back out of the sale you could lose the deposit. If the owner is an individual rather than a dealer, he may not even ask for a deposit. I would ask for one, if it was my truck.

    In my case since I wasn’t local, I wasn’t going to fly down without having the truck inspected first. It all worked out ok. I kept the truck for 3-4 years, and used it as a trade in on my current truck.

    :):)

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