6.O diesal Truck trade or fix

I think the value of the upgrades depends a lot on use. It's actually rare to have a catastrophic failure on the 6.0 as long as you stop driving when things start going wrong. But, each failure can cost $3-4,000 per occurrence, and more importantly can interrupt a trip. If your travels are local, or are able to sit in a town for a couple weeks during repairs, maybe not the end of the world. For somebody like me, who can't even spare a single downtime day on long trips, the 6.0 is not a good option unless it has been Bulletproofed.

But, even after BulletProofing, there are still some sensors that can leave you dead on the side of the road.

Dodges have their own issues too though.

If I had a Ford 6.0, I'd probably just do a Cummins 5.9L conversion. The controls are so much simpler, things are just less likely to leave you stranded. And it doesn't have Navistar's terrible EGR system. It will play well with the Ford transmission, which has ample torque capacity to handle even highly-boosted 5.9's.

In fact, I've been tempted lately to pull the trigger on a 6.0 van lately (for destroking)because you can buy them for quite a bit cheaper than the equivalent V10 now! But, I don't need 2 vans in the driveway, and my V10 still gets the job done every time.

Might try this option, should hook right up to your automatic tranny IIRC
LINK

I'd bulletproof it and be done with it. The 6.0 has some great pluses. It has some of the best driving characteristics of any diesel I have ever drove.

It looks great! Drives great! Gets great MPG.. I'd fix it.

Cummins is a great motor. My biggest gripe is the wrapper around the Cummins.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Your truck could be worth $10,000. Add the amount for repairs to that amount and you now have as much as $20,000 to put towards an new truck. A two year old diesel with +-20,000 miles can be purchased for $32,000 including a factory warranty for 100,000 miles. So you have to decide for $12,000 (the difference of $10,000 for old truck plus $10,000 for repairs minus the $32,000 for the new truck) are you willing to risk catastrophic failure of your old vehicle. For me, knowing the history of your vehicle, I would not take the risk.

I'd trade or sell it, but I'm risk-averse by nature.

The very fact you're asking the question tells me that there's a voice in the back of your head whispering "When will it happen? On the way to work? On vacation? How much will it cost me?"

Even though you likely won't get what you may want money-wise in a sale or trade, silencing that voice has value.

First Ford does not build a 3500HD so I assume you mean the F350 listed in your profile.

Have you had the truck for a few years? Do you know the history of this engine? Does your concern rise only from what you have read on the internet?

I'd look at this one of two ways.
1- Peace of mind, you just go buy a new truck. Most people will tell you to do this.
2- Your truck runs fine and you like it, but the stories concern you. If you know the history and the engine as run fine now, I'd keep the truck and be extra vigilant in my maintenance. Ford/Navistar made around 800,000 of these engines. Yes, they had a higher than normal failure rate (Ford bought back around 500 of these trucks), but there are still hundreds of thousands of these engine still on the road. Not every engine was bad.

I have a mechanic who specializes in pickup "light duty" truck diesel engines. He's certified from auto to class 8 diesel engine but likes working on the pickup truck diesel engine. You can probably find someone similar in your area and have him take a look and make a recommendation.

I'd go 05-07 dodge, most any diesel mechanic can repair them with some Craftsman tools in your driveway without pulling the cab or engine.

You have a 2005 so you are in better shape then if 2003.
I know many people that never had any problems with their later years 6.0 I would keep it and do what it needs if any thing. They are very nice looking and riding trucks. The cost of new plus sales tax would be breaking point for me.Plus they will tell you that they can't sell the Ford if they take it on trade just to keep value down.
I just bought a e99 f350 drw for 4000 dollars because of transmission problems the owner had. No one wanted to give him much for it as it was and the cost for new trans instlled was over 4500. I bought the truck and found loose feed bolts in bottom of trans. Cost me some new fluid and few hours time

In my book all Dodges post 5.9's up to, but not including the new Aisin tranny DEF, should be excluded. Then there is the issue of the auto tranny 5.9's. I am facing a similar issue. 4-5k in tranny work or trade it! Best of luck.

By the way a 2006 - 2007 GM chassic D/A is a good choice.

Oh, and find the thread from a month or two ago about a guy that found a real good Ford guy who fixed him up.

Here it is! http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27309906/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

Chris

Tough call.

If the truck is worth 10K and you put 6k into the fixes you still have a truck worth 10K. If you really like it and the truck is in good condition and you plan on keeping it a long time then it might be money well spent. If it was mine and it is running good I would rather spend the 6K on upgrading to a different truck.