I am looking at some used 05-07 Ford F 350 Duals, 6.0 diesel, with around 200,000 miles, just to pull my TT and assorted camping gear. We expect 6-7 trips per year, 100-300 miles trips. I am fully aware of the 6.0 problems but hey, if it's running good at 200 thousand the bugs have all been felt with is my thinking. These are in my price range and there are not many Dodge or GM trucks as Fords in my market. What say u ?

Apm10266 wrote:I am looking at some used 05-07 Ford F 350 Duals, 6.0 diesel, with around 200,000 miles, just to pull my TT and assorted camping gear. We expect 6-7 trips per year, 100-300 miles trips. I am fully aware of the 6.0 problems but hey, if it's running good at 200 thousand the bugs have all been felt with is my thinking. These are in my price range and there are not many Dodge or GM trucks as Fords in my market. What say u ?Funny you say that about the problems being addressed. My BIL called me a couple years ago and asked me the same question about a 2005 6.0 that had all the upgrades done. I told him the same thing you are thinking." If its got that many miles on it then it has surely been bulletproofed and should be a good truck." Well a about 3 months later he had to drop 5k in it. He now has 2 injectors and a couple glow plugs that need to be replaced. He just drives it 30 miles a day to work. Just sayin.

How big is the camper? If you just camp a few times a year then a gas job would be better, depending on weight. Otherwise, I have seen several 6.0 Fords with that many miles still on the road. I think most have had some repairs or even bullet proofing done by now. But you need to find out. There is a place in Goergia that knows Powersrokes very well. I believe his site is Powerstrokehelp.com. Others may correct that. I would look to see what he has for sale or take the truck to him if your able prior any purchase. Regardless a lot have been burned by that engine here as well as the 6.4 Ford. So expect a wide range of answers. You mentioned about dodge and Chevy, my thoughts are they are more expensive because of the 6.0 issues in the past. That being said I would not pay much for one, just my opinion. I have only used those engines at work and we have gone through lots of engines. But they are driven hard, so not normal use, but for the right price then it could be a good buy.

In general I think the 200,000 miles on a modern day diesel is no problem. My own '05 Chevy Duramax has 216,000 on it with no problems. We just ran 3,550 miles from VA to CO and back this summer.However, I've had experience with 2 Ford 6.0 trucks at work: an '03 and an '06. Even when they weren't in the shop I still thought that my Chevy drove better, handled better, started quicker, and sounded quieter. My co-workers agreed on the numerous times my truck was pressed into service when the company's Fords were in the shop.

All I can say is there's a reason you're finding those in your budget and not the other 2. To be fair though, 200kmi on any diesel or any vehicle for that fact opens up a lot of "possible" and some probable failures. Any 10+year old truck with 6-9000engine hours is a gamble. Just that the house wins more often with a 6.0.

I bought a 08 with v10 at 160000. 5 months later the 5r110 tranny needed rebuilt. I've got 3000 in rebuild. Just consider that when you make offer. My only other thoughts are the 6.0 actually does better when run regular. When used less frequent problems occur. The firehouse where I work we have problems keeping turbos. Good luck

Looking at used Ford F-350 high miles | Good Sam Community

123 Replies

CampingN_C_
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Next time you see that mechanic, please tell him that several people on Rv.net want to know how that coating or overspray or whatever the contamination was got past not one but TWO fuel filters that filter down so fine that it makes ultra finely ground flour or powdered dust look like gravel to the fuel filter.

The pre-filter on a 6.0 is a 10 micron rating and the scrubber or polish filter is rated at 2 or 4 micron rating depending on who you listen to.

Cigarette smoke is around 1 micron so this gives a person an idea of how small they filter down to. :E

I have no idea dude.
First off, this was around five years ago when we all still had the 6.0's.
Second, these was trucks scattered over a five county radius going to many different shops/mechanics.
In all cases some/all injectors were replaced. Did they have to be? I have no clue, that's just what we were told.
I didn't just fabricate a story out of thin air, there's plenty of info online about the issue, and I've seen more than a handful of material that came out of one of the tanks. Google it.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
Next time you see that mechanic, please tell him that several people on Rv.net want to know how that coating or overspray or whatever the contamination was got past not one but TWO fuel filters that filter down so fine that it makes ultra finely ground flour or powdered dust look like gravel to the fuel filter.

The pre-filter on a 6.0 is a 10 micron rating and the scrubber or polish filter is rated at 2 or 4 micron rating depending on who you listen to.

Cigarette smoke is around 1 micron so this gives a person an idea of how small they filter down to. :E
CampingN_C_
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016
mabynack wrote:
FishOnOne wrote:
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
CampingN.C. wrote:
Lot's of the issues had with mine was mis-diagnoses and money spent where it shouldn't have been, causing the company to scrap them due to expense. For example, four injectors being replaced when it was paint from the fuel tank was clogging the fuel lines.

Troy, you know 6.0's inside and out. You ever hear of paint in fuel lines? :B

I hate it when you get paint in the fuel lines. :B

My 6.0 kept stalling when I was cruising down the road and when I researched it on the internet there were several reports of this happening. Ford used an anti-corrosion coating on the inside of the metal fuel tanks and it chipped off and clogged the fuel filters.

My truck had the plastic tanks and my issue turned out to be a broken spring in the fuel pressure regulator. It was a known problem and the new part cost $30. Unfortunately for me, the dealer elected to clean my turbocharger for $1200 first. When that didn't work they swapped out the $30 spring.

We're talking metal tanks only on the cab and chassis models from 2003-2004. We had several like that. Some said it was the coating inside the tank that let go and some speculated it was some level of overspray "paint" from the factory. I know of five trucks that had the fuel tanks replaced. Our local mechanic kept a tank in stock.
Yes, it would ruin the filters and the injectors.
kw_00
Explorer
Dec 23, 2016
I just think it's kinda funny, the OP drops a post in and multiple pages later no answer of what the outcome was, but a lot of other discussions taking place. So my question is...what happened to the OP? Was it trolling or did I miss their statement? Don't mean to call anybody out, but drops a post and never responded as far as I see. If the OP has responded, my bad I did not catch it. If not where are u? And what's your thoughts on your own post?
FlexCamper
Explorer
Dec 23, 2016
There is a reason that era Ford is more "affordable". It becomes a moneypit. It doesn't matter how many miles. Mine was a late built one and after it ate a turbo at 80,000 miles I decided to dump it. The biggest problem is when the water gets into the oil = instant death. Our neighbors was killing him an injector at a time he dumped it and got a 2016 one to tow his 5th wheel. There is (was?) a place in AZ that bullet proofed them but at $8-10,000 for the job you're better off buying a new one.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Dec 22, 2016
"Ford had 5.9's in their larger trucks. F650's I believe. Not a FORD motor but a Cummins they did offer them though. "

Yes they did they either 2015 or 16. That Cummins had a true Medium Duty Allison behind it. Also in the 750's. The newer trucks had the 6.7 Cummins.
lightning_drive
Explorer
Dec 22, 2016
A number of interesting posts both informed and some not so informed.
Well Opinions are like *********. Everybody has one.
Heres mine. Opinion that is.

Owned Fords all my life. Grew up in Detroit the son of a Ford Plant lay out engineer.
I currently own and drive a 1999 F550 7.3 with 260K miles. Bought it used for $7K.
I mention this as aquisition cost was important. If it wasn't I would own a F450 or 550 with the 6.7.
I believe the OP had aquisition cost as a factor.
The Ford 6.0's have been a nightmare engine However choose wisely grasshopper.
My eldest son and Ford Master Tech just sold his 02 F250 with 7.3 with 390K on the clock and bought a F350 Gasser. If anybody needs one in WA it is for sale. I won't get into the gas vs diesel discussion here.
He is looking into a 2005 F250 with the 6.0. Fully loaded, "Bulletptoofed" Most important EGR delete and headstuds. Truck is fully loaded with every option available. 216K miles on truck and FORD remanufactured engine with $111K on the clock. Seller is a Ford Tech who did the engine replacement and "Bullet proofing" Owned it for 4 years and Selling as he is moving up to a dually and newer. resell as many haved mentioned is an Issue. Dealer offered $7K for trade in. In this case a 2005 Diesel 4x4 F250 fully loaded and owned by a Ford tech being bought by a Ford Tech fully loaded can be had for $9 to 10K.
So bottom line is.
The 6.0 was not a great engine.
If you are in the market for one get educated on issues, fixes and history of truck you are considering.
For my son with his young family aquisition cost is king.
He views this truck as a diesel rig with all the options he wants and and fixes he would do while it meets his needs at a reasonable price.
lightning_drive
Explorer
Dec 22, 2016
352 wrote:
Bird Freak wrote:
352 wrote:
theoldwizard1 wrote:
The Ford 6.0L and 6.4L were nowhere near as good as the old 7.3L or the current 6.7L diesel.

Sorry, you missed one. 5.9
Probably because Ford never had a 5.9.

Did I mention Ford?

Ford had 5.9's in their larger trucks. F650's I believe. Not a FORD motor but a Cummins they did offer them though.
mabynack
Explorer II
Dec 15, 2016
blofgren wrote:
mabynack wrote:
FishOnOne wrote:
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
CampingN.C. wrote:
Lot's of the issues had with mine was mis-diagnoses and money spent where it shouldn't have been, causing the company to scrap them due to expense. For example, four injectors being replaced when it was paint from the fuel tank was clogging the fuel lines.

Troy, you know 6.0's inside and out. You ever hear of paint in fuel lines? :B

I hate it when you get paint in the fuel lines. :B

My 6.0 kept stalling when I was cruising down the road and when I researched it on the internet there were several reports of this happening. Ford used an anti-corrosion coating on the inside of the metal fuel tanks and it chipped off and clogged the fuel filters.

My truck had the plastic tanks and my issue turned out to be a broken spring in the fuel pressure regulator. It was a known problem and the new part cost $30. Unfortunately for me, the dealer elected to clean my turbocharger for $1200 first. When that didn't work they swapped out the $30 spring.

The big issue you may have now is failing injectors because they have now been subjected to low fuel pressure which starves them and causes them to scar internally.

It would be one thing if it was just one or two issues to deal with to bulletproof the 6.0L, but unfortunately there's a whole shopping list of issues to deal with.

On top of the mechanical issues, I dealt with a shady repairman. When the engine came apart a year after he worked on it, the machine shop and the new repair shop said that the valve job I paid for hadn't been done, the injectors hadn't been checked, and the oil cooler had been cleaned and reinstalled - not replaced like the work order said. The crooked repair shops know that there's no way of verifying their work without tearing down the engine again.
FishOnOne
Nomad
Dec 15, 2016
Grit dog wrote:
FishOnOne wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
352 wrote:
I really cant believe they said that. Our dates have not changed in 17 years. If nobody comes than we are not going to be able to do this again. So please let me know if this is OK with you if we can continue our formal mediation. Are you confused or is it my brother? I sure hope this helps. Thanks

Anyone else find this weirder than Fishes posts?? ^^

Yeah.... OK

Just flipping you shiiii
You ever come up to WA?
I love to buy you a beer or 6.

No but I worked with a software engineer from Seattle and my fishing buddy and his wife took a trip there in September.

How about an invitation to come down to Texas and I'll let you shoot a buck (I'll even teach you how to shoot a gun) and I'll put you on some trout and redfish like you've never seen and we can drink some beers while grilling a redfish on the half shell while the rest of them are freezing their balzz off