2008 Ford 6.4 Diesel Info, Coolant Killed Motor 148K Miles

[Trail-Mate]

A guy that has been full timing near me for the last couple of months has a 2008 Ford 6.4, He is towing a 28 foot Dutchman trailer with one slide so he is not heavy towing. He was mainly staying the Virginia area and had planned on a trip to Michigan. So when he was coming from the Virginia Beach area and was coming back thru the panhandle of West Va area. When I saw him again been about a month, I said good to see you but thought you were going to Michigan, He said he was. Broke down in this area, White smoke out the exhaust and had to shut it down. Had trailer towed back here and truck to good shop in the area. Shop thought it was most likely Head Gasket or cracked head. Saw him yesterday and ask what they found. He said coolant destroyed the engine and he had it towed to a ford dealer and had it replaced there. $17000 was it total cost with labor and his truck has less than 150K miles on it.
You guys with the 6.4's check them good when they get over 100K miles, seeing more and more reports of issues with this motor when the are above 100K miles. Just passing info. From the short time I have know this gut he keeps his stuff well maintained.

[Vanished]

Thats what we did... 😞

But yes it's sad when you take your $20k truck in for service and leave it for dead.

[Jarlaxle]

45Ricochet wrote:
OMG
$17k repair bill??? I did a quick Kelly blue book on it. Excellent shape trade in price was $14k for a F350 with leather.

LINK

Think I would just leave it there

That!

[FishOnOne]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

Trail-Mate wrote:
I agree, Wish they would have told him the cause. I will ask him again that is if I see him before he leaves for Michigan. He did say the new motor has 3 year warranty. He also said the motor cost 10K and rest was labor and tax. He also said it did a regen this weekend and now has check engine light on, He is taking it back to the dealer today or when the diesel tech can look at it.

I will bet anyone on this site a half a warm Miller Lite that this was the problem.

It happens all the time with the 6.4. :E

It could be other things with this engine, but this is the main problem when you see water in the oil with the 6.4.

Another problem high on the list when this happens to this engine is the cooler. But it will usually take out #8 cylinder and when that happens it makes one hellofa mess and goes BANG because it will hydro #8. :E



On edit I see Bryan brought up a really good site. His list is longer than mine so I will leave it at that. :B

Bingo... However this guy claims this problem doesn't always require an engine replacement. Because of the front plate cavitation problem, it's critical to check your fluids and maintain the coolant system maintenance. A little prevention will go along ways!

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

Trail-Mate wrote:
I agree, Wish they would have told him the cause. I will ask him again that is if I see him before he leaves for Michigan. He did say the new motor has 3 year warranty. He also said the motor cost 10K and rest was labor and tax. He also said it did a regen this weekend and now has check engine light on, He is taking it back to the dealer today or when the diesel tech can look at it.

I will bet anyone on this site a half a warm Miller Lite that this was the problem.

It happens all the time with the 6.4. :E

It could be other things with this engine, but this is the main problem when you see water in the oil with the 6.4.

Another problem high on the list when this happens to this engine is the cooler. But it will usually take out #8 cylinder and when that happens it makes one hellofa mess and goes BANG because it will hydro #8. :E



On edit I see Bryan brought up a really good site. His list is longer than mine so I will leave it at that. :B

[carringb]

Anyone skeptical of the OPs claim should really take just a few minutes to do some outside reading. Major problems with the 6.4L are not uncommon, and is probably the sole reason for the lower residual values for trucks with that motor.

Here is a good rundown of common problems:
http://www.fleetservicenorthwest.com/Pages/64powerstroke.aspx

When you factor in the reliability, the poor fuel economy, and performance of the 6.4L to the V10 (pickuptrucks.com found the V10 could outpull the 6.4L on both 7% and 15% grades), its amazing people buy them still. I guess it must be the "Its a diesel so its better" mentality.

Not to mention... $17k would more than pay for a Cummins conversion.

[nremtp143]

My bet is that the oil cooler went bad and the coolant and oil mixed totally ruining the engine. My work truck, a 2008 6.4 did the same.

[woodhog]

Ford 6.0 owner coolant help...

[rhagfo]

atvanish wrote:
x2 - my GF's 6.0 Ford went from a $20k truck to a $3k boat anchor overnight once...
One of the reasons why I've been hesitate on a used diesel truck..

There is a pattern here Ford/IH 6.0/6.4!

[Vanished]

x2 - my GF's 6.0 Ford went from a $20k truck to a $3k boat anchor overnight once...
One of the reasons why I've been hesitate on a used diesel truck..

[45Ricochet]

OMG
$17k repair bill??? I did a quick Kelly blue book on it. Excellent shape trade in price was $14k for a F350 with leather.

LINK

Think I would just leave it there

[rhagfo]

"IF" I owned a Ford/IH 6.0 or 6.4, coolant would have a filter, and be flushed and replaced every year!
Issues with coolant clogging EGR and Oil coolers cause more issues than anything else.

[lazydays]

I had my truck at an independent diesel show last month for some repair work. Sitting on a motor stand was a Ford 6.4. Owner said " that's 14 grand in repairs". I almost passed out.

[Trail-Mate]

No power adders truck totally stock. I do know he had it serviced. But not sure on the coolant. I will ask if I see him again. Just wanted to put out the info that I had even tho limited for those that have a 6.4 to have then checked and serviced. That is a lot of money to put into a 5 year old truck that should have lasted to 300K miles at least with maintenance.This also give others an approximate cost to replace a 6.4 should they need to. The Ford dealer original quote was for 20K he got them down to 17K.

[ScottG]

There's so much info missing here. Was the coolant ever serviced, was there any power adders, etc.