6.0 Powerstroke question

[jerem0621]

Looked at a 05 PSD with 185k miles

Motor starts great from cold without any misses or hiccups... No smoke boiling out of the tailpipe. Degas bottle looked clean and the coolant looked good. Truck ran good... Batteries were dead as it has been pretty cold so they had to be jumped off before I could start it. FICM concern there I suppose.

Drivers side TTY bolts had lines on them indicating that the driver side head had been removed and reinstalled at some point. These lines were not on the passenger side TTY bolts.

I have a decent understanding of these motors but I can't figure out why only one head would be pulled at some time. I thought if a 6.0 popped a HG you pulled both heads and did both at the same time.

Any idea why ford would have replaced just one HG?

Mostly just curious... I'm a gasser at heart but for $11,900 for a crew cab XLT F250 Short Bed 2wd... With a perfect body and interior...I'm at least curious...

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[BurbMan]

Hey just a thought....the dealer gave you the BS that it's been sitting "just 4 days" and the battery went dead...I'll bet it's been sitting for a lot longer because he can't unload it. I would offer him $9k and see if he wants to deal. He doesn't want you to think it's been sitting because that gives you leverage...which you have.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 6.0...IF the price was right. There's been enough write-ups on how to diagnose and bulletproof these, that if you factor those costs in upfront you can still come out with a good reliable truck.

[thomasgunnar]

mabynack wrote:

T diesel wrote:
A 6.0 is a VERY expensive******shoot.
If you can put $5000.00 aside for the inevitable,
I guess it's a life lesson for you! 😉
Enjoy this tutorial.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvi6KcOHcCg

I searched the web and found a site that documented the legal issues between Navistar and Ford over the 6.0. The press release said that Ford spent more per vehicle to repair the 6.0 than any other engine they've ever released. The average cost per vehicle for warrantee was about $1000. The problems were bad enough that Ford curtailed their contract with Navistar for the remaining undelivered engines and stopped doing business with them.

The troubles with my 2005 Powerstroke started at about 95,000 miles and were only apparent when towing in the mountains. When towing up a hill most of the coolant blew out of the degas bottle.

There are companies like "Bulletproof Diesel" and sinister diesel that are making a lot of money building replacement parts for this engine. The information that you're hearing about the problems isn't just confined to a few trucks, it's a documented fact that this engine is prone to expensive failures even if you baby it.

That was the 6.4 not the 6.0 that was the final straw.

[Bedlam]

If you love the Hitler rants, get someone that speaks one of the Romance or Latin Languages fired up. It seems their culture embraces emotion and expression - It is quite entertaining unless you are on the receiving end.

[hone_eagle]

Gawd I love those hitler rants.

[Fordlover]

Flashman wrote:

T diesel wrote:
A 6.0 is a VERY expensive******shoot.
If you can put $5000.00 aside for the inevitable,
I guess it's a life lesson for you! 😉
Enjoy this tutorial.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvi6KcOHcCg

Great youtube - couldn't stop laughing.

I'd only seen this version before.
Hitler discovers

[filrupmark]

Our 2004 is used for pulling our fifth wheel. I maintain it properly and did not chip it and it has been excellent. Super pulling power and good fuel mileage. 18-20 unloaded and 10-12 with our fifth wheel.

[Targa]

jerem0621 wrote:
OP Here, still not 100% decided one way or another.

I am not scared of the Diesel as I do most (all) of my own wrenching in my driveway. Biggest issue is cost of parts for me as I will install them myself. I would prefer not to spend 12k on a 6.0 truck, But this truck is beautiful. I would most likely purchase a BPD EGR cooler and a new Motocraft Oil Cooler and install them proactively when I cleaned the coolant system and install the coolant filters. No biggie really there.

Just need to keep weighing my options and needs.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Why spend 12, offer them 10. I would be surprised if they didn't accept that offer, if not immediately a couple of days later when they call you and ask if your offer still stands.

[RooDude09]

The only time I've had to pull only one head is to reseal the rocker carrier to the head

[rowekmr]

I agree with Transamz9 they are motors that normally need good attention and maintenance. I also think the price is too high for the miles plus the fact the dealership has it on lot to sell yet the battery had to be jumped after 4 days. Makes me wonder how much attention they paid to recondition truck.

I currently drive one that I bought with high miles and had to spend the $$$ to get it running right but it (engine) hasn't given me any problems in the 2 years I've had it. I have been basically addressing other parts that wear out like others said like power options that stop working and suspension/brakes wearing out. In the meanwhile I bought another as project, fixed it up (with parts from another 6.0L) and sold it with only FICM replacement.

As other says there are other choices some with more stellar backgrounds but if this is what you want make sure you go into it with your eyes (and possibly wallet) open.

[shum02]

jerem0621 wrote:
OP Here, still not 100% decided one way or another.

I am not scared of the Diesel as I do most (all) of my own wrenching in my driveway. Biggest issue is cost of parts for me as I will install them myself.

OEM and aftermarket parts are in my opinion no more expensive that parts for any other truck. NTM most of the "bullet proofing" parts require no special tools that any decent driveway mechanic wouldn't already have. A weekend spent under the hood methodically doing these replacements/upgrades could quite literally save thousands in labour costs. Youtube is full of some very helpful Ford diesel techs who have "how to" video's online. Have saved me a BUNDLE and kept me from pulling all my hair out! 😉

Good luck with which ever way you go. Alos a lot of the diesel forums have check lists for looking at used trucks. If you are aware of potential red flags it may save you a lot of grief.

[mabynack]

shum02 wrote:

T diesel wrote:
With that mileage injectors are not far off.
You will need a water pump soon.
The front end with that mileage is suspect.
stc fitting changed to the new upgrade?
How's the alternator?
$5000.00 may be light!

You guys really should put a wrench in your hands and turn them once in a while.

First off with any decent SD truck get an OASIS report run. That will at least during it's warranty period show any work done to the truck.

Water pumps - again even if a coolant change has only been done once in that mileage it's more than likely good and if not....well they don't cost $500 each and are doable by a decent shade tree mechanic.

Front end - well even the SD's front end parts don't last forever. Just did the upper and lower BJ's and U-joints on mine this past summer along with outer tie rods. A lot of work but I would not have paid someone else to do it.

Alternator - Reman's cost about $120 and take all of a half hour to R&R. The truck loves batteries and alt's

Really I'd only buy ANY used diesel from any of the 3 manufactures if and only if I had deep pockets OR don't mind turning a wrench.

If you don't have or like to do those things buy a gasser or buy a new truck. It's just not possible to buy a used diesel truck and not have to look forward to repairs and maintenance.

I have a 2005 F-250 and I really love the truck. I just had issues with the 6.0 engine. I evaluated the situation and decided that I would rather address the engine issues for 8000 dollars and keep the truck instead of buying a new truck for 52,000 or buying a used one and possibly still have to do the same work. At 108,000 miles it drives great. There's very little play in the front end and everything seems to work fine now that the engine has been fixed.

As you implied in your post, front-ends, alternators, etc. are going to wear out on any vehicle. You can expect to have worn parts on any vehicle with over 100,000 miles.

[majorgator]

shum02 wrote:

T diesel wrote:
With that mileage injectors are not far off.
You will need a water pump soon.
The front end with that mileage is suspect.
stc fitting changed to the new upgrade?
How's the alternator?
$5000.00 may be light!

You guys really should put a wrench in your hands and turn them once in a while.

First off with any decent SD truck get an OASIS report run. That will at least during it's warranty period show any work done to the truck.

Water pumps - again even if a coolant change has only been done once in that mileage it's more than likely good and if not....well they don't cost $500 each and are doable by a decent shade tree mechanic.

Front end - well even the SD's front end parts don't last forever. Just did the upper and lower BJ's and U-joints on mine this past summer along with outer tie rods. A lot of work but I would not have paid someone else to do it.

Alternator - Reman's cost about $120 and take all of a half hour to R&R. The truck loves batteries and alt's

Really I'd only buy ANY used diesel from any of the 3 manufactures if and only if I had deep pockets OR don't mind turning a wrench.

If you don't have or like to do those things buy a gasser or buy a new truck. It's just not possible to buy a used diesel truck and not have to look forward to repairs and maintenance.

Well said....very well said.

[Cummins12V98]

jerem0621 wrote:
OP Here, still not 100% decided one way or another.

I am not scared of the Diesel as I do most (all) of my own wrenching in my driveway. Biggest issue is cost of parts for me as I will install them myself. I would prefer not to spend 12k on a 6.0 truck, But this truck is beautiful. I would most likely purchase a BPD EGR cooler and a new Motocraft Oil Cooler and install them proactively when I cleaned the coolant system and install the coolant filters. No biggie really there.

Just need to keep weighing my options and needs.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Well get er done!

[jerem0621]

OP Here, still not 100% decided one way or another.

I am not scared of the Diesel as I do most (all) of my own wrenching in my driveway. Biggest issue is cost of parts for me as I will install them myself. I would prefer not to spend 12k on a 6.0 truck, But this truck is beautiful. I would most likely purchase a BPD EGR cooler and a new Motocraft Oil Cooler and install them proactively when I cleaned the coolant system and install the coolant filters. No biggie really there.

Just need to keep weighing my options and needs.

Thanks!

Jeremiah