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6.4 UPDATE

MSGTRETIREDCSP
Explorer
Explorer
Well I received word from the Ford garage that my problem is a left side head gasket, NOT an egr cooler. Parts are on order and should re repaired by next Wednesday. Will keep you advised if anything else developes. Thanks again for all the replies, I really appreciate it. Safe travels.
2016 RAM Tradesman, 3500, DRW, 3:73, B & W hitch.
2007 Select Suites 5th Wheel
43 REPLIES 43

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Wizbangdoodle wrote:
Several pieces of good advice here. I would also suggest, while the cab is off, get studs and do both head gaskets.

I also agree with what was said above, any brand modern diesel is going to have problems. It is their battle with trying to meet government regulations. The 6.4 gets a pretty bad rap, but once they are modded, I'd put one up against any brand for longevity and durabilty. Good luck and safe travels.


"Once they are modded."
Keep defending fomoco Diesel engines. But show me any other high pressure diesel from the last 15 years that needs 5 grand in internal mods just to make it down the road in stock trim under 100kmi besides the 6.0 and 6.4?
Powderchokes blowing head gaskets has exactly zero to do with the epa unless you're blaming them for limiting what Ford was able to use for head bolts and gaskets.
The guy above I quoted is spot on, in that they're decent engines once fixed and the wrapper around them is good, so decision boils down to how much you want to spend on it.
I agree the 6.7s appear to be better engines and their fast as stink in stock trim, but it took them until last year to catch up to the other 2 with a real exhaust brake.

Anyway to the op, not enough informed buyers to get your money out of head studs if you're dumping it right away. Get it fixed and hang a for sale sign in the window on the trip home!
If you plan on keeping it, follow advice above and get some arp studs and do both sides. May as well do all the bullet proofing and get it over with if your keeping it.

Remember, 07.5 to '11 for Ferd and GM and up til '13 in Dodges are all sort of the bastard children of the diesel world unless you want to delete and spend some money.
Highest failure rate of emissions, poor fuel economy, etc due to the epa.
If you're selling, consider, pre 08 emissions or newer def trucks.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

Wizbangdoodle
Explorer
Explorer
Several pieces of good advice here. I would also suggest, while the cab is off, get studs and do both head gaskets.

I also agree with what was said above, any brand modern diesel is going to have problems. It is their battle with trying to meet government regulations. The 6.4 gets a pretty bad rap, but once they are modded, I'd put one up against any brand for longevity and durabilty. Good luck and safe travels.
'17 F450 CCLB Platinum dually

NY_RVer
Explorer
Explorer
Cummins12V98 wrote:
While they have the cab off I would highly recommend replacing both head gaskets and studding them!


I agree, that is what I had done. Ford told me to buy the studs and they would install.
2016 Ram 3500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4 SRW 6.7 Cummins
2014 Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE
Reese Dual Cam

45Ricochet
Explorer
Explorer
At least you didn't continue your trip which could have cost you a bunch more money. I'm sure your truck will get some good cash on resale for whatever brand you choose.
Good luck
2015 Tiffin Phaeton Cummins ISL, Allison 3000, 45K GCWR
10KW Onan, Magnum Pure Sine Wave Inverter
2015 GMC Canyon Toad

Previous camping rig
06 Ram 3500 CC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins Smarty Jr 48RE Jacobs brake
06 Grand Junction 15500 GVWR 3200 pin

mtofell1
Explorer
Explorer
These newer complex diesel scare me for sure. I know statistically things like this are rare but they seem more common than before all the high-tech emission stuff.

The great thing about diesels use to be they towed quieter/smoother and they'd run forever. While the engines well may run forever, something else that's really expensive will probably fail before the engine.

And this isn't a brand specific thing at all. It seems any/all brands could have really expensive problems. From reading various message boards and hearing experiences like the OP's I personally have zero interest in owning a modern diesel that is not under some type of warranty. Maybe I'm "throwing the baby out with the bath water" as the saying goes but it just seems like there are too many unknowns and new systems with modern diesel engines.

blofgren
Explorer
Explorer
MSGTRETIREDCSP wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
Good to hear.....I guess. glad they found the issue.

My wife keeps telling me it`s time for a new truck. I keep telling her no! and these newer trucks are the reason why. I may just do a front end update on my X and keep on enjoying it!

Good luck!



I here ya. I'll stay with diesel just because of the rig I tow. I may think about a brand change?


I had 3 Fords over 20 years including 7.3L and 6.0L diesels. The 7.3L was a great truck but the 6.0L was developing problems that I knew were going to be expensive so I traded it in for the truck I have in my signature. I am extremely happy with this truck; it is super comfortable, looks great, pulls like a train, and handles our 16k fiver with ease. The Cummins engine is also second to none. I would highly recommend that you have a look at them.

Good call on moving on from the 6.4L; unfortunately you have experienced one of several expensive problems that those engines are well known for. We have a couple of them at my work and they have been less than stellar to say the least.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.
2013 Ram 3500 Megacab DRW Laramie 4x4, 6.7L Cummins, G56, 3.73, Maximum Steel, black lthr, B&W RVK3670 hitch, Retrax, Linex, and a bunch of options incl. cargo camera
2008 Corsair Excella Platinum 34.5 CKTS fifth wheel with winter package & disc brakes

W4RLR
Explorer
Explorer
MSGTRETIREDCSP wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
Good to hear.....I guess. glad they found the issue.

My wife keeps telling me it`s time for a new truck. I keep telling her no! and these newer trucks are the reason why. I may just do a front end update on my X and keep on enjoying it!

Good luck!



I here ya. I'll stay with diesel just because of the rig I tow. I may think about a brand change?
Just my opinion here, but why change brands? Go with what you like, but you will not find a truck from ANY manufacturer that does not have problems or issues with something. As for Ford, the new 6.7 Scorpion diesel is getting good reviews from the field. If I could afford one, I would have one. But I will stick with my current truck, currently working its way up to 300,000 miles on the original engine, having only replaced the thermostats and radiator.
Richard L. Ray
SSgt USAF (Retired) Life Member DAV
W4RLR 146.52 mhz

2008 Ford F-250 Lariat Crew Cab
1995 Jayco Eagle 277RBSS fifth-wheel

"Never ask a man what kind of computer he drives. If it's a Mac, he'll tell you. If not, why embarrass him?"
Tom Clancy

W4RLR
Explorer
Explorer
MSGTRETIREDCSP wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
While they have the cab off I would highly recommend replacing both head gaskets and studding them!



I'm not sure l'll be keeping the truck now. Will see how much extra for the other head gasket. What's studding?
Removing the head gasket on one side of the engine, while it may be cheaper, would not be a good idea in my humble opinion. Better to replace both sides. The replacement gaskets are frequently better than the original. Since the truck will already be apart, it shouldn't cost that much more. The expense in replacing head gaskets isn't the complexity of the job, but all of the things you need to remove to GET to the head gaskets.

Studding means to replace the torque to yield head bolts (which should NEVER be reused) with head STUDS and nuts. The original head bolts can stretch by design, but that design also means that over time the heads may loosen, compression suffers, and the combustion chamber can have coolant seep in and damage your engine. Head studs are made of stronger material and prevent the stretching that can lead to engine damage.
Richard L. Ray
SSgt USAF (Retired) Life Member DAV
W4RLR 146.52 mhz

2008 Ford F-250 Lariat Crew Cab
1995 Jayco Eagle 277RBSS fifth-wheel

"Never ask a man what kind of computer he drives. If it's a Mac, he'll tell you. If not, why embarrass him?"
Tom Clancy

MSGTRETIREDCSP
Explorer
Explorer
dodge guy wrote:
Good to hear.....I guess. glad they found the issue.

My wife keeps telling me it`s time for a new truck. I keep telling her no! and these newer trucks are the reason why. I may just do a front end update on my X and keep on enjoying it!

Good luck!



I here ya. I'll stay with diesel just because of the rig I tow. I may think about a brand change?
2016 RAM Tradesman, 3500, DRW, 3:73, B & W hitch.
2007 Select Suites 5th Wheel

MSGTRETIREDCSP
Explorer
Explorer
spoon059 wrote:
Were you able to get home with truck and camper for this diagnosis? Glad damage isn't too severe, hopefully everything else is mechanically sound and you can keep on trucking with what you've got!


Not at home yet. Parts on order and work should be completed by next Wed.
2016 RAM Tradesman, 3500, DRW, 3:73, B & W hitch.
2007 Select Suites 5th Wheel

MSGTRETIREDCSP
Explorer
Explorer
Cummins12V98 wrote:
While they have the cab off I would highly recommend replacing both head gaskets and studding them!



I'm not sure l'll be keeping the truck now. Will see how much extra for the other head gasket. What's studding?
2016 RAM Tradesman, 3500, DRW, 3:73, B & W hitch.
2007 Select Suites 5th Wheel

spoon059
Explorer II
Explorer II
Were you able to get home with truck and camper for this diagnosis? Glad damage isn't too severe, hopefully everything else is mechanically sound and you can keep on trucking with what you've got!
2015 Ram CTD
2015 Jayco 29QBS

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
While they have the cab off I would highly recommend replacing both head gaskets and studding them!
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Explorer II
Good to hear.....I guess. glad they found the issue.

My wife keeps telling me it`s time for a new truck. I keep telling her no! and these newer trucks are the reason why. I may just do a front end update on my X and keep on enjoying it!

Good luck!
Wife Kim
Son Brandon 17yrs
Daughter Marissa 16yrs
Dog Bailey

12 Forest River Georgetown 350TS Hellwig sway bars, BlueOx TrueCenter stabilizer

13 Ford Explorer Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000, VIP Tow>
A bad day camping is
better than a good day at work!