calling all ford owners

Hi,
A 2006 F-350 4X4 dually 6.0 liter completely stock current owner. I have NOT read this entire thread as it's getting pretty long on the tooth. I will say we are happy with our truck, currently 126,000 miles on it. I do my own regular maintenance on it changing synthetic oils and filter regularly. Last year, we were hauling our Eaglecap 1160 and heading from NH to AZ when the check engine light came on while in CT. I monitor engine oil and water temps with a scan gauge. When the light came on I checked the code being displayed and it indicated that our turbo was in an under boost situation. I noticed nothing unusual with engine performance or anything else. So we continued into NJ when the the truck went into Limp mode reducing engine output. It was on a Sunday and we started looking for a reliable FORD diesel dealership. We limped to a dealership and they took us in the following morning. They're engine code scan tool revealed and over/under boost on turbo and we'd lost #7 injector. Replaced both at $4K and we were on our way. Never had a problem before. Has been a great truck. Do your research, if you find a used one, get the VIN and do a "OASIS Report" search for warranty work done on it. This will give you a heads up on potential problems on the truck and decide whether or not to walk away from it. My advise is to keep the truck stock (no chip or Edge) and do regular fluid changes. Monitor your engine oil/water temps. Coolant filter is a good idea as well.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do. We have enjoyed ours and would recommend it as long as your not trying to hop it up in the horsepower realm.

jimh425 wrote:
Pulling the cab is only an issue for the non professionals. It's actually faster to remove it than other designs that work around not having the cab off.

Easily done by experts in less than an hour. Go look at YouTube if you don't believe it.

Actually SOP for the F150 Econo Boost engine as well (for timing chain replacement)

Don't need to look at a video, I see it happen all the time.

What I'm referring to is the OBS style with no reason to pull the cab as the motor is out front, like a conventional is supposed to be.

I did like my old 7.3l for reliability as well, but even engine was bulletproof, I had lot of other issues with it and in 1 season it was like "what will pop this time?" when turning the key.
Sensors, clamps, oil cooler orings, fuel drain valve.
I spend >12 hr in my new truck yesterday, while pulling cargo trailer. Long day, but hearing the radio instead of roaring engine sure made it much less tiring.
Much less jumping helps in enjoying the drive as well.

Pulling the cab is only an issue for the non professionals. It's actually faster to remove it than other designs that work around not having the cab off.

Easily done by experts in less than an hour. Go look at YouTube if you don't believe it.

One thing about the OBS trucks, the cab can stay on for head work... The engine is out front where it belongs, not under the cowl where it don't.

It is possible to get that rear head bolt out without pulling the cab. Use a 5 pound sledge on the firewall.

Great design.

I was fortunate in a way. When I bought my 7.3, my BIL was a director at Ford SVO in Dearborn (he's since advanced a bit) and he 'borrowed' my new truck for a month. It spent a month in Dearborn and I didn't ask what it was doing but it accumulated 1000 miles in a month.

When I got it back it came with a bunch of goodies installed. Limited slip axles front and rear (Detroit Tru-Trak in the back, ARB Air Locker in the front), full Banks kit with full delete exhaust, B&M prototype deep sump trans pan, complete transmission rebuild with heavy duty internals and 2 huge Hayden transmission coolers..and appropriate gauges too. No charge. I never look a gift horse in the mouth..... Were a bit hard on the tires but what the heck, tires are expendable.

I agree, with any diesel, especially one with increased fuel delivery like mine, EGT and transmission temp monitoring is paramount. I can pull upwards of 30 pounds of boost if I work it hard but I always watch exhaust temps and transmission temps.

I very seldom get on it. I know it's there but why abuse it. Hauls my camper around just fine. Gets good mileage too.

It really depends on whether you or the previous owner spent the extra dollars to bullet proof the 6.0. For four and a half years my 2004 6.0 was a hauling beast and loved it. Then kaboom the turbo got toated when the coked up EGR valve dumped **** into the turbo. $6,000 in repairs under warranty. 13 months later same thing and driven per Ford's recommendations. Fixed it, sold and bought a 2002 7.3. DW just didn't trust it and the $3,000 to do the EGR delete, ARP head studs etc.(you have to lift the cab off the chassis and that wasn't going to happen.) Yup the 7.3 is noisier, not as peppy and the transmission not as smooth but 90K later it hasn't missed a beat. With the right mods the 6.0 can be made dependable if you don't have a smog check state but who knows what has happened in the past. Now I just take my time, watch the EGT's and trans temp and know I'll get there. Whatever PSD you look at get a good gauge setup. Temperature is the enemy.

The 6.7s have been out long enough that the major show-stopping bugs are out of them. I prefer the 7.3 because it is simpler, and has less EPA-mandated stuff that will break or result in a no-start condition, but the 6.7 isn't a slouch.

Call me weird. If I had to go for an engine for a recently made Ford SD truck, I would go with the V-10 gasser. Just because that engine is so relatively hard to kill, and works well for tasks that don't need a diesel. Plus, you don't have to wait for the cellphone yappers to put their device away, stop eating lunch and scoot their Prius out of the way at the edge pumps (the only ones with diesel) at the gas stations.

You can read all about the Ford Diesels on this site:

Many videos, tear downs, modifications , he knows the real story on these engines.

Ford Diesel Knowledge

When I was driving 7.3l to my customer living in small court - he was already waiting for me on his driveway as he could hear me 3 streets away.
When I drove 6l, the same customer would hear me backing up on his driveway.
I bought 6.7l when I retire, so no more experience with customers, but in those rare moments when I can hear the engine - it reminds me old VW with 4-banger.
Sure I don't sound macho, but that is fine with me.