Ford 6.0 liter

[Npdchief07]

I put a deposit yesterday on a Ford 2006 Super-Duty F-250 with the 6.0 liter/8 cylinder diesel engine. I plan on using this truck as a tow vehicle for a 6500 pound travel trailer. I know next to nothing about vehicles/trucks.

I have read that the Ford 6.0 has a bad reputation (read it online, so it has to be true). My question is does that engine historically have a problem and should I be concerned? The vehicle has 67000 miles on it.

[pawatt]

I had so many expensive problems with mine I went back to a gasser.

[Lantley]

You guys are candy coating it. The 6.0 is the worst pick up truck engine made since 2003. when it was introduced . It is problem plagued. Run back and get your deposit leave right now!!
Those that have them may have or may have not had a decent experience . I agree 100 per cent were not bad. However an excessive number had issues that were never truly resolved
Look into "Bullet proofing. It is a phrase associated with the 6.0.
Keep in mind no other trucks of the modern era require bullet proofing.
Do not get involved with the 6.0 PSD at this point,
We now have history on this engine and are aware of its long list of problems

[blofgren]

Ivylog wrote:
Do a Google search for "7.3 vrs 6.0" video. This will get you to other videos on the 6.0 by Bill Bennett in Buford GA. In less than an hour you will know more about the ProwerStroke engines than most. I just bought a 07 F350 that he had worked his magic on to replace my 02 7.3 with only 78K miles on it from new. The 05-07 6.0 are his favorite Ford engine when properly bulletproof does.

Why did you replace your 02 7.3L truck? That is a very highly sought after truck.

[blofgren]

My last truck was a beautiful 2003 F-350 SC 4x4 Lariat DRW 6.0L. I absolutely loved the Super Duty truck. The engine not so much.

There was a time when it was at the Ford dealer more than in my garage. It had head gaskets replaced, one injector replaced, EGR valve replaced and more reflashes under warranty than I care to remember. Once my warranty was up I did an EGR delete to avoid some of the problems these trucks are known for and also an attempt to cure an ongoing surging problem while accelerating, which it did.

Over the next few years it developed quite a severe bedplate leak (which requires pulling the engine to repair), I had several injectors getting weak because it was running rough when cold, and the oil cooler was plugging up because my oil and coolant temps were spreading. It also had an intermittent surge at idle that nobody could ever figure out. Ford created a flash called "inductive heating" which heated up the coils in the injectors during the glow plug cycle as a low budget way to correct poor cold starts and running. The injectors were never designed to do this and ended up getting ruined from this flash which is what I'm sure is what happened with mine. Oh, and I was meticulous with maintenance on this truck; only Motorcraft filters and Delo 400 oil. The oil was changed every 3-4k miles and fuel filters every 2nd oil change.

I finally got tired of sinking money into the bottomless pit and started truck shopping 3 years ago. Most offers I had from dealers for the truck ranged from $8-10k on trade and several dealers refused to take the truck because it represented a huge liability to them with the new owner. I was never so happy when I got the deal on the truck in my signature and they took the 6.0L on trade. It sat on the lot for the better part of a year after I traded it in.

There are many diesel shops throughout the US and Canada whose existence was created by the 6.0L diesel. Also, in regards to "bulletproofing", there are too many inherent design problems with the engine to truly bulletproof them, the major one being not enough head bolts per cylinder. There are countless reports of owners having to do head gaskets over and over again even when using head studs because of this issue.

And lastly, these trucks were trouble prone right through their production run. It seems that design changes were done to correct one issue and another was created. An example of this was the change from a round EGR cooler to a square one which had a much higher failure rate. Ford spent over $1 BILLION (yes that's not a typo) on warranty work on this engine.

My advice would be to get your deposit back and shop around for another truck. If you want a Ford go with the coveted 7.3L diesel or gas, otherwise look at diesel offerings from GM or Ram.

[Ivylog]

Do a Google search for "7.3 vrs 6.0" video. This will get you to other videos on the 6.0 by Bill Bennett in Buford GA. In less than an hour you will know more about the ProwerStroke engines than most. I just bought a 07 F350 that he had worked his magic on to replace my 02 7.3 with only 78K miles on it from new. The 05-07 6.0 are his favorite Ford engine when properly bulletproof does.

[FishOnOne]

Had a 05 6.0PSD for 7 years and 170k miles. Replaced the EGR valve and or cleaned it every 80k miles. Had a couple of oil leaks early on.

Use only Ford Oil filters and fuel filters. I see many 6.0PSD with after market oil filters and these bypass oil around the filter so you need to check it has the factory oil filter cap. Aftermarket fuel filters do not have the aquablock material around the filter media so these will pass water right to the injectors. Be sure to use a diesel motor oil API CJ4 5W40 or 10W30.

BIL had a 04 for ~5 years with EGR valve issue similar to mine.

We actually purchased a 07 6.0PSD truck last month to add to our 7.3PSD trucks.

Having said this I wouldn't recommend one of these trucks if your a first time diesel buyer. In addition I wouldn't recommend a DPF equipped diesel if your a first time diesel buyer either of any brand.

[NY_RVer]

I had a 2006 F350 6.0 that I bought used in 2007 with 19,000 miles on it. Honestly I think they got rid of it before problems began. I did put over 200,000 miles on it myself, (daily driver and TV), but I also put well over $15,000 in repairs into it during that time. When it was finally running great, I had an accident with it and it was totaled by the ins co. Have always been a Ford man, but bought a Ram 3500 with a Cummins this time around and am very happy so far.

[1jeep]

What shepstone said!

[shepstone]

If you knew the previous owner and he was meticulous with maintenance then fine, otherwise I would try get my deposit back and look for a nice 6.2 Superduty, it will pull that trailer with ease.

[lhenry8113]

I have an 04 F250 w/6.0 diesel. have about 130,000 miles on it. Have towed my Arctic Fox 29 5T 5'vr to northern B.C, Yukon Terr., to Florida, etc. from So Calif. Yup, had problems with it. After the fact, I realized one of the biggest problems was the repair shops and their lack of knowledge to deal with the existing problem and engine. Finally found a good diesel repair shop and they fixed it correctly-haven't had any issues since than. My truck has the FX4 pkg, 4x4, tow pkg., crew cab, long bed, etc. Considering how much it would cost to replace the truck with a new similar model-I have decided to keep it-at least I know it and what has been done and what it can do. To answer your question about towing-you should have no problem assuming it has the towing pkg, etc. Lars

[Huntindog]

Even if you cannot get your deposit back.... Run away from this deal. Losing your deposit is much cheaper than buying it, and it's problems.

[shum02]

I have 350K kms/220K miles on my particular unit.

Reliable? I think so. Almost stranded me once with a clogged EGR valve but removing the electric clip from it and I drove her home with only the CEL on.

The engine is VERY particular regarding service and oil/filter quality. You don't push the service window reqrdless of using synth oil or not.

In this time I've owned her only replaced 2 injectors, re-"O"ring'd them twice, on my 3rd EGR valve, 2nd FICM, couple alternators, 3rd set of battery's, serp belt tensioner, new rad and a few sensors. BTW I turn all my own wrenches on the truck, never been in the shop except for emissions testing - not that bad a truck to work on really and I don't consider the money I spent on parts or the things that have gone bad to be that far out of whack for a truck that's over 10 YO with this much mileage on her. She is a daily driver.

Transmission and attached drive train is as solid as anyone elses, maybe even better on occasion.

I'd buy another one in a heart beat.......but maybe it's just the devil I know that I trust more than the one I don't.

BTW ANY used diesel truck from ANY manufacture is going to cost LARGE for shop time if anything goes wrong and eventually it will. Eyes wide open when buying a used late model diesel truck from any of the Big Three. If you have an aversion to large shop bills or are paranoid about internet lore that you'll be stranded at the side of the road, buy a new truck with a warranty.

[jerem0621]

Please get your self a V10 Ford. The Ford 6.0 and the 6.4 are the ones to stay away from unless you like projects and uncertainty. As demonstrated above when things go wrong it can get really expensive.

Go search you tube for PowerStroke Help and just watch the videos he has on the 6.0. This man has literally built a business solving the problems with the 6.0.

I can't find anything quite like him for Duramax or Cummins diesels....especially for a single generation of motor.

V10...thirsty and boring but reliable as a hammer.

Cummins and Duramax diesels (all motors really) have issues too but they are not nearly as significant.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[Me_Again]

Use the search function and ask for you deposit back ASP!

Unless you are getting it for next to nothing and can afford thousands of dollars to bullet proof it. NOT A GOOD FIRST DIESEL!

If it is at a Ford dealer, ask for a service record report. If not take the vin number to a Ford Dealer. Chris

Chris

[1jeep]

most of the 6.0 issues were emission and/or user tuner related, having said that you mentioned you know nothing about diesel trucks? if this is true I would reconsider this purchase, unless you know a good shop or plan to get familiar with doing the service and work on it yourself.

Do you really need diesel?