Ford's 6.2 L Engine Durability

This last summer I took our 2012 F250 (6.2) XTL 4 door short box with 3.73 on a 4,000+ mile trip. I had roughly 4500 miles on the truck were we departed. I was pulling a 255BH Conquest TT weighting in at 7000#’s. We left northern Wisconsin and made our first stop in Sundance WY. From Sundance we crossed the Big Horn Mountains (HWY16) and went to Cody, Yellowstone, Jackson WY, up to Glacier National Park, and then back home. Everyone who has traveled this route fully understands that I had some pretty impressive climbs on this trip. I drove the speed limit for a majority of the trip. Interstate speeds ranged from 65-70 and I drove 55-60 on most of HWY’s. I will say that I love driving this truck. I had all of the power that I could ask for. I prefer towing in manual so I could determine the shift points. I would like to add one more point. My father was traveling with me on this trip. He has the same truck as mine, but three months newer. He was pulling a fiver that weighs in at 9,000#’s. At almost every fuel stop, we put in the same amount of fuel (give or take ½ to 1 gallon). I do not understand how he was pulling 2,000 # more than me and was pulling a much taller trailer. Our driving styles are very similar and we were never more than a ½ apart on this trip. Anyhow, I took a picture of my information display when I pulled into my yard when I got home. I double checked my fuel receipts and compared them to the display cluster and was shocked at to how close the cluster was to my receipts . Only off by six gallons!

The results were:
MPG: 9.2
GAL: 432.9
Miles: 3998.3

Yes a truck sounds like it is really upset with what is going on when it runs high rpm with the throttle closed but it isn't actually bad for it.

Google snub braking for some more info on how to get down the hills with a trailer.

On an interstate grade going downhill I almost never have to hit the brakes and often times still give some gas from time to time. Now on state and us highways with sharp turns and single lanes each direction I will certainly downshift it manually and let the engine do the braking.

Nothing wrong with stabbing the brakes to bring the speed down, then letting the gearing regulate the speed after that. I choose a gear that will allow the truck to maintain speed within a certain range, and stab the brakes when it reaches the upper limit of that range, bring it back down, and let the gears hold it there, or slowly creep up, then stab again. Diesels don't have nearly as much engine braking available as gas engines.

I'll jump on that band wagon^^. I also choose to put it in the gear I want vs. using tow haul mode, the upshift and downshift points are a little to exaggerated for my liking.

Well time to stir the pot. :W

For me personally the tow haul is way too harsh. I can get there comfortable without all that screaming under the hood.

If I am down hilling on the 6% interstate grades, I run with the tow haul off and just click down a gear or whatever I want. I am a believer in using some brakes on down hills. Why not. I got over 100K on the front pads on my last F250.

I am not talking about heating them up, just using the proper application so they do not heat up.

I appreciate all the thoughts and help folks. Will be giving Monteagle another shot in 2 weeks and will let her rip with a bit more comfort from the input here.

I suspect on the eastbound run she'll aim for 5500 but instead of letting it sustain itself I may try to get it down to around 4500-5000 as its a pretty long downhill run- a good 5 minutes plus on the eastbound grade. She just screams at 5500 and its a bit disconcerting even though she doesn't red line until 6K RPM. I always use tow haul but may try without cruise control and a manual downshift to 4 or 5.

I've noticed there is quite an RPM spread between 3 and 4 -- more so than other gears. All in all its the best tow vehicle among 4 or 5 towers I have owned. (Certainly better than my old diesel that just ran as fast as she could downhill with no engine help!)

Rascal Joe

Great thread discussing the reliability of the 6.2L; though it's early it seems to be earning a strong rep both performance & durability-wise.

Very rare to hear of issues with the GM V8s, even under heavy use.

Can't recall the last time I heard of someone having a problem with the 5.7L Hemi. Those that drive them seem to love them.

These are not our father's gasoline V8 truck engines.

fla-gypsy wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
5,500 is nothing for that engine. It will run all day long at that RPM and be happy. Let it do it's job and don't worry about it.

Actually it would only run a few hours at that RPM and then run out of fuel. LOL

I stand corrected. :B :B

fla-gypsy wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
5,500 is nothing for that engine. It will run all day long at that RPM and be happy. Let it do it's job and don't worry about it.

Actually it would only run a few hours at that RPM and then run out of fuel. LOL

LOL :B

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
5,500 is nothing for that engine. It will run all day long at that RPM and be happy. Let it do it's job and don't worry about it.

Actually it would only run a few hours at that RPM and then run out of fuel. LOL