Question for diesel owners

[1handyhubby]

I need your help folks. My Ford F250 just doesn't have enough power to haul our camper long distances so we're looking at a 2005 F350 duelly with a 6.0. I know zip about diesels so here are a couple of questions for y'all. I only put about 3,000 miles a year on our truck now, so how often would I have to change oil, filters etc? I've been told there are diesel fuels for 2005 and earlier and diesel fuel for 2006 and up and I should get a 2005 beacause that fuel is easier to find. Any truth to this? We will be driving to Alaska in 2017 so I don't want any issues on finding fuel. Lastly, most diesel folks say they will never go back to gas, anyone want to weigh in on this? I originally was trying to find a F350 duelly with a V10 but because we eventually want to get a camper with a slide out we've been told we should get a diesel. Thanks in advance.

[billtex]

Vinsil wrote:
however now the manufacturers are dialing in on these new diesels and emissions, reliability is going back up.

True...the early model years for DEF were problematic. Same as catalytic converters when they were first implemented. The new diesels-all 3 flavors-seem to be doing really well.
Either buy older (pre DEF) or go new. Years when major changes are like emissions are tampered with, can present all kinds of issues.

[Vinsil]

Buzzcut1 wrote:

chilihead98 wrote:
Newer diesels with DEF injection (e.g. 2011 Siverado 3500HD Duramax...mine, for instance) can be problematic in terms of spurious (false) warnings that can still ultimately put you into limp mode. It's a design problem and the dealers can't provide a permanent fix. This is the first summer using my TC and it seems I've seen more dealers than campsites....sometimes 200 miles away out here in the Great Basin. It's been a huge damper on my plans for boondocking this summer.

Though widely discussed on the Duramax forum the dealers and GM forum representatives profess ignorance. The only thing the dealer can do is reset the computer to clear the alarm...until the next time.

I have decided to delete my DEF system, as many others have done out of sheer frustration at there not being a fix forthcoming from GM (much less acknowledgement of a problem). There's a cottage industry out there deleting the DEF systems.

Between my frequent trips to the dealer, the truck has been a real workhorse. I just wish I could confidently drive more than 200 miles without a problem.

good luck with the CA Diesel Smog inspection that kicks in after your truck is five years old. They check for missing OEM stuff like def and will fail you. Then you get to have it re installed to pass smog and get the truck registered more $$ than its worth.

This. My truck is fully deleted but we don't smog diesels here in Oregon. It makes my truck simpler and more reliable, however now the manufacturers are dialing in on these new diesels and emissions, reliability is going back up. Still not a fan, but gonna have to embrace it sooner or later. Especially dropping big money on these newer trucks...killing your warranty off just isn't smart.

[chilihead98]

Buzzcut1 wrote:

chilihead98 wrote:

good luck with the CA Diesel Smog inspection that kicks in after your truck is five years old. They check for missing OEM stuff like def and will fail you. Then you get to have it re installed to pass smog and get the truck registered more $$ than its worth.

I should have mentioned that I redomiciled out of CA in June, so am not subject to CA emissions rules anymore. 🙂

I've been looking for a way to edit my location but to no avail.

[Buzzcut1]

chilihead98 wrote:
Newer diesels with DEF injection (e.g. 2011 Siverado 3500HD Duramax...mine, for instance) can be problematic in terms of spurious (false) warnings that can still ultimately put you into limp mode. It's a design problem and the dealers can't provide a permanent fix. This is the first summer using my TC and it seems I've seen more dealers than campsites....sometimes 200 miles away out here in the Great Basin. It's been a huge damper on my plans for boondocking this summer.

Though widely discussed on the Duramax forum the dealers and GM forum representatives profess ignorance. The only thing the dealer can do is reset the computer to clear the alarm...until the next time.

I have decided to delete my DEF system, as many others have done out of sheer frustration at there not being a fix forthcoming from GM (much less acknowledgement of a problem). There's a cottage industry out there deleting the DEF systems.

Between my frequent trips to the dealer, the truck has been a real workhorse. I just wish I could confidently drive more than 200 miles without a problem.

good luck with the CA Diesel Smog inspection that kicks in after your truck is five years old. They check for missing OEM stuff like def and will fail you. Then you get to have it re installed to pass smog and get the truck registered more $$ than its worth.

[chilihead98]

Newer diesels with DEF injection (e.g. 2011 Siverado 3500HD Duramax...mine, for instance) can be problematic in terms of spurious (false) warnings that can still ultimately put you into limp mode. It's a design problem and the dealers can't provide a permanent fix. This is the first summer using my TC and it seems I've seen more dealers than campsites....sometimes 200 miles away out here in the Great Basin. It's been a huge damper on my plans for boondocking this summer.

Though widely discussed on the Duramax forum the dealers and GM forum representatives profess ignorance. The only thing the dealer can do is reset the computer to clear the alarm...until the next time.

I have decided to delete my DEF system, as many others have done out of sheer frustration at there not being a fix forthcoming from GM (much less acknowledgement of a problem). There's a cottage industry out there deleting the DEF systems.

Between my frequent trips to the dealer, the truck has been a real workhorse. I just wish I could confidently drive more than 200 miles without a problem.

[polarbare21]

Here's my advice from a long time Ford owner of many trucks and the former owner of a 2004 F-250 Super Duty 6.0

RUN LIKE HELL AWAY FROM THAT 6.0 !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Money down the drain.

Good luck, and look into Dodge 09 and later.

[Kayteg1]

That is typical for people who did not drive diesels.
We just replaced 172 hp diesel sedan with 230HP gasoline model.
The 230hp feels less than 172hp with high-torque diesel.
Sure once it drops 2 gears, the higher revolution gas engine will pull, but when you are in situation, waiting for the gear drop feels like eternity.
Also not everybody feels good with gasser running for long time at 5000 rpm.

[Powerdude]

Don't really understand that part about the gasser not having enough power.

Is it running right? Have you done the required maintenance on it?

If it's a early 5.4 V8 or a 6.8 L V10, lack of power could indicate any number of things.

Coil on plugs are functioning right?
Have the spark plugs been changed lately? It's not just miles often, it's also time.
Check the spark plug wires. Is the resistance in spec?

Have any of the plugs blown out of the head? (a common problem with early 5.4 and V10).

Tranny and differential fluid color looks ok? Have they been changed lately?

Either the 5.4 or the V10 should have plenty of power. Do you need to drive 75 mph up a 7% grade?

[mike_mck]

1handyhubby wrote:
I need your help folks. My Ford F250 just doesn't have enough power to haul our camper long distances so we're looking at a 2005 F350 duelly with a 6.0. I know zip about diesels so here are a couple of questions for y'all. I only put about 3,000 miles a year on our truck now, so how often would I have to change oil, filters etc? I've been told there are diesel fuels for 2005 and earlier and diesel fuel for 2006 and up and I should get a 2005 beacause that fuel is easier to find. Any truth to this? We will be driving to Alaska in 2017 so I don't want any issues on finding fuel. Lastly, most diesel folks say they will never go back to gas, anyone want to weigh in on this? I originally was trying to find a F350 duelly with a V10 but because we eventually want to get a camper with a slide out we've been told we should get a diesel. Thanks in advance.

Not sure what your budget is but you may want to stay away from the 6.0 as your first. I have a 1999 F550 with a 7.3 powerstroke. Great motor. Mine has 250K and my son's has 320K. Bullet proof 500K motors.
others have commented the 6.7 is a far better motor than the 6.0 but is in newer read expense trucks.
Another poster mentioned the higher price of repair. My son. A master tech, is repairing a 6.0 now. Final bill? $11K Cab off to replace the motor.
Paid $7K for a 200K F550 with 7.3 3 years ago. absolutely no issues.
5.9 cummins is a great motor as well. Now if money is no object I'd be looking at the ford 6.7.
Just my 2 cents.

[ol__grouch]

My diesel had some "issues" when I got it. A previous owner was a kid who was going to stack it. He had cut the exhaust off behind the cat. converter and put a chip in the computer. When I first got it there was a car with "ask me about Mary Kay" in the back window that got in front of me and kept slowing down. Each time I'd start to pass, she'd speed up. After a couple of miles doing 52 in a 60 zone, I decided to see what the 7.3 could do. It was a damp rainy evening and when I floored it, she sped up but I got past her. That's when I found out about "rolling coal". I have to wonder what that white car looked like after all the diesel soot settled on it. The chip later died and the computer wouldn't talk to other systems until I pulled it. Since then not a lick of trouble.

[filrupmark]

languiduck wrote:
Agreed. I only see regurgitated information on here that is 95% false. I will take my 6.0 over anything else right now. Granted, I did make an investment with head studs other things but I now have 188,000 trouble free miles. And tuned up it is incredibly powerful, and I don't have to deal with regen, urea, or emissions. Also, you do not need to add an additive with every fill up like mentioned...that is also untrue. There is plenty of lubricity added in ULSD fuel.
Check out http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum107/ if you truly want to find out facts about the truck you mentioned.

Another happy 6.0 owner. 2004 F250 . Great mileage lots of power .No issues here all I do is proper maintenance. Its been a great truck since new.

[trailgranny50]

Our experience with an 03 Ford F350 with the 6.0 diesel engine was Less than good. It had had everything done to it that the factory didn't except the FICA module that was working. New injectors before we bought it, new tires, alternator, turbo, everything and after 6 weeks of driving for work blew an injector just driving along. $1,000 later, the day we got it back from the shop we traded it back to the dealer we bought it from for full purchase price on a new Chevy. It's just for work and we're not doing alot but it has to haul heavy trailers, tools and supplies often and does fine. It's an HD gasser and to haul our fairly light camper it would still need upgrades to suspension and such tho that's not in the radar as the Duramax 3500 is still doing fine at 12 years old. Like many have said, get what you can afford and are comfortable with as no one else is going to be paying your bills or driving it. A good truck of any brand that is good, runs well, and does the job you bought it for is the best truck.

[gbsb]

To each his on. A lot of good info on here. I had a 2001 GMC CC Dually with a 8.1 gas and Allison automatic. Pulled a 40 foot tri axle toy hauler over the place Over 20,000 miles to AK and back to TX. with no problem plenty of power just 7 MPG. 3 years ago we switched to a TC bought a rig from a friend set up and ready to go. 2003 Ford F450 flatbed with a custom made aluminum bed with a 6.0 and a Arctic Fox 990 camper. I had a couple of problems right of the bat, alt, belt batteries, ecim, 2 injectors, tires, sway bars. But it was a used truck with 120,000 miles on it. I have put 30,000bmiles on it in 3 years with out a problem at all. Hope to put a lot more miles on it but if it breaks we will fix it and keep going. I am not going to spend $70,000.00 to replace it I can do a lot of repairs for that kind of money. Maybe not as fast as a 6.7. but if I was in that big a hurry I would drive a corvette and stay in a motel. Do your research buy what you want and be happy with it, don't worry about what every body else says.

[crcr]

Personally I wouldn't (and didn't when I bought my used diesel truck) even consider a Ford 6.0 (unless you want to spend a lot of money to "bullet-proof" it). Yes, of course, some have had good luck with the 6.0, but there are many many who did not and spent a lot of money to make it as it should have been when it left the factory, but was not. Google Ford 6.0 problems and read about it to your heart's content.

In the older diesel trucks, the most desirable (read reliable) ones are the Ram 5.9, the Ford 7.3, and the 2006 Chev / GMC Duramax LBZ. Good luck!