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mattyj's avatar
mattyj
Explorer
May 15, 2016

Truck purchase fron ebay question/pre insection services

I was all set on this F350 in Illinois on ebay, I spoke to the salesman and told him Im going to find a pre purchase vehicle inspection service to check out the truck. I find a service and the guy says he will do a compression test on the 6.0 liter diesel for an additional 50.00 for a total of 500.00 I think it was. Then I find out from work a compression test requires taking out the injectors and is alot of labor for 50.00. I did not pursue the truck and now I am looking locally only. Does anyone have any experience dealing with a inspection service? Maybe Im just being too cynical and dont trust anybody.Thanks Lou
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  • kohldad's avatar
    kohldad
    Explorer III
    May 15, 2016
    My SIL's father had an inspection done on a van in MD he was looking at. The guy reported back it had a little rust but was sound. When he went to pick it up, he found rust through in several spots. Our southern idea of rust is completely different than a mid-atlantic person. Jest is beware of persons and the difference of perspective.
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    May 15, 2016
    I drive 6l right now and I bought it long distance on ebay ;)
    But I bought it cheap enough to play with it.
    Compression test on modern engines, especially diesels are huge jobs, so I usually settle for acceleration test and blowby test.
    On 6l piston rings are pretty good, not so head bolts, head gaskets and EGR and oil coolers. Meaning compressor test can come perfect and you still can face $6,000 bills for new HG and new bolts.
    Bulletproof oil cooler is like $1500 job.
    Unless you are advanced DIY look farther.
    I doubt you will find a shop who will do proper PPI on such animal for less than 4-digits.
  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    May 15, 2016
    Actually I think $50.00 would be better spent getting an oil analysis
  • mattyj's avatar
    mattyj
    Explorer
    May 15, 2016
    Trackrig wrote:
    I don't know of any way a compression test could be done on a diesel for $50. Have you ever looked under the hood on a 6.0? There isn't any room to get your hand down into anything in there without removing parts? I can't imagine the selling dealer letting someone start tearing apart the engine if there is no guaranteed sale.

    I have a 6.0, stay away from them, I just paid $8,000+ last month to have the engine gone through.

    To me the more important test is to check the oil temps going through the oil cooler to see what the variance is.

    Bill
    Bill, I see alot of ads saying the 6.0 was "bulletproofed" but none of them have documentation on it so as far as Im concerned its not, I dont know if a 6.4 is any better and that about my limit with the prices
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    May 15, 2016
    I don't know of any way a compression test could be done on a diesel for $50. Have you ever looked under the hood on a 6.0? There isn't any room to get your hand down into anything in there without removing parts? I can't imagine the selling dealer letting someone start tearing apart the engine if there is no guaranteed sale.

    I have a 6.0, stay away from them, I just paid $8,000+ last month to have the engine gone through.

    To me the more important test is to check the oil temps going through the oil cooler to see what the variance is.

    Bill

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