Ford 6.0 L Diesel

[sherwick]

I'm planning on buying a 2005/2006 f-250/350 truck with a 6.0 litre(60,000miles). I will be using it to pull a 3500lb boat and mabey a holiday trailer, aswell as hunting. I was wondering what everybody thought of these motors and trucks?

Thanks

[dubyam]

I'm a Ford man, for sure, but I had one of those, and the motor is unreliable. Not only mine, but several others I know of (a lot of my friends had them, too). Lots of little problems from injectors on down, but the biggie is blown head gaskets due to stretching of the head bolts. I'd think twice, personally. If you can find an earlier model with the 7.3, get it, or save up and get the newer model.

[BigBoreDan]

I'm a Ford man, for sure, but I had one of those, and the motor is unreliable. Not only mine, but several others I know of (a lot of my friends had them, too). Lots of little problems from injectors on down, but the biggie is blown head gaskets due to stretching of the head bolts. I'd think twice, personally. If you can find an earlier model with the 7.3, get it, or save up and get the newer model.

Dubyam is right on this one.

29.5lbs. of boost in stock engine does not make for great longevity.

I have a buddy who is a Ford diesel mechanic and it was an ongoing list of problems with that motor hence the rather short lifespan before the redesign.

[lanman89]

Dubyam is right on this one.

29.5lbs. of boost in stock engine does not make for great longevity.

I have a buddy who is a Ford diesel mechanic and it was an ongoing list of problems with that motor hence the rather short lifespan before the redesign.

My friend who is a ford mechanic, sold his and got an F150. It was very problematic, and he had a shop and all the OEM tools to fix it.

[jimbires]

I agree , that engine was not one of their better ideas . I had an older (1996?) F350 , 4 door dually , 7.3 power stroke , it was great . did a lot of towing with it .

you might want to look at the newer gm trucks . I have not heard anything bad about the Isuzu duramax , with the Allison auto tranny . my one buddy just bought one of these . he hasn't towed with it yet but it sure feels good empty .Jim

[mstarbird2000]

I agree with the other posters for a diesel I think the 7.3 powerstroke is the best diesel out there.

[lanman89]

I agree with the other posters for a diesel I think the 7.3 powerstroke is the best diesel out there.


My 7.3 has 244,000 miles on it and has never missed a lick and spends a lot of time towing a 30' gooseneck trailer. Power window motors, now thats a different story!!!

[mstarbird2000]

My 7.3 has 244,000 miles on it and has never missed a lick and spends a lot of time towing a 30' gooseneck trailer. Power window motors, now thats a different story!!!

Growing up my neighbors had a 1 ton dually with the 7.3. I watch them haul a fully loaded tri axel dump truck burried in the mud pit that was once a lawn. Didn't even spin a tire!!!!

[bnkrtstk]

The earlier 6.0's were junk ('03-'04) but if maintained the 6.0L is a great engine. I have owned a 7.3 and 6.0 and 6.0 out pulls the 7.3. Aftermarket fuel filters are also too short and don't filter as well as Motocraft filters which leads to injecter problems. That and not draining the fuel/water seperator and changing both fuel filters can add to possibilty of fuel related problems. When it comes to towing my trailer (9K) my wife's Excursion with a 6.0 put my old F250 with a 7.3 to shame.

[GameEarGabe]

I am a long time Ford Powerstrike guy, I have a 6.0 now, and my advice would be not to get one. It only has 50K in over five years and has been in the shop a half dozen time. I havent heard much about the new 6.4 yet. An inlaw of mine is the Service Manager at a Ford Dealership and the diesel mech is always loaded up with 6.0.

Gabe

[.300weatherby15]

Well this isn't being smart but I know of two true sayings for a Ford. # Numero Uno, FORD stands for Found On Road Dead, and #2, FORD also stands for F'd Over Rebuilt Dodge.

p.s. You cant tell I'm a dodge fan. The models in the 1994, and over I'd look into. If it has reasonable mileage... by your understandings. It does take going over to the owners home checking out the engine, body, shocks, bed, windows, AC, and all the other things you need to know. I would not stoop below the 1994 mark for ANY truck, especially if your looking for a good deal.

PLEASE take my advice and look into Dodges. Its also a fact that Dodge trucks have 33 LESS moving parts then a Ford... and the Dodges use mostly metal gears and such instead of using so many belts. Dodge IS more dependable... hey I'm 15 but I've heard my uncle Todd rant to much about the facts, so if you cant take the advice from me I'll give you his phone number.

My uncle Tim was on the show Deadliest Catch, the crabbing show on the Discovery Channel, he was on the boat called the Defender, and he was the mechanic. My uncle Tim also loves Dodge trucks... and he is the BEST mechanic my family has ever know. He knows engines like its his six sense.

All in all get a Dodge if you want quality. For the record I'm not a Dodge salesman... just a fan with the facts.

[jimbires]

the cummins engine in the Dodge trucks is a very good engine . and that's all I'll give them . Jim

[bnkrtstk]

the cummins engine in the Dodge trucks is a very good engine . and that's all I'll give them . Jim

Too bad it has a Dodge transmission bolted to it, a Dodge interior, a Dodge brake, etc......

[.300weatherby15]

Ha ha... yeh. Thats actually a good thing. ROFL...

[jimbires]

Too bad it has a Dodge transmission bolted to it, a Dodge interior, a Dodge brake, etc......



exactly !! Jim

[.300weatherby15]

WOW... I think you should agree with me before you get embarrassed. LOL! Serious, I'm 15 by the way and I cant believe I'm arguing this point... even though its TRUE!!! p.s. I live right next to the Tom Addis, dealership which is the number 1 in the world.

The Dodge has a VERY strong frame also. Seen people get them in the ditch, and other ect's. Not ONE of them has bet, or disformed. A Dodge is also VERY good for towing too.

Lets not get into the problems all the other trucks have... you guys cant argue against a Dodge.

[C. Schutte]

I have a 2006 F 250 and my truck has been in the shop at least 6 times. The smartest thing I ever did was buy the extended warranty! When working it pulls like nobody's business. The old 7.3 were too good. That is why Ford went to the 6.0 so that they would not last too long. It always makes me laugh when I hear our American auto companies wonder why we buy from Japan. My Nissan truck has well over 200,000 miles and only scheduled maintenance. Go figger......chs

P.S. I have never known a Dodge truck owner that did not have to replace his transmission!

[.300weatherby15]

That is varying though. Almost every vehicle that someone owns for a long time has problems. It doesnt matter what truck you buy, it'll still have problems. Nothings perfect... but Dodge is as close as it gets. 1994, and up!!! Remember that, and you better check it good... very good.

[jcooper]

I wouldnt think twice about getting the 6.0. We have had two 7.3s and two 6.0s. Yes the 6.0s have had lots of injector problems, but the fuel mileage as well as the performance are better then the 7.3s. Also when the 6.0s do have a problem you can drive them to the dealership, unlike the 7.3s, when they go bad you will be loading them on a trailer with a winch or calling a tow truck. They have all been 350s, or 450s, and we do work them very hard. Refering to the dodge, we had a new 2005 3500 dually with a six speed manual and the so good cummins in it and it sucked! It was awesome empty and lightly loaded, getting close to 20mpg, but hook a goosneck and backhoe behind and watch the fords blowby at highway speeds. Also before it has 5000miles on it had cam sensor go out. In other words dont worry about the 6.0. Only having 60000 miles on it with a warranty to 100000 miles you have plenty of time to get the bugs worked out. Good luck.

[BigBoreDan]

The problem with 6.0L is they shrunk the motor too much for heavy duty applications.

365 cu. in. is too small to get the performance they wanted and they wound up running 29.5lbs. of boost through it stock to achieve the results they did get.

My FIL 1999 7.3L had 420,000 before we swapped out engines and those were a lot of long hard miles as we routinely pull a 30' Jacobsen utility trailer loaded with nut harvesting equipment from CA to TX and back again.

I would like to see someone manage that with a 6.0L...

The Duramax/Allison combo is really where it's at but I won't get into that too much here as the discussion is about Fords...

[.300weatherby15]

Well... everybody has a opinion. I like Dodge and thats me.

Anyways... my grandfather has a GMC, in the Sierra Grande, sitting in his driveway... except its not even drive able I dont think. So I popped the hood, and it has a 460 Pontiac engine under the hood. SO THATS WHY IT SHOOK WHEN MY GRANDFATHER USED TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY!!! No joke... I'm thinking about repairing it. Except its SO bad that the floor boards have been completely rusted through. I dont know if my wallets ever going to be ready getting into repairs with this thing.

So the engines fine... should I just remove the engine and put it into a different truck frame? I know a 460 cu/in has some power... but how much do you guys think it has? What should the gas millage be? 6 miles per gallon or something? Its a 460 cu/in, Pontiac engine.

[sherwick]

Thanks for all the info.

I think i'm going to buy the 2008 ford.

P.S I work in the oil patch in northern Ab and we run dodges, THey are always taking out tranny's. Not to mention the check enginge light and abs sensors every oil change.

Thanks

[Paul_ME230]

if you don't mind blowin ur head gaskets.... go for it.

[beretzs]

I have a 2006 Dodge with the 6 speed manual and the Cummins in a Megacab, my old man has an 08 F350 with the 6.4. Both of them are great trucks, but any of the new ones built after 2007 are going to have emissions stuff on them. My father had a 2000 F350 before his new one (7.3) and really liked that truck. Lots of power and excellent fuel mileage. the new one has lots of power, but alot less fuel mileage. All three makers are making nice trucks, pick whatever one you like. If you pick something someone else likes, you are likely to find things you are not happy with. Scotty