All you guys with the Ford 6.0 your driving a time bomb.The heads WILL FAIL.I just got mine back from the shop,$8,243.00 gone.I heard the stories out there but didn't think mine would blow.I maintain my truck very well and fairly baby it.The guys with the programers turned up were the first to blow, now its the rest of us.My local shop says it getting to epidemic porportions.They're getting several calls a day now.The head bolt design was seriously flawed.I knew I should of traded last year but was worried work might slow down.The first indication you'll get is a loss of coolant with no apparent leak. Next your overflow tank will swell or crack.(pressure from combustion chambers) Then you'll get loss of power and white exhaust smoke.GAME OVER. If you've got one you might seriously think about getting rid of it.Eight grands alot of pressure cleaning
6.0 diesel warning
- Thread starter Dale H
- Start date
Scott Stone
New member
$2000 more and you can drop a cummins. In it. I love my truck and it is paid for. I will risk it
Derek Belden
New member
yes my 03 model did not last past 05
Russ Spence
Commercial Pressure Wash Expert
yep thats 1 man for 2 weeks! = 80 hours! = 8k
Russ Spence
Commercial Pressure Wash Expert
you have a 6 litre?
Scott Stone
New member
Yep. I love it. 122,000 miles on an '06
Christopher
Moderator
Thanks for the heads up Dale.
I am looking at getting a used diesel truck next year but I will avoid the 6.0, Thanks.
I am looking at getting a used diesel truck next year but I will avoid the 6.0, Thanks.
Squirtgun
New member
The head bolt design wasn't flawed.International use TTY(torque to yield) bolts they are designed to stretch under extreme loads.They should have used headstuds,but Foord dictated the specs.
6.0 is a great motor IMO and I know plenty of guys fromboth camps of love them,hate them.Nothing wrong with proramming the motor if done with some common sense.The biggets failures have seen is guys trying to make 700hp without changing to head studs.
APR headstuds and new gaskets shouldn't be $8k.Sounds like you bought a remanufactured motor.
EGR coolers on the 04 and up commonly fail due to a design change.This can lead to oil cooler failures and cause huge amounts of coolant loss and white smoke from the exhaust.My father in law just had his in under warranty for an EGR cooler failure.He drive and 05.
Mine is an 03 1st gen 6.0l build in 4/03. It has 128K on the odie and pukes a little coolant around the cap on the degas bottle because they never sent a recall to put the new sticker on for the lower level.
My boggest prblem right now is a gasket leak wher ethe fuel line goes into the fuel bowl.Seems the local Ford dealer can not locate a $3 part.
6.0 is a great motor IMO and I know plenty of guys fromboth camps of love them,hate them.Nothing wrong with proramming the motor if done with some common sense.The biggets failures have seen is guys trying to make 700hp without changing to head studs.
APR headstuds and new gaskets shouldn't be $8k.Sounds like you bought a remanufactured motor.
EGR coolers on the 04 and up commonly fail due to a design change.This can lead to oil cooler failures and cause huge amounts of coolant loss and white smoke from the exhaust.My father in law just had his in under warranty for an EGR cooler failure.He drive and 05.
Mine is an 03 1st gen 6.0l build in 4/03. It has 128K on the odie and pukes a little coolant around the cap on the degas bottle because they never sent a recall to put the new sticker on for the lower level.
My boggest prblem right now is a gasket leak wher ethe fuel line goes into the fuel bowl.Seems the local Ford dealer can not locate a $3 part.
FoxCPM
New member
I've had quite a few problems with my F-450 7.3 Powerstroke, even that this engine is rated as the legendary Ford diesel.
Here are a few common and well known issues:
Fuel system: Wrong high pressure fuel connectors before the fuel pump leak air into the system, because they are made for high pressure but not vacuum. Also the fuel component in the tank is wrongly designed to generate air in the system due to the close position of the sucking and returning fuel lines. There is an aftermarket modification called in-tank mode that eliminates the problems. External fuel filter and bigger fuel line (3/8"), high pressure connections before the fuel pump are replaced as well. The upgrade is $175
IDM (Injection Drive Module), this is a device (also called computer) which is simply an inverter. It supplies the injectors with high 115-120v voltage. Ford has managed to put it under the fender where it gets constantly wet which leads to fail prematurely. Rebuilt one is $200
Injector's wire harness: For some reason the harness eventually gets bad connections which leads the truck to shut off instantly. I am not sure of the price of the harness but it shouldn't be over $50-60.
Glow-plugs: very often problem
Fuel Injectors: Another common problem and unfortunately extremelly expensive. If Ford dealer will replace them, be prepared for $4000 and up.
Fortunately there are rebuilt ones for around $100-200 per piece (8 total) plus labor $400-600
Often there are just worn out o-rings ($80-100 for all 8 injectors), but people who are not technically inclined fall for the mechanics trick and have the whole injectors replaced for tons of money.
Overall the truck is a Beast, but it has its many many manufacturer's defects.
If I wasn't concerned about clearance, I would go with Isuzu flatbed. Isuzu NPR Diesel trucks RULL. All my sweepers are Isuzu NPR and they take a lot of abuse. They are made to last and not complain!
Here are a few common and well known issues:
Fuel system: Wrong high pressure fuel connectors before the fuel pump leak air into the system, because they are made for high pressure but not vacuum. Also the fuel component in the tank is wrongly designed to generate air in the system due to the close position of the sucking and returning fuel lines. There is an aftermarket modification called in-tank mode that eliminates the problems. External fuel filter and bigger fuel line (3/8"), high pressure connections before the fuel pump are replaced as well. The upgrade is $175
IDM (Injection Drive Module), this is a device (also called computer) which is simply an inverter. It supplies the injectors with high 115-120v voltage. Ford has managed to put it under the fender where it gets constantly wet which leads to fail prematurely. Rebuilt one is $200
Injector's wire harness: For some reason the harness eventually gets bad connections which leads the truck to shut off instantly. I am not sure of the price of the harness but it shouldn't be over $50-60.
Glow-plugs: very often problem
Fuel Injectors: Another common problem and unfortunately extremelly expensive. If Ford dealer will replace them, be prepared for $4000 and up.
Fortunately there are rebuilt ones for around $100-200 per piece (8 total) plus labor $400-600
Often there are just worn out o-rings ($80-100 for all 8 injectors), but people who are not technically inclined fall for the mechanics trick and have the whole injectors replaced for tons of money.
Overall the truck is a Beast, but it has its many many manufacturer's defects.
If I wasn't concerned about clearance, I would go with Isuzu flatbed. Isuzu NPR Diesel trucks RULL. All my sweepers are Isuzu NPR and they take a lot of abuse. They are made to last and not complain!
Chris Tharpe
New member
Its been done before, and I think there are conversion kits available as well
Christopher
Moderator
There is the FASS system which replaces the factory fuel pump and fuel lines, helps with the air/vacuum problem, lasts longer than the factory lift pump and will give you 1-2 more mpg with no other modifications.
I think this sells for about $475.00 plus installation but it is a very common thing that diesel truck owners do when their factory fuel lift pump goes out.
Christopher
Moderator
I have seen the conversion kits in the Diesel hot rod magazines, not sure how much they cost but here locally there is a shop that can do them.
There is a kid named John that does this kind of stuff but with his new job he does not have that kind of time anymore but used to routinely change out engines/transmissions for other shops and friends. He is the friend of the welding shop owner's son's and hangs around the shop there after hours sometimes. He does know his stuff.
If I found a good price on a diesel truck that had a bad engine, I would price out a used Cummins and transmission and swap it over to see what it would cost, it would probably be worth it in the long run.
Thats what I meant by head bolt design.Wrong bolts.I didn't get a reman.motor.When those bolts stretch, the heads warp and you're into new heads.From Ford of course.They were close to $2400 a piece.Along with the heads you'll also need that EGR and oil cooler that gets trashed in the process.Your dead on with the fix,APR head studs with washers.My mechanic claims this motor is good for another 200,000 miles.Hope so because with what I got into it now I'm married to this truck for a long time. Ford with a Cummins? Now that would be a truck!!
Christopher
Moderator
I would take it to the dealer asap if it was using up that much coolant.
You don't want to wait too long because you don't know how serious it is or if the dealer will jerk you around by saying that you waited too long to bring it in and now you have to pay for the repairs because of neglect. You just never know.
You don't want to wait too long because you don't know how serious it is or if the dealer will jerk you around by saying that you waited too long to bring it in and now you have to pay for the repairs because of neglect. You just never know.
Squirtgun
New member
www.powerstroke.org is a great place for info on all Ford diesels.I have learned a lot about my truck since signing up.
FLORIN
New member
WOW!!! 8k+??? You could of bought another truck for that. I got my 06 cummins turbo van for $4,000.