05 6.0 Power Stroke really a nightmare?

[2002wranglerX]

I had an offer on my truck for an 05 f350 with a power stroke and an auto

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i199/46willys/EB6722B7-277E-4CF6-BA5E-1ACCDD464B23-2446-000001BE7C47F8BE.jpg

The guys girlfriend apparently took out the rear fender (you can see in the pic).

It's very basic inside. No power options. But that's not a big deal

It's the 6.0. It has 100k miles on it so its not super high mileage. But is that motor the nightmare people talk like it is?

If I snagged that I'd put a slide in camper in the bed and pull my jeep on the trailer. It'd be great! Lol

[Super Scout]

I don't think so. I hate fords, and ford guys hate the 6.0 but International guys swear by it. Well not really swear by it but they think its a decent engine. Pretty sure ford/International had worked out most of the quirks by than. The original issues were mostly because it was rushed into production. There are a lot of high mileage 6.0 out there. There is a thread on Pirate about making a 6.0 last. Those guys would know, you will get 10,000 responses saying its junk and to buy a cummins but a few guys who actually know what they are talking about will tell you whats what lol. I think overall the later years of the 6.0 were pretty decent engines.

[PaMountianbiker]

I had an 06 f450 and I ordered it the way I wanted stick shift 6.0 I put up with it for 2 years and couldn't take it anymore sold it and bought another gas truck...
It was in the garage more than I drove it I sold it with 29,000 miles . I certianly would not buy another 6.0 without a warranty.

[97V10MN]

I believe the main problems with the 6.0s were the injectors, turbos, egr and oil coolers? Probably if you are to leave it stock and just drive it with out chipping it or anything it should be ok? A friend of mine who owned a farm had a 6.0 and it went through three sets of injectors and two turbos iirc but he used and abused it, pulling fifth wheels loaded with hay bales and truck pulling, he also had a tuner on it. I'm not a ford man by anymeans, but it was hard to beat the old 7.3s, perhaps a look around on some Powerstroke forums could turn some info up?

[koenig]

Injectors and head gaskets. The trend seems to be if you can get them over 100k without a major problem you should be ok. The bad head gaskets and warped heads often happened in the first 40-50K miles. Keep in mind these were landscapers that really pushed there trucks hard.

[ADuncan888]

Egr cooler delete and ARP head studs make it a good motor. If you want to talk to a guy who knows his stuff about them, call Dale at H&M Truck and Auto in Butler. He specializes in making 6.0s the way they should've been built originally and will give the straight, unbiased facts. He has worked on 100s of them

[justin'sbig7]

Egr cooler delete and ARP head studs make it a good motor. If you want to talk to a guy who knows his stuff about them, call Dale at H&M Truck and Auto in Butler. He specializes in making 6.0s the way they should've been built originally and will give the straight, unbiased facts. He has worked on 100s of them

Is he right by Rick Fennells?

[joe_and_jeep]

Who trades a F350 Diesel for an older gas Dodge? Diesels are worth stupid money right now, I'd check it out really good.

[atvboo]

I have lots of 6.0 stay away from them. And don't go to h&m he was never help to me told me my motor was blown up and ended up being a oring on the injector.still running a yr later. 6.0 can bite you hard we have 240000 one and got to unreliable and expensive to fix. Fuel pumps,ficms,injectors,turbos,egrs, head studs,ours 2005 was the biggest nightmare and sold it at 120000.sat along the road more than we drove it.

[DMG]

I have seen people have to put $10k into those motors in a year. Some are ok if you do the deletes and stud the heads but IMHO it is a timebomb. I would only buy that truck to swap a Cummins in when the 6.0 died.

[2002wranglerX]

The story on the truck is its an r titled truck. It was hit when it was a year old. This guy has had it since 07. He wants a brand new truck but the dealer won't give him much for it with the wrecked bed side and r title. Plus it's base everything. Manual windows and all.

I'm thinking its not worth the risk but I'm at least going to look at it.

[XJchris98]

The story on the truck is its an r titled truck. It was hit when it was a year old. This guy has had it since 07. He wants a brand new truck but the dealer won't give him much for it with the wrecked bed side and r title. Plus it's base everything. Manual windows and all.

I'm thinking its not worth the risk but I'm at least going to look at it.

For it to be an R-title after only 1 year there had to have been ALOT of damage. Even stripped down, that was probably a $35-45k+ truck new. I believe most insurance companies will total the vehicle if the damages are 70-80% of the value, so do the math. With that alone, I wouldn't even waste your time going to look at it.

[justin'sbig7]

^ Chris makes a very good point. I normally dont look down upon an r title on an older vehicle, but for it to have been totaled at a year old, the damage was likely substantial. If he isn't kicking a good bit of cash, I would avoid it.

[HeepH8erTy]

I agree with what chris said too.

When I just started working in the oilfiield, my boss had a whole bunch of F350 and F450's with 6.0's. Seemed like those damn things were sitting in the shop waiting to be fixed more than they were out in service. After a while, my boss would buy a couple at a time at an auction, we'd slap a quick paint job on em with our colors, run them for a few months untill something major went, took the good parts off, then scraped the truck. I mean given the trucks weren't in the greatest shape ever when we got them and everyone beat the piss out of them, the only reason we were using them was because my boss felt like they were cheap and disposable.

Since then I've heard that he getting rid of all the powerstrokes and switching over to all duramax trucks... the lazy ass mechanics I still talk to there said they are no where near as busy anymore. Also, I don't know if all the 6.0's I've towed with were just tired or what... but man were those things dogs. The difference between the 6.0's and the duramax that I always drove with an LB7 (it may or may not have had a wastegate controller, tuner and exhaust) was like night and day.

[2002wranglerX]

It was in a light roll over. He has had it since 07. He has replaced the high-pressure oil pump as well as the heat exchanger That clogs up. He is also done the glow plugs

It sounds like he fixed it what it would break. It was used to haul horses. He had a private contract To pick up and deliver horses for a farm.

That ended and he no longer tows with it It has been daily driving it for two years. It has just Become a pain. He has started taking his girlfriend's trailblazer And he tried to trade it in But couldn't get much for it with the body damage and title

I don't know I'm at least going to look at it. It can't hurt to look

[XJchris98]

"...light roll over" lol. How the hell does someone "lightly roll over" a 8k DRW truck?

If he's used it to haul horses, the truck's likely been worked pretty hard its entire life. Don't get me wrong, it sounds like he was using the truck for what it was made for, but do you really want someone else's 100k mile problem?

I'm not trying to be a smarta##, but I think you'd be better off keeping what you have (and i've never even seen your Ram). There's a reason why he can't get what he 'thinks' that truck is worth.

[2002wranglerX]

People managed to do it. I see light rollover suburban at auction all the time.

[mxg342]

A queen size air matress will fit in the bed of your truck just fine. Get a cap and be done.

[2002wranglerX]

I think i'm gonna stick with the original Idea of an excursion and just hold out for the one i want... I might still go look at this one but i doubt i'm gonna bite.

[2002wranglerX]

I have a feeling it needs an oil cooler... he mentioned seeing a very small puddle of coolant. I'd be willing to bet that's what it is.

[justin'sbig7]

I have a feeling it needs an oil cooler... he mentioned seeing a very small puddle of coolant. I'd be willing to bet that's what it is.

run. coolant puddles with diesels are not usually minor.

[2002wranglerX]

run. coolant puddles with diesels are not usually minor.

gonna look at an 01 excursion saturday. 78k miles. it's pre 03 so it has the thin heads but that's not the end of the world.

[tjblair]

gonna look at an 01 excursion saturday. 78k miles. it's pre 03 so it has the thin heads but that's not the end of the world.An 01 Excursion will be a 7.3 not a 6.0. And that is what engine I would be looking for if I were you. Thats the exact year that mine is.

[2002wranglerX]

An 01 Excursion will be a 7.3 not a 6.0. And that is what engine I would be looking for if I were you. Thats the exact year that mine is.

It's a gasser

[tjblair]

Oh. Find a 7.3 then. Lol

[tjblair]

V10 or v8?

[Super Scout]

^ Yeah thats what I was thinking....5.4 Excursions are a dooooooooooooooooooooooooog can't imagine it pulling a trailer lol.

[tjblair]

Agreed, and The V10 is a pig.

[2002wranglerX]

V10. 5.4 wasn't an option for me

[justin'sbig7]

A friend of mine has a v10 excursion. He likes it, its been good to him and it tows like an animal

[tjblair]

A friend of mine has a v10 excursion. He likes it, its been good to him and it tows like an animal NO doubt, they usually run good. But they are a thirsty engine.

[2002wranglerX]

NO doubt, they usually run good. But they are a thirsty engine.

which fits my needs fine. I have a work car that I DD and my wife has a '11 WK2. Ideally i'd rather have a small motorhome to pull the jeep with. but my father in law drives this a few days a week about 10 miles each time (in the summer almost never, in the winter about 4 days a week). so at 40 miles a week, even at 8 mpg, it costs him 18 bucks a week in fuel. Not a big deal. and in the summer it'll be less.

Towing it'll probably be a wash with what i get out of the hemi.

So the added room to me is all bonus.

[DMG]

There are some relatively simple mods such as a Y pipe that will get more power and mpg out of the V10. They are great motors but they will never get good fuel economy. If your goal is to tow get the 4.30 gears. The modular motors like to rev.

[2002wranglerX]

I could keep the ram and have dave put 4.56s and a cam in it... Lol.

[2002wranglerX]

well it looks like the best power adders for the hemi ram (of my year) is a 1800 stall tq converter (apparently the OE ones are power KILLERS) and some 4.56's. So that's what's going to happen when i free up some cash.

i went and looked at the excursion... it was ok... It just looked like a different set of problems vs my truck lol. so i'm gonna keep the ram. Maybe level it out, and do a few things to make it tow a little better.

[tjblair]

Is your Ram leaf or coil rear??

[1tonEarlyBronco]

BTW if you have't gone to see that dually yet pass. I test drove it in June. It runs well but it pretty rusty under it. Who ever did the paint and body work did a terrible job and it needs 6 tires. It was also 2 gallon low on coolant then.

[97V10MN]

Is your Ram leaf or coil rear?? Should be leafs, I don't think rear coils came out till they redesigned them a few years ago?

[tjblair]

I didn't know the year of his . I thought it was a newer half ton.

If that is the case I would check these out. As well as the TC and gears. We just became a dealer for them, and after installing a few I am definitely going to be going with these over air bags, or AAL.
http://www.activesuspension.com/
If it is coils then the only good option that I know of are the airlift bags that go inside the coils. But those are only going to do so much.

[2002wranglerX]

BTW if you have't gone to see that dually yet pass. I test drove it in June. It runs well but it pretty rusty under it. Who ever did the paint and body work did a terrible job and it needs 6 tires. It was also 2 gallon low on coolant then.

I appreciate it. I bailed on it last week. I'm gonna just do some stuff to mine. I know what I have. Even if its not perfect.


I didn't know the year of his . I thought it was a newer half ton.

If that is the case I would check these out. As well as the TC and gears. We just became a dealer for them, and after installing a few I am definitely going to be going with these over air bags, or AAL.
http://www.activesuspension.com/
If it is coils then the only good option that I know of are the airlift bags that go inside the coils. But those are only going to do so much.

I appreciate it. It's got plenty of suspension since I run a wd hitch. Its very stable an doesnt squat bad. And if it does i can just run the load bars Tighter. I just want a little better pull. Everyone says gears and tq converter will make it a different truck.

Ill be way over my gvwr with a camper in the back. And it's only a 6' bed. So the camper is back out.

[tjblair]

Make a mobile Hilton like I did. Lol. Just need a little bigger trailer. Then you may need some helpers. Haha .:102:

[tjblair]

Also if you level it it, then will most likely be sagging when towing.

[2002wranglerX]

Make a mobile Hilton like I did. Lol. Just need a little bigger trailer. Then you may need some helpers. Haha .:102:

I love that setup. The tow rating on my truck with the 20s is only 7,000 though.

That's why I was looking at excursions too. 10k+ rating.

[Sycotik Skier]

only 7k? my frontier is rated for 7600. that' s hard to believe.

[2002wranglerX]

only 7k? my frontier is rated for 7600. that' s hard to believe.

http://dodgeram.info/2003/load-tow/1500.html

7500. I had 7k in my head for some reason.

[2002wranglerX]

Keep in mind this was before tow ratings went crazy lol.

It pulls similarly to my tundra as far as handling. The tundra definitely pulled with more power and the right gear though.

[2002wranglerX]

i actually kinda want to lower it... lol.

looking at the SRT quad cabs... it'd be nice if this sat like that...

[97V10MN]

only 7k? my frontier is rated for 7600 that' s hard to believe. That seems a lot for a smaller truck doesn't it? Maybe its just me but I would be a little leary hauling with that IMO

[2002wranglerX]

That seems a lot for a smaller truck doesn't it? Maybe its just me but I would be a little leary hauling with that IMO

most of the SUV's are rated that now. Granted they have big motors. like the hemi wk and stuff...

[2002wranglerX]

That seems a lot for a smaller truck doesn't it? Maybe its just me but I would be a little leary hauling with that IMO

http://www.trucktrend.com/features/tech/163_0906_2009_nissan_frontier_crew_cab_tech_specs/viewall.html

i'm seeing 6300 lb tow capacity... not sure where he's getting 7600

[Super Scout]

Tow ratings will always baffle me. My 96 K1500 was rated at 6,500 my moms 96 Caddy was rated at 7,000 my 2002 Silverado is rated for 7,800. It will be interesting to see what happens to all these ratings when the SAE towing standards take effect.

[Sycotik Skier]

yeah. my bad, i transposed the numbers my factory hitch says 6700 hundred online it says 6300. i'll probably never get up that high but i definitely think it'll pull it. it's a strong little truck

[tjblair]

Pulling usually isn't the problem. Stopping that much weight is what I would be worried about with a smaller truck like that.

[Sycotik Skier]

isn't that what trailer brakes are for theoretically?

[HeepH8erTy]

yea but only up to a certain point...probably somewhere close to the rated weight

[KUGS]

I drive a 6.0 every day. They run way better than 7.3 they do have some problems but aleast half of the problems and caused by lack of maintance. The 7.3 you could do or not do what ever you wanted and run almost anything for fuel. 6.0 not so much. Dont ever be afraid of buying one i work on them and not to hard to do. and you could always ask for help.

[justin'sbig7]

yea but only up to a certain point...probably somewhere close to the rated weight

Trailer brakes should absolutely be able to stop the entire load plus. My trailer brakes will considerably slow the whole setup including the truck. There's a lot that gets factored into a vehicles tow rating.

[DMG]

I drive a 6.0 every day. They run way better than 7.3 they do have some problems but aleast half of the problems and caused by lack of maintance. The 7.3 you could do or not do what ever you wanted and run almost anything for fuel. 6.0 not so much. Dont ever be afraid of buying one i work on them and not to hard to do. and you could always ask for help.

I don't want to put down your truck and I am glad it works for you but the 6.0 has been one of the worst diesels since the GM gas-converted-to-diesel debacle.

Any motor that needs head studs, egr deletes, etc to be considered reliable is a pos.

Ask any Ford dealer how many 6.0 trucks they have had to buy back.

Talk to the owners who have had to spend 10k on a new fuel system because it was 'contaminated'.

When they run, they will outrun my 7.3, no doubt about it (the Torqshift tranny helps, too) but I work on cars and trucks for a living and so do a lot of my friends. I wanted a newer super duty but after researching it, I had to buy the last year of the 7.3 to get a decent motor.

[DMG]

isn't that what trailer brakes are for theoretically?

Trailer brakes are for stopping the load but a truck should be able to stop the truck and trailer if the trailer brakes fail. Even if it only stops them once.

[tjblair]

I don't want to put down your truck and I am glad it works for you but the 6.0 has been one of the worst diesels since the GM gas-converted-to-diesel debacle.

Any motor that needs head studs, egr deletes, etc to be considered reliable is a pos.

Ask any Ford dealer how many 6.0 trucks they have had to buy back.

Talk to the owners who have had to spend 10k on a new fuel system because it was 'contaminated'.

When they run, they will outrun my 7.3, no doubt about it (the Torqshift tranny helps, too) but I work on cars and trucks for a living and so do a lot of my friends. I wanted a newer super duty but after researching it, I had to buy the last year of the 7.3 to get a decent motor.Agreed

[joe_and_jeep]

Only 6.0 I'd buy is the Chevy gas motor lol

[DMG]

Only 6.0 I'd buy is the Chevy gas motor lol

I have the 6.0/NV4500 in my 2500HD. It needs some RPM to make power towing but unloaded it will surprise some cars, especially with the tune and 93 octane.

[joe_and_jeep]

I have the 6.0 auto in my 2500HD, think the tune made a difference?

[DMG]

I have the 6.0 auto in my 2500HD, think the tune made a difference?

Especially in an auto because it will eliminate the torque management. As well as add fuel and timing across the RPM range.

[Sycotik Skier]

sorry for interupting this thread. I was just always curious about trailer brakes and it's always baffled me why some vehicles have substantially higher tow ratings than others. I understood the upgrades in braking and what not. It just confused me since anything heavy is going to have trailer brakes and those trailer brakes should be more than competent of stopping the trailer regardless of what is pulling it. Would my truck be ideal for towing at 6300 lbs? nope but it'd be nice to know that if i needed to tow that much I could

[Peccavi18]

Dave what tune are you running I looked at the black bear but don't know if its worth it or not. Any help at all on mpg? Haha

[KUGS]

I don't want to put down your truck and I am glad it works for you but the 6.0 has been one of the worst diesels since the GM gas-converted-to-diesel debacle.

Any motor that needs head studs, egr deletes, etc to be considered reliable is a pos.

Ask any Ford dealer how many 6.0 trucks they have had to buy back.

Talk to the owners who have had to spend 10k on a new fuel system because it was 'contaminated'.

When they run, they will outrun my 7.3, no doubt about it (the Torqshift tranny helps, too) but I work on cars and trucks for a living and so do a lot of my friends. I wanted a newer super duty but after researching it, I had to buy the last year of the 7.3 to get a decent motor.

I can almost understand where your coming from. And we can go back and forth all day. I am not standing up for how ford handled the 6.0 but not all of the trucks were that bad. But putting heads studs in for a more durable engine is not different than making any other mods to make anything on any other car/truck more durable. I like the engine i think when they stock and have had the proper upkeep they make a great engine. But i digress

[DMG]

Dave what tune are you running I looked at the black bear but don't know if its worth it or not. Any help at all on mpg? Haha

Black Bear is supposed to be excellent. I used Wayne Hartwig on Pirate. 150 and free re-tunes for life if you change the setup.

[DMG]

I can almost understand where your coming from. And we can go back and forth all day. I am not standing up for how ford handled the 6.0 but not all of the trucks were that bad. But putting heads studs in for a more durable engine is not different than making any other mods to make anything on any other car/truck more durable. I like the engine i think when they stock and have had the proper upkeep they make a great engine. But i digress

Yeah, I really dont want to argue with you, either. I wish the 6.0 was as reliable as the 7.3, I wanted a newer truck than an early 03.

[DMG]

sorry for interupting this thread. I was just always curious about trailer brakes and it's always baffled me why some vehicles have substantially higher tow ratings than others. I understood the upgrades in braking and what not. It just confused me since anything heavy is going to have trailer brakes and those trailer brakes should be more than competent of stopping the trailer regardless of what is pulling it. Would my truck be ideal for towing at 6300 lbs? nope but it'd be nice to know that if i needed to tow that much I could

In PA trailers with GVW above 2500 pounds need brakes. Your truck would tow 6300 pounds fine with good trailer brakes, a good controller and a weight distribution hitch. I grossed 14,000 pounds with the above mentioned items in my 97 T100 towing a load of scrap a few years back. It was slow but manageable. I was thinking it was 6-7000 pounds and when I saw 139xx on the scale readout I almost shit. Truck weighed under 4500.

[Leady]

So hypothetically if my 01 Tacoma with a 3.4 would pull a 2,000 lb car on a 1,000 lb trailer as long as I have trailer brakes, a good controller but using a beefed up trail gear bumper as the hitch would I have to worry about sway or anything like that?

[DMG]

So hypothetically if my 01 Tacoma with a 3.4 would pull a 2,000 lb car on a 1,000 lb trailer as long as I have trailer brakes, a good controller but using a beefed up trail gear bumper as the hitch would I have to worry about sway or anything like that?

If you loaded it to give the right tongue weight it would do fine with that load. My T100 had the same 3.4 and we towed car trailers and other stuff regularly with it.

[Leady]

Cool. I'm glad to hear someone else's first hand experience. All I've seen on different forums was opinions that varied a lot. I was starting to think I should've bought an old beater truck for wheeling and a diesel to haul my car. I'm sure it's not gonna be very fun towing my car on a trailer to Maryland or Ohio it can be done.

[DMG]

If you have big tires on the taco throw some stock size tires on for towing aired up to the max on the sidewall. And a weight distribution hitch will make it handle much better. You may have to move the car back or forward on the trailer to get the tongue weight forward enough to prevent sway but not too far to sag the rear.

[Leady]

I dunno though cause if I do a sas I'm gonna put 5.29's in it so puttin stock tires on would be bad. I am starting to think I should've bought an old beater yota and a tow rig cause its gonna suck towin with my taco either way.