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This has been posted before, but just want to be sure. I think I am going to go used and look for truck in good shape with around 50,000 miles. What's the weak link- transmission?
You want to stay away from the early 6.0 liter diesel motors. I believe they were 2003-2005. Transmission is the weak link, at least in my experience. We tow ~10K lbs twice a week and have had to change transmissions on the F250s and F350s at ~140K miles, which is not bad considering the amount of stress we put on them.
Personally, I am a fan of the 7.3 motors. I wish they would never have gotten rid of them...
Yep....early 6.0 with 2003 and early 2004 being the most problematic. Transmission aren't as good as the Allison units used in Chevy but definitely better than the Dodge units of the same vintage.
My 2006 F250 Crew Cab PSD has around 45,000 miles and pulls like a train. Over the July 4th weekend I pulled a big enclosed tandem axle car hauler type trailer filled with 10,000 lbs of my sister's junk from Ohio to South Carolina. Even pulling through the mountains in NC I averaged 14 mpg and the engine and transmission temperature gauges never moved. I love my truck!
The early 6.0's were the most problematic from what I've read. I own one of these and it's the best I've owned. I purchased a used 03 with the 5 speed auto transmission with 97K miles, I now have 176K miles and have had to replace one sensor that was leaking oil. I think it's the transmission that makes it better than the 7.3 which I also own. My buddy says his newer 6.8 gets worse milage. I averaged 13MPG towing a 11,000 # boat up 95 from Ft. Lauderdale to MD at around 65 mph.
My 6.0 did already have all the updated when I bought it so maybe it gave the previous owner hell. It's been great for me.
As mentioned above stay away from the 2003-2004 6.0L's. In 2005, the issues were pretty much ironed out. However, the 6.0L's still cannot be chipped reliably if you want to for towing heavy. I would suggest staying with the 2000-2003 7.3L's as they are very reliable and you can wake them up to tow heavy easy. I tow 21,000 lbs. with the F550 with the cruise control on 70 mph all day long. All our trucks have minor intake & exhaust work along with chips. As for the trannys, yes they are a weak link but we have had no issues due to the fact that the trucks that tow have had shift kits installed along with a modified heavy duty torque converter...be carefull as Ford had light, medium, and heavy duty converters they installed in these trucks.
Agree with the above, as the early 6.0's AND early 6.4's had some initial problems, all of which were corrected by Ford under warranty, with subsequent production bring relatively problem free. I have an '08 6.4 F350 that I pull a 12000 lb rig with. My '08 350 was a late build (3/08) and has been problem/trouble free, although as a precaution I have purchased Ford's Extended Warranty on it.
What to look for. If you are buying a 6.4, try to find one what was built after 12/07 (you can find the trucks build date on a sticker affixed to the frame pillar on the inside of the drivers side door), as all of the 6.4's built 1/08 and after had all of the improvements installed from the factory - they are called "Job 3" trucks. And if you really want to do your homework, ask your Ford salesman to print out the Ford "Oasis Report" for any truck you are contemplating buying. Ford's Oasis Report is their internal service record on the truck and will show you all operating problems, accidents, repairs, etc., done on the truck by any Ford Dealer anyplace in the country, and it is an easy procedure/print out for them to do. If they refuse to provide you with this report, walk away.
Last edited by First Light; 09-21-2009 at 06:09 PM.
The 6.0 My son-n-law has a 2005 that just had the fuel system replaced for the 3rd time less than 100K. Several folks have stated this is a problem and Ford knows but can;t fix it for the long haul. According to the dealer, every 15k he should expect to fork out $1,800.00.
OK. Here is my opinion. I am a Powerstroke Diesel parts dealer. Leave the 6.0 alone period unless you plan on maintaining it by the book which is something most people don't do. If you do buy one buy a 06-07 model. The 5R110 transmission behind a 6.0 is excellent. The 6.4 is better but again you must maintain it by the book or it will let you down also. Fuel millage on the 6.4 is not all that great either. Both engines are plagued by emission equipment issues thanks to the EPA. The 7.3 is a MUCH better engine than the 6.0 and 6.4. It has less HP but is a lot more reliable. It too must be maintained but will take neglect, idling, abuse, and will outlast both of the other engines. I had a customer call me yesterday to order filters for a 2001 model that had over 600k miles on it. That is very common for a 7.3. The weakness is the 4R100 transmission. I have one and made mine last 210k before I had a friend overhaul it and update it to make it more bulletproof. Visit these webpages on maintaining the 6.0 and 6.4:
Gotta say it again. 2005 6 liter with absolutely no problems. I do think mine is a mid to late 2005 engine. A friend of mine is a Ford dealer and they told me to avoid the '05's that were built in 2004. I did not buy this vehicle from them.
My 2005 6.0 (no tuner) has 80,000 and has been a great truck so far. I did have a bad hub and a small oil leak at a hose clamp but all in all, very minor stuff. Recently switched to synthetic and highway milage (70-75 MPH) went from 16.5 MPG to a little over 19 MPG (hand calculated).
I was told that Ford now recomends flushing the coolent every 50,000 miles to help prevent issues with the EGR.
2005 and up also gets you front coil springs which help to tighten up the turning radius.
i have a 2005 6.0 with 135K miles and I have it tuned it it runs great. I disagree with the statement that the tranny is weak. The tourqueshift is actually a really good tranny and can handle up to 450 HP stock. Use the right fluid, change your bypass filter and fluid often and you should not have any problems. Most 04's, all 05 and 06 were good trucks. Once warranty is out delete the EGR system and if you can get headstuds installed while under warranty and you will have a reliable truck
I agree that the 7.3 is a fantastic engine. 108K on my 2002 F350 amd she purrs like a kitten. That said there are two isses that I had to address with the 7.3 at are the weak points. One was the stupid cam position sensor that Ford finally decided to have a recall on and hopefuuly fixed. The other was the oil pan. If you decide on a truck with the 7.3, check the oil pan for leaking or weaping. I just had to replace mine. $2200 because they have to pull the motor. I will be coating the new one with POR15 to make sure that never happens again. Other than that, the truck is awesome and I will own it until it dies.
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1989 Century Sport 4500 CLX - 23'4"
7.4L Mercruiser I/O
The 6.0 My son-n-law has a 2005 that just had the fuel system replaced for the 3rd time less than 100K. Several folks have stated this is a problem and Ford knows but can;t fix it for the long haul. According to the dealer, every 15k he should expect to fork out $1,800.00.
I have a 04 with 100k,and knock on wood no problems yet.I did have an issue one day I was pulling my boat home and an hour into the ride it started running like crap.when I would hit the gas it would start bucking like an old bronco and pour out black smoke.I called a buddy of mine that just blew his up a few months earlier and asked him what his was doing when it blew.his was pouring white smoke out.he called his diesel guy knowing he was oing to have to tow me and my boat home if it did not get fixed.the mechanic called me and told me to unplug the EGR (I think that is what he called it) in front of the motor.I did that and it has been running perfect so far.that was 15k miles ago.
i have a 2004 F350...at 99k ford replaced 6 out of 8 injectors under warranty....at 135k, the oil cooler failed, repair cost 5k...at 160k, had 4 injectors replaced at 2.4k at 170k, the EGR cooler failed...they replaced in addition the oil cooler again all hoses for another 5k...I now have 230k and know that more injectors need to be replaced.
at 170k I have been using the powerstroke additive at every refuel.
Which years to avoid in F-250 &350 Diesel
