*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Guys, Just want to validate what I believe to be true. The 6.0 Powerstroke is a good reliable engine, but is bad on fuel...is this the general consensus?
do a search on which model years you're interested in. early models were problematic and required a couple of expensive fixes. Later models were said to be much better.
__________________ Rick
Alabama's Gulf Coast
Chaparral 240 Signature (Sold)
I don't that is quite right. The 7.3 is generally considered to be the most trouble free but was phased out in the middle of the 2003 model year. The first versions of the 6.0, the 2003/2004s have some mechanical issues. The 2005 and later engines are quite a bit better, but still are not beefy enough to accept hot rodding like the 7.3's.
My own experience is that the 6.0s give the best mileage of the group. The later engines, with the catalytic converters seem to get the worst mileage of all.
If you are planning to modify the engine or add a chip, you want the 7.3. They've been around for a long time, but the trucks they come in have a leaf spring front end. So, you'll be trading turning radius and ride for the beefy engine. Most 6.0's will be in coil spring front end trucks, so you'll have an engine that is happy if you leave it alone along with a better ride and turning radius.
I would not buy a 6.0 PSD in any year. I'm sure some are fine but I've seen too many that are turds. Get a Cummins (5.9), much more proven. My buddy just got rid of an '05 or '06 6.0 with 90k on it, been nothing but problems. He picked up an '06 Cummins and its a much better engine. Just my opinion.
I just sold my late model 2004 F-250 with 6.0L as I downgraded to a new F-150. My 6.0L was trouble free and I bought it brand new. I used it to tow a 28' enclosed trailer when I was racing. I towed up and down the east coast. I loaded that trailer when I moved to AZ and then when I moved back to NC and I maxed out on a CAT scale at 19,980 lbs on the return trip. I still got 11-12 MPG with stiff winds through AZ, NM, and west TX. My truck was never in for warranty work and I did all the scheduled services myself. That 6.0L never skipped a beat.
However, there was some problems with the early 6.0Ls but many of those problems were owner induced when owners started adding after market programers trying for more Tq/HP. Some owners had EGR problems too, but all trucks will have a few issues I guess. Maybe I just got lucky as some others were just unlucky. I don't know.
For fuel milage, empty on the freeway, I would average 19-20 depending on how flat the roads were. The key was keeping the tach below 2K or 70 MPH. Once over 70, the tach is over 2K and the fuel milage drops quickly.
I wouldn't hesitate buying a 6.0L if you have some history of the previous owner. If it's a friend and you know they never added a programmer, super. If a programmer has been added and the motor still has the stock head bolts, I would steer clear.
Just my 2 cents as an owner for 6 years.
Check out Powerstroke.org. Great forum with lots of info. 05 and up are great trucks.
Just remember, forums are for people who have issues (90% of the time). So you will here a lot about the negative, very little from the positive.
What it comes down to, pull the heads, get them decked, new head gaskets, ARP head studs, delete the EGR, and add a coolant filtration system and you will have a bullet proof truck.
I get 19-23MPG (city&hwy). And can tow 15000# all day long.
My 07 6.0 has been great but used very little. Mileage is around 11-12 BUT.....90% of the miles have 15,000 behind a dually spinning 4.10 gears at 75 on the highway. Everything I do cuts into mileage!!!! Running 65 improves mileage greatly (15-17) but I just can't drive.....55!!! (sammy hagar "scream") LOL
I would not buy a 6.0 PSD in any year. I'm sure some are fine but I've seen too many that are turds. Get a Cummins (5.9), much more proven. My buddy just got rid of an '05 or '06 6.0 with 90k on it, been nothing but problems. He picked up an '06 Cummins and its a much better engine. Just my opinion.
I agree with you that the 5.9 cummins is a much better engine than the 6.0. Unfortunately, almost everything else about a dodge is inferior. If you do decide to go with a cummins, its absolutely necessary to buy a manual, as the automatics have been a long standing weak point for dodge.
There are many problematic 6.0 trucks (especially 2003/2004 models). The 05-07 models are much better, but driveability issues still arise even in these years.
__________________
2008 Hydra Sport 23 Bay Bolt, 250 E-tec
2005 Ford F-250 Diesel
I drive a 2005 6.0 early production f-550 for work and i can honestly say it is the biggest piece of crap engine ford has ever produced. the motor has had nemerous head gaskest and head replacements, nemerous turbo replacements,numerous egr system failures,numerous lowpressure oil pump replacements and i could go on and on!!!!! just from my experience i can honestly say look for an older 7.3 because they were bullett proof!
I drive a 2005 6.0 early production f-550 for work and i can honestly say it is the biggest piece of crap engine ford has ever produced. the motor has had nemerous head gaskest and head replacements, nemerous turbo replacements,numerous egr system failures,numerous lowpressure oil pump replacements and i could go on and on!!!!! just from my experience i can honestly say look for an older 7.3 because they were bullett proof!
it sounds like you had a crappy tech. if done right, all the problems could have been fixed the first time around.
Stud the truck using ARP's and shaved/decked heads, delete EGR and replace oil cooler, and on 05's replace the STC fitting on the HPOP while everything is apart. install cooolant filter , run a SCT custom tune and have fun
sorry to hear about your problems but my only complaint with mine has been my fuel mileage isn't as high as I would like.
2005 f250 6.0 105000 miles no defects. 15-17 mpg @ interstate speeds (75-85 mph) - yesterday from Atlanta to FL averaged 16.4. With a bed cover I've seen 18 on the highway.
Is this statement a test of understanding Sarcasm?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhendric
Guys, Just want to validate what I believe to be true. The 6.0 Powerstroke is a good reliable engine, but is bad on fuel...is this the general consensus?
This has to be a test? The 6.0 is a POS with a bad fuel burn.
This has to be a test? The 6.0 is a POS with a bad fuel burn.
alot of the 6.0 problems were early on and got worse due to improper diagnosing and repair of the original problems, and poor maintance by the owner. from late 04 on the truck became much better, and by now the ealier builds have been correctly repaired. With some good tuning you can get close to 18mpg on the hwy out of the 6.0 and really good power. mine has been nothing but reliable with 140K on it, and IMO, is still the best looking truck out there, and has more cab room than the others too.
I just did studs, headgaskets, oil cooler and deleted EGR as precationary and the truck is running great and i have pretty close a to a bulletproof 6.0 now. The price you pick up a 6.0 for you can afford to do the 3-4 things needed to address the 6.0 weakpoints and still come out ahead. and there have been plenty of D-maxs and cummins with injectors, tranny issues, there are just soo many more ford 6.0's out there that you hear about the bad ones more often
I agree with you that the 5.9 cummins is a much better engine than the 6.0. Unfortunately, almost everything else about a dodge is inferior. If you do decide to go with a cummins, its absolutely necessary to buy a manual, as the automatics have been a long standing weak point for dodge.
There are many problematic 6.0 trucks (especially 2003/2004 models). The 05-07 models are much better, but driveability issues still arise even in these years.
I appreciate your insight but I'm not totally sold that everything besides the motor on the Dodge is inferior. I've seen plenty of crappy interiors where the screws had rattled out, windows quit working, etc... on the Fords. I bought a used '00 Dodge 3/4 ton Cummins and the interior is pretty darn solid, not perfect, but solid. I've seen Fords with plenty of interior/exterior problems too. I honestly believe its somewhat a wash as both have issues regarding all of their supporting components. I would say the key is to find one that was taken care of and not ragged out, regardless of brand.
I believe the Dodge autos have gotten better in later years but your right, the older autos were known to be somewhat weak. I'm not even so sure that its that they were weak, maybe more that were not overengineered enough to stand the abuse from aftermarket programmers and such. I believe that if you stick with a stock truck, keep the tranny fluids serviced, and don't rag it out, you can probably get 200k out of the 47re more times than not. Most guys slap a programmer in that addes 100+ horse and 150 or more ft lbs of torque and then rag on it non stop just to see the black smoke billowing from the exhaust. Then they wonder why they burned up the stock tranny and call it a POS. They are asking the transmission to do things that they were not designed to do which is somewhat unfair when you look at it objectively.
Either way, I would stay away fromt he 6.0 unless you want to drop several thousand extra dollars trying to make it reliable. They are not all bad but I've seen too many that were real problems for me to ever consider buying one. Good luck to you.
alot of the 6.0 problems were early on and got worse due to improper diagnosing and repair of the original problems, and poor maintance by the owner. from late 04 on the truck became much better, and by now the ealier builds have been correctly repaired. With some good tuning you can get close to 18mpg on the hwy out of the 6.0 and really good power. mine has been nothing but reliable with 140K on it, and IMO, is still the best looking truck out there, and has more cab room than the others too.
I just did studs, headgaskets, oil cooler and deleted EGR as precationary and the truck is running great and i have pretty close a to a bulletproof 6.0 now. The price you pick up a 6.0 for you can afford to do the 3-4 things needed to address the 6.0 weakpoints and still come out ahead. and there have been plenty of D-maxs and cummins with injectors, tranny issues, there are just soo many more ford 6.0's out there that you hear about the bad ones more often
I would stay away from the 6.0. I had two and they both had issues, one fairly minor things and the other more serious. I have a 6.4 now and no problems, and a lot quiter.
I have a 2005 F-250 Harley Davidson with the 6.0 and it has 80000 miles on it, runs great, I am a kind of guy that will run it up to 3000 rpm's off a light and watch the black smoke go all over the place for fun, so I can't comment on the mileage because I get terrible
Ford 6.0 
