6.0 powerstroke

GI FARMER · May 15, 2011

Yes i know this is for tractor related stuff but it is also a great blace to get a honest answer from guys that work for a living. .

Does anybody have anything good or bad to say about the Ford 6.0 diesel.

495man · May 15, 2011

I posted the same exact question on the bash and NAT not that long ago and the response was basically "good luck with that"

I don't think the 6.0 enjoys a good reputation, but 2006 and later are supposedly "ok", the early ones were more so problematic.

Les Va. · May 15, 2011

I think that you will be ok as long as you have a bicycle to depend on.

robgIN · May 15, 2011

2006 and later do seem to have less issues but in general a 6.0 is best avoided unless you can handle large repair bills. If you can buy it cheap and are ok with the prospect of having to spend big bucks later then ok. If you are like most of us and don't have lots of cash reserved for surprise repairs I'd pass.There are some that have great luck with them and there are others that have nothing but trouble. I would rate the 6.0 as the least desireable of the Ford Powerstrokes.

bobs old iron · May 15, 2011

have a 2003, first year for 6.0....didn't have all that much problems compared to other. 1 injector, two turbo's, air charge box and blue hoses, one flashing. other wise 100+k mileage, run good. also log into FTE [ford truck enthusiast] lot of good info there. i pull a 26 ft trailer with my tractors on it, [there, tractor related,lol] pull with no problems.

D15DAN · May 15, 2011

We have 2 trucks with these engines. A 2004 F350 and a 2005 F450. Both have been very reliable and are very strong engines. I have pulled our JD 555A loader(27k lbs incuding the trailer) at 70mph and still had some throttle left. The early 6.0s had some electronics issues, but as to the other problems they're supposedly prone to, noone I have ever met with one of these(and they're thick as flies on a cows butt here) has ever had such problems. The one I don't like is the 6.4 due to the fact that you can't get to anything on the motor, thanks of course to the #%*@% EPA.

Anonymous-0 · May 15, 2011

I have a 2006 F-350 with the 6.0 and I have no complaints. I pull a 30ft. gooseneck and has all the power I need. I haul a lot of heavy things and have never had trouble. But I am probably bias because I am a huge Ford fan!!

Bob M · May 15, 2011

Early 6.0's had issues. My neighbor across the road has one. It suffered from oil and coolant leaks, multiple turbo failures, EGR problems and head bolt/gasket issues.

After 2 years he became so frustrated he offered to buy back my '99 7.3 (which I'd bought from him) for what I gave for it. However after MANY visits to the dealer - all covered under warranty - his 6.0 has given no troubles the past couple years.

I were to consider buying one I'd first make sure ALL recalls/TSB's have been properly completed.

806man · May 15, 2011

Our local Ambulance Service had one... It was a 2005 model pile of junk since it was new. I would be safe in saying that it was in and out of the shop at least 25 times. Something always was wrong with it. They almost never had to take it in for oil changes. They just had it done while it was there for somthing else wrong with it. They finally junked it out for scrap. It went down many times while on an emergency run. Thank the good Lord above no one died when it quit running.

730d se · May 15, 2011

Now that "someone" at the manufacturing company noticed that there could be big issues with the diesel build outside, any real data on the newest attempt that is being built INSIDE where it should have been the whole time?
Funny how it works, if regular employees make stupid decisions, they get pay cuts, or even fired. But when the top brass does this, they end up with bonuses.

Anonymous-0 · May 15, 2011

check out www.powerstokehelp.com this guy seems to have them sorted...

Adrian Billheimer · May 15, 2011

After having seen a lot of bashing of the 6.0 over the years, just want to say I have an "04, bought new and have had 115k trouble free miles.
Did I just get lucky with this one? I don"t think so, I believe there are a lot more good ones out there than bad ones, you just don"t hear about them unless there is something to complain about.

redtom · May 15, 2011

There's only one engine that cost a manufacturer $1 Billion in warranty, (yes that's billion), the 6.0. Yes, there are good ones. there are/were a lot of bad ones. Many will say they were "chipped" and modified so that's why they failed. I say not true. I had an 04 with the 03 engine. After several issues We traded it in 06 at a substantial loss for a new 06 Cummins Dodge and have smiled ever since. I frequent the RVnet forum frequently as I tow a 5th wheel. There are many folks towing thousands on miles on that forum stock and chipped. One can go there and read volumes on the subject of the 6.0. As with tractors, motorcycles, guns, etc we all have our favorites. I always find it funny to hear, ..."after a new this and new that and two new these, mine has been great". Things shouldn't need too much new stuff other than wear items. As a former 6.0 owner I kind of watch the used truck listings and find it interesting that some of the area Ford dealers will NEVER have an 03 or 04 on their lot. Personally I hope mine went to the crusher.

Pat-CT · May 15, 2011

There are things that you can do to make them "bullet proof" However the early ones had problems with the headbolts stretching and blowing a head gasket. The head studs that can be put in are costly both to buy and to install as the cab has to be removed from the frame ( some say you can do it with the body on but it in fact takes more time). Other things they had problems with are the EGR system which can be removed pretty cost effectively and it will up your mpg. One other problem they had a problem's with are the high pressure oil pumps or HPOP as ford guys call them. Once the problems are fixed with an exhaust and tuner they sound pretty good and make decent power.

Kris Golden · May 15, 2011

The company I work for has one, an '05 F-450. They have spent more on keeping it running than it cost new AND it has had many covered warranty repairs as well. A small company trying to keep it going it would have went bankrupt by now. It starts good, pulls good, and gets decent economy - but it is just not worth the fight.

Ed in Northern VA · May 15, 2011

I have a 2005 F550 with the 6.0 with 45,000 miles on it now. Had turbo problems at about 20K, fixed under warranty, and have had no problems since.

Paul Janke · May 15, 2011

The 6.0 at work got replaced by a Cummins from a Dodge in the Ford. I think it would have been cheaper to replace the truck, but now it is a good truck.

Anonymous-0 · May 15, 2011

I bought my 2004 F250 Diesel new and have had very little trouble with it and now have driven 100,000 miles. Just minor warrenty work on an injector. My Ford mechanic says that approx. 50% of the 6.O's are trouble free.

Stu · May 15, 2011

I bought my 04 F450 new. First 25,000 no problems. From 25,000-50,000 in and out for waranty and recall work. Egr twice, mass air, fuel filter housing twice, and it always had oil leaks. From 50,000 to 105,000 it never ran better. At 105,000 head gasket went. I had enough since it was just out of warranty. As long as is was running good it ran great, other times is was horrible. I repoweredd with a 12v Cummins. Other than not being quite satisfied with with my turbo choice (a little large) I have no regrets. The Cummins gets 2 more miles per gallon. I have talked to maybe two people that have not had problems with thier 6.0. I also have an 03 F350 but it has the 7.3. If a truck is in good shape, I would consider another 6.0, because you can get them pretty cheap. I would just start saving for the conversion parts. Just my $.02. Stu.

jimont · May 15, 2011

Sons had so much trouble with their 6.0 450 ($18000. last year they had it) that ,as long standing Ford men,they were going elsewhere (Dodge Sprinter). Dealer gave them 300,000 K warranty on a 6.4. So far, it's cost Ford a new motor @ 115K. I see Sprinter in their future.

kyplowboy · May 15, 2011

Some folks have had good luck with them. Every one I know personally has been very unhappy. Buddy of mine hauls yard barns for a live'n. At the time the 6.0 came out he only had a three pickup fleet. He bought 3 new F250s. When the third one went down on the side of the road in the first 6 months he had just got the first one back with a new engine in it and the second one was still in the shop get'n a new one. Other than one dodge he had for a short while to try it out, he as been a Duramax man since.

Dave

bobs old iron · May 15, 2011

jumping in again, you always hear about any truck/car when it breaks down, all of a sudden it's a P-O-S. every one chips up their engine, running stock trans, rears, drive lines, then they wounder why it breaks down. what were they doing when it broke down. never read about it when every thing is good. my truck is stock, regular maintenance, other than started warranty work, my P-O-S ford is o-k to me.

Roy Suomi · May 15, 2011

Got 2 2003 consecutive serial number F-550's Both have been a king sized headache.. Harness's , injectors , turbo's coked up , waterpump pulley's blowing apart, exhaust manifold bolts breaking off, When one gets sick , the other one comes down with the same problem within weeks..Why are we putting up with manufacturers making marginal trucks..In the old days, trucks rode like trucks and worked like trucks....I got rid of my '05 Silverado after only 37,000 miles ..It literally fell apart before my eyes..My everyday driver now is an ex-military M-1028 Chevy with no frills..Gotta love them old trucks........

David G · May 15, 2011

I had one that gave no trouble, but traded it at 110K. I have heard that some would give no trouble and some would. I put a chip on it and that thing would move. It would cruise nicely at 90 on the highway and want for more. I came out of colorado springs one night headed for denver. I punched it and buried the speedo before I could get my foot off.

I just got a new 6.7 liter Ford and love it.

Bill in Colo · May 15, 2011

Stay away unless you like hi repair bills. Wife has a 2004 F250 6.0 Great truck,lots of power decent mileage,but get rid of it before a 115,000. Hers now has 130,000 on it and it has cost 2800 to keep it running the past 15,000 and it's still not running well. I have a 99 F350 7.3 with 185,000 and only 1400 in repairs, and no known problems I'll drive it another 100,000.I think the wife will be getting another truck soon.

ted regentin · May 16, 2011

Along with a partner, I own a ten bay automotive repair shop. I have never owned one and I wouldn"t. When they run right, they are a great engine. When there are problems, they are just insanely expensive to repair. I don"t work on them myself, but I have a tech with many years of Ford dealership experience primarily with diesels, that works on them very reluctantly. The last one that we worked on was just a nightmare. It came in with a miss, we replaced one injector. It ran great, but we got it back with a miss two weeks later, with a miss. Two cylinders showed up with low contribution, so we replaced two more injectors. It came back again with the same issue, so we pulled all the injectors and sent them in and had them tested. This time, four bad injectors, including two that we had already replaced, with Ford remnans. We replaced the four bad injectors, along with the FICM. It now ran on all eight cylinders, but just didn"t feel right. My tech found that the injection pressure control valve had a little screen in it that had come apart, so we replaced it and now it has been on the road for two months now. Now, in defense of the engine, I deal with some school buses that have the same motor, and have absolutely no problems. Go figure!!!

greygoat · May 16, 2011

Is this the engine that Ford purchased from
"International"? If so, is it also in their own
(International's) vehicles, or did they "Build it for Ford" only.
If also in International vehicles, did/do they have problems also?

Paul from MN · May 16, 2011

for an engine with a bad reputation, I've had nothing but success.

2005 F350 with 100K, no repairs yet. Routine oil changes, new tires, etc. But that is it.

bobs old iron · May 16, 2011

hey stu: now you can put on the tail gate- IT'S A FORGE. lol

6.0 powerstroke

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