2007 6.0 Powerstroke reliability.

[Soundguy]

I add the dca addatives to mine..

soundguy

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have been looking around at what is out there in used Ford's myself so this is a good thread for me as well. Is it true that if you do have to pull the head's on a 6.0 that you need to raise the cab or is that just a dumb rumor?

Also, how do the Ford automatic transmissions do with an exhaust brake?

As for antifreeze, are you Ford owners using a good quality deisel rated product or just the off the shelf brands?

Its true that both the Ford and Dmax trucks usually have the cabs taken off to do head work. The reason is time. 2 guys in a shop can pull the cab quicker than working in all kind of weird angles. You also risk getting dirt and just plain missing something easier with the cab on but it can be done. Its really a time savings thing.

I know 10 plus people with 6.0L fords and none have exhaust brakes so I can not comment on that. I have 2 myself and while I would like to have it I did not want to spend the money. Maybe my next truck will have one from the factory.

As for Anti Freeze I have not changed it in either one of mine. They say its good for 150,000 miles with periodic testing and a additive as needed.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

speaking of exhaust brakes.. what does the 6.0 have that comes on during tow mode? tranny downshift to eat some speed? I've noticed when towing with the f250 and you let off throttle.. she drags down pretty fast.. not like a jake.. but something. variable valve timing?

soundguy

 

[Builder]

I used to have a 6.0 f-350. I had nothing but problems,

I had so many aquaintances that had problems with them that I stopped buying Fords after 15 straight years of Ford loyalty. Hundreds of forums dedicated to fixing them. Just look on the internet, don't take our word for it. My plumber just dumped 6 grand into his right at ~100K on a stock engine. No mods. It was blowing coolant out the exhaust!

I think the thing being overlooked is that the 6L had horrific problems in the first few years that approached the disaster of the 6.5TD that GM used to offer back in the 90's. The 6L could have ruined Ford, but Ford was so in control of the diesel truck market riding the success of the 7.3L, that even the disaster of the 6L wasn't enough to take Ford down...... but it came close. Competitors sales soared on Ford's misfortunes with the 6L. Guys around here call 'em "6 leakers" because they fill the degas bottle with coolant and it leaks from overflowing.
If buying a 6L, you gotta believe that a large portion of the light diesel truck buyers out there think the 6L was problematic in its' first 2-3 years and subsequent years, although more reliable, lacked horespower & torque compared to the other 2 brands. This greatly affects resale value. Now that it's been abandoned by ford after a short period of time and replaced by yet another abandonded Ford diesel (the 6.4L with a whopping 2 year run). You have to wonder if you're not buying an asset that's going to plummet in value so fast, you'll be left with a truck that might not be worth much. How many diesels can you unveil to the buying public, only to drop in a few years for yet another design? (Ford's on their 4th completely different diesel in 8 years)

I'd look for the more recently abandoned Ford 6.4L or a GM or Dodge diesel truck that suits your needs.

Good luck!

 

[Soundguy]

is the 7.3 still in production? I know the na were about 90 to 93.5/94 and then turbo, then went to the psd.. but.. how much later? 05?

always heard they are more or less bullet proof.

soundguy

 

[Builder]

If the 6.0 and the 6.4's are so great why did ford decide to start making the engines in house???? Just food for thought.

Because neither one made emissions. The 6.4 was just a hold over to get the a increase in HP and get away from the bad reputation the early 6.0's had. It was never meant to stay around. It was just brought in till they could get the new engine developed. Chris

.

Sorry, but that's untrue. It's well publicised that Ford dumped the 6 &6.4L diesels because Ford had so many problems with the 6L, they ended a 90 year long business relationship with IH and decided to go at it on their own. That just goes to show you how many problems the 6L gave Ford. They had lawsuits between IH & Ford because it was so bad.

Ford sues IH over the 6 and 6.4 liter.

From the above article:

"Ford said its warranty costs ballooned by $500 million in the first nine months of 2005 and said much of the outlay was because of problems with International's Powerstroke engine in Super Duty trucks. In 2005, more than 12,000 consumers filed warranty claims related to engine troubles in the Super Duty."

More from same article:

"Ford and International have had a rocky relationship since 2000. The companies have sued each other at least twice before. Ford paid International an undisclosed sum in 2003 after Ford canceled a V-6 engine for the F-150 pickup.
An International spokesman said Ford's lawsuit is "totally without merit," and that the company will respond vigorously in court. The spokesman said he did not know when the response would be filed."

Ford was so angry with IH over the 6L problems, it cancelled production of a diesel IH had already built for the F-150.

Great to hear DP loves his 6L, but that's undisputeable facts about the 6L. 1/2 a billion in warranty claims in 9 months speaks for itself.

 

[Builder]

is the 7.3 still in production? I know the na were about 90 to 93.5/94 and then turbo, then went to the psd.. but.. how much later? 05?

always heard they are more or less bullet proof.

soundguy

Ended in '03. I had probably 12 of them through the 90's. Hung on to my last one till late '06, but the rest of the truck started to fall apart around the 7.3L at ~100K from plowing. Not bulletproof, they needed cam position sensors and had some other issues, but a good reliable diesel.

 

[Soundguy]

a 20$ part that bolts on with a tab and 10mm bolt? that doesn't seem to be too much of a sticking point... throw one in the glove box.. and carry a tool box and flashlight... then never worry about it.

I don't think I've ever read of a serious endemic problem with the 7.3 psd aside from maintenance or lack thereof ie.. sca/dca addatives in the coolant.. and the afore mentioned 20$ CPS..

do you know of anything particularly bad about them? I mean.. you hear some pretty bad stuff about some engines. killer dowel pin.. etc.. etc...

soundguy

 

[catskinner]

My 04 F250 6.0l has 128k now, not one repair, just change oil regularly and run good fuel, most problems showed up at 40k, sooner if chipped. I worried about it at first, but its running strong. The power the 6.0 has is great, in stock form it moves right out.

 

[Paystar]

I have a 2007 F-350 6.0 Powerstroke crewcab and I commercially haul travel trailers for a delivery service. Mine runs great and is reliable. I know of all the problems with these engines and also notice that 90% of these people that do have the problems are all guilty of the same things.....not changing oil regularly, not flushing coolant occassionally, and chipping them for big power and rodding the crap out of them.

Adding too much power adds cylinder pressure that pushes the stock head bolts and gaskets to their limits, not changing oil and coolant plugs up the oil and egr coolers, as they have very fine passages, plus not changing the oil adds to injector problems as these ones are operated off high pressure engine oil.
As long as it is maintained, I wouldn't worry about it at all. I also had a 2007 of another brand and this 6 litre gets way better fuel mileage.