Co-worker with 6.4 Ford Power Stroke problems.

[dodge man]

I have a co-worker whose husband owns a 6.4 Ford Power Stroke that is a problem child. They got the extended warranty, thank god. They have had the truck about 4 months but have only been able to drive it about a couple of weeks the time they have owned it. Its had turbos, injectors, egr, short block, valve train parts replaced. Its been in the shop something like 8 times since they have owned. It was never right from day one, truck has about 70,000 miles on it.

The current problem is metal shaving in the fuel filter. The owner was worried about gelling or some other issue on why the truck wasn't running right so he replaced the fuel filters and found the current problem. Why would there be shavings in the fuel system? Problem with the main injection pump? The dealership actually said it must have been something the owner did.

 

[BeeferMan]

Don't know details about the fuel system in that truck, but I can't think of how you'd get shavings in the fuel filter from anything but the fuel pump, except maybe contaminated fuel..

 

[wmonroe]

When they did some of the other warranty work they may have got the shavings in there. Other than that not sure how it could happen unless it was contaminated fuel or the lift pump is self destructing. Sounds like it might be time to take the hit and get a reliable truck.

 

[BeeferMan]

The 6.4's haven't had a lot of reliability problems, but this one could be a lemon… now. It seems that with some vehicles once they start messing with them for one or two problems, the variety of problems just compound. At some point you have to punt. But I wouldn't be afraid to get another 6.4...

 

[CobyRupert]

Does he have some enemies who work at a machine shop?

 

[dodge man]

He works at a body shop actually, I don't think anybody messed with it, just the dealership. At this point, I would have lit the thing on fire and sent it through the show room window by now. I don't know if the 6.4 power strokes have a CP3 pump similar to the Cummins and D-maxs or not.

 

[fordmantpw]

except maybe contaminated fuel..

Which would explain a lot of the other problems as well. I bet the original owner tried to put some 'cheap' fuel in it and got burned.

My '08 PS turned over 55,555.5 yesterday (I took a pic for grins ) and the only problem I've had is the leaky radiator. Other than that, it's been trouble-free and pulls like a freight train!

 

[doxford jim]

Which would explain a lot of the other problems as well. I bet the original owner tried to put some 'cheap' fuel in it and got burned.

It doesn't need to be cheap fuel to have been contaminated. Expensive fuel also gets contaminated as well.
Water and dirt have no preference as to where they like to hang out:shocked:
Any fuel supplier and gas station have problems with both dirt and water to some extent. Fuel dispensing pumps at gas stations have their own filter so in theory, no contamination is possible. We all know that isn't true, but in the OP post he only mentions small metal filings.
Ford dealer needs to step up to the plate and do the right thing. I would suspect that by now, this vehicle would qualify for the Lemon law and could be bought back by Ford.

 

[fordmantpw]

It doesn't need to be cheap fuel to have been contaminated. Expensive fuel also gets contaminated as well.
Water and dirt have no preference as to where they like to hang out:shocked:
Any fuel supplier and gas station have problems with both dirt and water to some extent. Fuel dispensing pumps at gas stations have their own filter so in theory, no contamination is possible. We all know that isn't true, but in the OP post he only mentions small metal filings.
Ford dealer needs to step up to the plate and do the right thing. I would suspect that by now, this vehicle would qualify for the Lemon law and could be bought back by Ford.

True, but I've heard of too many people trying to make their own diesel or 'get some from a buddy' and that usually doesn't end well in today's high-tech diesel trucks. That was my intent, but you are correct.

And this person appears to be the second (at least) owner, so lemon law does not apply in this case. You have to be the original owner.

 

[Degolyerent]

Another person screwed by Ford, 6.0 and 6.4 are terrible mishaps. Thank God I have a 7.3!! and a 12v Cummins.

 

[dodge man]

Yeah they bought it used. Metal shavings in the fuel filter seem to be a somewhat common problem. Sounds like it can happen when the high pressure pump starts to fail. I've seen a lot of problems with diesels blamed on bad fuel. I think it does happen but I think its just a blame game for problems with a new truck and way to deny warranty.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have a co-worker whose husband owns a 6.4 Ford Power Stroke that is a problem child. They got the extended warranty, thank god. They have had the truck about 4 months but have only been able to drive it about a couple of weeks the time they have owned it. Its had turbos, injectors, egr, short block, valve train parts replaced. Its been in the shop something like 8 times since they have owned. It was never right from day one, truck has about 70,000 miles on it.

The current problem is metal shaving in the fuel filter. The owner was worried about gelling or some other issue on why the truck wasn't running right so he replaced the fuel filters and found the current problem. Why would there be shavings in the fuel system? Problem with the main injection pump? The dealership actually said it must have been something the owner did.

Sounds like the previous owner mistakenly put gas in it then dumped it asap to some poor sucker.

The 6.4 has been a good motor all in all. Most issues are related to DPF.


Chris

 

[dodge man]

How in the world do we know what the previous owner did? That's a wild guess that they might have put gas in it. I googled metal shavings in 6.4 Power Stroke fuel filters and got a lot of results. Seems to be a known problem. I do believe the previous owner dumped the truck. When they bought it used, they were told it had an EGR problem that had been fixed.

It seems to be a common thing to blame it on bad fuel. I know someone that had a low mile Cummins that they blamed bad fuel for taking out the injectors at low miles. Not covered under warranty. I think dealerships just keep a jar of water contaimaneted fuel laying around to show people when they want to deny warranty.

 

[fordmantpw]

How in the world do we know what the previous owner did? That's a wild guess that they might have put gas in it. I googled metal shavings in 6.4 Power Stroke fuel filters and got a lot of results. Seems to be a known problem. I do believe the previous owner dumped the truck. When they bought it used, they were told it had an EGR problem that had been fixed.

It seems to be a common thing to blame it on bad fuel. I know someone that had a low mile Cummins that they blamed bad fuel for taking out the injectors at low miles. Not covered under warranty. I think dealerships just keep a jar of water contaimaneted fuel laying around to show people when they want to deny warranty.

As a side note, dealers don't deny warranty, Ford does. Dealerships will normally go to bat for the customer as warranty work means guaranteed money for the dealership. If Ford denies warranty, it's normally for a very good reason, because not having a very good reason is just asking for problems.

 

[Degolyerent]

One thing for sure the EPA has ruined diesel motors and have made them unaffordable to fix. Once one gets close to end of warranty it is time to get rid of it. Then you have Ford that won't stand behind the warranty, blaming it on everyone else. Water in fuel happens and it is a roll of the dice when and if it happens to you.

 

[Stimw]

Maybe the contamination came when they kept removing the cab for the other repairs!!

 

[dodge man]

I'm not sure but I think the cabs been off it four times since they've owned it.

 

[jejeosborne]

Are we supposed to be guessing what the history of a 2nd hand truck is? Who knows if it was babied or if any maintenance has ever been performed in the past? Fuel can always be blamed because fuel quality is very easily tainted. Unlike aircraft, operators never pre-flight their truck each time it is fueled it to inspect the fuel quality. It is always out of sight so who knows what is being pumped in.

 

[dodge man]

Are we supposed to be guessing what the history of a 2nd hand truck is? Who knows if it was babied or if any maintenance has ever been performed in the past? Fuel can always be blamed because fuel quality is very easily tainted. Unlike aircraft, operators never pre-flight their truck each time it is fueled it to inspect the fuel quality. It is always out of sight so who knows what is being pumped in.

Well it's a pretty specific problem, metal in the fuel filters. Yes I agree no one except the previous owner knows what happened to it.

I personally know someone that got gas with water in it so it does happen and the gas station admitted they had a problem. I also know of a person that had his injectors swapped out on a low mileage Dodge with "bad fuel". Once I googled the correct thing I did find a lot of posts on various forums where people had this problem with the 6.4 Fords. I think it's just a way to blame it on the owner to say it's bad fuel.

Ford appears to be denying warranty to a lot of people based on the bad fuel scenario. It looks like it's a $10k fix if the high pressure pump goes out and takes out the entire fuel system.

My coworkers husband has been treated reasonably well by this dealership, they give him a newer truck to drive while his is in the shop. I just thought it was a little unfair to blame him for metal in the fuel system. What did he do sweep up metal shavings and dump them in his tank?

 

[jejeosborne]

Well it's a pretty specific problem, metal in the fuel filters. Yes I agree no one except the previous owner knows what happened to it.

I personally know someone that got gas with water in it so it does happen and the gas station admitted they had a problem. I also know of a person that had his injectors swapped out on a low mileage Dodge with "bad fuel". Once I googled the correct thing I did find a lot of posts on various forums where people had this problem with the 6.4 Fords. I think it's just a way to blame it on the owner to say it's bad fuel.

Ford appears to be denying warranty to a lot of people based on the bad fuel scenario. It looks like it's a $10k fix if the high pressure pump goes out and takes out the entire fuel system.

My coworkers husband has been treated reasonably well by this dealership, they give him a newer truck to drive while his is in the shop. I just thought it was a little unfair to blame him for metal in the fuel system. What did he do sweep up metal shavings and dump them in his tank?

The metal in the filter issue is the current issue. You listed many troubles with this truck prior to this one. If these are notoriously problematic even with known good fuel quality then yes Ford needs to step up. They need to also make sure they are not overly sensitive to mediocre fuel quality.