Ford Excursion - I think I must have one! Comments welcome.

[Ryan03]

Yeah - the 6.0 seems to have issues.

The earlier V-10s had a bad habit of spitting out spark plugs.

I wonder what the break down of gas vs. diesel each year.



D.

This is true of the 5.4 V8 as well. If you get a plug spitter, 9 and1/2out of ten times it can be repaired with the cylinder head on the engine with minimal disassembly. Several companies make fixes, with differing repair tactics. The best one that I have seen and used is from K-D tools. It is a combination tap and reamer, broached to accept a 3/8 extension from a basic socket set. The thread insert is a steel bushing with threads on the od and id, with an outward flare, similar to a double flare on a brake line. Once the insert, coated with lots of red loctite, is threaded into the new oversize hole,the outward steel flare seats into the soft aluminum cylinder head, making a perfect permanent seal.


A couple tips if you should have to do this. 1 ,only cut 1/4 to 1/3 of a turn at a time with the reamer/tap, then unscrew it all the way out and blow it off real well with compressed air and cut another 1/4 to 1/3 turn and repeat this as needed. PB blaster works well to lubricate things while cutting. 2 ,tape a shop vac hose hooked up to the exhaust side of the vac over the tailpipe, then turn the engine over by hand until you feel air blowing out of the offending plug hole. Now you can begin reaming the hole, as this upward air flow will keep most of the shavings out of the cylinder. Finaly, when done, unplug the fuel injector electrical plug from the injector on the the offending cylinder, leave the spark plug out and start the engine and let it idle for about 10 seconds to blow any remaining chips out. Don't forget to plug the injector back in when you are done.


7.3's are a good engine, but I have had to do major work to them with relatively low miles. I have replaced the head gaskets on a coworkers truck [7.3PSD] with only 140k, it was a 99 that he bought used 2 years ago with nasty looking coolant. when that coolant gets old and loaded with electrolosis, any soft metal it comes in contact with is at risk, namely, the aluminum front cover and the cylinder head gaskets, which in this engine, were practicaly mush except for the stainless steel rings around the cylinders.

Also, watch out for the home chemist trucks, no, I am not talking about meth labs on wheels, I am talking about those who brew their own diesel fuel, who just think they know what they are doing. I have done 4 sets of low mileage 7.3 and 6.0 [combined] injector reseals[o ring kits] ruined from bad blends of veggie fuel, not to mention the other brandes fuel systems I have repaired after they were damaged by a less than acceptable home brew.

Whether you buy a V-10 or a diesel, in addition to a blackstone test, Check the coolant condition, and if it is rust colored and nasty, keep looking. On a 7.3, pull the top off of the fuel filter housing, and take a look at the paper part of the filter, if it is black like an oil filter, the injector o rings are shot [Home brew fuel], and figure on the expense of resealing the injectors. Finaly, on a 7.3, pull the inlet tube off of the turbo[ engine off!!!!!] and look at the fins on the impellar, if they are pock marked and the edges ore jagged, the truck has injested contaminents into the top end and the cylinder walls and rings may be compromised, keep looking.

As for the 6.0 PSD, Based opon the ones I have maintained and the ownership experiences of some close freinds. I personaly would not take the gamble on one.

 

[Ryan03]

I see absolutely no contradiction there. In fact, I see reinforcement of my point that Ford 6L's & 7.3 need modification to keep up with other brands whether I modified my 7.3L or you modified your 6L.

Why wouldn't a Ford 6L owner want to modify an engine that comes from the factory with less HP & TQ than the competition???

A close freind had a 04 6.0, with an edge chip, Same brand I have been running on my old LB07 Dmax for 97k. I am sorry to say, that drag racing with both of us in level 4, I never couldnt take that 6.0, but he could never get more than about 3/4 truck length on me.

My freind with the 6.0, John, was a die hard Ford truck guy, the 6.0 250 4x4 was his third new 250, prior ones were a 97psd and an 01 psd. The 01 was destroyed in an accident and replaced with the 04 6.0.

After over a year of trying to straighten out the bugs with that 6.0, John finaly gave up and bought a Duramax. He says its ok, but liked the super duty better, but hated the 6.0 enough to buy a chevy and keep it.

3 out of 6 people I know that have 6.0psd have had what they describe as less than satisfactory ownership experiences with them. All but John still own they're 6.0's. However, I do not think any of them are 06's. Personaly, IMO, there are to many alternatives out right now from the big 3 to gamble on a 6.0.

 

[ddivinia]

Man - look what I have started.

I have to say I had a 7.3 in my 2001 and it was OK. The 5.9 Cummins in my 2005 Dodge has been great.

I am thinking V-10 on the Excursion. I think the diesels out there are way over priced - especially with the potential liability in repairs. If I did take the plunge it would be a 7.3 - I have not talked to many that have had a good experience with the 6.0.

Thanks,
D.

 

[JESSE1]

I had an '04 F-350 dually with the 6.0. Never had any problems with the engine, trans or truck. Ran smooth and had all the power the truck needed. I think the biggest problems the early 6.0's had was with the computer programming. Don't think many people had problems with them as long as you left them stock. Seems like most problems with the 6.0 happened to the people who never actually owned one.

I think the V10 is a good idea for the Excursion if you're not going to be driving it constantly.

 

[jcmseven]

As usual, we wax poetic. I think we are leaning toward the gasser option for our OP it sounds. At the risk of getting very off subject, with the my diesel v. the other guys diesel posts, I can say that I am, and always likely will be, a Ford guy. I have had good service from them and have found Ford to be a reliable piece that works as advertised. I have never owned a 6.0L but have known innumerable folks that have well. Some have had great service and loved theirs, others not so much. I personally have owned a 2001 F250 with the V10, an F250 with a heavily-modified 7.3L diesel and a 6.4L Ford 2008 model. I now own a 2009 GMC 2500 Duramax/Allison. For all the grief I and others have given Duane about the Duramax GM I can say it is a nice machine. I have been the most satisfied with its performance of any truck I have owned thus far, and have few complaints. I will say that unless modified or a really special example of the motor and tranny, there is no comparison between the performance of the 6.0L and the new Duramax. Dargo's time slip shows he truly has a one in a million example truck. I mention this because there has been some implication within our postings that our OP might consider a 6.0L Excursion in the mix. While we all have our opinions, and that is good, I would feel very uneasy about a 6.0L in this machine both from a problematic perspective and from a performance perspective. The 7.3L is my recommendation for this truck if one chooses diesel power. Also we should keep in mind that when we are talking about modified trucks, that bets are off. Engines that are more thermodynamically efficient to begin with typically do not see the gains of those that are not; thusly, an "80 hp" chip in a truck a 6.0L, for example, might actually give it closer to 100 hp, where modifying a truck with less to gain will result in less gain. My experience has been the modified 6.0L's run well and respond very well to mods but tend to really drop the fuel economy, when actually calculated by tank, not by the trip computer. Also, keep in mind, the V10 can also be chipped--and it helps. I had a chip in my 2001 Ford V10. It was rated as 35/65 increase, and while I cannot attest to this it made the truck feel stronger and did not hurt the mileage much. One could also had this to the Excursion V10 if one wanted a bit more pep. Although we see many of us have had good luck from our 6.0L vehicles, as a multiple Ford owner I would feel reluctant to pursue this option, especially in a second hand vehicle. Stick with the V10, it is a good motor.

John M

 

[Builder]

John,

I used to give the GM/DMAX guys a hard time, too. It was mostly born out of envy. Coming off the 6L being unreliable and low on power from the factory, I decided to give GM a try just to see why their owners liked them so much. The '06 bump up to the LBZ 360/650 and the 6th gear in the Ally pushed me over the edge. I knew my next truck might be a GM.

I do miss Ford's macho looks and superior payload specs, but other than that, I am glad I gave GM a try this time around. Next time I'm ready to buy, I will look at all 3 and buy the one that suits me best. I think Dodge may have something for me with the 6.7/Aisin/ex brake.
I'll always have a place in my heart for Ford, but I just feel like the ideas GM and Dodge come out with fit my opinion of what makes a truck better more than Ford lately and the "diesel of the year" switches Ford makes turned me off.

 

[SuperDuty335]

Do you have any pics?

Where are you from?

I'm in NC. Still want pics? I thought about selling it on eBay.

 

[Duffster]

I'm in NC. Still want pics? I thought about selling it on eBay.

Sure,

NC isn't to far for the right truck.

 

[Dargo]

I am thinking V-10 on the Excursion. I think the diesels out there are way over priced - especially with the potential liability in repairs. If I did take the plunge it would be a 7.3 - I have not talked to many that have had a good experience with the 6.0.

Thanks,
D.

Amid all of the debating between gas and diesel powered Excursions, all the misinformation and conjecture, I'll still stand by my first post which was simply a two year real world experience report in regards to a V-10 gas powered Excursion covering how well it performs and how enjoyable the ownership experience has been, especially for a purpose such as you mentioned. I too had a slight concern about the spark plug spitting issue but, as already mentioned, it is a relatively easy and permanent fix and realistically only affects a very small percentage of the Ford modular engines on the road. My only surprise was how much more the Excursions are bringing now as compared to a couple of years ago. Still, with a little looking, I think you can find a relatively low mileage V-10 Excursion for a reasonable price that will work well as per your stated needs. I'm sure that if you ask around, there aren't too many people displeased with their experience in the "X Club". Good luck and happy hunting!

 

[Builder]

I am thinking V-10 on the Excursion. I think the diesels out there are way over priced - especially with the potential liability in repairs. If I did take the plunge it would be a 7.3 - I have not talked to many that have had a good experience with the 6.0.

Thanks,
D.

I think you are on the right track.