Need Advice on Ford 6.0 L Diesel

[CurlyDave]

I have a 2004 F250 with a 6.0 L Diesel. I bought it 3.5 years ago primarily to tow the toy hauler I camp in while hunting, a 10,000 lb dump trailer, and a recently acquired 18' flat bed with my JD 110 TLB on it. The last item is the most demanding, coming in at about 11,000 lb.

Despite having only about 85,000 miles, the truck has not been a model of reliability. I have had it towed either home or to a shop 6 times in the last 3 years. Every single time I have taken it hunting, it has been towed home which is over 125 miles. Problems have been: Turbo (1x), alternator/battery (2x) and fuel system/ injectors (3x).

It is currently in my garage after being towed home the last time. There are at least 2 bad injectors, possible high-pressure oil pump issues, and the turbo is showing a lot of side play.

The real question is do I keep it or get it running well enough to sell it and buy something else? If I keep it, it will take about $4-5k to replace one whole bank of injectors (the other side was replaced last year), a new high pressure oil pump, and a rebuilt turbo. I think I can get it running for about $2k.

Private party blue book is $16,500.

If I replace it, I would want something that is rated to tow at least 12,000#, 14,000# would be nice. Model year is not very important. Fuel economy is not really important, it is driven less than 10k miles per year. What is very important is reliability. I take it way out in the boonies--places where the tow trucks don't go. So far I have been lucky in that major breakdowns have been aces where tow trucks will come get me, but I don't think this will hold out forever.

My limited understanding is that the fuel injector and high pressure oil pump problems of the '03 & '04 model years were addressed, but not completely cured in the '05 and beyond model years, and a part of the $5k to repair if I keep it cost would be upgrades on these components.

So, how do my knowledgeable friends vote? Spend $2k on repairs and sell it. Add about $10 k and get a newer, more reliable truck, or can this truck be saved for about $5k?

 

[Jimbrown]

I don't know but I have an 06 with 96000 on it and it has never had a wrench turned on it except for oil and filters.

I have a friend with an 05 F350 dually and his has been just as reliable. Luck of the raw I guess.

 

[Morning Wood]

Get it running and dump it on a dealership.

 

[streamin]

get it running and sell it, I've heard too many bad stories on that truck

 

[ModMech]

The first years were actually the "best" in terms of reliability. No matter what, any performance enhancing modifications will make it WORSE. The injectors are pretty reliable, but they require good clean fuel and oil, extended services should be avoided at all costs. Since you bought it used, I suspect you are paying for the sins of others, time to rehome it.

 

[Raspy]

Dave,

That engine was part of the biggest warrantee disaster in Fords history. It led to a lawsuit and a court order between Navistar and Ford where Ford wanted Navistar to share responsibility for the problems, Navistar refused and tried to stop supplying the engines. Bla bla bla. You can read about the whole process that went on for a few years and started with the 6.0. You are seeing the problems first hand and why Ford has had to try to fix them over and over.

Some people claim they are wonderful and have no problems, but it puzzles me why anyone would take a chance on one when they have such a bad reputation. Ford loyalty is the only logical explanation. But that loyalty means YOU pay for all the repairs.

I understand there are fixes if you are willing to go through the process, but you might just cut your losses and get a 7.3 or consider a Cummins.

Sorry for your troubles, but do some research for yourself and decide if you want to keep whipping a dead horse.

 

[rankrank1]

Just like baseball, I am definitely a 3 strikes and you are out kinda guy and that thing is up to 6 strikes. Anything that can not be counted to make it a paltry 125 miles and back home is totally useless to me. Even my outdated, worn out junk can easily do that.

If you have not already encountered the scenario wait till you are pulling a trailer and that thing breaks down yet again. Many of the tow services will happily tow the truck but the trailer has to remain at the side of the road. Just how long do you think a nice trailer full of ATV's, your 110 TLB, or whatever the cargo happens to be will last sitting at the edge of the road unattended?

For your limited uses, I would strongly be looking at a late model gasser but that is me.

 

[groundcover]

I found a diesel specially shop that "debugged' our '03 rescue. He only deals with diesels ,knows them inside out and knows where the week spots are are in each model year. It can be saved and can be trouble free but you need the right guys on the wrench. Ours needed the turbo cleaned, egr delete, and an after market tune to deal with check engine light from the delete. She is a whole new truck now.
Comes down to do you want to find a competent shop and spend several thousand or get out of it.

 

[Egon]

The Rock & a Hard place. How to recoupe investment?

You might consider doing the proper repairs that are said to cure the problems. Then drive it but list it for sale at a higher price? It might require shopping around for competant shop that charges a little less than the dealer would.

Use the Internet to gain much more information as to what is required etc. Something you will be able to do better than most.

For an aside look for a 12 valve cumins before the electronics improvements. This is said in consideration of the yearly mileage and assuming you do not have to be the fastest truck on the street.

 

[Garandman]

IMHO traveling to remote locations is the tie breaker. If you can get it running well enough to get to the dealer for $2,000 and recoup $16.5 that sounds like a good course of action. FWIW my BIL is a farmer and Ford guy and the 6.0 is the only one he ever got rid of early.

FWIW we've been selling some used vans at work and the old For Sale sign in the back window has worked better than Craigslist! I used a work phone #. A private sale will almost always get you more than a trade in.