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- Thread starter 77cruiser
- Start date
Chevelle_Nut
Shop Foreman
kmakar
Janitor
Damn right. I fell in love with the 73. IDI (completely bulletproof diesel), and then went to the 7.3 powerstroke, then to the problematic 6.0 (which I had bulletproofed), and the 6.0 I gave to my son, and she still runs like a raped ape.
Chevelle_Nut
Shop Foreman
A 6.0 is not problematic. My Excursion has been a great, reliable truck with now 182K on the clock and it is always pulling something behind it.
kmakar
Janitor
I worked my trucks hard (pulling 15k to 20k bobcat trailers and equipment), and she had issues with her head bolts expanding and letting the head gaskets blow, but with new ARP studs, and the EGR delete, she's a monster pulling machine that just won't quit.
Chevelle_Nut
Shop Foreman
I am still running stock bolts.
The main problem was the Ford Gold Coolant and silica dropping out. It would clog the EGR and oil coolers causing excess temps and when the EGR cooler rutured would flood the cylinders thus popping head gaskets. The 6.0L also had an issue with casting sand in the blocks.
The repair is to do a distilled flush (I used 15-20 gallons) and replace it with ELC Red. If you do the flush, replace the EGR cooler and oil cooler before adding the ELC. I have an IPR high flow EGR cooler and coolant filter and I replaced the oil cooler with the updated Ford cooler. My temps run within specs without issue and my coolant stays right where it needs to be in the degas bottle.
kmakar
Janitor
Is your 6.0 a later one (2006 or later)? In the early 6.0 (I had a 2004 built in late 2003) and those were the first gen and had all the issues. Mid to late 2005 they corrected the bolt issues. The oil cooler has always been an issue too. They get clogged and never get checked.
In the rebuild of my 6.0, I also had a coolant filter added and that gets changed at every oil change (well, my son has it now and he says he does it).
Chevelle_Nut
Shop Foreman
Mine is an 05 with an 05 engine, some early 05 Excursions had the 04 engine.
03 had decent EGR coolers, they changed the in 04 to the crappy design.
The oil cooler clogging was from the wrong coolant being used. Ford Gold was fine for 30,000 miles but needed to be changed, thus the failures. ELC coolant should have been put in from the start like the Navistar vehicles were equipped with, Ford wanted to sell their coolant.
I have a reusable coolant filter, very little debris is left in my system.
The other head gasket killer is tunes. Increase the head pressures with TTY bolts and there go the gaskets.
Just because you have a 6.0l doesn't necessarily mean it has to be bullet proofed. Maintenance is key. Actually the 6.0L is now one of the hottest selling Ford diesels. Faster and more powerful than a 7.3l. Pre DEF requirements and easier to work on.
Now a 6.4l, those things are junk.
03 had decent EGR coolers, they changed the in 04 to the crappy design.
The oil cooler clogging was from the wrong coolant being used. Ford Gold was fine for 30,000 miles but needed to be changed, thus the failures. ELC coolant should have been put in from the start like the Navistar vehicles were equipped with, Ford wanted to sell their coolant.
I have a reusable coolant filter, very little debris is left in my system.
The other head gasket killer is tunes. Increase the head pressures with TTY bolts and there go the gaskets.
Just because you have a 6.0l doesn't necessarily mean it has to be bullet proofed. Maintenance is key. Actually the 6.0L is now one of the hottest selling Ford diesels. Faster and more powerful than a 7.3l. Pre DEF requirements and easier to work on.
Now a 6.4l, those things are junk.
kmakar
Janitor
Never had a tune on mine, and she blew her gaskets at about 60k miles.
Since the bullet proof she's been fine. She's got about 100k since the rebuild.
The 6.4's were one of the worst Ford ever tried to bring in house and build. They fail at an early age and you can buy a 6.4 F250 for damn near nothing. They should have left it to International to build the engines.
Since the bullet proof she's been fine. She's got about 100k since the rebuild.
The 6.4's were one of the worst Ford ever tried to bring in house and build. They fail at an early age and you can buy a 6.4 F250 for damn near nothing. They should have left it to International to build the engines.
Chevelle_Nut
Shop Foreman
Ford and International had a falling out with the 6.0ls. Ford wanted the pickups to run a hotter tune and be more powerful yet cut corners on coolant filters, coolant and other items compared to the VT-365s. The 6.0 vans were not tuned as hot because of the engine bay design and did not have the head gasket issues. The high warranty claims were a falling out place. BUT a lot of 6.0L owners put power adders on causing issues.
People seem to think with diesels you can romp them to the floor, pull a 4 mile long 6% grade towing 15K and maintain speed. You can do it but the ECT, EOT and EGTs rise to dangerous levels. A 6.0L will defuel at 254 degrees EOT but long befor that you will be cooking the engine. High EGTs will also melt crap.
On mountains pulling the trailer I let the truck find its happy place, usually 45MPH and let her pull.
People seem to think with diesels you can romp them to the floor, pull a 4 mile long 6% grade towing 15K and maintain speed. You can do it but the ECT, EOT and EGTs rise to dangerous levels. A 6.0L will defuel at 254 degrees EOT but long befor that you will be cooking the engine. High EGTs will also melt crap.
On mountains pulling the trailer I let the truck find its happy place, usually 45MPH and let her pull.
I need an answer from one of you Diesel Doctors. My 2010-- 6.2 ( gas )--14 bolt rear ( heavy half) gets 9-- 11 M.P.G. towing my haulmark. We towed my Haulmark to the MCACN show in Chicago this year with my buddys Brand New 2020- Z-71 Duramax......... We got 9 M.P.G. at 70 MPH in cruise. My 1/2 ton with a 6.2 gas engine gets better milage. $70.000 grand and it gets 9 MPG towing........ Thats a WTF question. Bob
kmakar
Janitor
Well, that question should be pretty easy to answer (not really), but diesel engines do much better MPG at lower RPM. I'm betting his rig is setup with lower gear in the rear.
My F250 6.0 Powerstroke could haul my 5,000 lb trailer with my 10,000 lb bobcat (with all attachments) all day long and get 11.5 mpg, but I also limited her to 65 mph max. Unloaded she could get up to 14 mpg (if I was easy on her).
That must be with the 10speed. Are you towing in 10th?
Chevelle_Nut
Shop Foreman
New diesels are so quiet and powerful, nice trucks but they cost as much as a small house.
kmakar
Janitor
My son was thinking of selling the 2005 F250 6.0 I gave him and buy a new one, so I told him to go look at prices..... he damn near shit himself.
I told him the truck I gave you will last the rest of your life if you take care of it, and you can upgrade the look with a newer front end and bed.
All towing was in the " Tow/ Haul " mode. Not positive of the RPMs at all times while towing,,, BUT for $70.000 dollars this P O S should do better than 9 MPG. This Z-71 Diesel has all the Bells & Whistles but NO MILAGE. Bob
P.S. Between Pittsburgh, Pa. and Chicago ( MCACN ) show........... It is ALL " FLAT " NO hills to go along with NO milage!
Bob
P.S. Between Pittsburgh, Pa. and Chicago ( MCACN ) show........... It is ALL " FLAT " NO hills to go along with NO milage!
Bob