Like what was stated, this is an issue for ALL engines. Not just the 6.0L Diesel. :santa:

 

All diesels with EGR and a DPF yes.

 

Did you make the decission?

I have the similar question. Currently I am looking at purchasing a used truck. I have narrowed my decission down to two trucks in my area.
1. 2006 F250 PSD w/70K miles - locally owned in my area (northern Virginia) - only modification I know of is Banks exhaust
2. 2004 F150 5.4L w/20K miles (no joke). Owned by an older guy that didnt drive it much due to having a company truck. I have not seen this truck as it is found on the internet but with in 5 hrs of me.

Both trucks are almost same price. The 250 has some original warranty on it still + extended warranty sold from dealer which is known to be good on them.
I dont know about the 150 and warranties. Any aftermarket warranty to be questioned as I dont have expirence with them. Reading these forums it seems Ford may have warranted the engine for 100K miles (any # of years?).

I dont tow much of anything, just got a desiel bug too and both trucks almost same price is why I would choose this F250, otherwise they normally cost too much for me. Not sure about regular maint. on the F250 compared the to 150. I know its more but not sure how much it will impact my money.

Any suggestions? Anything that would shy away from a 2004 with 20K miles? Could this truck not have enough miles to say if its going to be a problem child with plugs, brakes or anything else?

Thanks in advance

 

If the 250 still has a warranty and its a factory extended warranty then its most likely good to 75k. All the ones I've dealt with before were 6yr/75k, unless they've changed it. The engine is covered under a 5yr/100k warranty from the inservice date. If the bumper to bumper has run out then each warranty claim on the engine will cost you a $100 deductable.


The maintenance on the diesel will be higher than the 5.4L. Figure 2 fuel filters to change plus the engine holds 14 qts of oil. To do an oil change and fuel filter change can easily be $300.

 

I too am in northern VA and traded my 08 f150 king ranch for a 2006 f350 diesel about 3 months ago...i am so happy i did. I love this truck

 

You don't need a diesel.

Diesels are meant to be worked and heavily used. Treating them like a gas engine causes issues. Even in some applications, gas engines are better.

 

Well let me chime in, since I'm the resident truck driver and lurker of the board.

Diesels will run fine weather you have a load on them or not. There are somethings they don't like and you will need to make sure are done on time.

1. They don't like to run cold. Let them warm up, a big mother of an engine like mine only takes 15 minutes to get to operating temp, maybe more, maybe less with a 250.

2. Its not kind to the engine to idle. There not designed to idle, they like to work, (turning rpm's) however idling is something sometimes you cant avoid.

3. Maintenance. On time, no excuses. Failure to maintain any vehicle weather diesel or gas will kill it. Plain and simple. Do the maintenance and take care of her, she will last over a million miles or more.

Now my piece of advice for anyone looking to buy a diesel engine. Wait for a few years. All this new EPA crap they are putting into the engines and exhaust for 2010 are bound to have issues for a while. Wait at lease a year to see how it all plays out.

 

I agree with Madlux on most points and will add one more VERY important point. If you live anywhere in the country where the temps get very low (below 20 degrees F.) for any length of time, use a diesel additive such as Power Service Cetane Boost ($17 worth treats 250 gallons) or add K-1 (kerosene) to the fuel to prevent gelling. Diesel fuel that turns to Jello doesn't work. That's part of my winter maintenance (watching the thermometer).

 

I have some questions for you...

1. Do you do scheduled preventative maintenance on time... every time?
Yes: Diesel
No: Stay Gasser
2. Do you like to rev your engine as soon as you start the vehicle?
Yes: Stay Gasser
No: Diesel (diesel only hates idling, and reving when cold)
3. Do you like to accelerate quickly to stay ahead of traffic, and still maintain good MPG?
Yes: Stay Gasser
No: Diesel (best MPG come from patient acceleration)
4. Do you want the best MPG and towing capability a truck can offer?
Yes: Diesel
No: Stay Gasser
5. Do you have readily available diesel fuel stations in your area?
Yes: Diesel (sometimes it is hard to find diesel in certain areas)
no: Stay gasser
6. Do you love the sound of a diesel engine?
Yes: Diesel (it's comforting dunno why just is)
No: Stay Gasser
7. Are you concerned about fuel prices going up again, but still need the towing?
Yes: Diesel
No: Stay Gasser
8. Do you save a couple thousand dollars for emergency repairs that happen once in a great while?
Yes: Diesel (they do not break often, but when they do... ouch is all I have to say.)
No: Stay Gasser (they break often and cost a couple hundred dollars and that's usually it)
9. Do you believe in taking a leap of faith?
Yes: Diesel (I was in your shoes 4 years ago, I knew how to work on gas engines, and had no knowledge of diesels, and I will not be going back anytime soon.)
No: Stay Gasser
10: Do you have a diesel mechanic in the area?
Yes: Diesel
No: Stay Gasser. (decent deisel mechanics are hard to find. This is something you will usually have to have done at a dealer every time unless you get to know a local mechanic that works on diesels. You know the old saying 'A good mechanic is hard to find?' Well a good diesel mechanic, not affiliated with a dealer, is even harder to find.)

-Vycan

 

One other thing - when you tuck your baby diesel on those cold nights - don't forget to plug in the block heater and remember to UNPLUG it in the morning. It will heat up a lot quicker that way.

 

Yupp I have already had the yellow snake follow me out of the driveway once this winter.

 

I was reading along
When I read,

[QUOTE=dsq3973;4028919] Yupp I have already had the yellow snake follow me out of the driveway once this winter.[/QUOTE/]

Than I laughed my a44 off!

 

I test drove a 2005 F-250 Harley Davidson with 83,000 miles on it day before yesterday. Wow what a nice driving truck. However, it would require a lot of detail to make me happy with the looks. The tires are worn out and it has scratches etc all over it. They are asking $27,000 for the truck. That seems a little high. My 2000 Harley F-150 handles much better because of the wider tires and the lower suspension and is in excellent condition (but can only tow 4,000lbs). This whole deal has me confused and PO'd. The Dodge is a pos with a tremendous engine, while the Ford a really nice truck with bad rep for the engine. I guess I should listen to my oldest son who is a diesel mechanic for KLLM. He has an F-150 4x4, 5.4 and just rolls his eyes when I ask him what would be best. A friend in DC tells me that the EPA is going to stick it to owners of older diesel trucks, by mandating retrofiting some exhaust equipment for older trucks or forcing them to pay an annual fee. Shi#, maybe I should just buy a @#$%ing prius and covert it to an elcamino.

 

John, what you need is a F-250 with a V-10 gasser or a new F-150 with the max tow package.