I am looking at a 2003 f250 with a 6.0. Its an XLT crew cab 4x4 with 111k for $14k. My question is should i go for it or not? I understand this is kind of difficult to figure out without seeing the truck. All i have done so far is see it on the website and driving by it. I have not stopped to look at it yet. I have however done a bit of reading on the different forums about this motor and im a bit concerned but still interested. I currently have a 95 f150 supercab with a 5.8 4x4 that i would trade in with 178k. I am not made out of money so the different egr delete kits and other things have a hefty price tag on them but i do not mind tearing into myself. The other thing is i do not know much about diesels compared to gas motors. The end result that i would like is to convert to biodiesel and make my own. Any thoughts to this and how would the 6.0 like it? I have read about checking the degas bottle and different other spots for coolant leakage and the carfax report. Where is the degas bottle located? Is this the coolant overflow bottle? Will the carfax show if the truck has had recalls/repairs made to it and what they are? I have never seen a report really.
The problem Im running into is I really like my f150 but i will be moving to the other side of the country during the summer. So the plan is to tow my wife's car and have the family in the truck. I have always wanted a diesel and would really like a 7.3 but I saw this truck and now the wheels are turning. i dont know if i really want another car payment but in the end I believe it will pay off. Plus how much longer does my current truck have and I want to make it crosscountry without an issue. Gas mileage is a big deal to me as well hence why i am considering the veggie fuel.
Sorry for the long post. This is a big deal and i want to make the best choice all around and not get stuck with a problem child. I have read that once you get past the different egr/coolant issues these trucks are great and can last many years which is great to me. I am interested in hearing what everyones experiences are so let the games begin.
Thanks.
heres the website. Sorry if this is not allowed to post here.
http://pinnacleautosalesnc.com/Defau...rolKey=Details

 

Well, you are gonna have all the internet know it alls put down the 6.0L, but if you put money into the known problems off the bat, you'll have a solid rig that will run circles around a 7.3L. I preferred to skip all that and go with a 6.4L.

Carfax won't show the engine work at a Ford dealer like an Oasis report will.

Adrianspeeder

 

Adrianspeeder, you've got both the 6.4 and 7.3. Which do you like better and why? This might help him out with his decision, and I'm just plain old curious as well.

 

Thanks for the replies. Where can you get an oasis report from? Is this something the used car dealer can provide or do i need to go to a ford dealership?

 

You can get the Oasis at a ford dealership, they should give it to you. If i were you i would look at the 7.3's. 2003 was the first year of the 6.0. I just got a 7.3 and that thing has some ***** , or maybe im just use to my 5.4 in my supercrew

 

if you dont have alot to spend id reccomend not getting a diesel unless you get a steal on one. theyre expensive no matter how you look at it.

you need to check the health of the oil cooler before you buy it as that is key to keeping the motor alive and running right. this will require you buy or borrow a gauge device like and edge insight or a scangaugeII.

egr delete are around 250 new oil cooler is 300 range coolant is around 50 plus water for flushing along with other misc things needed when you replace them. that and preventative things like gauges (300-500) and coolant filter (130).

basically if your budget is tight id highly recommend getting a gauge tool before purchasing one.

that and if your planning biodiesel home brew you might be best off getting a 7.3. 6.0 injectors are very picky and not cheap

 

7.3L = old school dumb diesel block with a bit of a brain for the PSD's. Great reliability, but not the best with efficiency. Best sounding diesel I think. I'll keep mine for ever, just move 'er around enough too keep things lubed. Not a fan at all of the 4R100 tranny though, wish mine was a six gun.

6.4L = close cousin of the high tech 6.0L design, but simpler fuel system, VGT system, beefy *** headbolts, big boost duel turbo design, not too bad to deativate the stupid emissions controls and add power with tuning. Works really well with the six speed. Won't get rid of that truck either.

Interesting 4 part video stacking all the PSD's up in a line.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_dha...eature=related

Adrianspeeder

 

Here's my opinion.

1. If you don't have a much money to work with don't buy a diesel just the care and feeding of one of them is expensive. I do my PM's my self just to save some cash by not taking it to the dealer.

4 gallons of Rotella 15W-40 Triple T oil at 15.99/gallon. (changed every 5k)
2 Fuel filters at about 40-50 per set. (changed every 10k)
The oil filter I put in my truck yesterday was $36.

2. HP ain't cheap and you gotta pay to play with diesels, if the motor goes boom they are pretty expensive to fix. A head gasket job on a 6.0 is around $5,000 from start to finish. The EGR delete was just under 1,000 installed on my truck because you have to take the turbo, inter-cooler pipes, change an up-pipe coming off the exhaust manifold, and remove the intake off to do the job plus the new intake gaskets.

3. Don't run Biodiesl, you will have to tear apart the entire fuel system and replace every rubber seal, hose, and O-ring with silicone because BD is a great solvent and you will soon have a leaking fuel system because the BD eat all the seals. Not to mention going broke changing fuel filters because it's going break all the crud lose in the tank and fuel system and plug the filters. If you plug the filters and starve the injectors for fuel get out your wallet because they are about $250/per plus labor to change them. The last time I had two done it was almost a cool 1,000 for the entire job.

With that said, do I love my diesel? Hell yeah!! Will I drive anything else? Not if I have anything to say about it. Am I on borrowed time with my head gaskets and transmission running a tune? Yupp, but I grin like a 5 year old at Christmas every time I get on it.

 

HOLY GEEZ , i just got the oil changed on my 7.3 and my motorcraft filter was $9.97 and 15 quarts of Rotella oil all came too 62 bucks out the door

 

I just went and looked at the receipt and it was $33.90 with tax for a NAPA Gold filter.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...(P_RecType%3aA)

Here's the one for your truck.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...(P_RecType%3aA)

 

Is the napa gold filter that much better than the motorcraft? Just wondering, if it is i will be going to one.

 

They work well in my truck, I've had no problems with them and for what it cost's for new injectors I don't mind paying more for filters. I am pretty sure they are made by WIX for NAPA. I really need to spend the money for a Blackstone oil testing since the oil had a little more of fuel smell to it than usual this time and the filter was extremely dirty this time.

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

 

Blackstone agrees that my Motorcraft filters are doing a great job, so I stick with them.

If you're short on money, you really need to reconsider your options. Diesel or not, heavy duty trucks take expensive heavy duty parts. Need tires? Yeah, that total is gonna have a comma in it. Ball joints? $300ish in parts alone. Wheel bearings? Discount parts are $200 ish, per side, part only. Transmission? $2000+. With 120K on the truck, it is probably going to be needing most or all of those soon (other than the tranny, I dunno how long the 5r lasts).

 

Thanks to all who replied. I think that I will look for a 7.3. Really i have been uneasy about this whole entire thing but I do believe that in the long run it would be better just to keep what i have. I have been through hell and back with the truck I have now and I know it better than the back of my hand. I would hate to start off with a clean slate. So I was pretty curious. I had done a good bit of research and knew about the parts being expensive but I like to hope. Plus a bunch of my buddies at work have them as well. Some take better care of them than others and it shows but still its amazing to see a big truck rolling coal pulling a trailer with a car on it. Unbelievable power.
Thanks again.

 

I like to make a little puff of black comin' off the line, but solid rollin' coal is nothin' but unburned fuel goin' straight from the tank to the air. $$$.

Adrianspeeder