I have been cruising about 10-12 various diesel forums for several years, I tend to read more than I post because there are so many trolls and internet ninjas hanging around anymore. I am an old crotchity fart. I type with two fingers and I try to make complete sentences, which makes it frustrating to keep repeating the same information. I hate telling new people to use the search function but it does have merit.

The 6.0 is a fussy engine, you have to do the maintenance. If you want to go 10000mi between oil changes this is not the one for you.

It seems to help if you luck out with a middle of the week engine. Apparently the people at the engine plant partied hard on the weekend, they couldn't think of anything else on Friday and were still hammered on Monday. Some of these trucks run without any issue some suck from day one stock and seem that they can not be fixed.

We now know certain facts about the 6.0.

Use stock oil filters and good oil (use the search function the oil discussions go on and on)
Use stock fuel filters, change them often.
Keep the stock airbox and filter, spend the money somewhere else.
Get a good 4in exhaust, lose the cat. lose the muffler-keep the muffler, stacks its your choice. You don't need a 5in exhaust.
They must be studded.
The heads must be flat or properly machined flat. New does not mean flat.
EGR has to go.
Oil cooler replaced.
Coolant flushed and replaced with better.
Coolant filter.
You need some guages

Now contact any of the reputable SCT tune writers and tell them what you want out of your truck, they will set you up with a SCT tuner and some custom tunes for your truck. This is hands down the best way to go on the 6.0. It is the only one that is written for you and your truck and it is the only one that programs your transmission. SCT is also the only tuner that will support any further mods you make. (turbo, twins, bigger injectors ect.)

This has been proven to give you a reliable engine that will be a ton of fun to drive.
If you tow get a tow tune.
If you want to get good MPG get a race tune.

This will put you at around a honest 420rwhp. after that more power on this engine means more money, alot more money!

Oh and my truck? Its a 2003 it has 150000. miles on it, I've ran Erics Extreme Race as my daily tune for almost 70000 of that. It started out as a farm truck hauling cattle, hay and chopper wagons with 10-15 ton of silage around the farm. now that I retired from farming it just pulls a 36 ft fifthwheel camper and gets me around.
I've replaced 1 injector and a torn turbo hose. It still has the stock headbolts, the egr and oil cooler are still untouched as are the original batteries and coolant. I did change the exhaust- 4in coolduals no cat no muffler. When I put the tuner on it I got all giddy and went for a ride thinking I'd put the guages on after...they are still around here somewhere! Go figure.

 

thought i'd throw in my 2 cents worth. If you got a 6.0 that actually runs good with no problems, don't mess with it. Sell it (If you can find a buyer) before you have to mortgage your house to keep it out of the ford house every week.

 

Well...Thank You Mr. Helper!!!

 

I'm sorry, did you have a question? Or anything useful to add to this discussion?

 

Banks 6 gun??? What a joke hahahahahahahaha Are they gonna help you when you fry your tranny?

Eric has his own race 6.0 That he tunes and studies on a all that good stuff, which was actually the first 6.o to break some record, i can't think of what it is at the moment but i think he tuned it with a ..... wait a second..... here it comes..... ah yes you guessed it! An SCT

I'd line my Piece of poop 6.0 up against your 12v anyday buddy.... You sir, sound like an idiot