Last year I picked up a 03 crew cab lariat with a 6.0 which I love as a weekend work truck/daily driver /2nd kid hauler. I have some questions about it and am having some issues with it. This may get long winded so please bear with it.

When I got the truck I wasn't looking at 6.0 I wanted a 02/03 7.3 couldn't pass up on the deal though.

The truck has 220k on it and has been used hard but not abused it live most of its life down south but spent the last few working in oil fields in the north.

It had factory heads redone at 100k.
and egr delete at some point.
Ficm rebuilt then replaced at some point with a remanufactured one of a new style
turbo maintenance at 150k


When I got it striped the interior and swapped it out with one in better shape from wrecked 04.

I have since added water filter
Blue spring fuel pressure regulator
185 amp alternator
new battery's

Since I bought it has had a systemic oil leak coming from the back of the motor after some research I tracked this down to the ICP a few weeks ago I swapped it out. Reduced my river of oil down to a single just quarter size drop.

After the ICP change I ran the truck for 2 weeks ran great but fuel mileage went to crap went from 16-19 to 14 and no matter how soft I drive it won’t go above that.

Now I have the check engine light on and am throwing codes for IPR and ICP sensors

Truck runs fine but I feel like something is off I just can't place it. It does not run rough and starts after the 3-5 rev even in 30 degree weather.

I did not change the pig tail when I did the ICP sensor as I could not get any in timely manner. I have ordered a IPR screen/seal kit and a new pig tail for the ICP.

Which I'm hoping will fix the codes for the ICP and the IPR

The next issues is I'm throwing a code the #6 injector p0278 has been since I bought the truck. I have some Hot shots injector cleaner but never remember to through it in when I fill up. Should I get some oil additive like rev x and see if I can get the code to clear?

The 3rd issue I'm having is transmission/acceleration the transmission doesn't seem to want to lockup if on a hill and stop go from drive to reverse I have to wait 5-10 sec then slowly easy off the break till it engages. I describe as driving a manual and taking off on steep hill. and when it does engage it engages hard like late 70 auto tranny that you just mashed the petal to the floor on. The next issue is fine acceleration if I want just little bit of accel so that I don't slip the tires on soft/muddy surface. I'll ease into but we won't go any were I feel the truck tighten up but we don't go so ill give it a little more then all of a sudden without me move the pedal it acts like just stomped on it is this a 6.0 trait? Because my 7.3's don't act like this.

So Now that I talked about the current issues I want ask about some future stuff.

I need a reliable nice to drive truck that I can use a daily driver and weekend warrior I also need a truck that make a 16 hour drive pulling a trailer and not feel like some has beat me with a 2x4 across my back or leaves me exhausted just from trying to get the truck pointed straight. I have looked at new/used 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons but I can't justify the price best price I have come up with is 40-48k to get less features then what my 03 has as I don't need a 3/4 ton there is nothing I do that 1/2 would get the job done and if I really need it I have 1 ton dually I can use.

For 40k I can build a really nice truck out of mine. Since my motor has 220k on it is it worth putting gauges tunner ficm studs etc. I believe that there should be no reason you can’t get half a million miles out of a diesel. I have a 7.3 long block with 75k on but it needs to be built out before it goes in to a truck and have quite a bit of experience with the 7.3 but since getting a 6.0 I have come to appreciate the 6.0’s smoothness quietness etc. My other option is to go with a Cummings I bought a 03 dodge just for that purpose but sold it before I even got it off the trailer. So should I build out/bullet proof my 220k m 6.0, run it till it dies and see if I can find a newer truck or should I start prepping for a swap just to be safe?

 

Change the icp pigtail and check the key on engine off icp sensor voltage, should be between .18 and .24. Was the icp oem. As for milage if you have an injector problem it will defiantly contribute, but 1st. Clean the iat2, maf, map sensors and see if milage improves.

 

I pulled the IPR and the screen had a dozen are so pieces of metal on it and the seals were in rough shape. I'm glad I ordered the seal kit for it.


The ICP was not an OEM I pulled it and it was packed full of oil and the pig tail pretty much disintegrated by the time I fished it out. The original ICP the plastic broke in my hand before even got it unplugged. I ordered a new OEM ICP sensor.


My next quest is wheels and tires didn't realize how bad they were getting till I was crawling under it this weekend.

 

Being an 03, if the metal flakes in IPR screen are brass, then the HPOP is failing and will lockup causing immediate shut down. Careful.

 

if you are seeing brass in your ipr screen the scroll plate and the pistons in the pump
are damaged.