Hey guys, I'm coming into the diesel world and was wondering if you guys could give me some input on whether to buy this 6.0 or not.


It's a 6.0 with 202,000 miles with a 6" lift kit and 37" tires. I'm not worried about the way the truck looks but the way it performs as we all have heard stories about the dreaded 6.0.


He says it has been bulletproofed with the following new parts:
HPOP
IPR Valve
Glow Plugs
New Heads at 170,000
Head Gaskets
Full EGR Delete with Oil Cooler
Head Studs
FICUM


Is there anything else I should be concerned about? He said the injectors have never gave him any issues, but at 202,000 should I be worried?


Thank you!

 

Id be concerned with the transmission and the rest of the drivetrain ei: u joints, bearings etc. I know these transmissions arent as bad as they used to be like when they were attatched to the 7.3l but its still something to consider. Motor wise tho, it sounds like everything has been dealt with.

 

Here are the pictures he sent me of the receipts, anyone notice anything I should be concerned about?

 

Hi there and welcome to the forum.

So I examined the invoices.
Big bonus, gaskets are recently done. Nice too that the heads have been replaced but hope the reman manufacturers are respectable. Some reman can be badly done, but rare though. These heads are Known for imperfection, hence why shops exchange them, to have the perfect flatness.
Nice that the IPr and hpop are new too. EGR delete, AWESOME, good riddance, if it's stock cooler. Oil cooler done, very good.
One thing when they did the head gaskets is that, did they put arp head bolts? To me it doesn't look to be the case since the charge isn't in the $400 dollar range. But it's noticible if arps are used by looking just under the valve cover, if you see a big bolt head, it's stock, if you see a stud with a 12 point nut, that's the arp. So if it's stock, it's not to late, some guys can throw in arps in without re doing a head job. But one problem, it's to pull the bolts off on the passenger side at the rear. Guys either pull the cab off or pull the whole heater/ a/c core out (the big black box on the passenger side that is attach to the fire wall) this is a pain in the *** process but do able. I truly recommended it especially if your running a tuner.
Another thing is to bad, but not to serious, that there is nothing on replacing the oring on high pressure oil rail (Hpor) and the stand up pipes and dummy plug. This can prevent high pressure oil system (hops) leaks. Guys do this at the same time as head gaskets. But not to costly to do. The concern I say this now, is cause of the milage on the truck.
Now just question I would ask to the shop, mostly, is if on the hpop, did they install the updated stc fitting?
Questions to the owner, did he ever change the injectors ever on it? Was it new or remans? If reman, which company? Has he ever replaced the ficm or got it repaired? Anything done on the transmission? How often does he do oil changes with filter? How often on the fuel filters? These are just nice details to find out.
From here on, it's basically just really good maintenance. If you decide on the truck, I can give you details on that.

 

our fleet trucks at work are all fords. the 7.3 is the best the new 6.7 are good for now and the 6.4 I have no experience with. the 6.0 however is a money sucking black hole. the worst diesel engine ford ever made. the delete kits are there for a reason (how bout delete the engine). and the injectors are garbage. if you have no emotional attachment to the truck walk away and find an older 7.3 or newer 6.4 or 6.7. I have been left on the side of the road in three different states in a 6.0 for various reasons. the 7.3 and 6.7 so far have been reliable. especially the 7.3. just my experience.

 

I can tell you that the truck has the head studs and a new FICM. I just asked about the HPOP. He said the injectors and transmission are stock as they have never gave him any problem.


What maintaince are you suggesting? And what about the mileage concerns you?

Here's the main reason I Want the truck, is because of the looks

 

Bad *** truck for sure. How about this for a compromise.......buy the truck, ditch the 6.0 when it fails, and do a cummins engine swap and turn it into a FUMMINS! That is exactly what I would do.

 

Well I would make sure the head stud are not stock, you will have problem down the road, and will repeat a head gasket job.
My biggest concern, as tenneyshoo touch on, 6.0 can fail or run like crap at the moment you don't expect it. Generally because hops leaks, from old oring than can bust. There is oring everywhere, even in the injector, the oring inside can't be changed inside the injector either. But also with these injectors are oil operated, and they can collect oil deposits in it in time and cause the injector to no operate properly. BUT it make a big difference if the maintenance is done right. The big problem with these, is its a real pain the *** to diagnose because there are so many possibilities that it takes time to find the problem. Now with the high milage, these problems can be more likely to happen.

What helps to make the truck last, short interval oil changes with regular oil, like every 3k mile. But it better to run synthetics in a 5w-40 weight especially if you get weather below 50F, with a interval of no more 6k and a oil filter change in between that interval. And fuel filter change at 6k too, and using conditioner in the fuel too. And finally a good maintenance on batteries and cables, to keep the ficm in shape, and if at any moment the ficm falls below 45 volt, change it to save the injectors.
But as bigg redd said, if ever the truck give you issues or something craps out in the crank area. You can definitely do cummins swap. It's pricy but you ll have a heck of a truck that will really last a long time, but it's just an option if ever it comes to that.

 

Okay, the guy was pretty sure that all the orings were changed when they did the rebuild. I'm just not looking to buy a truck and then have to replace everything, cause this is going to be my daily driver. I am going to do the blue spring mod right away. It doesn't have gauges so I'll be installing them as well. I'm getting the truck for $15,500 what do you think about this price?

 

And I believe he does oil changes every 5000.