Hey there I'm new to the diesel world and I would like some help picking out a truck. My budget is between 10,000 - 20,000 and if we can stay away from 20k that would be great. I know I want a ford, but the question I have is what years to stay away from and what motors. I know the 7.3 is a beast but you can only get the 7.3 in early models. My main dilemma is I like the newer body styles being that of 2005-2008 (I only say 08 as they are in my price range), and these trucks only come with the 6.0 which everyone seems to say to stay away from. I was wanting to know what all the "bulletproofing" does and if I can find a truck with a bulletproofed motor if it's worth buying. Along with all this I know this is a dumb thing to say with trucks but I wouldn't mind getting something with decent gas mileage as I hear people talking about getting anywhere from 18-20 MPG and I would love to get that. In summing up this cluster I would like a truck that's a tank and gets good mileage and to see if that is possible with my price range. If that means I have to get away from ford I might make the sacrifice haha

Thanks for any comments I might receive in advanced!

 

90% of the problems in a 6.0 is EGR and head gaskets. You can fix those with an EGR delete and headstuds. Once you do those they are a good engine as well.

 

I have heard that it is better to get an EGR cooler rather than a delete is that true?

 

Deleting is better regardless of what motor. The problem now days is that if you have to pass emissions you cant. Deleting is better because you stop pumping exhaust back into the motor and the motor gets to breathe nice clean air. This also helps keep soot from building up in the turbo. If you cant delete then get a better aftermarket EGR cooler. If you are stuck on a 6.0 then go for the later ones. They had most of the bugs worked out by the time they replaced it. If you like that body style I would say go for a 99-2002 7.3. You could always swap front sheet metal to an 06 style.