Powerstroke 6.0 really that bad?

R

Razmiblackz28

Club Member
Upgrading a 2002 Suburban to a better tow vehicle, it struggles with the open car trailer, and would like to keep the interior room of a full-size SUV. Bouncing between a newer Suburban (bigger brakes, more hp) and a Diesel Excursion.

Newer Suburban, good truck, I know that.

As for the 6.0 Diesel Excursion. Reading online posts about how crappy the 6.0 is I'm surprised to see most of them have 200,000 miles.

Are 6.0 powerstroke engines really that bad? Not looking for high hp, stock levels are fine.
 
They are good motors is maintained well, delete the EGR and put head studs in. The headgaskets are on borrowed time stock power or not
 
^Yep, and head studs are big dollars.
There are guys that love them and claim to have had no problems, but 90% of those guys are Ford mechanics and bought them with problems then did a bunch of work to make them right. After studs, gaskets, egr delete, DPF delete, etc....they're not bad, lol.
Oh, they do have trans issues as well.
 
try looking for an Excursion /Club Wagon with a Triton V10 6.8L I had one in my Club Wagon and pulled a 33 foot 8,000 lb travel trailer
(NO PROBLEM ) with 310 HP 425 TQ
 
if you want a excursion get one from out of state they had bad rust issues, you can find high mile rust free ones cheap down south
 
moneypit said:
if you want a excursion get one from out of state they had bad rust issues, you can find high mile rust free ones cheap down south
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where are the problem rust areas?
V10 are cheap and easy to find, just surprised to see so many 6.0 high miles out there. Kinda hoping it's the F250 tuner guys blowing them, but then again how many are off the road now.

Southern hunt begins.
 
Razmiblackz28 said:
where are the problem rust areas?
V10 are cheap and easy to find, just surprised to see so many 6.0 high miles out there. Kinda hoping it's the F250 tuner guys blowing them, but then again how many are off the road now.

Southern hunt begins.
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Frames , rear doors,
 
Aren't the rear doors plastic?
Frame looked ok, some rust but not bad from what I could see.

The owner said he deleted the egr by welding in freeze plugs and used a programmer to turn off the light.

Runs out very strong, surprisingly strong actually. No boost gauge, no black smoke, smooth idle. Really liked it. Would I be buying a moneypit?
 
I had a 2004 Harley F250 and loved it. The real issue is that everything is big $$$$ when it breaks. The batteries going bad can damage the FICM (fuel injection control module) which can trash injectors ($250 each). The HPOP (high pressure oil pump) had some issues, the head gaskets and heads had some issues. You have to be careful when you pull the heads, inspect the valve seat area for cracks. You can do heads and head studs without pulling the cab but if you have access to a hoist, lifting the cab isnt really that bad of a job.
 
I have owned a few of them and have always had good luck with the 6.0 engine I'm not afraid of them mine where all trucks tho but I dont think that makes a difference, I will say tho all of mine were head studded and egr deleted, before they ever had issues I did it for a piece of mind and safety I personally think the earlier ones are better 03 04 05 but I also think there are some good ones and bad ones just depends how it was maintained and driven, as for trany issues I haven't had any or no of any except for 04 years had a faulty snap ring that could give out and break the case , also if you are going to buy one I recommend looking at it real close before you buy it or have some that knows them go with you cuz a lot of people throw a big tuner on them and blow the head gaskets and don't even know it just be careful not everyone is truthful when it comes to vehicles sales
 
Find you a Suburban with the 8.1 engine it.
Gas mileage was 12 empty or loaded, but that was with 4.10 gears in a 3/4 ton 4x4 truck. With the suburban you will get better with the 3.73 gears.
 
Head gaskets themselves are fine, the reason the head gaskets go is from coolant getting into the cylinders and pushing the gasket out; this happens from the EGR cooler leaking coolant internally. Typically this is from the coolant boiling inside the cooler an cracking it, this happens from the factory coolant reservoir cap not holding pressure like it should on the system. Change the coolant and the reservoir cap, remove the EGR and cooler, do the o-rings on the high side oil pressure manifolds and the hi press pump out let fitting upgrade and you'll have minimal concerns.
 
igotaneed4speed said:
Head gaskets themselves are fine, the reason the head gaskets go is from coolant getting into the cylinders and pushing the gasket out; this happens from the EGR cooler leaking coolant internally. Typically this is from the coolant boiling inside the cooler an cracking it, this happens from the factory coolant reservoir cap not holding pressure like it should on the system. Change the coolant and the reservoir cap, remove the EGR and cooler, do the o-rings on the high side oil pressure manifolds and the hi press pump out let fitting upgrade and you'll have minimal concerns.
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After all this though, the valve cover mounted FICM module can still burn out and then take some injectors out, while leaving you stranded.

My opinion: Do not bother with the 6.0, unless you don't mind it riding a flatbed now and then. In my opinion, a diesel truck should be reliable. These are NOT.
 
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