6.0 Purchasing Help

[hardrail]

Gentlemen,
I’m in the market for a Super Duty. Kind of in the middle where I want the newer style body but can’t afford anything 2006+ but don’t really want anything older than 2002 (body wear, etc). That leaves me in the 2003-2005 year range that seems to be the best combination of price and mileage. As I’m aware, these trucks came with the 6.0 liter. I’m pretty well versed in gasoline engines but pretty new to the diesel game. It seems like I can’t read an article anywhere, or a post on any forum where someone isn’t bashing this engine.
I don’t plan on doing any mods to the truck. The question I have is, if I buy a 2003-2005 with a 6.0 liter, do I really have to have serious concerns about the truck’s reliability. I’m surprised that Ford didn’t correct any issues with this motor after the 2003 launch. If owners had issues, did they not correct them in 2004,2005? The specs on this motor look great, but I don’t want to have to worry every day of it malfunctioning… Were they THAT bad a design?

[diablos30]

Originally Posted by hardrail

Gentlemen,
I’m in the market for a Super Duty. Kind of in the middle where I want the newer style body but can’t afford anything 2006+ but don’t really want anything older than 2002 (body wear, etc). That leaves me in the 2003-2005 year range that seems to be the best combination of price and mileage. As I’m aware, these trucks came with the 6.0 liter. I’m pretty well versed in gasoline engines but pretty new to the diesel game. It seems like I can’t read an article anywhere, or a post on any forum where someone isn’t bashing this engine.
I don’t plan on doing any mods to the truck. The question I have is, if I buy a 2003-2005 with a 6.0 liter, do I really have to have serious concerns about the truck’s reliability. I’m surprised that Ford didn’t correct any issues with this motor after the 2003 launch. If owners had issues, did they not correct them in 2004,2005? The specs on this motor look great, but I don’t want to have to worry every day of it malfunctioning… Were they THAT bad a design?

walk away then, because you do have to address some issues to have a reliable rig.

[hardrail]

Originally Posted by diablos30

walk away then, because you do have to address some issues to have a reliable rig.

That's disappointing. Very disappointing. Sigh...

[diablos30]

yes and no, at least we are all well versed in the problems and their fixes.

[D-Wayne's F350]

biggest issues are the head gaskets/studs and egr delete. if you really want one buy one with the problems already fixed.....like mine, its for sale

[spikinfool05]

some have problems some dont got 90000 on mine with no major issues. lot of it in my opinion has to do with care. my girlfriend says i spend more time on my truck(s) than her. haha. but what ever you buy used its a risk. if ya can find a low milage 6.0 id say go for it. then do a coolant filter and oil bypass of your choice and run synthetic oil. then maybe do the coolant flush to get the ford stuff out. good luck with your choice and welcome to the org.