Honest opinion - 03 Excursion, 6.0, 36,500 miles

[msvance]

Good Evening. I am looking for an excursion. i found the perfect '03 with only 36,500 original miles but it has 6.0. I am getting overwhelmed with responses of people saying the engine is great if you maintain it and others avoiding it like the plague.

I am going to buy it tomorrow so I was hopefully looking for some quick feedback. i would like your honest opinion. I am trying to get the Oasis report which i am waiting for. below is the Carfax. Seller is 2nd owner and said he has had no problems, but also it hasn't been driven much. i am a little concerned with the Carfax and frequent "Drivability/performance checked & Engine checked" from the first owner. Kind of odd that most of them are spaced out about the frequency of an oil change though. I would like your honest thoughts on the 6.0 and this report - should pull the trigger or keep holding out for 7.3? BTW, i found a similar '02 7.3 w/ 85,000 miles for about the same price.

Owner 1
Purchased: 2003
Type: Corporate
Where: North Carolina
Est. miles/year: 4,185/yr
Est. length owned: 11/26/03 - 3/17/09
(5 yrs. 3 mo.)



Low mileage! This owner drove less than the industry average of 15,000 miles per year. Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
04/14/2003 NICB Vehicle manufactured
and shipped to original dealer
04/17/2003 6 Crossroads Ford Lincoln Mercury of Morganton
Morganton, NC
828-584-4600
Ford LINCOLN Mercury Morganton Asheville Hickory Dealer Crossroads Ford NC Hickory Used Car Dealer Ford Dealership Ford Service Morganton, NC
ww.crossroadsflm.co
m State inspection completed
08/15/2003 Dealer Inventory
North Carolina Vehicle sold
08/18/2003 Bob Dunn Ford
Greensboro, NC
336-275-9761
www.bobdunnford.net State safety inspection completed
09/11/2003 Ford Motor Company Manufacturer recall issued
Recall # 03E04
NON-CALIFORNIA CERTIFIED VEHICLES WITH CALIFORNIA
VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL INFORMATION

Locate an authorized Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealer or call 866-436-7332 to obtain more information about this recall
11/26/2003 Bob Dunn Ford
Greensboro, NC
336-275-9761
www.bobdunnford.net Vehicle sold
11/26/2003 297 North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Randleman, NC Odometer reading reported
First owner reported
Registered as
corporate vehicle
11/04/2004 4,357 Bob Dunn Ford
Greensboro, NC
336-275-9761
www.bobdunnford.net Engine checked
08/23/2005 7,935 Bob Dunn Ford
Greensboro, NC
336-275-9761
www.bobdunnford.net Drivability/performance checked
Engine checked
02/28/2006 11,644 Bob Dunn Ford
Greensboro, NC
336-275-9761
www.bobdunnford.net Drivability/performance checked
Engine checked
03/16/2006 North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Randleman, NC
Title #776304033506019 Registration issued or renewed
Passed safety inspection
04/05/2006 12,218 Bob Dunn Ford
Greensboro, NC
336-275-9761
www.bobdunnford.net Engine checked
07/11/2006 13,069 Bob Dunn Ford
Greensboro, NC
336-275-9761
www.bobdunnford.net Drivability/performance checked
03/19/2007 North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Randleman, NC
Title #776304033506019 Registration issued or renewed
Passed safety inspection
09/17/2007 16,401 Bob Dunn Ford
Greensboro, NC
336-275-9761
www.bobdunnford.net Brakes checked
01/21/2008 17,693 Bob Dunn Ford
Greensboro, NC
336-275-9761
www.bobdunnford.net State safety inspection completed
Maintenance inspection completed
Drivability/performance checked
Steering/suspension checked
Computer reprogrammed
03/12/2008 North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Randleman, NC
Title #776304033506019 Registration issued or renewed
Passed safety inspection



Owner 2
Purchased: 2009
Type: Personal
Where: Georgia
Est. length owned: 3/17/09 - present
(2 yrs. 2 mo.)


Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
03/17/2009 Georgia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Evans, GA Vehicle purchase reported
03/31/2009 20,084 Georgia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Evans, GA
Title #770010090900070 Title issued or updated
New owner reported
Vehicle color noted as White
02/11/2010 Georgia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Evans, GA
Title #770010090900070 Registration issued or renewed
Vehicle color noted as White
02/23/2011 Georgia
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Evans, GA
Title #770010090900070

[HAM_RADIO_MAN]

For my money I would say that the 7.3 hasn't even been broken in yet. I like the 5r110 transmission with the 6.oh. You will have better performance with the 6.0, however the 7.3 is likely to cost you less in the long run in both money and frustration.

[Lilpooh]

Get a hold of a GOOD scan tool that will read EOT and ECT. This will tell you if you'll be putting money into it right away. This link will help explain that's going on.
Things to consider about owning a 6.0L

[msvance]

Any thoughts on the frequent trips to the dealer by the original owner which shows up as ""Drivability/performance checked & Engine checked" on carfax? think it could just have been oil change? The current owner states he has had no issues asnd had full 30k tune-up right at 30k.

so baically i just need to check with the scan tool "If those temps get more than 15* apart with normal cruising when at normal operating temperature your oil cooler is clogging up.". What is normal operating temp?

Also, based on the article another thing i am concerned about due to low miles is "Don't let it sit either. That is also the kiss of death to the turbo. The unison ring rusts up and again you have turbo problems. "


thanks again for the quick feedback.......

[Lilpooh]

The frequent dealer issue could be anything, this is where the Oasis report will give more detail on.

Normal operating ECT is up at 190*

[sinner6.0L]

pick the good engine or the good tranny

you can't have both unfortunately

[msvance]

anyone have the ability to run oasis report? VIN# 1FMSU45P83EC96401. i posted a couple of places and waiting on response.

Thanks

[msvance]

talked with local dealer and they ran oasis for me. report indicated the followin

8/05 - replaced injector
2/06 - y-pipe
2/06 - exhaust pressure sensor
3/06 - rear main seal
3/06 - rear main cranckcase seal
7/06 - replaced turbo assembly
9/07 - replaced short block

no reports since then. i took it to the dealer and had them inspect it and they said that everything looks good on it.

sounds like it had origianl issues but nothing since then besides new ac. not sure if they did anything with oil cooler or coolant system. if i got it i would do the coolant & delete fix immediately.

if this work was performed are there increase risks for additiona lproblems? Also, does oasis report show work performed out of warranty at a dealership? Just wondering if all the issues ended in 07 because all the issues were fixed or if they ended because it was no longer under warranty?

Thanks again for all the feedback.

[tuckman]

I am getting buried in debt with my 6.0! Head gaskets, ficm X2, 8 injectors and now a hpop (still didn't cure the problem!) and the bill keeps growing!!! But for some odd reason I love my 6.0 powered Ex, I have a feeling I would love a 7.3 even more with the extra money in my pockets!
I wish i could have found an Ex with a 7.3 that was even half decent when I was looking.