New 6.0 owner - random questions

[mcnabb]

Hello - sorry for the mixed bag of questions here, but some of this is hard to search for.

I just got an '05 F250 4 door, 4WD (FX4), mint condition, with 65K miles. I'll use it for some daily driving, some hauling of building materials in the bed, some vacation driving, occasionally hauling a horse trailer with one or two horses. So, in short: no interest in burnouts or sled pulling or recreational 4 wheeling or extreme heavy hauling. I could have gotten by with an F150 but I got a good price on this one and I love diesels.

I plan on bullet proofing in the next year. Should I do it all at once, or if I'm on a budget, is it feasible to do it a bit at a time?

Other than skid plates, does anyone know what else was with the FX4 package in the '05 period? I "feel" like both rear wheels locked in a slippery mud situation yesterday and don't know if I have a locking diff or not.

What else is particular to the '05 period trucks? I know for instance that that was they year they got coil springs up front...any other tricks or goodies?

It came from a Ford dealership. I am assuming they used Ford Gold coolant - this means an immediate flush and fill with ELC - am I correct?

Also, they say their shop does a fair number of "bullet proofings" and use the kits from Bullet Proof Diesel. Has anyone ever gone to the dealership for this work? Makes me nervous, but I'm open to new ideas...

I am really glad to have found this forum and excited about my truck. I hope to bullet proof it and keep it for 20 years. Thanks for your help.

[bismic]

Gauges first - always (this includes adding a fuel pressure sending unit). Check the ECT vs EOT split as soon as you can (I would definitely do this before flushing the coolant system)

If you do head studs, choose the shop that will do your work carefully. Find one with a good reputation. You really do need a shop that properly checks the heads for flatness, and one that will send them out (to a quality machine shop) to be milled to within .002 (IMO anyway). There is an upper limit to how much can be safely taken off also. Some say it is 0.008, but this seems like a lot to me. If too much is taken off, it may be more suceptible to cracking. Also, use OEM gaskets and not the Black Onyx.

The 05 weaknesses are:
STC fitting on the HPOP
Dummy plugs and standpipes in the high pressure oil system.
weak fuel pressure spring (all model years have this weakness)
A coolant filter is always a good idea.

There are different opinions on the EGR system. Some say delete. I chose to install a BPD EGR cooler and leave the EGR system intact. Both work just fine.

As far as coolant goes - check the delta as stated earlier. Since you don't know how the engine was maintained and treated, a change of ALL the fluids and filters is wise. I agree that ELC coolant is most likely better than the Gold, but I know lots of people that are running the Gold with no issues. That being said, since the mechanism for the Gold to gell up is not completely understood, it is probably safer to go w/ ELC.

["Stroker 8"]

[WarChild]

Bismic is dead on. Welcome to the Org

[v8motorcycleman]

I just got my 2007 6.0 yesterday. I already ordered a new Edge CTS monitor and a coolant filtration kit from Performance Machine Manufacturing. They have it at a good price right now and there is no need to cut the coolant lines like other other models available. Performance Machine & MFG. 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel Coolant Filtration System

[WarChild]

That is the same one I got off ebay and I love it. Only took me like 10 minutes to install. Also you should look at the EAS Turbo timer and make sure you have the EAS EGT. I love my CTS. I have it next to me right now putting custom backgrounds on it...lol

[v8motorcycleman]

EAS EGT? What does that stand for?

[WarChild]

Originally Posted by v8motorcycleman

EAS EGT? What does that stand for?

Edge Accessory System (EAS) Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT)
Top things to monitor are the EGT, EOT, ECT. Fuel pressure too if you can afford to add that. If not then those are the ones you need the most.

[v8motorcycleman]

Ok..rookie question....do you have to drill a hole and tap it or is there already a location to put the exhaust sensor?

[WarChild]

you have to drill it but its easy to do if you can get your hands on the bit and tap.