Stock 6.0 31k miles - First step to protect it?

[cougfan66]

Hi Everyone,

I just bought my first diesel pickup two days ago so forgive me if I am clueless. I bought a 2003 6.0L with 31k miles and everything looks to be completely stock.

What should my first course of action be to protect this truck from all the issues related to the 6.0 powerstroke??

Any help is much appreciated, I thank you in advance.

CougFan

[f-350guy]

The servicing is a must, filters, oil, coolant.

I'd get a coolant filter on it asap, and switch to a synthetic or synthetic blend oil. Its some peoples opinions to use elc coolant and flush out the stock gold coolant.

Read lots on this forum you will get the drift on whats needed.

A good monitoring tool like scanguage II or a set of guages will help monitor problems before they are catastrophic.

Diesels are tough engines but they need to serviced regularly. skimping on oil changes and filters will cost you a lot more in the long run.

[colo_dually]

First step, is a monitoring setup like the Edge Insight CS/CTS. It will tell you 90% of what you need to know is going on under the hood, and can be expanded to cover the rest.
Next is the coolant filter system, for example from Dieselsite.

Good Luck with the new 6.0L. If you have any questions ask.
If you are looking to get the most out of that truck, I suggest reading the following:
Write Up: Bullet-Proofing the 6.0L PSD.

[GreenPSD]

I agree with above posts and add to use only racor made oil and fuel filters (racor, international and motorcraft brands). When you get your gauges, check the difference between the oil and water temperature. It should not be greater than 15 degrees at operating temp and at highway speed.

[amdriven2liv]

31,000 miles on Her? Wow, wasn't driven much was it.

[20046.0]

Coolant filter.
Edge cs or cst. (Monitoring device just like having gauges)

-Fuel pressure, FICM volts, EOT, ECT, TT, Boost, EGTs are good pids to monitor.

Run a ELC coolant, color is usually red. If you have green coolant I would search for a flush procedure.

Then the more expensive yet very important mods.
EGR delete
ARP Studs