[NewbieHelp]

I know NOTHING about gas or diesel motors. But my Titan is falling apart at 307,000 miles. I have taken it to two mechanics to find out what is wrong with it. The first two couldn’t figure it out, the third one said there is so much wrong with it, that it wouldn’t be worth fixing.
With the market being insane, I can’t find a 4WD Half ton for under $25,000 (and those have 100,000 miles on them).
So the third mechanic (who has a 5 star rating on Google maps) and I’ve heard great things about from friends told me he would give me $3K for my Titan snd sell me a 2005 F250 4x4 with 200,000 on it once he worked on it and got it in good shape.
He told me that they were doing the full delete on it, but not doing the head studs because they have never been apart and don’t show signs of needing it.
The body is in excellent shape, tires are almost new, he said AC and heat work great.
I’ve read some scary stuff online about those 6.0’s, but if this mechanic gives me his word that it will go another 150,000-200,000 without fear of major fixes, and he is honest, what would y’all recommend I do?
Thanks for any opinions. I wasn’t looking for a diesel, but can’t afford anything else in this market.
And what questions should I ask him?
Help me guys please

 

[kbnw15]

If the mechanic is as good as all the reviews and your word of mouth recommendations keep in mind it may still not go 150k to 200k more miles.

Are you planning on doing any work on it if it starts to fail later on or is it only going to a shop? These are expensive to work on especially if you are paying a shop.

At 200k there is still a truck that is around that engine and stuff that will need addressing. Are you prepared for that? I'm personally not that scared of 6.0s after owning one and spending several years on this forum I would say I am definitely over confident in them. They are good powerplants if taken care of and the owner educates himself on what the platform requires.

 

[Heavy_GD]

Thanks for any opinions. I wasn’t looking for a diesel, but can’t afford anything else in this market.
And what questions should I ask him?
Help me guys please

Walk away.
Your mistake was taking your truck to end of life without saving to replace it, get a loan and shop within your means.

 

[NewbieHelp]

Thank you sir. Well, one review stated that he is the best, snd cheapest diesel mechanic in this area. Being so uneducated in mechanics work, I would probably take it to him for any repairs.
min doing research on diesel motors and how to take care of them, but it is pretty overwhelming. Thanks for you’re reply. It is helpful.

Walk away.
Your mistake was taking your truck to end of life without saving to replace it, get a loan and shop within your means.

i have enough to buy a decently priced truck. I just can’t spend $25,000 for a ten year old truck with107,000. And that is the BEST deal I’ve found. I saw a F-150 Platinum with 100,000+ miles for $38,300!
two years ago, I would have been able to get what I wanted. Today’s prices are insane.

 

[Heavy_GD]

Right, its called inflation.
Diesel costs $5-6 a gallon, and uses more oil when you service it, and gets less MPGs.
Insurance is more expensive too.

So are you really thinking this through?
you cannot spend 25 for a 10 year old truck, but you are willing to lose your money on an almost 20 year old truck.

I dont know your situation or why you even need a truck, but based on this conversation you should shop within your means.

 

[TheLinconlGreen]

I would spend 9k on one if I knew it was in good condition. Educate yourself on the 6.0 and get a detailed list of repairs the mechanic makes. Also know that owning a diesel is expensive and mechanical failures cost major $ to fix.

 

[Heavy_GD]

I would spend 9k on one if I knew it was in good condition. Educate yourself on the 6.0 and get a detailed list of repairs the mechanic makes. Also know that owning a diesel is expensive and mechanical failures cost major $ to fix.

I would agree, but I think OP is not doing his own wrenching (based on his shop visits) AND living on the edge of his budget.

 

[Spirit]

WOW!! There is just so much wrong with the poster's situation and solution...stay away from diesels, for now at least...don't trust a mechanic (or anyone) verbally promising you the moon...heat and AC are not a major concern at this point in your life...I guess that covers it...(?)

 

[GregWork]

“I know NOTHING about gas or diesel motors.” And 6.0L diesel do not go together.

If you got 307K out of a Titan; get another

 

[Heavy_GD]

“I know NOTHING about gas or diesel motors.” And 6.0L diesel do not go together.

If you got 307K out of a Titan; get another

bUt I cAnT aFfoRd It

 

[powerstrokeshellback]

Sounds too good to be true.

 

[NewbieHelp]

Ok y’all, so the truck was being worked on.
He found that the stand pipe had a bad o ring. He fixed that and said it is running great with no problems.
$9,000

so if I go with it, what questions should I ask?

I appreciate y’all’s help so far.

 

[TheLinconlGreen]

Take it for a long test drive and make sure it has sat overnight before you do. I would shoot for 30 minutes at highway speeds. Feel for any shuddering especially at low rpms. Shut it off and restart it multiple times during the test. You'll need a way to monitor oil and coolant temps to verify the difference isn't more than 15 degrees. After the test drive check for codes, check the coolant level in the degas bottle, check the oil and transmission fluid for color and level. If everything looks good set aside a couple grand for unexpected repairs.

 

[NewbieHelp]

Take it for a long test drive and make sure it has sat overnight before you do. I would shoot for 30 minutes at highway speeds. Feel for any shuddering especially at low rpms. Shut it off and restart it multiple times during the test. You'll need a way to monitor oil and coolant temps to verify the difference isn't more than 15 degrees. After the test drive check for codes, check the coolant level in the degas bottle, check the oil and transmission fluid for color and level. If everything looks good set aside a couple grand for unexpected repairs.

Thank you. This is the kind of info I was looking for. Thank you.

 

[ZMANN]

I know NOTHING about gas or diesel motors

I wasn’t looking for a diesel, but can’t afford anything else in this market.

Remind me why you're contemplating this diesel ?
Because it's cheap ?
and your planing on winning the lottery next week to keep this cheap diesel maintained, fueled and repaired ?


Walk away and find a gasser

 

[TheLinconlGreen]

I understand where everyone is coming from about avoiding this truck, and it's sound advice. I also know the truck market is crazy and 9k is cheap if it's what he says it is. I spent about that for my 05 with 300k miles, 2 bad injectors, bad oil cooler, bad calipers, bad carrier bearing, bad cab mounts etc etc, and I would have told myself to not buy it if I knew more then. Even with all that, I love my truck and I'm glad I bought it.
Learning how to monitor and work on it yourself is critical because there are so few mechnics that understanding the 6.0l motors.

 

[TT04]

I know NOTHING about gas or diesel motors. But my Titan is falling apart at 307,000 miles. I have taken it to two mechanics to find out what is wrong with it. The first two couldn’t figure it out, the third one said there is so much wrong with it, that it wouldn’t be worth fixing.
With the market being insane, I can’t find a 4WD Half ton for under $25,000 (and those have 100,000 miles on them).
So the third mechanic (who has a 5 star rating on Google maps) and I’ve heard great things about from friends told me he would give me $3K for my Titan snd sell me a 2005 F250 4x4 with 200,000 on it once he worked on it and got it in good shape.
He told me that they were doing the full delete on it, but not doing the head studs because they have never been apart and don’t show signs of needing it.
The body is in excellent shape, tires are almost new, he said AC and heat work great.
I’ve read some scary stuff online about those 6.0’s, but if this mechanic gives me his word that it will go another 150,000-200,000 without fear of major fixes, and he is honest, what would y’all recommend I do?
Thanks for any opinions. I wasn’t looking for a diesel, but can’t afford anything else in this market.
And what questions should I ask him?
Help me guys please

I've a 2005, F250, Diesel, I'd take $13,000 for it. It has around 147,000 miles on it. Done a lot of work on her, but it did start the last time I got in it. And, it had sat for about 3 weeks then. It has been sitting now for about 2 weeks. We have been trying to move all the vehicles from one state to another, and it is in the middle of getting it here. But, try it on a fixed income. I do not have the fender side curtains on at the moment, since I've been changing the glow plugs, but it seems to really like not having the covers in the way. Not sure why. But, it is called, The Tan Man. TT04, 6/6/2022