thoughts on 2005 ford f250 6.0 liter turbo diesel

[adamR]

I'm in the market for a new truck and today found one at a very reputable car lot.  it's a 2005 ford f250 6.0 liter turbo diesel with 104,000 miles for $16,999.  It blue books at $21000 so the price seems right.
I'm looking for non biased intelligent responses as to what I should or should not expect out of this truck. pros/cons, mileage, is it going to last?  I know the 6.0 had a lot of problems when they first came out in 2003, were most of those solved by 2005?
I want to go back to a truck and eventually purchase a camp trailer 25' or so, sometimes pull a trailer full of 4wheelers or dirt bikes, and other than that it will be my daily driver roughly 20 miles each way. 

I also know the 7.3 liter is the "best choice" but they are very hard to find with less than 150,000 miles in good shape

[sirmissalot]

Stay away from the 6.0

Stay away from the 6.0

Stay away from the 6.0!

I'm still having nightmares about mine but I can't afford a new one right now. Mine is an 07 so NO they did not work out the problems. They aren't all bad, and I'm told you can make them near bulletproof with a whole bunch of money dumped into them. I'm halfway there so time will tell but the last year and a half hasn't been fun.

[jackelope]

There's nothing wrong with 6 leakers. The sick liter is a fine engine.

[jackelope]

If head gaskets have been done on it, preferrably with head studs, that takes care of the big stuff. Injectors now and then.

[syoungs]

the blue book vs market value on these trucks is pretty skewed, everyone is afraid of the 6.0, but if its had the few major fixes done to it, they are reliable, and with a little tuning they are rockets!

I wouldnt hesitate to buy it, my next truck most likely will be a 6.0, i have a 7.3 now, there is no comparison while towing in my book, that torqueshift tranny in the 6.0 is awesome!

[6x6in6]

With 104k and if the head gasket and head stud replacement has not been done, you will be doing it soon.  That's a given with the 6 leaker.
A head gasket and stud job is fairly expensive on these given the labor to do the job.  Jackelope can fill you in on that part...

[Skillet]

I have had a 2006 6.0 I bought new.  Has about the same miles as the one youre looking at.  Im happy with it, but its because i take care of it. Not a motor you can defer maintenance on.  Try and find somebody with a Scanguage II or equivalent that knows how to check out the oil/water temp delta.  If it's over 10 degrees, you're going to be looking at some repairs sooner than later (oil cooler).  If it's over 20 degrees, the repairs need to be done asap.  Look around the deguass bottle cap (radiator overflow tank on driver firewall) for leakage.  If you see it thats a bad sign, usually means the headgaskets need replacing along with the headbolts.  Nearly all of the big $$ problems this motor is famous for are a result of poor maintenance, or running a tuner it wasnt designed for. 
Sounds like it is priced right - but expect to put the money you saved into the motor to "bulletproof" it for the next couple hundred thousand miles.  Im getting ready to do mine, and since il do all the wrenching I expect it to run me about $2000.   That includes upgraded egr cooler, replace the oil cooler, and head studs.  Double that + if you need to take it to a shop.
As much as I like my truck, tho, if you arent too mechanically inclined I'd probably be looking elsewhere.  You just dont know how bad the previous owner maintained the truck.  He definitely didnt maintain it to keep it forever... If you still want to proceed, check It out THOUROUGHLY with somebody who knows these motors - dont buy someone else's problem.

[rynokron]

I got 190k out of my 04. The 6.0 is a high maitenence diesel. Mine had problems when it was new, then went on a long stretch with no problems. Once I hit about 175k it was one thing after another. Oil leaks, bad injectors, cam position sensor, IPR, Bad EGR cooler, bad oil cooler. ect. ect. Then when I went to same dealer that I bought it from to trade it in they offered my $5k. There is now a 2013 Ram in my driveway. The 6.0 turned me into a Dodge guy. If you buy one get the extended warrantee!!!

[kglacken]

Stay away from the 6.0

Stay away from the 6.0

Stay away from the 6.0!

I'm still having nightmares about mine but I can't afford a new one right now. Mine is an 07 so NO they did not work out the problems. They aren't all bad, and I'm told you can make them near bulletproof with a whole bunch of money dumped into them. I'm halfway there so time will tell but the last year and a half hasn't been fun.

My uncle has one and he has spent more in repairs then its worth anymore. Awesome truck when its running. If you can find a 7.3 with low or even mid range miles take it! My dad has a 2001 f250 with the 7.3 and it has 425,000 miles on it and only two transmissions! 

[bowpredator]

I have a 2007 f350. Didn't do my research befor buying it. We bought it last May and it had 104,000 on it. Over the past year we have put $5,000 into the motor. We first had an EGR issue and decided to put a new bullet proof EGR cooler in it, we also put a new oil cooler in also. We just recently had 4 new injectors and a new fuel injector pressure gauge put in. We pull a 35ft camp trailer (7,000lbs) all the time and it pulls like its not even there.  Next project will be the other 4 injectors and a head bolt kit. I would not try to amp it up to get more out of it because that's when you start having real problems. I like fords , but if I had to donut again I would have went with a Cummings.

[Mudman]

I had the 7.3, awesome truck crappy transmission.  6.0 can be great if you do the deletes and arp head work. If you have 4 or 5k to do this then get one.  If you have 2 or 3k for a good transmission get a 7.3.  If you don't want either headache get a not so awesome truck like a Cummins.  I did, Tows great.  Really they all can have trans problems if you tune them up.  Allison included.

[buglebuster]

Dont do it i just went through this myself. In february i traded in my 7.3 with 100k on it for a crew cab 04 with 50k, it was prices 5k below book. It had just got done having the head gaskets, egr valve and cooler done and an injector replaced. I thought great, problems are taken care of i should be good to go, wrong! In 2 months it was back at the dealership 5 times. It had egr valve replaced, ficm replaced, injector harness replaced, another head gasket, oil cooler, and 3 injectors. This was a bone stock truck with 50k! I knew i shoulda trusted my gut and stayed away but i didnt and it cost me! I now have a 06 f150. The price of the 6.0 is what gets you because no one wants to buy them. My  dont even consider it, and im a ford guy!

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I will say we make a lot of money on the 6.0 s  Head gasket jobs aren't cheap every one seems to need it.  There are lots of other upgrades and repairs we do as well. I would say pass unless it's a lot cheaper,  otherwise find a motor with a better track record.

 You can find  a lot better diesel  out there

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[Shooter]

I had a 06 F350 TD, at 70K miles I was tired of throwing money at it and the head gaskets were next at 5k-7k to do the job and they have to remove the cab from the truck to do it. What really sucks is Ford settled with International who built these motors but Ford never passed the settlement onto the owners.  Won't own another Ford as they did not stand behind owners who spent 45k plus on trucks, many class action suits on the 6.0.and hope I see some money back. 

[jrebel]

Couldn't give me that truck. No way, No how