Thoughts on the 03 to 06 Ford Super Duty w/6.0 Diesel

[Stalker]

I need some input on subj. and knew there would be some keen individuals on here who could help.  Before departing the states I had a 99 F350/dueley/4X4 with the 7.3 and was very happy with it.  I know the 6.0 came out in late 03 models and I assume it had some issues.

So questions for anyone who has one or works with them what do you think of them, do you know of any known issues in a specific year and what would you recommend? 

The 99 I had had issues with transmission sensors and cam sensors; so troubles kind of come with the territory.......

I am looking to get an 03 to 06 F350 decked out the same as my last one.  Thanks in advance folks.   

[skybusterbo]

I have a 04/ F350 /4x4/ 6.0 Power Stroke. Love it. No issues.

[shoot-em-dead]

I had a 03 for about three months when feul started going up. I loved that truck and just traded it to go back to gas because it had not gone up then. One week after I traded it gas went up to the same as what I had been paying for deisel. I wish I never would have done that.

[jeepasaurusrex]

They dont call them a 6-leaker for nothing. 

Personally, I would rather have a truck with a 7.3L in it. There have just been too many issues with the 6.0L. 

[Stalker]

They dont call them a 6-leaker for nothing. 

Personally, I would rather have a truck with a 7.3L in it. There have just been too many issues with the 6.0L. 

I liked my 7.3 and if I can find an early 03 with low miles then I'll go that route; but I have not seen any advertised yet.  I know I can find a 6.0 model with low miles.

What leaking issues do you know of or other mechanical issues?  Thanks

[jeepasaurusrex]

Head gaskets and turbos are the main issues.

The CPS (crank position sensor) on the 7.3s has been dealt with. Not even an issue anymore. For some reason, even though I modified a bunch on the motor, the tranny is still alive. I did add a manual torque converter lock up to it though.

[509er]

My brother is a Ford Tech and all he works on pretty much are 6.0 diesels.  He and I and all of our friends drive 7.3's for a reason, he likes the 02 7.3's the best.  If you are going to buy a 6.0 his advice is to get a '05 or newer.  Pretty much his advice he gives everyone who is shopping for a used superduty.

[The Weazle]

With all of these years/models/engines to look out for in a ford, just buy a Chevy or a Dodge, and ditch (literally) the Ford.  The name Ford cant mean that much to you, can it.  I have a 01 duramax and an 08 and both are sweet rigs with no problems.  The only thing ever recalled was the tailgate straps...

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I think my issue with the new 6 litres is that the torque and HP curve had changed for the worse.
The 7.3 had all the power at 1600-1800 rpm's. The 6 litre is at 2000 or so, so now it feels like it is rapped out when you are driving it.
That is why i bought a dodge, i wish i could put my cummins in a 4 door ford.

[skybusterbo]

I have a 04/ F350 /4x4/ 6.0 Power Stroke. Love it. No issues.

They dont call them a 6-leaker for nothing. 

Personally, I would rather have a truck with a 7.3L in it. There have just been too many issues with the 6.0L. 

Head gaskets and turbos are the main issues.

The CPS (crank position sensor) on the 7.3s has been dealt with. Not even an issue anymore. For some reason, even though I modified a bunch on the motor, the tranny is still alive. I did add a manual torque converter lock up to it though.

My brother is a Ford Tech and all he works on pretty much are 6.0 diesels.  He and I and all of our friends drive 7.3's for a reason, he likes the 02 7.3's the best.  If you are going to buy a 6.0 his advice is to get a '05 or newer.  Pretty much his advice he gives everyone who is shopping for a used superduty.

Wow, anybody want to buy a truck lol

[Stalker]

Thanks for all the input and keep it coming.  I agree that the 7.3 would be the way to go but finding one under 100k miles is a stretch.  I have been focusing on the 05 and newer figuring that would have given Ford a couple of years to work the bugs out.  I am most definitely a Ford truck guy so the Duramax is a non-starter + GM may not be around much longer in this economy.......

My brother is a Ford Tech and all he works on pretty much are 6.0 diesels.  He and I and all of our friends drive 7.3's for a reason, he likes the 02 7.3's the best.  If you are going to buy a 6.0 his advice is to get a '05 or newer.  Pretty much his advice he gives everyone who is shopping for a used superduty.

[huntnphool]

7.3 and if I can find an early 03 with low miles then I'll go that route;

Good luck with that, lots of demand and relatively few out there.

just buy a Chevy

Chevy truck, what an oxymoron. I have several friends that went the Duramax route and most are unhappy with them. They have had them in the shop with issues far more than myself or friends with 7.3's. They spent so much time and money on the tranny they neglected the rest of the powertrain. I have personally witnessed 2 different friends have their Duramax go into limp mode, for two different reasons. One was going over the pass in snow, as we later came to find out the air intake gets easily clogged by snow when driving in it, causing limp mode or no power. The other time was towing a boat to the coast, limp mode going through the twisty hills out of Raymond. Chevy makes a nice lite duty, cushy ride truck but I will never buy one expecting it to compete with my Fords

[shoot-em-dead]

Don't knock Chevy too much. I know of a construction company that always bought Fords. The Fords would last for 5 years of supervisor use then get turned over to the guys in the field and they never did get rid of them. They switched over to Chevy about 5 years ago because it looked bad when the company was driving all the old trucks around and a Chevy would not be able to withstand the abuse for more than 5 years so the company would always have newer looking trucks.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Here is another knock on the ford. At work we are not allowed to put bio in the F450's and 550's, because the waranty would be void. I guess the amount of water in bio creates steam in the injectors and you blow injectors. Not sure if that has been revised, just what i was tld by our mechanics.

[chukarchaser]

Be careful withthe 6.0  I have had three turbo's in my 04.  Since the last one no more problems.