What to look for on used diesel?

[mustangguy289]

What should I look for on a 2004 Ford F250 Powerstroke 4x4 crew cab? It has 97k miles. Looks great from the pictures and price is good.

I have never owned a diesel so can you give me pointers on what to look for while test driving?

Thanks

[Stunter Bob]

So now your gonna be a bona fide farmer that finally owns a diesel? LOL jk


Personally I would stay away from the 6.0s just because they do have quite a few known issues that will cost you a few pennies in the future when they break.

EGR/EGR Cooler are known to bust
FICM is junk
Head gasket failure due to stretching head bolts ( requires full cab off to replace those! )

[psdtech]

make sure the coolant bottle is not covered in white residue or the coolant is green (signs of leaks/headgaskets) cold start it and make sure it can rev right up to 4000 with out missing this will let you know about the injectors sticking, not so bad now but come winter you dont want to be suprised when its freezing out. the ficm will be fine if it has a very old calabration or the latest (last 3 programs killed them). to be on the safe side have 4k ready for repairs a few need more but most need less.

[mustangguy289]

cold start it and make sure it can rev right up to 4000 with out missing this will let you know about the injectors sticking, .

Good way to piss off the salesman lol.

[mustangguy289]

make sure the coolant bottle is not covered in white residue or the coolant is green (signs of leaks/headgaskets) cold start it and make sure it can rev right up to 4000 with out missing this will let you know about the injectors sticking, not so bad now but come winter you dont want to be suprised when its freezing out. the ficm will be fine if it has a very old calabration or the latest (last 3 programs killed them). to be on the safe side have 4k ready for repairs a few need more but most need less.

How would I know which calibration it has?

[Stunter Bob]

How would I know which calibration it has?

There are so many flashes for those trucks you would have no idea honestly lol

[MstangsBware]

From all the reading I have done..I would stay away from the 6.0 diesel.....There is a reason why they are so cheap.....

[psdtech]

you can either bring it by and i can read it or if you have a programer it can read it, it should start with VX

[War Machine]

the 05 and up 6.0 arent all that bad. The 03-04 are the worse. I sell all of them when I can get them. I just picked up a 04 f350 for egr, and dropped off a 06 for egr.

04 crewcab cloth with 4x4 10-11k is a good buy, anythign more than that is high

also after running the truck check for blow by, remove the oil cap, should see very little smoke to none. When the truck is warm, you should be able to remove the fill cap, if it spews or acts like its going to then you have a cooling problem. Also make sure its not low on coolant as it shouldnt be low and that coolant is going somewhere

[FATHERFORD]

6.0's aren't bad motors IF you do a little work to them.

Mine has nearly 200,000 miles on it and the only thing replaced was the ICP sensor.

I went ahead and tore the top off the engine and replacing the HPOP, oil cooler, egr delete etc.

[mustangguy289]

It is sold anyway... after talking to many diesel people... I do not see how y'all claim diesels are more reliable. It seems like they are always needing to be worked on, expensive as hell to fix, and just a nuissiance to own.

[Stunter Bob]

Sell your farm and move to New York and take a Taxi every where.

Cant go wrong with a Cummins.

[mustangguy289]

Sell your farm and move to New York and take a Taxi every where.

Cant go wrong with a Cummins.

Can't find a cummins aroudn what I want to pay. The truck really wont be used much on the farm.. we just happen to live on one. The truck will be used maybe once a week so I am not looking to spend a whole lot.

We just sold our $410/month truck in hopes to get into a cheaper truck and an older civic (or any gas saver to drive to work) and save close to $300 a month between gas/ payments. Just want extra spending money.

[kingjason]

It is sold anyway... after talking to many diesel people... I do not see how y'all claim diesels are more reliable. It seems like they are always needing to be worked on, expensive as hell to fix, and just a nuissiance to own.

I miss my old 95 7.3 CC 4x4 long bed. It was built tough as hell and I could jump in it and go anywhere any time. The upkeep was a little more but it would tow anything. I may even be trading my Bronco for a 96 extended cab F250 4x4. I liked the CC but holy shit that thing was long and it was a way to pay off the wifes new car or I would still have it.

[dblack1]

Can't find a cummins aroudn what I want to pay. The truck really wont be used much on the farm.. we just happen to live on one. The truck will be used maybe once a week so I am not looking to spend a whole lot.

We just sold our $410/month truck in hopes to get into a cheaper truck and an older civic (or any gas saver to drive to work) and save close to $300 a month between gas/ payments. Just want extra spending money.

I'd buy a 10 year 6.0 chevy 2500. Easy to work on and very reliable.


The diesel thing you speak of is a myth in this day and age. My 6.4 requires oil every 5k, fuel filters at 10k, and coolant testing at 20k.

I had a old 5.9 dodge that I'm positive only had one fuel filter change between 0 and 150k miles and it never missed a beat.