Need Diesel Advice

[WesB]

I'm hoping next year to sell my 98f150 and upgrade to a diesel (obviously used). I mainly search for 99-03 Powerstoke diesel or 03-06 Cummins, although since the Fords are usually cheaper that's probably what I will go with.
I was however wondering how reliable the 6.0s are when an egr delete is done. I see them on cl with the egr delete, ficm, arp studs etc. My buddy sold his 6.0 last year a month after having the egr and head studs b/c he blew another head gasket even with the "Fix" done.
I drive an 05 Ram 3500 dually with the 5.9 cummins and love the motor, just hate the rest of the truck, but every 6months to a year I have to replace the #4injector line.
I know all vehicles have thier ups and downs, I'm just trying to guage what people on here have or have had, and what thier oppions are on them.
Thanks in Advance
Wes

[jw33]

If there is one thing I know about diesel it is Cummins.

[Badass2000GT]

If you are looking for 99-03 I would go with a 7.3. Way more reliable then the 6.0 and if you aren't going to race it or sled pull then the 7.3 would be the way to go.

[Skidmark]

Sounds like your buddy didn't have the right person do the fix.

After a EGR delete and ARP studs a 6.0 should be good to go. After having conversations with PSDtech, it's apparent if you miss one little thing on the install it can fail. If someone says they can do it with the cab on, there's a high chance of failure.

If I were you I'd find a clean 6.0 for cheap with higher miles and drive it till it fails. Use the money you saved on the truck price to then do the EGR, oil cooler, studs, and if you're really worried a coolant filter.

These trucks get a bad rep due to the head gasket issue, but you can find a good deal, build it up right, and have a reliable truck.

The other trucks may not have HG issues, but you'll be spending money on the trans. The 5r110 is a strong transmission.

[War Machine]

dummy plugs, oil leaks, and bad injectors are becoming more troublesome the older the 6.0s get. Minor problems, but something to expect.

5.9's are an injector nightmare, and cost a shit load more to fix than the 6.0.

Personally, if I wanted a diesel, they all have their pros and cons. The 7.3 is by far the most reliable but lack power compared to the 5.9 and 6.0. As many high mileage diesels as I used to sell, I wouldn't own any of them lol.

[dblack1]

dummy plugs, oil leaks, and bad injectors are becoming more troublesome the older the 6.0s get. Minor problems, but something to expect.

5.9's are an injector nightmare, and cost a shit load more to fix than the 6.0.

Personally, if I wanted a diesel, they all have their pros and cons. The 7.3 is by far the most reliable but lack power compared to the 5.9 and 6.0. As many high mileage diesels as I used to sell, I wouldn't own any of them lol.

Last sentence is speaking the truth.

I've overseen a fleet of 6.0 trucks since 06 amounting to around 30 in total. They are really hit our miss in the first 150k miles. Haven't had a single one go 150k miles without a set of injectors, but I've had a few that only needed 8 injectors in that time. I've had a few get heads, long blocks, turbos, ficm, fan clutch etc. One ac compressor and two transmissions out of all those.

Best year is the last year, the latest dealer computer update kills the power.

I didn't know the 5.9 had that many injector problems. I've had 6.7 and 5.9 and not a single injector. One of my friends is working on 300k on stock injectors in a 04 I sold him at 210k miles

[Cooter]

I've owned fifteen Dodge diesels. Seven of them were 03-07 5.9.

Dollar for dollar, I'll take a 6.0 over a CR Dodge. I never had any problems with my Dodges, but I always bought one-owner trucks from the original owners.

You couldn't give me a 7.3. And after driving an 08 lariat for the past year and a half, you couldn't give me another 3rd gen Dodge

[dee]

Do you have all the line isolators on the injector lines?

The motor is the only thing worth a shit about the dodges the rest of the truck is junk and their dash and hvac stuff is a nightmare.

[aggie97]

Im diggin my new 08 ram with the 6.7. Should have the full delete and smarty on in a few weeks. Even with the 3.42's, it pulls nice and runs great empty.

You guys complaining about the dash and ac stuff...ive now had 3 gen 3 and a gen 4, no issues.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Im diggin my new 08 ram with the 6.7. Should have the full delete and smarty on in a few weeks. Even with the 3.42's, it pulls nice and runs great empty.

You guys complaining about the dash and ac stuff...ive now had 3 gen 3 and a gen 4, no issues.

would you like a picture of what is left of my dash?

If I ever get hit and it totals my dodge, Im buying it back and dropping the engine in a ford.

[grove rat]

would you like a picture of what is left of my dash?

If I ever get hit and it totals my dodge, Im buying it back and dropping the engine in a ford.

what's the cheapest configuration for a cummins/ford swap? guessing 12v in a 99-04?

[Baron Von Crowder]

what's the cheapest configuration for a cummins/ford swap? guessing 12v in a 99-04?

Buddy of mine picked up a gas 93 cclb ford and an early 90's dodge that was a beat up farm truck. He's a real tightwad, and will spend hours trying to make a dollar, so he scrapped everything he could for the most he could get for each. By the time the smoke settled and dust cleared, he had about $2k in the truck. I dont have the patience to part out and/or scrounge the bone yards like he does, but I guess if you did, you could do that too.

[grove rat]

Buddy of mine picked up a gas 93 cclb ford and an early 90's dodge that was a beat up farm truck. He's a real tightwad, and will spend hours trying to make a dollar, so he scrapped everything he could for the most he could get for each. By the time the smoke settled and dust cleared, he had about $2k in the truck. I dont have the patience to part out and/or scrounge the bone yards like he does, but I guess if you did, you could do that too.

haha i'm a cheapass as well sounds like something i would do. sounds like a fun side project as long as you have the room for 2 big ass trucks

[dee]

You guys complaining about the dash and ac stuff...ive now had 3 gen 3 and a gen 4, no issues.

I've worked on enough of them to know It's a problem from mode/blend door and door motors failing. Evaporators leaking on older ones, compressors taking a shit at 50000. If the motors or doors go bad expect to pull the entire dash out enough to get the complete hvac box out to repair and that won't happen without some part of the dash falling apart.

[DieselSmoke]

I've own my 07 6.0 for almost 5 years. First thing I did was egr delete, bulletproof diesel oil cooler & ficm and 4" turbo back. I run innovative diesel tunes on stock bolts and change my fuel filters every 10k. 180k miles and the only part to go out on me was a water pump last month, a bitch to change btw.

It's been a good truck, but I guess I got lucky and it was built on a Monday. Everyone else I know who's own one bitchies about them always breaking.