6.0 ford - Montana Owners Club

bill maietta · 07-05-2011, 03:17 PM

Ive read all about additives and running these engines hard. My question is- Exactly what does run hard mean? How long, how often and to what level. I understand this helps blow the carbon and other junl out of the engine.

sailer · 07-05-2011, 03:49 PM

Well if you are getting close to the 85000 miles you have lots of trouble ahead of you. as you are out of warrenty and the turbo will go or the elect board or the engine lite will be on 3/4 of the time . i had it with mine and traded for the 2011 and never look back;;;sailer

daneboy · 07-05-2011, 09:15 PM

My 06 F250 4X4 6.0 diesel has run well pulling 5er up till now. At 79,000 miles I had to replace the injectors at $3,400. My diesel mechanic said Ford installed a fuel pump that doesn't make enough pressure to protect the injectors. When he replaced the injectors he also installed a Ford kit that boosts the fuel pressure up to 45 psi, the kit was $8.00. His advice is to change the oil regulary, using Motorcraft or Shell diesel oil, only use Ford fuel filters changed at 10K miles. I have written a letter to Ford asking them to pay the repair, even though I'm over on time, the engine is guaranteed to 100,000 miles. I'll let you know what happens on that front. I still like the truck and it pulls like a mule but sure don't want any more expensive repairs.

Art-n-Marge · 07-06-2011, 08:19 AM

Doesn't "blowing out the carbon" only pertain to gasoline engines? Since diesels work on compression what is the comparable term for this type of thing? I'm only aware that diesel engines LOVE to work and that mine does to. In this truck or any other diesel, I am used to hearing that engine roar when it's working as a sign it's doing its job. In comparison when a gasoline engine is roaring it's probably howling because it's working so hard and needs to yell a lot just to get to the bottom of the diesel power scale.

I change my oil at 5,000 miles because the book recommends it if I use it for heavy uses. Since I don't know how much is heavy duty, I just do that since I do tow and drive is some conditions that are mentioned as heavy duty. A periodic oil change is far cheaper than what would ever happen from lack of maintenance.

I am not looking forward to problems in the future and so far the truck has been performing flawlessly but I'm at 68,000 miles and don't drive around near as much as I used to. I'll rely on fate!

noneck · 07-06-2011, 03:15 PM

Right the 6.0 was first to have EGR requirement and suffers from this mandate.

Run her like you stole her at least once a month...use centane additive in each fill up...monitor the ECT verses EOT running on flat stretch 60 mph for 20 minutes if 15 degree delta or above your about to experience coolant puking and/or EGR cooler failure due to oil cooler blockage. Its suggested that coolant flush be performed and replace with ELC w/o silicates...best to review all this on one of the Diesel forums specific to 6.0 Ford.

JMHO...

8e3k0 · 07-07-2011, 04:49 AM

The EGR was a weak spot on the 6.0 liter, otherwise if taken care of that engine will perform for a lot of miles. Many in the northwest that have went through serve winters and hot summers are still performing with continuous 24 hour idling and hard running in the oilpatch. A 6 liter suffers if chipped as the head bolts will not hold the the heads and gaskets in place. Have seen many with chipped engines and oil in the coolant!!!

hikerdoc · 07-07-2011, 07:00 AM

My '05 has run like a top, haven't had one issue other than I had to upgrade the size of the alternator due to the significant amount of pulling I do. And as daneboy said, it pulls like a top. I've been very happy although it seems I'm in the minority.

mlh · 07-07-2011, 10:02 AM

Bill I had a 6.0. I'm like you had no problems with it, other than a turbo hose blowing off. Ran like a top.
Lynwood

sreigle · 07-07-2011, 01:48 PM

Bill, during our fulltiming I've had two Ford 6.0's (one to 91,000 miles and the other to around 75,000) and this Dodge (80,000 miles) and just drove them. I didn't try to drive them hard or easy. I just drove them. I don't know if that's the best way or not but I've had no problems. So far, anyhow. We tow heavy so maybe that counts as driving hard.

noneck · 07-07-2011, 04:13 PM

Towing counts as runn'in like you stole her... Not to scare anyone but;
* I run 5w-40 T6 Rotella full synthetic oil, use ONLY Ford Engine Oil Filter, Fuel Filter, and Transmission Oil Filter.
* I've updated the fuel pressure regulator with the BLUE spring Ford upgrade kit.
Downside events;
* Aug2009 blew CAC hose off, replaced with new...
* Aug2010 #1 Cylinder inject fail...blowing bluish smoke.
* Nov2010 ICP sensor failure
* May2011 blew Intercooler hose off...reseated as I just installed a new aftermarket set.
-BOTH events were self repairs in my driveway...
This is my first Diesel and I'm trying to run it for the long term, currently 104,500 miles and she still can pull the axles off my Montana!!! My past experiences with gasoline tow vehicles would have me replacing the truck at 90k due to low oil pressure and poor towing performance. I still love my truck...

BB_TX · 07-07-2011, 04:20 PM

Like Steve, I have had 2 6.0s, an '04 F250 and the current '07 F350. And like Steve, I just drive them, not hard, not easy. Just normal (for me) driving. Only hard driving is pulling some passes in Colorado. And even then, I don't try to race to the top.
Had an EGR valve go bad on the '04. Not another problem with it.
Had a cam sensor go bad on the '07. No other problems on it. Runs and pulls great.
I have all the recommended maintenance done by the Ford dealer on the schedule specified in the manual.

CmdrDewey · 07-08-2011, 02:20 PM

I have a 2006 with 103000 miles. I have had one injector replaced and the EGR both under warranty. Other than that no problems. I run 10 oz of Power Service to about 30 gallons of fuel an I have all service done on schedule by authorized Ford garages. When I had the injector replaced the tech said the fuel pressure was excellent. Very happy with the truck and hoping to get another 100,000 out of it.

adelmoll · 07-09-2011, 02:54 AM

We have the 2005 F350 6.0 and have driven it to Alaska, Mexico, Newfoundland and all points between. We have 145,000 miles and (knock on wood) we have never had a problem. We do not do anything special but do change oil every 5,000 miles and use synthetic for diesel.

Helen

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