| Author | Message | ||
     Etennuly |
This is not so much a rant as an observation..... Does anyone else have one of these trucks? I recently bought a 2004 F550 4x4.....you know.....sort of so that I could have a truck to use for my business. This thing makes the '06 Ulysses' problems appear to be a moot point! Used vehicle buyers be ware, I know- I know, but I knew of this truck since it was new and even worked on it after a minor collision deal a couple of years ago. After having it for a few weeks the EGR cooler has taken a crap, and requires the replacement of the internal oil cooler as well.....a grand for parts if I do it myself! Nearly double that for an aftermarket 'fix' for the factory's failed engineering. The company I bought it from is one of my customers, so the Service Manager gave me the service records. This thing is now at 150,000 miles and this is the fourth failure of the same components. After scanning the Ford Truck Boards I find that this is a common problem for these trucks and Ford has had no interest in fixing them from the start. They did them under warranty, but there are so many(large numbers) that this problem should have been re-engineered and repaired under a recall. This problem pops up repeatedly at about 45 to 50 thousand mile intervals. It is about a $1800.00 repair depending on how long it goes unrepaired, it changes to about $4500.00 if it blows the head gaskets from the design failure that allows the antifreeze to run through the combustion chambers when it fails. The list of new parts that were replaced under warranty because of design failures or just overlooking simple manufacturing adjustments, is crazy! EGR cooler three times(fourth is at hand), a turbo, fuel pump, injectors(twice), Alternator(twice), Transmission, heater core, starter, a/c compressor switches, coolant tank, EGR valve (twice), FICM, ABRM, EPB sensor, a number of fuses, and relays, and harness parts. I saw the service records before buying the truck, but did not go on line to see the big picture. From where I stood I thought I was getting a good truck with a bunch of new parts that should make it good for a long time. Finding that these are repeat failures, and expensive ones at that, I can see that Ford has really dropped the ball on these things. My point is that at least with the large number of the problems with the '06 Ulysses bikes that a few of us have seen, at least when we got a fix, it stayed fixed. Ford obviously has no regard for up-grading their failed parts or making their owners happy or confident in their products. Their motto "Quality is job 1".....well at least until they have a big problem. For now I have a really decent looking driveway anchor!   | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I wanna see a pic of the anchor | ||
| Cataract2 |
Try the 1998-2002 Dodge 2500 Cummins. Look up VP44 or the 53 block. | ||
| Odie |
I have an '01 F-250 with a 7.3. I'm at 196,000 miles with zero issues. I've owned it for 3 years and bought it with 100,000 on it. I love this truck and wouldn't be without a diesel again. I know 6.0's have a bad rep but they really are good motors. Diesel Power magazine did am article a few months back about how to make them very reliable. I forget the month though. I think the 03's and 04's had the most issues. I feel for you though. Nothing on a big truck is cheap. I do all my own wrenching when I mod stuff just to save the cash. Good luck.  | ||
| Odie |
By the way, I get a lot of advice and ideas and deals on this forum- www.superdutydiesel.com | ||
| Spank |
My good friend's dad hauls cars. He had a F550 and on two separate occasions blew engines on it hauling from Texas and back...Think he finally gave up on them. From what I have been told by my Ford friends, Like Odie has said, the 7.3 is the one to get. The 6.0 is underpowered and problematic. | ||
| Cataract2 |
The 7.3 is arguably the best diesel motor Ford used back in the day. Those things just could not be stopped. I'm hearing many good things about the new in house diesel that Ford has made though. | ||
| Etennuly |
I own, work on, and drive diesels frequently, one thing I would not say about the 6.0 is that it is under powered. 365 hp and 560 ft lbs of torque. Lots of bigger trucks don't match those numbers. I had a new '98 Dodge 3500 diesel that I ran for 40,000 miles. It never had one warranty problem in the two years I had it. Thanks Odie, I have been looking there. | ||
| Firemanjim |
6.0 definitely not underpowered,just had a bunch of issues with the stuff Ford added on.We had rigs with the 7.3 and the 6.0 at work and 6.0 was way faster! Get the gaskets that block that damn cooler off. EGR is another crappy area--though who thought puttting an EGR on a diesel was a good idea?? Ford has ignored all of the problems for eons.They had runaway thottles years before Toyota! It reminds me of my tube frame bikes,when it runs good it is REALLY good, but every once in a while it has "issues". | ||
| Howieshotrods |
You will have to trust me when I say Ford wanted to fix those problems, but it was International that designed and built the engine. I have to say that this is the reason (if not all, most of) that Ford is now building there own diesel for 2011. There was a large dispute back in 2008 over International owing Ford money for all the engine repairs Ford had to pay for under warranty....it got so bad that the new 6.4L engine in '08 was an ugly mess Ford wouldn't pay Int. because they were owed money, Int. disagreed and held onto the engines holding production back for Ford. But anyway, the 6.0L can be a very good engine if maintained well, and not modified. Although, no matter what you buy, there are good and bad in every type of vehicle. | ||
| Etennuly |
I talked to one of my buddies at an International dealership shop, he knew all about it and explained their fix for it and said that they had repaired more than dozens of them. I also spoke with service techs at two Ford dealers who both said that hundreds of them had been done in their dealerships over the years, many of them several times. I was thinking about that link between Int'l and Ford. There just has to be some un-happyness there. I really believe if the two major weak points are re-engineered, those being the oil cooler and the EGR cooler, it should run for years without too many problems. It seems like from what I have been reading that these two items fail and either directly or indirectly cause some of the other problems to occur. Oh.....another project of healing that I did not need after two and a half years of fighting with the Uly on the FL/R/S issue that now seems to be healed.....oh look.....it now works  .....just in time for another"it cannot be fixed project"! | ||
| Etennuly |
Mark, this is for you.....testing the 4X4 out back the day I brought it home.  | ||
| Kenm123t |
The Inter Vs Ford story got better Inter said too bad Ford that motor plant that built the 6.0 is a separate company and its going bankrupt too bad Ford Ford called the receiver and said we will buy the plant Smart on Fords part who else but a Ford would want it when its tooled for 1 engine the 6.0 Ford finally reached a settlement and refused to take the next motor the 4.6 v 6 for smaller trucks. Fords new diesel is a in house project Ford builds a large array of advanced diesels in Europe I have 5 7.3 power stroke trucks love them the still have the 95 E350 nearing 300k | ||
| Fast1075 |
Get it fixed, buff it up, and trade it on a truck with the 7.3 in it...those things are tough...my boss drives one with over 300k on... | ||
| Etennuly |
I intend to fix the problems and make it do the 300,000 miles for me. That is not unlike all of the fixing I have done to the Uly so it will see at least 100,000 for me, if all goes well. If I were the type to give up on these kind of things, I never would have found BadWeB shortly after I got my Uly.  I guess I am a bit retarded. I don't bail on these projects.....I am dumb enough to find out why it does not work right and spend the time and a bit of money to make it work correctly.  I like the truck and it will do what I want it to do, if it works correctly. From what I am seeing it can be done. There are even some companies out there who have done all of the engineering on the fix. I just have to do it in a way that is affordable and proper so that I can use it for the next eight years or so confidently. It also looks like Ford Trucks have the kind of following that Buell does as far as helping one and other on web sites, gotta love that! I have already built an aluminum bed for it and am working on the fifth wheel and gooseneck setup, the receiver hitch and all of that are done. Working on the plans for a side lift gate and alternative fuel tank also. | ||
| Azxb9r |
What??? You havent had to replace the high pressure oil pump yet? | ||
| Etennuly |
Big news of the day.....BOG FOOT, the monster truck that started it all in the world of big tires and crushing cars, has switched teams!  They are now sporting a Government Motors Chevrolet body and power plants after 35 years of Blue Oval sponsorship. It seems that Ford pulled their sponsorship in 2007 and did not want to come back.  Oh well, at least they haven't gone to Toyota yet.  | ||
| Howieshotrods |
By the way I would like to thank the EPA for the 6.0L diesel, without you Ford/Inter. would never have had to build a motor with an EGR system (the only real reason they stopped production of the 7.3).  | ||
| Froggy |
What is BOG FOOT? Oh and it switched to Chevy because they have better diesels  | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I bought a Ford last year, a Focus C-Max mini mpv. It's a great car but the only reason I bought this one is because it has a Peugeot diesel engine in it. It's the 1.6l tdci only the 90hp one but it's a super little motor, very reliable, adequate for the job & very economical. The Alternative was the 1.8 Ford lump which I wouldn't give house room to. If you want a decent Ford diesel the Dagenham built 2.7 V6 twin turbo is a blinder. Goes into Landrovers, Jags, Fords, & also Peugeots & Citroens, but that's no surprise as it's a joint design. IMHO Ford have never made a diesel worth having in Europe & the only cars of theirs I'd ever consider buying have somebody elses engine in them. The European version of the Taurus, called Scorpio here had an Italian built 2.5 VM turbo diesel in it, & the old Granada's before them, back in the 80s, had (yes you guessed it) Peugeot mills. If I was in the market for a US truck with a diesel (& may well be toward the end of this year with a little luck) it'd be most probably a Dodge with a IL6 Cummins, or a (cough-spit) Chev 6.2 or 6.5. | ||
| Azxb9r |
If the EGR cooler is leaking you have no choice but to replace it. You may be able to get longer life out of the new one by leaving the EGR valve unplugged, as long as the valve is completely closed. The linear EGR valve has a tendency to stick open, so you need to verify that it is closed. On the 03 and 04 6.ol leaving the EGR unplugged will not illuminate the MIL (05 and later will). By eliminating EGR flow through the cooler, the cooler will not deteriorate as quickly. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Those engines are nightmares. We sell a ton of them, and the customers that have troubles are doing oil changes and filter changes by MILES and not HOURS. The fuel and oil systems on those trucks REQUIRE additional regular maintenance in order to keep running well. Change the oil often, change the air filter often as well. They simply do not like a little dirt. I am well-connected with the shop at Midway Ford in Kansas City- they are the largest medium duty Ford dealer in the country. If you run into issues you can't figger out, let me know...I MIGHT be able to put you in touch with someone willing to help you out- they are very knowledgable down there. | ||
| Ridenusa4l |
alright im a HUGE ford fan...but if it were me id put a cummins in it, if i had the money. They sell coversion kits and IMHO it's the best diesel in am medium duty truck PERIOD. I will admit that the 6.0 and 6.4 are VERY trouble ridden, but i do know of a FEW trouble free ones, but those were VERY early production models, it seems that the later model 6.0's have all the problems and idk why lol. I personally have faith that the new 6.7 will be FAR superior to the 6.0 and 6.4, and not to mention that just like always the superduty is a step above the rest as far as quality, towing, and hauling are concerned. A while back there was a rumor that Ford was going to get a cummins power plant, which makes sense to me because Ford OWNS the majority share in cummins last i checked lol and that my friends would DOMINATE the medium duty truck market IMHO. Also i cant find where big foot switched to chevy?? And Mr. Grumpy, I agree with the cummins, but why in the WORLD would you EVER consider a 6.2 or 6.5 Chevy diesel which is arguably the WORST diesel EVER produced for a truck!? I could undertand a (spit) duramax but the 6.2 and 6.5 are just CRAP IMO and it is REALLY underpowered for well anything worth having a diesel for, id rather have the old 6.9 ford diesel than those lol. BTW- i hope i dont come off as bashing, im honestly just throwin in my 2 cents. Jake | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
What you have to remember is that this is Europe, US vehicles here are for the pleasure of owning something different, not for work use. Also, you'll find even fewer with a gvw over 3.5 ton due to the plating regs here. So US trucks with diesels don't have to work very hard at all, but they need to keep running & have cheap parts readily available. In that respect the Chev ticks the box over the Ford. I've owned various Dodges & Plymouths over the years & loved nearly all of them, the GM products I've owned have ranged between indifferent & total crap. So you can see where my loyalties lie. On a side note, if any of you guys fall over a flag with a Pentastar emblem, think of me. | ||
| Froggy |
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/07/bigfoot-monst er-truck-steps-in-new-direction-with-chevy-body.ht ml | ||
| Ridenusa4l |
FAIL! ^^^ Jake | ||
| Etennuly |
Well I tore into it this evening. Kinda glad I'm doing it myself. Four bolts(two major fan bolts) missing from previous repairs so far. Also a 'Y' hose connector was partially broken off and leaking from an earlier repair. And a replace only 'O' ring type seal slathered with sealer with a tear in it. They sur be a lotta shit under the hood on this hear thing!.....well there was. A bunch of it is out now! I at least found the engine, had to stop there cuz I was getten tard.  | ||
| Thumper74 |
EGR delete kit... | ||
| Tiltcylinder |
We have a fleet of hundreds of these things that I'm responsible for fixing. When the five year warranties on the engines expire, I'm unsure what we're going to do. The 2008 and up models require the cab to be removed in order to work on the engine... not so bad with a standard truck, just add a hundred lights to the mix with their wiring coming out in a forearm sized bundle through the cab floor... I loved the 7.3's... (by comparison they were bulletproof) the 6.0's weren't too bad but the 6.4 is the least reliable mechanical device I've ever had the displeasure to work with. Thankfully FORD does know this and they are parting ways with International and will be building their "own design" engine for 2011. There is hope. There are EGR block off kits available for the earlier engines. No cooler means no problems. Less parts is usually better than more parts. | ||
| Blake |
Sure is nice to learn that the 7.3 is a good engine. How much do two yards of dirt weigh?  I'm really liking the thing. |
