Ford Diesel Trucks

[5MilesBack]

Google f350 trak bar.
Solid front axle, leaf spring truck, so they weld a bracket to the axle housing and opposite side frame, then bolt a solid bar to the brackets. Every time the axle moves up or down the bar tries to shift the axle housing to the side, putting side load on the spring hangers and the bar mounts that were welded on. It tries to tear itself apart every bump in the road. Eventually the welds break and one end of the bar drops to the road.

Hmmm.....maybe that's the noise I keep getting these days every time I roll through a hole or something similar.

 

[husky390]

You guys have convinced me to stay with gas. What are the pros and cons of the F150 with the 4.6l v8..says its flex fuel also...thanks for the help gents, I am just not that motor savy.

What year Ford? The older late 90's -early 2,000's 4.6 V8 were dogs. My 5.4 runs awesome in KS or AZ but is a bit of a dog here in CO at elevation.

 

[RosinBag]

2010 is the one I am looking at...55k miles

 

[GibsonKuenzi]

2010 is the one I am looking at...55k miles

Do you ever tow??

If so you would be hoping for the larger engine. Also, consider if you will be increasing the tire size as that should be a factor in engine selection.

 

[RosinBag]

I tow a little but nothing real heavy and it has 35's on it.

 

[GibsonKuenzi]

Is it regeared?

 

[RosinBag]

I doubt it, but don't know.

 

[GibsonKuenzi]

I doubt it, but don't know.

I had a 5.4l that had 33" tires and I did not regear it however it would have definitely needed it with 35" tires. Gas engines are pretty sensitive to changes in tire size/weight. Not saying that it won't work, BUT it may need lower gearing.

Hope this helps

 

[RosinBag]

Thanks much

 

[nflesher]

Just google 6.4 and 6.7 Powerstroke failures and decide for yourself. You couldn't give me a Powerstroke! The 6.0 resulted in Ford and International in a huge lawsuit, but they are a decent motor if bullet proofed. Tearing them apart is a bit of a pain but if you have some mechanic skills, it can be done. I have done several EGR deletes, rebuilt some High Pressure Oil Pumps, and what not but I am not impressed with a 6.0 at all. Relying on oil pressure to work injectors is not a great design due to cold tempertures making the oil thick. The 6.4 is a disaster in the making from day one. Delete it ASAP if you own it. International decided it would be a great idea to inject fuel in the number 8 cylinder during the exhaust stroke to heat up the exhaust gas to clean the DPF. This would be the regen process. This resulted in literally thousands of engines being destoyed. The truck would need an entire new block. Piston's would sieze/crack and break causing catosrophic failures by bending rods, snapping cranks etc. Get on powerstroke.org, or any other diesel site and search this topic. I would also tell you to get on youtube and search powerstrokehelp.org. Bill is possibly the best powerstroke resource you can find, and he will explain what the 6.4 is all about with a video showing you what he is talking about. Powerstrokes make this guy a living because of their failures. The 6.4 is notorious for having weak rocker arms in the valves. They will fail, just a matter of when not if.

The new 6.7 is ok, but to new for my liking. Someone commented it has twin turbo's and it does not. Ford designed the 6.7 after Internationl and Ford parted ways and came up with a single sequential setup. This has two impellars on a single shaft. It works as a compound system (not a twin turbo system), but the genius engineers decided to use ceramic ball bearings. Turbo's spin very fast and get very hot, cermanic turns to dust at high heat, high rpms, so turbo issues were instant. I do like the reverse flow design that the 6.7 has because it gets exhaust gas to the turbo much faster. They had a lot of high pressure fuel pumps fail as well, and denied warranties claiming water in the fuel. They have since ditched their turbo and fuel pump and outcourced it to people who can build a reliable one. Ford and their warranty is a joke, and they will deny everything. Guys have literally been stuck with 10k plus repair bills because of Ford's inability to put a good diesel in a truck. I seriously urge you to stay with a gas or go with cummins or duramax. After all, both are used in Marine application's which is very demanding on an engine. The powerstroke is not.

I am by know means downing any powerstoke owner, but I see trucks work for a living and I am not impressed at all with a powerstroke.

 

[Arrowslinger]

Doug, I've got a Tundra V8 if you want to drive or borrow it.

 

[tttoadman]

I had a 6.0 and liked it. I was very fortunate, and ended up with one that was pretty good. I had an air box on it, dual 4" pipes, and no chip. I was getting over 20MPG with it when I got rid of it. Now the bad. Mine was the 03 with the "hot" turbo. It kicked ass, but the turbo would spike. The final straw was when it blew the intercooler out in Boise towing my toy hauler on vacation. I had an 08 duramax after that. They drive great, but the mileage is pathetic.

I sold all of the toy haulers and quads, so I don't need a heavy hauler any more. I was in the market for a full size pickup that I could drive about 3000 miles a year until I die. I would have been more than happy with either a gas truck or an old 7.3 truck. I ended up with a 95 powerstroke with 310000 miles. flawless original condition. I am the third owner. I have put $150 into it, and it does everything I need. A well maintained powerstroke will go 500000 without a major teardown.

Short answer: If you don't need to tow anything really heavy, buy a gas pot or an older 7.3 that people can work on. My hunting and scouting vehicle is my 2014 VW TDI wagon that gets 45MPG. I am setting it up with a cargo basket on top. I figure I am good with that until late season snows arrive. You want to blend in at a trailhead and not broadcast you hunting spots, this is the ticket.

 

[Beastmode]

Doug I believe trkyslyr(chris) has a tundra. You may try and contact him and see how he likes it. If you buy a lifted half ton with oversized tires your mileage will drop significantly. I would steer away from the half ton dodge. We have put new rearends in every single one of them at work between 70k and 120k. The f150 is a solid truck. I would be in a toss up between those and a tundra. I agree with what others say that if you don't need a diesel it's very expensive to maintain one, especially if you start having issues.

 

[RosinBag]

I just double checked the Ford F-150 I was looking at, it has the 5.4L engine and not the 4.3L. It already has the 35's on it, but the bigger motor should roll them a little better.

 

[RosinBag]

Thanks for all hose that gave input, but I wasn't happy with the used car market. I will be buying new. Thanks again....

 

[Where's Bruce?]

For those guys who own an F250 or F350....

I am looking at buying s used one and am wondering at what mileage could I start to see the motor needing more than routine maintenance? What other issues have you had with this truck?

Thanks

Biggest mistake I ever made...never again. Sticking with Dodge.
The Fix Or Repair Daily diesel was a POS that ruined my driveway and has been towed more than my boat.

 

[SDHNTR]

The guys at Tejon swear by F150s. They've been thru most other 1/2 tons and have told me the Fords are the only one that have held up. You know what that place is like and those trucks get beat to hell. Their thoughts speak volumes to me. If I was in the market for a 1/2 ton, the F150 is a no brainier, imo. And don't lift it.

 

[Jesse Minish]

Its funny how peoples onions differ... I will never drive anything other then a Ford. I have had awesome luck with Ford and terrible luck with the others.

 

[cuerro viejo]

Was thinking same think Jesse.

I've run a 6.0, 6.4 and now on my second 6.7.

Only one I had issues with was the radiator in the 6.4. All went well over 100k.

Ran a lot of deisels hard. My opinion was the old 12v Cummings was the greatest deisel made until the new 6.7 psd came out.

6.7 psd is a hell of an engine and the 2015 changes are very noticeable. Hard to keep your foot out of it.

As far as the tundra vs f250. You can't compare the two both are made for different applications. Big price difference also.
Hard to beat an IFS off road. You can make an F250 very comfortable but add an extra 5k to the price tag via a call to carli suspensions.

Cool thing about tundra is procomp just came out with a complete off the self long travel suspension kit.

Both trucks will last a long time gas mpg does suck in the tundra but really it's a wash in fuel price differences.

No matter what deisel you get now a days, make sure you are smart about fuel filters!! Any diesel with a high pressure fuel rail will have major issues if water gets in there.

 

[cuerro viejo]

You guys have convinced me to stay with gas. What are the pros and cons of the F150 with the 4.6l v8..says its flex fuel also...thanks for the help gents, I am just not that motor savy.

If you go with a 1/2 ford. I'd go with the 5.0. I know a lot of oilfield guys that abuse the hell out of them. They just keep going.