Looking at a 2003 F 350 auto, crew cab, dually, 4X4 Kings Ranch, with 51000 miles on it. It also has a Banks Bullet Tuner with boost gauge. Great looking truck and run good, but keep hearing bad things about the 6.0 Diesel, will be pulling about 14000# 5th wheel. Any experience, would be appricated.

I had one when they first came out. I was pulling a 28ft 5th and when it ran good it ran great. I can't remember how many time I had to take it back in to have the ECM reflashed because of various problems. When I got rid of it it was on it's third turbo. I also had problems with the EGR system fouling. I do remember air and fuel filters cost an arm and a leg. Like I said, when it ran good it was a match made in heaven with the engine and transmission. Boy, did it pull and pull easy. I got rid of it because I lost confidence in it's reliabilty and it was going to the shop too often. HTH...

The most common problem I've heard of with the early 6.0's is the turbo and EGR Valve. Seems Ford worked out the issues by `06 which is the year I had. I had absolutely no problems whatsoever. If you are buying from a dealer, ask for the Oasis report (maintenance history of anything Ford did on the vehicle). If it is a private purchase, see if you can get the VIN and ask a dealer to run a report.

When you go to forums you generally only read or hear about troubles. Makes the entire line look bad. Not many people will post anyting unless they have an issue and are looking for info.

I'm on my 3rd Ford diesel. I had a 7.3l, 6.0l and now a 6.4l. I have not had an issue with any of them. In my personal experience all 3 are awesome motors. But then there are bad ones in any make, model or type of motor.

We have an 03 PSD, Crew, Short Bed, SIngle Axle, and have had no problems with it at all. When we first bought it, it was used with 19,000 miles and I had the dealer go through it with a fine tooth comb.

They said the Turbo wouldnt make enough boost, replaced it under warranty and except for oil changes and adding fuel to the tank, we havent had a bit of a problem.

The motor and trans are beautiful and pull our 25' Sunline TT beautifully. I love the engine brake mode which will hold me back while decending without ever touching the brakes.

I'd have the dealer check it over and make sure to test the turbo for proper boost, but other than that, cant think of a thing to stop you from getting a great truck.

Good Luck, and Merry Christmas

Pat

Seems you either got a good engine or a bad one. The folks with good ones were lucky and did fine. If you got a bad one...it was a real mess. EGR, turbo, injectors, reprogram after reprogram and oil leaks through the casting.

I intend to drive my 02, 7.3L for a long time to come.

Ken

Thanks for all of the imput, I just don't have a warm ,fuzzy feeling about the 6.0. I wish I could find a nice, low mileage 7.3, because several years ago I had a 1997, great truck, like to have it back. For now I think I will forget about the 6.0 Ford. Might go with a later model Dodge Cummins, as I just need to upgrade to a 1 ton dually, to be comforable pulling my 5th. and do not want to go new.

For what it's worth I just bought an 03 crew, diesel with the 6.0. It had 45,000 miles on it. I checked around and talked to friend who is a Ford service Manager. Yes there were problems with these engines. According to him they appeared before 30,000 miles. In any case they are warranteed to any owner for 5 yrs/100,000 miles on Engine and it's components. I checked the vehicle thoroughly with Car Fax and an Oasis report from Ford and found no problems. All recalls were repaired. You know you can find problems with any engine or truck. You don't want to hear some experiences with Dodge and GMC that are going around. good Luck

For what it is worth, if I had to get a new/newer truck right now, I'd go shopping for a Dodge Cummins over the other two.

Ken

Though lots of people have the 6.0 and have had no problems, I personally don't think I would want to own one of the early ones...

If I were in your shoes, I'd either go a year earlier and get a 7.3, or think about Chevy or Dodge.

The other thing to consider is the warrenty issue with a tuner. The warenty on the motor may be voided if it has tuner, and with the possibilty of issues with an earlier 6.0 I would make sure they will honor the warrenty if their are problems down the road.

My next door neighbor has a 03 F250 with the 6.0 and he has had no problems. He uses it to pull his 55 Chevy to the drag strip around here.
I would have got one last time but the dealer just wanted too much difference and I did not like the color of the interior. He talked about doing better and finding one with a different interior but I never got a call and in a few weeks had a Chevy.
Tom

Purchased NEW 2007 Dodge SLT 3500 c.cab dually 6.7 diesel yesterday. After reading all the replys to my ? about the 6.0 Ford, decided to go with a new Dodge. Thanks for all of the advise. that's what is great about this forum, helping each other--Happy New Years to all.

Good luck with your NEW purchase. And Happy New Year to you.

I know there are some lucky folks out there that have had good luck with the 6.0 or sick-oh as some of us call it.I hope they stay lucky.
I bought a new 95 7.3 and a new 2000 7.3 PSD
Both great engines and I was sold on diesels except for the fact that my wife is bothered by the smell so when we bought my 04 6.0, we loved it because it had very little exhaust smell and it was quiet and then it started breaking down.
The first time, they reflashed it and it became noisier and smelled like the 7.3s. The EGR plugs up and soot going through the turbo wears the turbo out. The last time mine broke, the Ford tech wanted to change my turbo which was showing wear at only 6 months of age and low mileage.
Ford said no because they were trying to control the excessive warranty costs of the 6.0 hoping it would make it past warranty and allow me to pay my own repair. This is a smoking gun on many 6.0 engines and IMHO it is an engine you want only while it is under warranty. To recap, I buy new trucks for reliability. The 6.0 was harder on fuel than my previous 7.3s. It stranded me on the road three times and the turbo was on the way out. I decided to stick with Ford so I ordered a V10 and so far I am pleased.
If I decided to go back to diesel, I would choose a Cummins or a Dmax but I will never own another new Ford Navistar V8.

Congrats on the new Dodge. Great choice.

I would pass if he has been running a tuner on the truck. If you elect not to do that at least check the oasis reports at his dealer to see what the service records look like. In 03 Ford did have a lot of problems with the 6.0's. I had an 04 that was problem free. However, I know quite a few guys who tuned them and ended up with oil leaks, turbo problems and tranny issues. Then jumped on the band wagon of crying foul to Ford. Ford make a good truck as does Dodge and Chevy. Drive all three, speak to people who own the truck you are considering. Here is a Ford forum which has both good and bad. www.dieselstop.com, there is enough reading for anyone considering a Ford diesel. I hope this helps you.