Ford 6.4 Diesel

chris

chris

cltdba
Moderator
Joined
Sep 28, 2009
Location
Concord, NC
Thought I'd post up here and ask everyone's opinion on the 6.4 Fords. I'm looking at a 2008 F350. Real nice truck, but high mileage at 91k. Price is right for this year, but I don't know much about these engines. So what are your opinions, things to look for, normal problems, concerns, etc?

Meanwhile, I'll be browsing the powerstroke forum.
 
The biggest issue is the coolant running into the egr system, when the seal goes coolant goes into the egr and then into the intake. They sell kits to block these passages off and I would plan on doing that. Also you need to change the fuel filters on time every time or it causes injector problems. Almost any major workrequires removal of the cab because of the tight engine bay and the fuel economy sucks. Also the warranty is just about to run out.
 
I don't have one, but I'm considering one as well so I'll share what I've found. Supposedly they have/had a problem with their radiators cracking and leaking. I also heard they have a problem with "making oil", although the only problems I've read about were where owners were running 10K oil change intervals.

I've also understood they don't get great MPG's with all of the emissions/DPF stuff on them, but thats pretty much standard with any modern day diesel.
 
Thanks guys. I was afraid of the fuel mileage. I'm trying to find some data on exactly what kind of mileage they get. This will be used for towing 95% of the time.

I also found some info about job 1 trucks having the most problem. I'm trying to figure out how to identify a job 1 truck.

Ideally, I'd like to find (and finance) a goat with a 5.9 24v, but they're aging and banks don't like to lend.
 
I've got a cousin with one. 3/4t 4wd crew cab. Last I heard, she and her husband had a standing bet to see who could break 13mpg on a tank. Neither were able to claim the prize... in an empty truck.
 
ToaDisco said:
I don't have one, but I'm considering one as well so I'll share what I've found. Supposedly they have/had a problem with their radiators cracking and leaking. I also heard they have a problem with "making oil", although the only problems I've read about were where owners were running 10K oil change intervals.

I've also understood they don't get great MPG's with all of the emissions/DPF stuff on them, but thats pretty much standard with any modern day diesel.
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Right on all accounts. The radiator probably been replaced by the PO, they get less than stellar mpg, and as soon as the warranty runs out do a DPF delete. My understanding is that the "oil making" is due to the DPF cleaning in Regen mode.
I have an 08 with 95k and I'm doing the delete as soon as I hit 100k. I love the truck but it does have it's issues and quirks.
 
cltdba said:
Any idea how much you mileage you can gain from the DPF delete?
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Reports vary from 2-5 up to an amazing 9 or 10. I suspect it's somewhere in the 2 to 3 range. I'll know for sure in a month or two.
The greatest benefit will hopefully be stopping the fuel in the oil problem.
 
My Son had an 08 4WD stock all the way. 13mpg empty and 8 pulling a lawnmower trailer. He couldnt keep a transmission in it either, 3 in 100,000 miles si he finally traded it for a chevy.
 
foreman1063 said:
Reports vary from 2-5 up to an amazing 9 or 10. I suspect it's somewhere in the 2 to 3 range. I'll know for sure in a month or two.
The greatest benefit will hopefully be stopping the fuel in the oil problem.
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Isn't the fuel in the oil a problem with excessive low idling? I read that you can do a wiring mod to help keep the idle high.
 
cltdba said:
Isn't the fuel in the oil a problem with excessive low idling? I read that you can do a wiring mod to help keep the idle high.
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That seems to be part of the problem as well but from what I'm reading, regen seems to be the major culprit. Never heard of the wiring mod, that's interesting though. Might be something a tuner could help with as well.
 
Fuel in the oil can be a problem with any diesel that's low idled excessively.
 
foreman1063 said:
That seems to be part of the problem as well but from what I'm reading, regen seems to be the major culprit. Never heard of the wiring mod, that's interesting though. Might be something a tuner could help with as well.
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I know the 6.0s and later had a feature where they idle high when the ambient air temp is low. I noticed that working tonight on the 6.4 I test drove.

Here's a link to the upfitter high idle switch mod:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/672066-upfitter-switch-for-high-idle.html
 
i deleted my dpf and installed a full exhaust and a spartan tuner with custom tunes and i am getting 21 with my 08 cc 4x4 and it is my daily driver. before the mod my fuel mileage was around 13. well worth the $1400 i spent to do it!!!!!!!!!
 
Their is absolutely no way I'd buy one.You have to pull the cab to do just about any work to the engine and Ford will find any reason they can to not warranty them.
 
But how much work do you have to actually do to them? Seems to me they are dependable. If I can spend $1500 to get the 18+mpg I want then this may be a decent buy.

Here's the one I'm looking at:
1FTWW33R08EC48235-1c.jpg
 
cltdba said:
But how much work do you have to actually do to them? Seems to me they are dependable. If I can spend $1500 to get the 18+mpg I want then this may be a decent buy.
Here's the one I'm looking at:
1FTWW33R08EC48235-1c.jpg
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EGR delete,any tubo issues(they have two),head gaskets,anything involving the fuel system.You would think a new lo mileage truck wont need any work done to it but I know of one right now w 32K thats gettin head gaskets.I'm not sayin everyone will be that way but Im not willin to gamble that much money.
 
Yea, I wouldn't EVER buy ANYTHING where ANY part of the repair instructions is "remove body". The guy that designed that truck ought to have his asshole removed with a spoon. End of story.
 
chris if i was in the boat to get another find a eariler model like i did and get a 7.3.... the bank had no problem handing the cash over to me...dont get me wrong i love the power of my 6.0 and im getting around 18 hwy and around 14 to 16 around town average 300 to 450 miles to a tank
 
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