1st Diesel Truck. How2?

[fms]

Picking up my new F550 in the morning.
1st diesel truck. Will be used for plowing/salting and landscaping.

I've spent some time on this site today trying to figure out proper care to make it last and what I've gathered is:

1) Let it warm up for 2 +/- minutes and then go gentle until it gets to temperature. Once at temperature make sure to spool the turbo occasionally.
2) Use a fuel additive.
3) Let the truck sit for a minute or two at idle after working the truck to let the gasses out of the turbo before turning the truck off.
4) Don't modify the motor or you'll increase the possibility of gremlins.
5) There's a lot of negative experiences with the 6.0.

What am I missing?
Synthetic oil at 5k miles like a gasser?
Break in methods?
Change oil early on a new truck?

[Markford14]

1. You dont need to let it warm up for 2 minutes. Personally I start it and let it go for 30 seconds and drive off and i try to keep the RPMs under 2000 untils it warmed up.
2. Not required but most do (me included)
3. It is good to let it idle off for a minute after hard work
4. Dont modify it unless you feel like losing your warranty
5. There is all of negatives about the 6.0 but remember there is plently of good storys for every bad one.

You dont need systhetics but they can get you more the 5k. Im using rotella 15-40 i go 5k on that.
Break in-methods follow the manual. Try to advoid heavy towing and haul for the 500-1000 miles. Do not drive at a constant speeds.
It is not required to change the oil early but I have read alot of people on the site did which let me to do the same. First change was at 1100 on mine.

Other than good luck with your truck

[fms]

Thank you.

[hitecdan]

Not sure where you live, but be sure to take a look at the oil recommendations in the owner's manual. Cooler temps may require something not as thick as a 15W-40 oil. Lots have been getting good results with a synthetic 5W-40 this time of year (as well as year round usage). Also note that the 6.0L shears oil pretty quickly. Ford recommends oil changes every 7,500 miles under ideal conditions. Since most don't live in the ideal zone, go by the severe duty maintenance schedule and change the oil at least every 5,000 miles. If you don't have a copy of the owner's manual, you can download a PDF version from here:

https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp

Also, on #3, your letting the bearings cool down after working the turbo. The turbo can get pretty hot under heavy loads. Hot enough that if you shut down the engine right away, the oil in the turbo's bearing spaced can coke up.

[ford_doctor]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fms</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Picking up my new F550 in the morning.
1st diesel truck. Will be used for plowing/salting and landscaping.

I've spent some time on this site today trying to figure out proper care to make it last... </div></div>

If you want this truck to last do not install a salt spreader. I see them all in my bay and a salt spreader will likely drastically cut the practical life span of a truck to 4-5 years before many expensive and repeated repairs are necessary to keep the truck on the road. I have had many customers pay dearly for oil pans, dipsticks, rotted out brakes, brake lines, suspension parts - you name it including added labor to many jobs for broken bolts and rust rotted fasteners.

I realize you need this truck for your business which snow removal and salting is a big part of it. At the very least can I suggest using one or two older trucks that could be considered "disposable" for the salting? I know of a few companies here in Jersey that have begun using their older pick-ups for salting to spare their new and quite expensive trucks that they use for everything. But if you have to do it, you have to do it I suppose. Remember to grease the heck out of everything, there is no magic paint or coating that will stop the corrosive effects of salt but may be able to minimize it by using shielding, rinsing well after salting and keeping the truck clean, inside and out.

Good luck with the truck, it will serve you well.

[fms]

Thank you for the replies.

The salt spreader is going to have to stay. An older truck + labor + insurance + maintenance can't happen at this point. I bought the new truck because my 3/4 ton was getting crushed from the weight of a spreader.
I pressure wash my truck after every storm and once a week whether it needs it or not.
I'm looking into rust proofing products to slow the process. Has anyone had luck with any particular product?

[OMCUSNR]

Since it looks like you are going into winter ops with this truck, I suggest you use Schaeffer's 9000 5W40, add a bypass filtration system, and use OA's to determine when to change.

Oil Analysis & bypass filtration are time honored fleet maintenance items to reduce costs. Schaeffer's is on of the most shear stable oils for a HEUI injection system, and its likely you can get 15k out of it. Keep solid maintenance records & the OA reports. Take your 1st OA at 5k,7.5k, 10k, 15k, etc.

Another addon I'd consider is a coolant filter. I think I'd look into a good set of gauges too, and make sure fuel pressure is one of them - most guys get boost, EGT, trans temp for the 1st three & some add the fuel pressure. The factory "gauges" are really 3 position idiot lights.

[jwplunkett]

Hello all --- just got registered for this forum --- The string of e-mails prior to are exactly what I was looking for ---- I have also just purchased my first Diesel Ford F250 6.0 Yr 2006 13,200 miles and I desire to maintain same with the highest quality fluids --- so to that end I have been researching Schaeffer & Amsoil as well as Shell Rotella T 15W40 Triple protection --- it appears the oil of recommendation is an individual matter of choice --- But what I have gathered is no matter what Diesel oil a person uses in the 6.0 Diesel do NOT go with any synthetic manufacturer EXTENDED oil interval --- change at 5K miles regardless of tow or no tow. ---- I am also looking into the PRE-oiler Equipped with Bypass filter offered by Amsoil the Pre-oiler pushes oil to critical points in engine BEFORE starting so per the Marketing folks ---- prevents DRY starts that also accounts for the major of wear in any engine ( Gas or Diesel ) again per marketing ---- So finally to get to my questions looking for all copied suggestions / recommendation / comments etc of Engine Diesel OIL, Transmission Fluid, Transfer case, differentials, Plus is it money well spent to ADD the Pre-oiler & Bypass filtration system ---- I plan to change all vital fluids to Synthetic ---- many thanks in advance for your return forum reply --- John from Colfax NC [/size]

[OMCUSNR]

That's why I suggest Schaeffer's - its one of two that have shown itself to be shear resistant in a 6.0. I haven't personally used it because of cost, but with bypass filtration and Oa's, it should be good out to 15k.

I get 7.5k out of Delo 400. Yes - it shears to 30W, but my OA's have come back good, and the truck starts and runs strong. No issues whatsoever.

OMC

[jwplunkett]

Many thanks OMCUSNR_RET --- for your reply [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img] ---- do you have any suggestions on the Transmission fluid ?

[OMCUSNR]

If you have a torqueshift, Ford says Mercon SP is the only one, and so far they are the only one offering it. AMSOil says theirs meets spec.

If you have an 07, the drive train warranty is out to 60k, so that's 2 trans services. If it's under that, your 1st trans service (30k) is the last time the trans is under warranty, so after that, take your pick of fluids.

[jwplunkett]

OMCUSNR_RET --- outstanding advice --- I will stay with the FORD Transmission Fluid until warranty is over --- then will reevaluate the Trans Fluid -- you are correct my owners manual for F250 Yr 2006 states to change every 30K miles ---- thanks again -- John from NC