[fordnut350]

I know that the F series trucks have lots of issues with the 6.0, but how about the vans? I have a friend that is a fleet manager for an ambulance company. He knows I have some knowledge about diesels and he asked what are the weak links on the 6.0 and what to do about them. I explained the F series issues with the turbo, egr and oil coolers, but was not sure if it applies to the E series. They have replaced two motors on 06 and newer rigs. Any tips to make the rigs more reliable?

 

[ex mounty]

The Vans have a slightly better track record. They are a detuned version of the same engine. They also have a better locale for the FICM that lengthens its life.
Unless that Ambulance company is on top of the flushing of the Ford Gold (every 40-50K miles) and continually checking the nitrites, they could swap them all over to the Fleetrite ELC (or Rotella ELC) coolant. It would require a big investment of time and commitment in a fleet environment though. Flushing out one engine can take a full day, I can't see them dropping that kind of time into doing it the right way.

All 2005-2006 engines (not van model year, engine model year..it can be different) have the weak link in the High Pressure Oil System. The STC (snap to connect) fitting on the High Pressure Oil Pump (HPOP). It isn't a matter if it will fail, just when. It will give them no-starts when the truck is hot.
If they could get gauges on there and teach the drivers what to look for, that would save them a ton of headaches as well. At least the coolant temp and the oil temp. The drivers would be able to see that the 15° delta was being reached and report the problem before the EGR cooler splits. That would save a few sets of headgaskets.

If they run a full synthetic 5W40, that would quiet the engines down and the injectors like synthetic oil more than the "dinosaur" oil. The dino oils have varnishes that can collect within the injectors. When that happens the injector will stick and not operate properly when cold, a term was created to define this situation, it is called "stiction."
Synthetic oils do not have the varnishes in them, so the stiction issue goes away.

Thats about all I can think of off the top of my head right now.
The link in my sig "basic info" would help, but I seriously doubt a fleet is going to institute the changes.

 

[Premier Kirby]

I have a 2008 E-350 6.0 van that I bought new & I have 90,000 on it now. No Major issues of the normal things you hear about but I have been in the shop a half dozen times for annoying stuff like turbo hoses , wiring etc. All Covered under warranty so far.

 

[bbasso]

I was a little too worried about the 6.0PSD so I went with a 2005 E350 V10...
Coming from the 7.3 PSD Van it was hard to give into the 6.0 so I gave the 6.8 V10 a try and LOVE IT.

 

[Ujoint]

My 06 6.0 has been great, no issues @ over 90K. I just finished up some preventative maintenance. EGR cooler delete, turbo cleaning/rebuild, oil cooler screen & a new programmer. I feel much better about it, and looking forward to another 90K!

 

[rfabro]

6.0's blow head gaskets for two reasons. Powering up with a chip(stock head bolts stretch) and coolant side of oil cooler clogging resulting in ruptured EGR cooler then blown gasket. Thorough coolant flushes and a coolant filtration system will prevent oil cooler clogging. This is the best preventive maintenance and upgrade you can do on a 6.0 that hasn't had problems yet. If you do blow head gaskets, have head studs installed with the build and they'll never blow again. Maybe just do an EGR delete then too so you never have that problem, even if that wasn't what did it that time.

Good news is, Wikipedia says, "The reliability of the later 6.0 L engines has been excellent. The 2006 model year 6.0L engines had the lowest rate of warranty claims across the board for Ford Motor Company when compared to all of Ford's gas and diesel engines."

 

[ex mounty]

The weakness inherent to the 06 model year is the STC fitting on the HPOP.
(STC= snap to connect .. just like the air hoses)
(HPOP = High Pressure Oil Pump)

Why they ever thought the use of that style fitting was a good idea is beyond me.

The 07 truck does not have this fitting. For that reason I believe that the 07 had even less warranty work done than the 06

Even better news for the E-series van owners is that the 6.0 continued until 2010 and has even fewer warranty claims than the trucks did.

bbasso; You may want to reconsider....

 

[bbasso]

I hear ya, but too late.
This V10 is really impressive and the trans is heaven sent. Tow/Haul button along with Mike's 5 Star tune... It's hard to explain how nice, empty or loaded up and towing 7500lbs TT (with XR650L in van)

my only issue with the V10 it drinks gas like I owned Shell.com, yeeesh.

 

[drinkypoo]

My brother had a V10 dodge ram, it was wonderful to see it tow. But not so wonderful to stop at twice as many gas stations...

 

[Premier Kirby]

The Dealers are in horror of seeing a 6.0 Van coming in for service. It is a serious $%$% to work on! But the dealer Ive been visiting recently is being a good sport about it (at least in public) Im surprised the Diesel tech dosnt call in sick when they see these on the schedule.

 

[TousleyParts]

The Dealers are in horror of seeing a 6.0 Van coming in for service. It is a serious $%$% to work on! But the dealer Ive been visiting recently is being a good sport about it (at least in public) Im surprised the Diesel tech dosnt call in sick when they see these on the schedule.

:lol:

We have a few guys that are used to the abuse. "It takes a little getting used to" I have been told, but is a normal daily routine for some with all of the buses and cube vans out there. If you take enough stuff off, I know there is an engine down there somewhere.

 

[hapaschold]

my local ford dealer all but gave up working on my '04 6.0 e350, and put it in writing. made easy case for the lemon lawyers ! ! ...said it was taking up too much lift time and he had the service account with the county.. needless to say i ll never buy a ford again from them........
i have a v 10 e 350 on order now, i m not much of a 5.4 fan.....

 

[jimmy]

Couple of things:
The STC fitting was used into the 07 model year, the supercession to the threaded fitting was not aligned with model year changeover.

Many head gaskets fail due to gross overboost when unison ring/vane issues happen with turbo and boost is not regulated.
My 2006 F450 did this with no EGR cooler or oil cooler issues. It had a few bouts of lower power on take off and then one day I was towing and it did this and I stayed in throttle and when it finally built boost, BOY did it ever build boost! I immediately smelled coolant as the leaked combustion pressure opened relief in tank cap......