[Ron Earp]

I've owned my 04 Lightning since new and it has been a GREAT truck. No failures, never been in the shop for anything - nothing. Change oil, brakes, tranny fluid, and it runs. I use it as a DD and I tow my 7100 lb race trailer with it (load levelers, air bags, tows fine). Very happy with the truck.

But as a Ford nerd and closet diesel guy I've been attracted to running a diesel truck. If I did I really would want a manual transmission diesel truck, 2WD, standard cab. And I've found one just like that with low miles, a 2006 2WD standard cab manual transmission diesel. My understanding is Ford stopped manuals in 08, so for a manual truck I either get the old Powerstroke, the 6L, or the super rare 08 6.4L model.

However I don't know much of anything about these engines or trucks and have some specific questions:

• What sort of mileage would this truck get around town and towing? I'd like realistic figures, not the best you get or the worst. For reference the Lightning gets around 12-13mpg city, 15 highway, and 7.5-8mpg towing.
• Are these 6L diesel engine known to have problems? What sort of problems?
• The engine seems short lived in the Ford lineup, are parts available?
• Is there a lot of aftermarket support for the 6L?
• Any rumors of Ford having a manual in new trucks?

Thanks for the patience with my ignorance.

 

[TonkaThunder]

Ford used manual transmissions up through the 10 model year.It was rare though. Towing u will get a lot better gas mileage. Some 6.0's were problematic, lots weren't. Tons of aftermarket support. No manuals as of yet.

 

[Ron Earp]

A "lot better" - meaning around 12-13? That is what my buddy's Dodge diesel manual gets with my trailer and that is good, but, towing is only around 10% of the usage for my truck.

How about non-towing mileage on a 6L manual?