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As for the truck selection, I agree - unless you want a pretty old one, the big truck with the diesel will be a lot of money, and more than you need for landscaping business. Diesel isn't cheaper than gas anymore either. You'll use a little less of it, but not that much. You want the Diesel if you tow anything heavy at all for sure - otherwise, the gas engine will do better actually. YMMV
But I am wondering whether the problems with the 6.0L have been fixed, or not. As a retiree I'm stuck with 04 and 05 models with under 100K due to cost considerations. Preference is crew and long bed (and most I'm finding are short beds of course).
Any recent experience with these engines would be helpful. It seems to be hard to find anything on the net more recent than late 2003 to early 2004. I'm worried that the new engine is a good indicator that Navistar never did get the 6.0 right.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Basicly, if you drive 15,000 miles per year and switched from a 13 mpg Gas to a 17 mpg Diesel, you would save about $575 per year in fuel costs.
The catch is that the average diesel costs over $5,000 MORE than the same exact gas powered truck.
Accordingly, its going to take you over 8 years, closer to nine years to earn back that $5,000 inital outlay through fuel economy savings.
And this doesn't count the lower costs of Maintenance (oil changes) and repairs for the gas engine.
Mark.
kcram - Pickups Host
Mark.
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I have a 2001 F-250 with the V10. Noticed a clicking on the passenger side of the engine. Found 5 broken (Rusted) manifold studs on that side. Found 4 on drivers side. Only have 50,000 miles on vehicle. Talked with a number of other F- series owners from 1998-2003, with both the 5.4 and V-10. All looked and found same problem. Dealer is pricing the repair at about 500.00 per side, if everything goes well. 1000.00 total. Extreme could be as high as 3000.00, if cab has to be removed. How many other F-series out there have the same problem? So far 100% of the owners I have talked with have the same problem
The 6.0s will obviously never be around as long as the 7.3 was. If problems with the 6.0 were not why Ford and International replaced with a 6.4, then precisely why did they?
Why are emergency vehicles using the 6.0? Maybe because the Dodge chassis isn't as tough as the Ford (most likely reason) and you could only get a Ford with the 6.0? GMC doesn't have a good diesel reputation in that market.
Obviously there haven't been many (if any) 6.0s get as close to 400k as my 7.3 has. When there are a number of them at that point and still running and presenting no problems (only the injector pump and vacuum pump replaced on my 7.3), I'll certainly admit they are a good engine.
While the gas engine has lower oil change cost, if my old 7.3L is "average", the other costs of the gas maintenance (Plugs, plug wires, tune-up, etc.) more than makes up the difference. As I've said before, the only thing I've put into my 7.3L in 350K miles is an injector pump, a couple of injector lines, and a vacuum pump. Not counting filters, which are about the same for gas and diesel.
Broke my heart to go with the gas, but the economics favored the gas engine. My two final choices were priced the same, so purchase price wasn't an issue. At the rate I drive these days, from a mileage standpoint this could be the last vehicle I ever buy (probably not, one of the grandkids will probably help out like the kids use to and total it for me). I think it is a shame that I couldn't find a long bed crew cab. Thought I found one, but it was the short bed, the Chevy dealer who had it thought the 6.5' bed was a "standard long bed" because that is all he is seeing these days. Why is that, anybody know? Is it that people are uncomfortable driving them because of the length?
I only have about 500 miles on it right now and the mileage really is poor.
I have 13000lb trailer that I have pulled a bit just to get ready to go on a trip and I see that my mileage is low. Not sure how low it really is, but it seems to be some where around 8 mpg.
Is this about right? Seems low but maybe once the vehicle is broken in , it might be better? Anyone agree?
I agree with that (now). I went to my Ford dealer and they said the same thing.
So I have done that and in two days I am taking off on a 1500 mile trip to Florida and will know for sure what my real fuel mileage is after I get there.
Cheers and thanks again for your thoughts.