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StingrayL82 · 08-30-2009, 04:35 PM

Marvin,

Before you take your truck to the dealership, visit this site www.hotshotsecret.com . International hired this guy to develop the product for them. I would give it a try, before giving up my truck for God knows how long.

LittleRadio · 08-31-2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StingrayL82

Little Radio,

If I were a betting man, and I knew that your truck was 100% bone stock, I'd say your heads are fine and it's your EGR cooler that's given up the ghost. Depending on the severity of the failure, you will exhibit the same symptoms as head gasket failure.

Yep. You were right. Ford Dealer installed new EGR Cooler and oil cooler. (Didn't my Excursion already have an oil cooler?)

No head gasket problems. Fixed in one day. I drove 5.5 hours from Chicago to Kentucky to pick it up last weekend, and then drove immediately back home.

I'm taking the truck and 30' TT to Texas in a few weeks. I'm still not feeling very comfortable with the truck's reliability. How can I after it's failed me 3 times (and I'm ferrying a wife and 3 small children?)

TomR · 08-31-2009, 08:25 AM

After reading the posts on this site as well as many on the Ford diesel owners site...seems like the 6.0 probably should not be considered when looking recent used??

If I had one it does seem that Stingray's post makes lots of sense.

Are the 6.0 used prices in the dumps to reflect the pretty well know issues?

Thanks Guys...Tom R in Two Harbors, MN

volvophile · 08-31-2009, 09:38 AM

Interesting stuff on this thread. Weve been talking on and off for 3 years now on replacing our 97 .73liter Ford Powerstroke. But this truck has only 147k miles on it, which is fewer miles than I can find on a used 2005-ish thats in our price range.
Its been a great truck, but its getting to an age where the ancillery engine bits are starting to fail, like the fuel pump last year and the Vacuum pump on the last trip.
Fuel pump replacement wasnt fun, but not as bad as folks say it was. The real joy in vaccump pump failure wasnt the replacement, but the 3,000 foot descent from Teller County to Colorado Springs with a 20ft trailer and no power brakes.

Looks like my best bet is to hold on to my 7.3 liter untill the new Ford powered trucks become used trucks in my price range.

Happycampers · 08-31-2009, 10:35 AM

Diesel 1 and Stingray, Thanks, I will try Hotshot Secret.\

Marvin

StingrayL82 · 08-31-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleRadio

Yep. You were right. Ford Dealer installed new EGR Cooler and oil cooler. (Didn't my Excursion already have an oil cooler?)

No head gasket problems. Fixed in one day. I drove 5.5 hours from Chicago to Kentucky to pick it up last weekend, and then drove immediately back home.

I'm taking the truck and 30' TT to Texas in a few weeks. I'm still not feeling very comfortable with the truck's reliability. How can I after it's failed me 3 times (and I'm ferrying a wife and 3 small children?)

Your Ex does have an oil cooler...it's just practice now that, if the EGR cooler has failed, Ford replaces the oil cooler at the same time, due to the fact that coolant flows through the oil cooler first. The theory is that, if the oil cooler is clogging, the EGR cooler fails.

Now that you have the new oil cooler and EGR cooler, I would drop the $176 on a coolant filter kit from Dieselsite, so you don't get this repeat problem. Invest in a new degas bottle and cap too, while you're at it.

StingrayL82 · 08-31-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volvophile

Interesting stuff on this thread. Weve been talking on and off for 3 years now on replacing our 97 .73liter Ford Powerstroke. But this truck has only 147k miles on it, which is fewer miles than I can find on a used 2005-ish thats in our price range.
Its been a great truck, but its getting to an age where the ancillery engine bits are starting to fail, like the fuel pump last year and the Vacuum pump on the last trip.
Fuel pump replacement wasnt fun, but not as bad as folks say it was. The real joy in vaccump pump failure wasnt the replacement, but the 3,000 foot descent from Teller County to Colorado Springs with a 20ft trailer and no power brakes.

Looks like my best bet is to hold on to my 7.3 liter untill the new Ford powered trucks become used trucks in my price range.

The 7.3 has had its share of problems, but the kinks have pretty much been worked out, and the engine has proven itself to be a pretty reliable workhorse. I would wait, until the Scorpion 6.7L comes out and then wait another year, to see what bugs, if any, they've worked out of it. Given that Ford is the only American car company to refuse a government bailout, their reputation is on the line with this new engine...with all of the problems with the 6.0 and 6.4, they need to get it right, right out of the box the first time.

StingrayL82 · 08-31-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happycampers

Diesel 1 and Stingray, Thanks, I will try Hotshot Secret.\

Marvin

Let me know how it works out. I've heard great things about it, but I would like to hear it from someone on the forum.

LittleRadio · 09-03-2009, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StingrayL82

I bought my EGR delete kit from www.rivercitydiesel.com after doing my research... I had my local modification-friendly diesel shop do the installation, and it ran me $570 out the door.

Various mechanics -- and RiverCityDiesel themselves -- have confirmed it's a 10-hour installation process. Anyone know a good diesel mechanic in Chicagoland that'll do the work for less than $60/hour like StingrayL82's guy?

On a related note...

My turbo just got replaced today -- probably collateral damage when my EGR cooler clogged in KY last month. That's the 2nd turbo in 12 mos and 20k miles. The turbo didn't start ringing/wailing until a few days ago. I think it got coked up by the overheating/coolant dump. My Ford service manager is petitioning Ford to NOT charge me the $100 deductible. !!

Happycampers · 09-19-2009, 09:15 AM

I have 999,105 miles on our 2005 6 liter and thought I would take it into Ford to check on the jumpy idle. They replaced #3 and #8 injector. I am getting a jug of Hot Shot Secret next week and will let you know how if it makes any difference to my truck. I also talked to a guy at the local diesel place that does bench work on turbos and he wants to try some of the hot shot secret too and said I should replace the EGR like Stingray was talking about, will do that when we get back to TX.

Marvin

Airstream01 · 09-19-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happycampers

I have 999,105 miles on our 2005 6 liter and thought I would take it into Ford to check on the jumpy idle. They replaced #3 and #8 injector. I am getting a jug of Hot Shot Secret next week and will let you know how if it makes any difference to my truck. I also talked to a guy at the local diesel place that does bench work on turbos and he wants to try some of the hot shot secret too and said I should replace the EGR like Stingray was talking about, will do that when we get back to TX.

Marvin

Dude, you drive A LOT !!

Happycampers · 09-19-2009, 03:14 PM

Hello...Actually it is 99,103 miles... 900,000 less than he stated... he is still recovering from the drugs they gave him at the hospital yesterday...

.... This is Annie..

Ray Eklund · 09-27-2009, 07:04 PM

Where were the good mechanics at Fort Walters, Texas when we were flying the TH55A training helicopter in flight school in 1970? And the Vietnamese training in the OH23's. But then again, where was the Army finding any good students?

Mechanics, like yourself, did over night maintenance wonders to keep students at Fort Walters and Fort Rucker in the air! Many mechanics, like yourself, must have spent many sleepless nights in Viet Nam patching holes and listening to complaints on vibrations! Anyone who does not believe your diagnosis, or finds it too wordy, obviously do not know anything about aircraft bolts and aviation mechanical standards.

Next time, try a Toyota Tundra. And maybe, some day, a diesel will be out there in a 3/4 ton version...

StingrayL82 · 09-29-2009, 10:30 PM

Ray, thanks for the kind words. I was a last generation UH-1 Crewchief, before they started taking them out of service and, while I was in Viet Nam, I was there in 1998, scouring the countryside for the remains of our lost brethren, with the Joint Task Force/Full Accounting.

I'm only 36 years old...time in the Army 18yrs 7mo. so far, but who's counting?

As for a Toyota Tundra, or any rice-burning vehicle, I'd rather push my Ford than drive an overseas job... I know, I know, they're made here, but where does the money ultimately end up? Toyota did unveil a diesel one-ton Tundra as a concept vehicle, but it went nowhere...didn't have the testicular fortitude of a Cummins, Powerstroke or Isuzu (Duramax).

kstampa · 09-30-2009, 01:46 AM

I was interested in learning more of TSB 07-21-4 and turbo lag. I googled it to no avail. Any online resources you know? Thanks.
-Keith

StingrayL82 · 09-30-2009, 06:39 AM

Keith,

I just happen to have it. Here you go, enjoy.

Happycampers · 10-02-2009, 10:39 AM

My jug of Hot Shot Secret came today, won't be able to change oil until Tuesday. Will let you know if anything changes.

Marvin

StingrayL82 · 10-04-2009, 01:07 PM

Looking forward to hearing what your results are. I spoke to the chemist who created this stuff for International Harvester and, from what it sounds like, a lot of time went into making sure this stuff fixes what ails our engines.

Jimarq · 10-05-2009, 04:59 PM

I became interested in this thread because our TV is a 2004 King Ranch F250 with a 6.0 PS and I hoped to improve its reliability, fuel mileage and performance. Please correct me if I'm wrong but as I understand it some of the most effective and reasonable cost things I've picked up on are:

Improve fresh air intake (what's the simpliest and most economical way)
Install coolant system filter
Install an EGR delete kit
Gut or eliminate the catalytic converter

Now to the small world part.

STINGRAY L82: My brother-in-law and sister-in-law live in Eden, TX about 45 miles east of San Angelo.
HAPPYCAMPERS: I don't know if you will remember or not but my wife Marque and I are the people who had the Squarestream FOR SALE at this years Texas Vintage Rally that you made an offer on. By the way we're probably going to go camping at Zavalla this coming weekend. Are you there or in Canada right now.
RAY EKLUND: I am one of those former TH55A mechanics from Ft. Wolters. I worked there from 1964 to 1968. Worked Line Maintenance and Stage Field out of Wolters, Downing and Dempsey.

Regards, Jimmy

Happycampers · 10-05-2009, 08:02 PM

Hi Jimmy, Yes I remember you. We are still in Canada and looks like we will be here most of the winter, plan on coming to TX maybe March and April. I had a stint put in my heart 2 weeks ago and my travel insurance tripled, It will go back to normal rate after a year. Wish we were going to be there.

Marvin