I'm looking at an 04 Crew Cab 2004 6.0 diesel with 160K miles.

What problems should I look for as a new buyer to a truck with this many miles? I have read that they have head gasket problems and EGR issues. I would hate to purchase a truck that I will be working on and dumping money into.

So, what can I look for to lead me to either purchase or not to purchase a 2004 6.0L diesel?

Thank you

 

As far as that many miles, look for what mods might have been done previous. look at the coolant degas bottle and see what the fluid level is, then test drive, and not just tool around the block, 20 miles at least and get into it. Watch for smoke coming from tail pipe. Make sure to look at what color it is. Check if it has head studs done already. Just a few things to look for.

 

SO, from what I've read, the 04 trucks are prone to head gasket problems hence the need for the stud kit, FIMC problems, and EGR issues.

I know I can get a EGR delete kit and chip for the 04, however, I have little desire to pump up the power. I would rather get better fuel milage & keep her stock. Don't get me wrong, I love the power, but for my truck..it's not my hotrod.

How difficutl is the stud kit to install? I have an 02 silverado and it is a mess in there, injectors, wires and such, I would hate to tear into that thing. Currenlty, I have some trans issues and consdiering selling it as the cost of a new trans I can get a very nice looking F350....I'm hesitant as I do not want to be chasing gremlins wth dead presidents if ya know what I mean

Thank you for your help

 

Not just the 04 bud all 6.0l are prone to all of those problems 03-04 are a tad different than the 05-07 but still have egr and head gasket failure if some issues aren't addressed I have an an 04 with everything done and its problem free just have to know how to take care of it

 

I have a 04 with 266k on it, stock head bolts, deleted EGR and new oil cooler. The most important thing to do is test the oil cooler and also install a coolant filter, clogged oil coolers is what causes the EGR cooler to fail and also has a hand at hurting head gaskets. If you plan on leaving the truck stock then do yourself a favor and replace the oil cooler after doing a complete coolant flush, delete the EGR cooler while you are in there and then install a coolant filter and the truck will be nice and reliable, while you have the truck down to do this work it would be a great time to send the FICM out for repair/even if it is OK now/ that way you won't have issues with it in the future, there are solder joints that fail and can cause starting and running issues but a repaired FICM is better then a new one and will last much longer.

 

How much will these parts cost me; EGR Delete kit, coolant filter and new oil cooler? Where is the best place to purchase these kits? How do you...or better yet where do you go to get the FIMC repaired & how much does it cost?


I may consider chipping the 04 F350 6 Liter up to a 50hp incrrease....maybe. Will a 50hp increase cause further problems with a basically stock 6L? I have been reading so many negative things about the 03-05 6Liter's, it has me thinking of just keeping my Duramax and having the trans replaced. I have a chip in my duramax and I run the 50hp tune and man, it makes a HUGE difference. I don't need anymore that the 50hp gain.

I"m torn on trading in my duramax and getting the 04 F350 6 liter; one minute, I"m selling my duramax and purchasing the 04 ford F350 6 liter, then the next minute, I"m rebuiding my trans and keeping my duramax and not purchasing the 6 Liter

 

Coolant filters are about $150 egr deletes are anywhere from $100-$300 depending in what you get I get everything off eBay but you have to know what your buying I got my kit of $110 and it came with a neW up pipe rather than just plugging the egr outlet also new oil cooler and rebuild kits can be found for around $300 took me about a week to do everything in my truck working after work on it and I did head studs anda bunch of other goodies

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I know a lot of guys here have mixed fealings on tuners the most recommended is the sct with custom tunes which is what I have gearhead custom tunes everything I have I did 415 on the dyno which is I was after

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As for the ficm I sent mine to a place in texas called ficm USA if I remember correctly I upgraded to the 58v unit

 

I had bad ficm, sent to ficmrepair.com, ad on here and got full repair plus 40 hp tune. Makes it respond like gas f150 now, quicker throttle response and smoother truck. Feels stock till u mash it and **** off acuras. Great service and upgrade. Looking forward to coolant filter and 4 in exhaust next. . . Programmer and studs end of summer? Love mine but religious about maintenance. Look on here for recommended filters and fluids . . Lotta good guys here like mdub.

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I heard mixed reviews on the 58 v mod too. Not bashing it, just understand more heat in a delicate area. . Think it's just my if it will break it will happen to me syndrome.

 

I found an amazing 2004 F350 6 liter, however, I see so many 6 liters for sale....it kind of concerns me

So, would you guys advsie me to purcahse one or not? Sounds like all I need to do to make a 6 liter reliable is to do the EGR delete, coolant filter kit and rebuild the oil fliter & FICM unit...Then they are reliable? I must say, I am in LOVE with the one I am looking at, just a matter if the truck is still available & trading mine in on it...we will see


EGR Delete...do you have to chip the truck after this mod...will it throw a code and make the truck run like crap?

Also, rebuild the oil cooler....how difficult is this mod?

And a coolant filter kit. I have never heard of a coolant filter kit. How does this filtration system work?

Thank you all for your help!

 

First there really is no "chipping" a 6.0, there is programming.
If you delete the EGR it will throw a CEL but will not affect how it runs, butit wil run better, if you get a SCT programmer you can use that to turn off the CEL and also run mild tunes with little fear of doing harm, the good thing about the SCT is there is trans tuning for them too wich really helps.
The coolant filter is a bypass type, it taps into the heater line then into the lines to degass bottle, probably take you an hour for install, the blocks are sand cast and some residual sand from the casting that stuck to the cast iron works loose and can clogg the tiny passages in the oil cooler which then can cause the EGR cooler to fail wich can cause head gaskets to fail. Coolant flows through the oil cooler first then to the egr cooler then back into the motor, all International trucks that run the 6.0/vt365 come with the coolant filter installed from the factory FYI.
The oil cooler requires you to remove the intake manifold and turbo/ also needed to do the EGR delete anyway. You could do all the updating in one weekend. You will want to pressure wash the intake too because they get nasty inside from the EGR, some guys that don't have a pressure washer just pretreat it with a good degreaser then take it to a self service car wash to pressure wash it.