I've had this 6.0 since it had 40k on it, and it seemed to be running fine for the most part, but it has been slowly accruing issues with 66k on it now. It's stock as far as I know.

It eats coolant just ever so slowly; I don't think it's a leak because I never see any on the ground. I filled it about 4 months ago and it's below "low" today on the bottle.

It has intermittent "surging," where the engine will kind of push multiple times, even though the throttle is in the same position.

Just recently it has started to have low power on takeoff. I can give it any throttle position, but it does not really take off until about 1500 RPM. This morning it was actually losing RPM when I gave it more throttle. It also emits a slight amount of black smoke when I give it fuel and it gets no power.

I don't know if it's relevant, but the other week, when it finally started to get really cold outside, it smoked for an entire 40 minute ride, then smoked when I started it back up, for the whole 40 minute back, then the next day it didn't smoke anymore. It was white smoke, and definitely not steam.

Any help on diagnosing these issues would be appreciated, thanks!

 

sounds like egr cooler is leaking for one. whens the last time you replaced fuel filters?

 

Put in new filters when I got it at 40k

 

its had the same fuel filters for 26k miles!!!???!!!

 

your drinking coolant is most likely from your EGR Cooler. I dont know if you know much about them, but they are the most common fail part on the 6.0. pretty much what it is, is an Exhaust Gas Recirculator (for emissions purposes) cooled by the engine cooling system. after a while they will crack internally and you'll notice the the truck starts to drink coolant, a little smoke (if minor), and weird running conditions like what your describing.

The surging could be caused by your turbo, which also is not uncommon. what you have is a VGT (Variable Geometry Turbo), how that works, is you have veins around your exhaust turbine in the exhaust housing of the turbo, they move accordingly to engine rpm and load to produce maximim efficiency and boost at all engine rpms. Those veins being stuck or not working at all would explain the no power/surging because the truck no longer has control over what the turbo does.

Did the smoke smell sweet? or like fuel?

other possible causes could be head gaskets or injectors (which unfortunately are also not uncommon). to look at and test injectors you'll need a good scan tool

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03powerstroke and Millerboyz, you beat me to it while i was writing this haha

 

Are there any ways to deal with the EGR? I've seen the EGR deletes and such, but I have limited mechanical knowledge. Can I install the delete kit by turning a wrench, or is there any tuning or welding involved?

I did notice that the turbo didn't spool up until the no power condition went away; it would stay at 0 PSI. I suppose I should have Ford take a look at my turbo.

The smoke didn't smell sweet, but I didn't put my head in it or anything .

 

you need to change those filters, mine only last about 10k miles

 

pull the egr valve and check for it being wet, or has alot of heavy carbon build up. man you gotta change those filters, bet itll take care of your drivability probs.

 

Oh wow only 10k miles? I talked to international and am picking those up later today ..

Any other maintenance tips or anything that I should abide by to keep anything else from happening?

 

-ALWAYS change the oil at 5k, NOT 7500 like the manual says...
-the fuel filters can go 10-13k
-make sure batteries have good voltage

these trucks run ALOT better on clean fuel and oil, they also NEED strong batteries