Should I get a 2004 F250 Diesel? First diesel truck!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking at a 2004 F250 Diesel, and it would be my first diesel truck. I’ve heard mixed things about the 6.0 Powerstroke. Is it worth the risk if it’s in decent condition, or should I pass?

You should do some research on the 6.0 Powerstroke engine and decide if you’re willing to take on the potential issues that come with it.

The 6.0 can be a reliable engine, but only if the necessary work has been done to fix its known problems. If that hasn’t been done, you’ll have to be the one to do it. I had one years ago, and when the engine died, I got rid of it. My mom has one, though, and after spending $4,000 to address the engine issues, it’s been running great.

@Westley
So, would you recommend just finding a 7.3 instead?

I had one of these trucks, and I was always worried about it breaking down. Do your homework on the 6.0 and really think about whether you want to deal with the potential issues and costs. Oil changes alone can run $150–$200 every 5,000 miles.

@Leighton
With a 6.0, you’re better off doing oil changes every 3,500–4,500 miles to stay on the safe side.

Hale said:
@Leighton
With a 6.0, you’re better off doing oil changes every 3,500–4,500 miles to stay on the safe side.

If you use a good synthetic oil, you can stretch it out to 6,000–7,000 miles with lab testing. Back when I had mine, I’d buy filters and oil in bulk—enough for 5-6 changes—and save money. I used Amsoil and OE Racor filters.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I’ve been researching the 6.0 Powerstroke, and it doesn’t look great in terms of reliability. Probably why the dealer is pricing this one $2,000 below the CarFax value.

@Skylar
If you’re set on a 6.0, go for an ’05–’07. Ford ironed out a lot of the early issues in those years, though there are still some things you’d need to address.

Once their known issues are fixed, the 6.0s can be great engines. Mine just hit 422k kilometers (around 262k miles), and it’s never let me down. Personally, I prefer the TorqShift 5-speed auto over the ZF6 manual, but both are solid options.

Forgot to mention—this would be my first diesel truck. So, yeah, I’m a newbie at this!

Keep in mind that the VGT turbos on these trucks don’t like sitting idle for long periods. If you don’t drive it regularly, you might run into issues.

Do you enjoy being constantly kicked in the nuts? If the idea of dealing with headaches and breakdowns excites you, then the 6.0 might be for you. But seriously, if you’re not mechanically inclined, consider a different truck.

If the truck is stock and well-maintained, it’s usually fine. But if it’s been tuned and abused, stay away. Also, keep in mind it’s a 20-year-old truck, so you’ll have to deal with age-related issues. Early models (’03–’04) had HPOP problems, but that’s usually fixed with a replacement. If the truck has studs installed, that’s a good sign—assuming the work was done right.