Thinking about buying a 2011 F-250 6.7 … anything I should know?

Like the title says, I’m thinking about getting a 2011 Ford F-250 with the 6.7 Powerstroke. This would be my first diesel truck, so I was wondering if there’s anything important I need to know or look out for.

The 6.7 Powerstroke was designed to make up for the bad reputation of the 6.0 and 6.4 engines, so they’re pretty solid. The turbos on the 2011-2014 models can wear out prematurely, though. A lot of people upgrade to the 2015-2016 turbo for better reliability.

I bought a 2011 6.7 back in 2018 and still have it. It’s been a great truck, but I did have to replace the front hubs, the primary radiator, and the upper oil pan early on. I also installed a fuel pump disaster prevention kit to protect against fuel system issues.

Overall, it’s a powerful, great-running truck. Plus, there are a ton of YouTube videos showing how to work on it.

I don’t own one, but I helped a friend buy a 2011 F-350 a few years ago. It was 4 years old at the time with 80k miles and looked like it was in great shape. He put another 100k miles on it before selling it at 180k.

For comparison, I had two older Chevy diesels (an ‘06 and ‘07) with higher mileage during the same period. Even though my trucks had more miles, I spent significantly less on maintenance than he did on the Ford.

Not saying the 6.7 is bad, but it might cost more to maintain than other brands. My friend eventually switched to a new Silverado 3500.

I wouldn’t buy a used diesel unless it’s pre-emissions or it comes with a warranty.

I’ve got a 2012 6.7, and I love it. If you buy the truck, I recommend changing all the fluids—front/rear differentials, oil, transmission, etc. Also, check when the turbo and EGR cooler were last replaced. Ford had a tech bulletin for the EGR cooler.

Mine has 129k miles, and after some initial repairs, it’s been great. Here’s what I’ve done:

  • Engine replaced under warranty after it seized.
  • Upgraded turbo: $4,700.
  • Replaced fuel rails, upper and lower oil pans: $3,700.
  • EGR cooler: $1,300 (got reimbursed partially due to Ford’s tech bulletin).

I use clean diesel, change the oil every 5k miles, and run fuel additives. I also recently upgraded to Fox 2.0 shocks and new tires/rims. The engine now has 29k miles and runs like a champ. Take care of it, and it’ll last.