There’s a 2018 F250 Powerstroke XLT near me listed for sale at my local Ford dealer. It has 270,000 miles, and they’re asking $23,200. CARFAX says no major issues and it’s a one-owner commercial vehicle. Oil and filter were changed every 10k miles at Take 5. Is that a red flag?
I’m checking it out tomorrow. Planning to use it for my welding business. What should I be looking out for?
Check the idle hours. If it was a commercial truck, those hours could be sky-high. High mileage and high hours can mean a lot of wear and tear.
My 2014 was an oil field truck with 300k miles and 7k idle hours. It needed a turbo at 280k but has been solid otherwise. Expect to replace things like wheel bearings, seals, and other parts.
@Ollie
I don’t think it was a welding truck before, but I’ll use it for my welding business. Thanks for the advice!
Neve said:
@Ollie
I don’t think it was a welding truck before, but I’ll use it for my welding business. Thanks for the advice!
Ah, got it. Even so, being a commercial truck, make sure the idle hours aren’t crazy. These 6.7s can rack up miles pretty well, so hopefully, it holds up for you.
I’d be worried about having to replace or clean the DPF and any other emissions parts.
Lyle said:
I’d be worried about having to replace or clean the DPF and any other emissions parts.
If I end up spending money on the DPF, I might just delete it instead.
Lyle said:
I’d be worried about having to replace or clean the DPF and any other emissions parts.
If I end up spending money on the DPF, I might just delete it instead.
Not sure how easy that is on the 2018s. Make sure you check local laws about EPA stuff.
I’d try to get the price down to around $18k. That’s a lot of miles for an XLT.
Toby said:
I’d try to get the price down to around $18k. That’s a lot of miles for an XLT.
Yeah, I’m thinking the same. If it drives well and the wear and tear isn’t too bad, I won’t go over $20k out the door.
The stuff I’ve heard about Take 5 and places like Jiffy Lube would make me pass on this truck.
Xian said:
The stuff I’ve heard about Take 5 and places like Jiffy Lube would make me pass on this truck.
Take 5 can really depend on the location. I had a great experience with one back in Texas for our work trucks, but another one nearby was awful. My bigger worry is the 10k+ mile gaps between some oil changes.
@Neve
These trucks have oil life monitors, and when not towing, it might go 10-11k between changes, and Ford says that’s fine. But I agree with you—better safe than sorry. I change mine every 5k and ignore the monitor.
@Xian
Exactly. Oil is cheap, engines aren’t!
For sure. I go by seasons—May to October, we’re towing a 5th wheel all over Utah. I change it in May and November. Usually about 4-5k miles in between, and I’m happy to spend $110 or so to keep the oil fresh.
These newer trucks need the cab lifted for major repairs. That can get really pricey.