I’ve found a 6.4 Powerstroke diesel truck, and it’s been tuned with the EGR and DPF deleted. I’ve heard a lot of bad things about the 6.4, but does deleting it help the engine be more reliable, or am I still looking at eventual problems? I want to know what I’m getting into before I pull the trigger on this one.
There’s a reason Ford only made the 6.4 for three years… avoid it.
Kai said:
There’s a reason Ford only made the 6.4 for three years… avoid it.
Yep, 2008-2010. Even tuned and deleted, the 6.4 is still bad news.
Kai said:
There’s a reason Ford only made the 6.4 for three years… avoid it.
Yep, 2008-2010. Even tuned and deleted, the 6.4 is still bad news.
It feels like Ford knew the 6.4 was trash the moment it hit the market.
@Dru
Oh, they knew. I worked at a Ford dealer back then, and those trucks were coming back for repairs almost immediately. My dad got one and it had engine issues within weeks. By the time he sold it, he was on his third engine.
@Ren
Yeah, engine swaps on these are way too common.
@Ren
Aftermarket parts can fix some of the problems, but these trucks aren’t for the faint of heart. Definitely not a budget diesel.
Parrish said:
@Ren
Aftermarket parts can fix some of the problems, but these trucks aren’t for the faint of heart. Definitely not a budget diesel.
Fixing the 6.4 with aftermarket parts means tearing the whole engine down and spending $20k. Why not just buy something better in the first place?
The 6.4 will give you problems. Not ‘eventually’… it WILL. If you want a reliable Ford diesel, stick with these two options:
- 7.3 Powerstroke (1994-2003)
- 6.7 Powerstroke (2014+)
Everything else will cost you a fortune, no matter how much people promise ‘bulletproofing’ or tuning will fix it.
@Dex
Agreed. I’ve worked on 6.0s and 6.4s for years, and while the 6.0 can be made reliable with updates, the 6.4 is a lost cause. You’ll spend more money fixing it than it’s worth.
DO NOT buy a 6.4 Powerstroke. Deleted or not, they’re unreliable, and repairs are ridiculously expensive.
Remy said:
DO NOT buy a 6.4 Powerstroke. Deleted or not, they’re unreliable, and repairs are ridiculously expensive.
What does it mean when people say the engine can be ‘healed’?
Remy said:
DO NOT buy a 6.4 Powerstroke. Deleted or not, they’re unreliable, and repairs are ridiculously expensive.
What does it mean when people say the engine can be ‘healed’?
That’s something people say about the 6.0 Powerstroke. You can make it reliable with modifications like head studs, EGR delete, and upgraded oil coolers. But the 6.4 is beyond saving.
These trucks make great Cummins swap candidates.
Flynn said:
These trucks make great Cummins swap candidates.
Exactly. Some shops even specialize in swapping Cummins engines into 6.4 trucks.
The 6.4 was bad new, and it’s worse now. You’d be throwing your money into a black hole.
Don’t walk—RUN. The 6.4 is one of the most unreliable engines ever put in a pickup. Even deleted and tuned, it’s a ticking time bomb. Spend a little more and get a 6.7 or a well-maintained 7.3.
Just to clarify, they dropped the price from $20k to $12k. Does that change if it’s worth it?
Max said:
Just to clarify, they dropped the price from $20k to $12k. Does that change if it’s worth it?
If they’re willing to drop the price by 8k that fast, you need to run away faster.
@Merrick
Exactly. That’s a red flag if I’ve ever seen one.