Hi Scotty. I've been shopping for a 2005-2007 Ford F350 4x4 dually 6.0 diesel for the better part of a year and a half. As we all know, it's very difficult to find one in decent shape for its age and typical use history. Also, I acknowledge the well known, well documented pattern problems with the 6.0 Powerstroke. My goal was to find the cleanest, rust free example with relatively low miles within that three year production run. I looked for a good balance of miles and engine hours, as well as a clean body and chassis; free of any problematic rust. I cannot afford $80k - $100k for a new truck, and the 6.4 Powerstroke is worse than anything else out there. The 7.3 is harder to find. GM is worthless and Mopar is useless, in my humble opinion based on personal experience. This would be my first Ford Diesel.
I finally found the best contender at a used car dealer in NC. It's an extraordinarily clean, 2-owner Florida truck with 151k miles on it. Clean CarFax, with no visual cues of any body work. I live in Upstate NY, and agreed to the price over the phone, baring any major, surprise problems found upon a pre-sale inspection. I rented a car and travelled to NC to get the truck. In the meantime, I was able to arrange a pre-sale inspection at a Ford dealership, only one mile away from the selling dealer. I asked what the inspection entailed, and the service writer said it's the same as if they were going to look at the truck to sell it on their lot. I asked again for specifics, and she repeated the same talking point with a hint of arrogance for good measure. I let this pass because I was already too far into my trip, and she was able to fit me in on real, short notice. I trusted the fact that they are a Ford dealership. The truck was dropped off by the selling dealer at Ford, the night before I was expected to arrive.
The following morning, I arrived early at Ford, and watched some of the inspection being performed. I was chased away by the service writer for distracting their mechanics. The one who performed the inspection told me about a few wear and tear items, but agreed that the truck was in overall, excellent condition, and worth the buy. The most pressing thing Ford advised me of, was a CEL regarding a glow plug problem, which the selling dealer failed to inform me of, by the way. Nevertheless, I paid the dealer, including an additional surprise charge called a "shop fee" and drove the truck the one mile back to the selling dealership. Apart from the CEL and some minor oil seepage from the front cover and upper oil pan, the rest of the inspection only found some front end suspension and steering issues as well as some other seemingly minor concerns. The selling dealer quickly had the glow plug issue identified and resolved by replacing the glow plug control module while we were completing the paperwork.
I began my trip home with the truck and stayed a few days with family in Richmond, VA. A short time into my drive however, the CEL came on again. I immediately notified the seller and we both assumed it was the glow plug issue. I carried on because the truth is, there is no recourse against the dealer in NC once I've taken possession of the truck. Along my route, I later stopped at an Autozone. The scan revealed a code P0401 (Insufficient EGR Flow). Thinking it's a bad EGR Valve, I bought a new one from Autozone and continued on my trip. The truck drove fine, mind you. Upon arrival at my destination in VA, I installed two new batteries as the other batteries were weak and failed the test at Autozone. I then took it to another Ford dealer to perform a MOC products EGR cleaning, and to replace the EGR valve. Upon commencement of the work, they found a coolant leak in the EGR cooler. They advised I not waste money on anything until that problem is resolved.
Fearing a potential catastrophic failure, I towed the truck the following day, to a Bulletproof Diesel brand installer, further north in VA. It's there now while I figure out how to proceed. Among many other problems found which were not disclosed by Ford; there is in fact, a coolant leak in the EGR cooler, and there's no way to tell definitively if the head gaskets are leaking as well, until that system is replaced. I was given an estimate for $12k to perform the so-called, "Bulletproofing" repair which includes new head gaskets and the head studs.
Had I known there was such a problem, I would've turned around and gone back home. I bought that truck based on the Ford dealer's inspection results and the technician's assessment. The Ford dealer has failed so completely, that I'm now left holding the bag, as they say. I emailed the Ford dealer and left a message for the service manager. Nobody has bothered to respond, yet.
Isn't there a reasonable expectation of expertise by Ford service to inspect first and foremost, what is probably the most published and well documented 6.0 issues of the past two decades? The truck is of the age and mileage to automatically trigger an inspection of those parts and systems prone to failure. Suspension, steering and the like, are not typical deal breakers. They are wear and tear parts in all vehicles, of all ages. Perhaps this could be a case study on your YouTube channel. Maybe your popularity and reach, could light a fire under their rear ends to extend me a helping hand.
I appreciate your time and your thoughts are most welcome.
Well first off, you're completely correct that there is no recourse in NC after you have purchased a used vehicle. I did a pre-purchase inspection in North Carolina on an older car and the shop found "nothing wrong with it" even after I told them the front end had noise and shimmying. I walked away from the deal. Another time a Toyota dealer sold us a smoker car advertised as non-smoker. My advice to you is this. Go tell the dealership you bought it from and tell them that you will go to the local news, and they will then (maybe) be scared. We had to do this with a Toyota Camry that got smoked in and they let us trade it in for what we bought it for (because the advertisement is fraudulently claiming non-smoker). Ford dealership service departments are fools, they even told me my F-150 needed a new engine when the only thing wrong was an exhaust leak. Next time, run away from the deal and now pray hard that the dealership will just give you your money all your money back without involving a local news station. Good luck.
@adawg97 I appreciate your insight. I'm shell shocked that it seems I got the whole arsenal unloaded on me, on my way home from the dealership. I'm back home now in NY and the truck never made it with me. Rather than make idle threats at either dealership, my hope is that Scotty will chime in and maybe that will be enough. I don't know... I had found another one near Clarksville TN, but that sold real fast. It would've been nice for Scotty to get eyes on it.
Isn't there a reasonable expectation of expertise by Ford service to inspect first and foremost, what is probably the most published and well documented 6.0 issues of the past two decades?
About the only reasonable expectation you can have with most dealers is that they will do their best to rip you off and expend the least amount of effort for the most amount of money. They likely would only have checked those common failure points if you specifically asked for it, and even then they might lie about it. Chances are they just did a quick generic "25-point" or whatever check for problems.
A good diesel mechanic might have been a better choice, but if you don't know one in the area the truck is being sold in that's obviously a problem.
@chucktobias Read the text I got from the service writer, earlier this afternoon... for everyone to see how pathetic this is.
"First please know in a text response you cannot hear tone, so in response to yours: i am here to help you, not intended to be 'arrogant/secretive' nor seem like arguing so im sorry, if youd like you have the right to speak to my manager about your dislikes with me next week. i apoligize, i didnt realize the system put a shop fee on your invoice, had you let me know there was a problem i wouldve gladly fixed it as we spoke a few additional occasions after you paid your invoice. it is a fee that is not manually entered but automatically applied just like sales tax. the technician checked basically everything that wouldve been a drivability/safety/state requirement issue, additional items like cosmetic may have been checked had he had additional time but as you know we were rushing to get you through while working on the already precommitted appointments that were scheduled with it to be dropped off to fit in, not the pressure of you in the waiting room/in the shop distracting him as well as other tecs that got caught up in conversation..
mechanics are only able to predict a breakdown if they see something that makes them believe there will be an issue, just the same as a human doctor. the exhaust was extreme and would have been immediately removed if we were to out it up for sale so he had no thought to look at it any further. any mechanically inclined person can pick apart a used vehicle and most of them are going to find different things than another would, a used vehicle is exactly as stated, used; therefor not sold at a brand new price, used means the miles and age has been put on every single part of that vehicle and is not sold as any different from any car lot. if you are not happy with your purchase from another car lot that is going to have to be between you and them, im sorry but for lack of better words: because you requested us to look at what you were doing doesnt make us responsible for your choice to purchase. please let me know if i can address anything else."
To be clear, I originally made an appointment with a local diesel repair shop who was more than willing to perform the inspection. I cancelled it in favor for the Ford dealer, thinking they would be better suited based, on her statement of inspecting it as if they'd be putting it on their lot for sale. Ford is also much closer. Anyway, look at the response by the service writer after I contacted them today. Now she's explaining their inspection process after blowing me off twice, when I asked her for the specifics beforehand. Moreover, now he's condescending and blaming me.