Reliability?

[smokinstroker]

Alright guys I'm still shopping for a 6.4 but all these threads popping up has me worried.

How reliable are these motors?
I see alot about rocker problems, pistons cracking, motors running away. Is there anything to prevent it or is it just "hope for the best"?

 

[08SUPERKING]

If you push the limit you shall find it... Some sooner than others and some run with best of luck...

 

[Motostroker]

Lets just say i wish i never sold my 7.3, im done with the performance aspect of this industry. In no way i am bashing the 6.4, its just I havent had the best of luck with mine, some have zero issues, yet some are always in the shop. Just like 08SUPERKING said, if you push the limit you will find out

 

[BlueWaffle]

they make a bunch of power, but I've been steered away from 6.4's by several people that know a lot more about powerstrokes than I do. the issues seems to be that IF they fail, it's usually something big and costs a fortune to fix. that being said, since my trucks are "toys"....I wouldn't mind having one to hot rod since it would be getting built right anyways.

 

[smokinstroker]

Missing the 6.0 right about now

 

[michigan37]

I have an 08 with 181,000 miles on it. With the mild "reliability improvement modifications" made to it.

 

[Atsah]

Honestly, I would rather a 6.0 than a 6.4. If it was my money, I would opt for a Cummings.. I have a brother and a sister with Cummings and they don't have the issues I have had with my strokes.. Granted they don't have as good a truck as the Ford but the newer Dodges seem to be much better these days.. JMO..

 

[cory151]

Honestly, I would rather a 6.0 than a 6.4. If it was my money, I would opt for a Cummings.. I have a brother and a sister with Cummings and they don't have the issues I have had with my strokes.. Granted they don't have as good a truck as the Ford but the newer Dodges seem to be much better these days.. JMO..

108,000 miles on mine its only been to the dealer for a radiator recall and computer update. Ive never been left on the side of the road by my 6.4.... but I have been stuck in a 94 12v Dodge (vaccum/powersteering pump) and my 2001 7.3 (cracked an injector tip, which hydrolocked the motor). I think part of the issue is that when the 5.9 12v were destroying timing cover gears and cracking '53' blocks and the 7.3 were leaving people in on the side of the road due to a cam position sensors and blown injector seals, the INTERNET wasn't as accessible.You simply didn't hear about it, if you didn't KNOW somebody that something happened to.... you likely never knew.

What you need to ask yourself is how many of these trucks had been mass produced and what percentage of failure rate do engine failure threads you read represent? People on here say the sky is falling, but not when I look out my window. Lets not forget that the 6.4 powered Fords are the only truck that guys driving Duramax and Cummins respect and fear. Oh and to the above poster......

So let me get this straight your brother and sister own Cummins powered trucks, yet they don't correct you when you say "Cummings"?

 

[Atsah]

108,000 miles on mine its only been to the dealer for a radiator recall and computer update. Ive never been left on the side of the road by my 6.4.... but I have been stuck in a 94 12v Dodge (vaccum/powersteering pump) and my 2001 7.3 (cracked an injector tip, which hydrolocked the motor). I think part of the issue is that when the 5.9 12v were destroying timing cover gears and cracking '53' blocks and the 7.3 were leaving people in on the side of the road due to a cam position sensors and blown injector seals, the INTERNET wasn't as accessible.You simply didn't hear about it, if you didn't KNOW somebody that something happened to.... you likely never knew.

What you need to ask yourself is how many of these trucks had been mass produced and what percentage of failure rate do engine failure threads you read represent? People on here say the sky is falling, but not when I look out my window. Lets not forget that the 6.4 powered Fords are the only truck that guys driving Duramax and Cummins respect and fear. Oh and to the above poster......

So let me get this straight your brother and sister own Cummins powered trucks, yet they don't correct you when you say "Cummings"?

JMO from the people I know.. I never said the sky was falling.. I have owned five Ford diesels, I know there weak points and strengths. Relax, I gave my opinion, you don't like it, give yours and move on..

 

[FreddyM]

whats the OP's question?
what has you worried? if you have the money to build the motor you usually have the money to repair it.
I ran high tunes for 20k miles before my stock head bolts stretched....
just opened her up and at 100k miles my oil cooler still looks new, not one bit of sludge under the valve cover.....oil change and oil additive every 3500 miles....
ford sold over a million trucks in 08, compare that to 200k each for dodge and chevy.....
all comes down to how heavy your right foot is, and how deep your pockets are to do the necessary reliability mods.

 

[FreddyM]

you seem to have your bases covered with your 6.0, so you know what its like.
of course some people will get unlucky, and theres no way around it.

 

[cory151]

JMO from the people I know.. I never said the sky was falling.. I have owned five Ford diesels, I know there weak points and strengths. Relax, I gave my opinion, you don't like it, give yours and move on..

All good buddy, moving on. I just see so many of these threads and I think its important to note that 100% of mass produced engines experience catastrophic failure. Anybody purchasing a late model diesel has to know that they do not have them (especially emissions wise) figured out.

 

[Atsah]

All good buddy, moving on. I just see so many of these threads and I think its important to note that 100% of mass produced engines experience catastrophic failure. Anybody purchasing a late model diesel has to know that they do not have them (especially emissions wise) figured out.

No sweat man.. I was pissed off this morning and shouldn't have turned the computer on.. LOL OP, sorry for the derail..

 

[MorganY]

If one were to buy a 150k mile 6.4 used, that had its dpf on for all of its life, and they wanted to build the truck more than the average person (nozzles, fuelers, upgraded air), would it most likely be in the best interest to replace the HPFP, rockers, lifters, oil cooler etc. to help avoid problems in the near future?

Or would you just buy the truck and throw $10k worth of mods on and run it until something lets go and potentially causes more damage?

That's my 6.4 dilemma :shrug:

 

[2010.6.4]

I have a 2010 with 33,000 miles had it for 10k not a problem yet. Mines all stock. I love it enough power to pull what I need to to in the week and plenty to pull my bass boat yo lake every weekend

 

[Smokyred]

If one were to buy a 150k mile 6.4 used, that had its dpf on for all of its life, and they wanted to build the truck more than the average person (nozzles, fuelers, upgraded air), would it most likely be in the best interest to replace the HPFP, rockers, lifters, oil cooler etc. to help avoid problems in the near future?

Or would you just buy the truck and throw $10k worth of mods on and run it until something lets go and potentially causes more damage?

That's my 6.4 dilemma :shrug:

That is a lot of oil dilution due to regens, the rockers I would check out, they are pretty cheap to replace though. I would check the miles vs. hours to see if it was idled a lot. If it was I would avoid it.

I bought mine stock with 90k miles and tuned it's running like a champ!

Dave

 

[MorganY]

That is a lot of oil dilution due to regens, the rockers I would check out, they are pretty cheap to replace though. I would check the miles vs. hours to see if it was idled a lot. If it was I would avoid it.

I bought mine stock with 90k miles and tuned it's running like a champ!

Dave

Exactly. 90k would not be as bad, as for 150k..it would need new rockers likely.

 

[B585Ford]

Exactly. 90k would not be as bad, as for 150k..it would need new rockers likely.

Are there any aftermarket rockers out or will you just do OEM? What is the cost?

 

[Powerstrokeracing]

That is a lot of oil dilution due to regens, the rockers I would check out, they are pretty cheap to replace though. I would check the miles vs. hours to see if it was idled a lot. If it was I would avoid it.

I bought mine stock with 90k miles and tuned it's running like a champ!

Dave

Had to put a motor in one that had so much oil delution, that is filled the crank case, sucked it up through the PCV and the motor ran away and blew up. LOL

 

[MorganY]

There are Harland sharp roller rockers, but they are expensive. Empire is working on some rockers too.