New truck and emergency road trip

[Rubenk]

So I just brought home my 2008 F250 and need to make an emergency road trip.

Emergency situation:
Brother climbs cell-phone towers and fell a few days ago. He is stable with some broken bones, but I need to go visit him and most likely bring him home. Round trip will be about 1200 miles. I plan on Leaving Monday afternoon.

Truck situation:
Just brought the truck home yesterday. It is a 2008 F250 4x4, auto, 6.4psd. 158k miles. Truck has a fresh oil change, and my pre-purchase inspection was clean, clean autocheck, one owner. It was definitely a work truck and seen mud, as I just spent some time washing the underside of the truck today and a ton of mud and dirt came out/off of things. The truck is completely stock and seems to run good. Tires and brakes are good.

Anything I MUST do before I go? Or anything to watch for since I haven't really had this truck long enough to put it through its paces? I used to have a bulletproofed 6.0, and am quite mechanically inclined, just new to 6.4s.

Thanks! :thumbsup:

 

[whitetailreflex]

I'd say double check your coolant for discoloration and cap for puking, check joints grease up all the fittings and roll with it.:thumbup:

 

[Rubenk]

Coolant looks good, and so far no puking...Thanks!

Fuel filters are on the agenda too

 

[tbsimmons]

I would take a set of filters with you. That has been a habit of mine since I had my 6.0. Never had to use them, but hey never know when you will get a bad tank of fuel and clog them up.

 

[CT9AIX]

Take a set of fuel filters with you, check the tranny oil on the dip stick, may sound dumb.... but make sure the spare tire is mounted underneath and actually has the correct air PSI in it and also make sure you have the special lug nut socket thing in the glove box to remove spare tire if necessary and also the jack and spare tire tool bag mounted on the floor behind seat.

 

[whitetailreflex]

I would take a set of filters with you. That has been a habit of mine since I had my 6.0. Never had to use them, but hey never know when you will get a bad tank of fuel and clog them up.

Excellent point! We all know if they do need replacing it'll be on a Saturday night lol

 

[Rubenk]

Good points, fluids are good, and I do have AAA premium if I really get in a bind.

thanks Fellas! Keep em comin

 

[whitetailreflex]

Also I would double check the air pressure just to save a bit on fuel

 

[Rubenk]

Well the truck made it 1400 miles with no issues.

Definitely needs shocks and tires to eliminate some bouncing.

Seem to have a bit of oil level growth, i've got a oil analysis kit that i'll be using to check fuel dilution levels. Average mpg was around 13-14mpg with a good bit of idling.

Thanks everyone!

 

[forcefed6.4ford]

Dont let it idle for prolong periods of time.

 

[powerlifter405]

Well the truck made it 1400 miles with no issues.

Definitely needs shocks and tires to eliminate some bouncing.

Seem to have a bit of oil level growth, i've got a oil analysis kit that i'll be using to check fuel dilution levels. Average mpg was around 13-14mpg with a good bit of idling.

Thanks everyone!

My first oil change was like that.
Fuel numbers were "none present" after dpf modification.

 

[Big Angry Hillbilly]

Dont let it idle for prolong periods of time.

If you're going to idle it, enable PTO sense to bump the idle to 1200. Idling is the EGR and DPF's worst enemy though. Unless that stuff is conspicuously absent from the truck. Fast idle anyway. Keep er hot.

Where I used to work everything idled 24/7. Measures were taken to account for this though.

 

[Rubenk]

Well strangely enough it never did regen the entire trip, kinda had me wondering if something was wrong. Then today on the way home from work it gave me the message to drive to clean...I only live 3 miles from work, so I jumped on the interstate during rush hour to give it her regen and came back home.

High idle mod is on the list of things to do, had it on my 6.0 and used it anytime I was idling more than a minute or two.

Thanks again fellas.