Input Needed on 2004 Ford E350 Diesel Van

[Graceful585]

Hi All,

I have been lurking a while and have read all the pertinent info when you are new and I even searched this particular van before posting and nothing came up.

I have been looking for a good van and this particular one has an extended body and high top and is equipped with converter/power supply to cargo area. 133,000 miles. Has New tires. What questions should I be asking...the price is $3000 and I've been looking for a high top being tall and knowing being able to stand would be top on my list...but what else should I be asking and is this particular year have any issues that anyone is aware of?

Thank you so much!

 

[maki2]

you could start by asking if you can take it to a mechanic for an inspection

 

[Wabbit]

$100 or so and find out if it's a gem or what's wrong with it for negotiating price. Or even just walk away if it's real bad. I hope it works out for you!

 

[Gypsy Freedom]

as mentioned, a good prebuy inspection can be worth a few bucks

i am pretty sure '04 was the begining of the 6.0 powerstroke. not one high points of powerstroke motors, and were plagued with problems. i would encourage you to read up on the 6.0 before investing. here is one source for starters https://www.expertswrite.net/60lpowerstroke/common-problems.html

many of the issues were one time fixes and if the motor has had all the fixs and upgrades they can make good power and economy. but with only 133,000 on the odometer, hard to say. i would read up on the problems and fixes so you could ask if repairs and upgrades had already been made.

$3000 for a hightop with a good diesel could be a score, hopefully the 6.0's short commings have already drained someone elses wallet

 

[Graceful585]

Thank you so much Maki, will definitely find a mechanic in the Philly area who would take a look at it!

 

[Graceful585]

$100 or so and find out if it's a gem or what's wrong with it for negotiating price. Or even just walk away if it's real bad. I hope it works out for you!

Great Wabbit, small price to pay for potential issues. Hope it works out too. I'm up in upstate NY and this van is in the Philly area so I'll have to find a mechanic close by who has the time to look it all over...but so worth it!

 

[Graceful585]

as mentioned, a good prebuy inspection can be worth a few bucks

i am pretty sure '04 was the begining of the 6.0 powerstroke. not one high points of powerstroke motors, and were plagued with problems. i would encourage you to read up on the 6.0 before investing. here is one source for starters https://www.expertswrite.net/60lpowerstroke/common-problems.html

many of the issues were one time fixes and if the motor has had all the fixs and upgrades they can make good power and economy. but with only 133,000 on the odometer, hard to say. i would read up on the problems and fixes so you could ask if repairs and upgrades had already been made.

$3000 for a hightop with a good diesel could be a score, hopefully the 6.0's short commings have already drained someone elses wallet

Thanks for the link Gypsy...extremely helpful!! Not sure I want to take the risk with this one.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Graceful, in your part of the country, rust might be an issue with something that old.

Be sure to look underneath...surface rust is not a problem, but rusty metal flaking off and severe rust could be a big negative. 

As mentioned above the 6.0 liter Ford Powerstroke diesel engine had problems...

There is probably a reason it is so cheap.

 

[highdesertranger]

a 2004 should be a 6.0. if it is a 6.0 run the other way as fast as you can. highdesertranger

 

[Gr8ful]

Here's the history of Ford diesels. The good, bad & ugly https://autowise.com/ford-diesel-engine-history/

 

[Graceful585]

Graceful, in your part of the country, rust might be an issue with something that old.

Be sure to look underneath...surface rust is not a problem, but rusty metal flaking off and severe rust could be a big negative. 

As mentioned above the 6.0 liter Ford Powerstroke diesel engine had problems...

There is probably a reason it is so cheap.

tx2sturgis,

So true about the rust...I was trying to look south of me due to that issue but looking at vans out of state is a bit tricky...LOL. I agree as well that the price is cheap for a reason...it's too bad but I do NOT need a money pit!! Thank you for your response...very helpful! :thumbsup:

 

[Graceful585]

run the other way as fast as you can.

Running I am...thanks HighDesert

 

[Pleasant Travels]

From this particular van,...yes,...I would not trust it either.

As has been said, the 6.0 Powerstroke engines had issues. However, those issues were principally because the motor, as it had been developed at International as an industrial application motor for busses and moving trucks, when it was adapted by Ford for their trucks, was hot rodded to produce an extra 100 horsepower. Combined with the flawed application of newly mandated government technology, that recipe led to generation of much more internal heat. Heat temperatures are the killer of diesel motors, and the legendary problems with the 6.0 Powerstrokes were due to this.

But Ford knew that the slightly more cramped space in their vans into which they would need to stuff a diesel engine would inherently not allow for great air flow, so they left the 6.0 in reduced/original configuration as it had been designed at International.

HOWEVER, Ford quickly had bad feedback on their pickups with the 6.0, and soon understood what went wrong. By 2005, Ford had significantly remedied most of what had caused the failures they had had to cover under warranty, and while still not as reliable as the previous 7.3 model had been, the 2005-2007 6.0 Powerstrokes were in fact much better.

All of this is to say that if you find yourself another deal like this one, but in a 2005, 2006 or 2007 model,...I would instead advise that can consider one of those.

 

[Graceful585]

Here's the history of Ford diesels. The good, bad & ugly https://autowise.com/ford-diesel-engine-history/

Thank you Gr8ful...nice name by the way!  Looks like Ford diesel engines went downhill starting in the mid to late(?) 2003 so if I am looking at Ford Van's I'd look for the years between 1999 and early 2002 to be on the safe side and all dependent on the condition and mileage it has on it...otherwise I will continue looking at the Chevy. Thank you for that historical article on the Ford Diesel Engines!

 

[highdesertranger]

on the ranch we had a 2006 Ford F-250 with the 6.0 it was about as reliable as a truck could be. reliable at breaking down. it was a piece of sh*t. we got rid of it at 65,000 miles because of this. I still drive the 2001 F-250 with the 7.3 that we had on the ranch. highdesertranger