6.0 Turbo Failure

The 6.0 Powerstroke has many issues one of which can be prevented, turbo failure. This is a common problem with these engines. The VGT turbo that comes on these motors stock can produce an amazing 325 horsepower, however, without proper maintenance can suffer a short life span. A variable geometry turbo has many advantages over other turbo designs. Vane position can change allowing engine braking to take place and work more efficiently under many different driving situations. Here are some of the common issues and how to resolve them properly.

Stuck Vanes

Variable geometry turbos on the 6.0 Powerstroke have a tendency for vanes to stick because of soot buildup from the EGR system. Deleting the EGR system is one of the best things one can do to these engines preventing the abundance of soot buildup in the intake. If the engine is not driven at a higher RPM periodically the vanes begin to stick. Once the vanes begin to stick one can suffer from less than exceptional fuel mileage, non-existent engine braking, insufficient boost, and high exhaust gas temperatures (EGT). Running the engine at a higher RPM allows the turbo to spool quick enough for the soot to be expelled.

Turbo Cool Down

When towing with the 6.0 Powerstroke some people fail to let the turbo cool off after a long haul. EGT temperatures are usually high during towing situations and when the engine is shut down prematurely it can cause damage to the turbo. The best way to resolve this issue is to purchase a turbo timer to shut the engine off once a certain EGT is achieved during idle or simply let the engine idle for a few minutes before exiting the vehicle.

Exhaust Gas Recirculation

The most common problem with the 6.0 is EGR failure. Soot from the exhaust clogs up the cooler as it is sent into the intake. The reason exhaust is sent to the intake is to reduce emissions and lower EGT. One can experience the domino effect if the EGR cooler fails. Blown head gaskets, oil cooler failure, and of course turbo issues can occur. The easiest way to prevent this is by purchasing and installing our EGR delete kit for the 6.0 Powerstroke. Our kit reroutes the coolant back into the engine with the j-tube and blocks off the port on the up pipe where the cooler attached or replace the up pipe all together with a smooth free flowing pipe.     

High Pressure Oil Pump

6.0 Powerstrokes have issues with the HPOP especially from the years 2005 on up. The HPOP has a fitting that tends to become brittle and crack causing a leak. If the leak is not noticed in time one can cause severe engine damage. The only way to resolve this issue is to put the updated STCfitting on the HPOP preventing it from cracking or leaking.

Even though these engines have so many issues plaguing them they are one of the best engines on the road. The 6.0 is a smoother operating motor than the 7.3 but due to the addition of emissions equipment and other design flaws it must be modified to operate properly.