When I bought my 2001 crew cab long bed diesel 4WD, I thought that it would be the last truck I would ever buy, especially after chipping it and adding 4" stainless steel exhaust. I had heard less than complimentary stories about the 6.0 diesel, which was reinforced by a test drive of an '04.

This week I test drove an '05 and WOW, unbelievable out of the box performance. It is 325 hp with (I think) a five speed automatic and really lays you back in the seat.

Ford also changed the front end from leaf to coil springs, resulting in a noticably tighter turning radius. The salesman also said a new option was an integrated electric brake controller (the first from a manufacturer) which is tied into the main computer to better stop the truck and trailer together.

If you're halfway thinking about a new truck, don't buy an '04 before you look at the '05's.

 

I read about it but didn't know it's already available. Did you test drive it in a dealer's lot or in a show?

 

Vegas dealers have a few but they really hate to show them to you until they sell the 04's. I saw 6 or 7 at Team in the back last Sunday.

 

How many foot pounds of torque do the Ford Power Stroke Diesels have this year?

 

i think its around 570 ft/lbs. I dont care for the new 6.0's. Sure, they have good get up and go but they are too much like a gasser, you are over 3000rpm to get that go go juice and their mileage is worse than the 7.3's. I will stick w/ my 7.3 for another year or 2 then get a new cummins(unfortunately it comes wrapped in a dodge, lol). [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Sean

 

Here's a little info off the net: best-in-class 325 horsepower at 3,300 rpm and 550 foot-pounds of torque at 2,000 rpm.

The new diesel will offer up to 10 percent better fuel economy and 20 percent lower emissions. The new diesel also has reduced noise levels and has improved speech intelligibility while driving by more than 20 percent.

But, like Jetsnow said, the fule economy is worse[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]then the 7.3. I have heard the same thing. I know with my 7.3, I am seeing my mileage as good as 22 mpg on the freeway at 60-65 mph and 75+ I'm getting 18 mpg. I have the Banks power chip and 4' stainless steel exhaust. When I do get a new truck. It will be the SuperDuty though[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Well don't feel too badly about Ford changing the 6.0 diesel and ending up with an engine that gets worse fuel economy, because GM did the same thing. For 2005 the Duramax produces 90% less emisions, makes 310 hp and 605 ft. lbs., but does not get the same fuel economy either. My last tank of fuel was all at 85 mph on the freeway, and I only got 15 mpg, and that was with an unloaded truck.

 

15mpg is not bad with a dually and i take it you have 4.10 gears? Wait till you have 50,000 miles and it is broken in and you should get 1-2mpg better. My 7.3 got 15-17mpg unloaded and after about 60,000 miles it is now getting 17-19mpg and this is with a 4" lift and 35" tires which hurts the fuel mileage. The noise level on the new 6.0's is stilll pretty loud, louder than the duramax and the new cummins. They hardly redesigned the new 05's too. The interiors look almost the same just white face guages and a few other things. Several friends of mine w/ ford diesels(7.3's) plan on keeping them for a few more years and get either the new chevy or dodge.

Sean

 

Don't expect much better mileage with the new Cummins 600. THey are getting consistent reports of lower mileage than the previous Cummins H.O. 555. I rode in a new 600 a few monts ago from Sacramento to Sand Mtn and back pulling a flatbed utility trailer and four quads . Mileage was around 12-13. The new engine is very quiet inside and out. The truck only had 2000 miles on it at the time so it probably was not fully broken in.

 

I drove this vehicle locally at the dealer in Springfield, Missouri, who had three in stock.