Ford E Series Help

"thebigbossyboss" (thebigbossyboss) 01/29/2015 at 13:42 • Filed to: None

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Someone asked me if their organization should spring for this bus. I am under the impression that a Ford E series will generally run forever. It has 6.0L V8 with 326,000 kms. But I really have no clue if it's near the end of it's life or not. Chime in below.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2015 at 13:48

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All of the bands I've worked with that can't afford a Sprinter have eventually settled on an E-Series, usually after going through Dodges and Chevys like most people go through socks. I haven't haddirect involvement in their maintenance, but they seem reliable.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2015 at 13:50

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thebigbossyboss > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/29/2015 at 13:51

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Useful.

lonestranger > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2015 at 13:51

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I don't have any personal experience with them, but the 6.0 Power Stroke wasn't the most reliable engine. Lots of blown turbos & head gaskets.

And that's a BC Transit HandyDART bus. 325,000 kms, and probably 325,000 hours spent idling while loading, unloading, and escorting disabled and/or elderly passengers. Not a deal breaker, but something to think of.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2015 at 13:53

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It's not got an E4OD, instead it's got something related to the replacement 4R100 trans. That being said, it's still very possibly DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER with respect to the trans just due to miles and duty cycle. Some 6.0s are problematic children as well, but one with this many miles *might* not be a time bomb on the logic of "if it was going to blow up, it would have done it long ago".

thebigbossyboss > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/29/2015 at 13:55

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Thank you.

XJDano > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2015 at 13:55

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We have 3 in the back of our shop with blown motors from the 90's. Laborers are hard on box trucks.

thebigbossyboss > lonestranger 01/29/2015 at 13:55

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Thank you.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2015 at 13:57

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I updated my statement on trans for "with that duty cycle". Not that it's a bad trans, but it's a bit long in the tooth, and with on again off again start stop for that long, it's possibly waiting to go, and I have seen E-series vans with the weenier version of that trans ex U-haul with dead transmissions.

lonestranger > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2015 at 14:02

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No problem. My grandma is 94 and lives alone in a senior's apartment building, so I see and hear idling HandyDARTs at least once a week. As part of the service, the drivers help each passenger on and off and right to the door of their destination.

Most of the local Kamloops fleet is Chevy Duramaxes now.

lonestranger > XJDano 01/29/2015 at 14:07

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The 6.0 wasn't around in the '90s, though.

XJDano > lonestranger 01/29/2015 at 14:09

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Well the ones we got are pieces of shit.

thebigbossyboss > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/29/2015 at 14:12

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What would be the better transmission code for these type of vans? And what's the best engine to aim for?

TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2015 at 14:12

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Run as fast as you can! International built that diesel for Ford and has been a reliability nightmare. As in several class action lawsuits bad! Seek out the Trition 6.8 V10, very reliable. U-Hall customers have beat on these for years without isue.

thebigbossyboss > TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo 01/29/2015 at 14:15

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Thank you very much.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2015 at 14:23

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The final heavy duty relative of the C6 was the 4R100 - probably fine for a lot of things. Got replaced in the SuperDuty trucks partway through 2003 with the 5R110W, which got replaced in '11 with the 6R140 (going from wikipedia). As a C6 variant, the 4R100 can be rebuilt by everybody and their grandmother's trans shop, but might be more fragile - the 5R110W from a quick look seems to have solenoid failures from time to time but is probably a tad hardier.

The 6.4 PowerStroke would probably be the one to shoot for if possible, introduced in '08. Better turbos, no head gasket setup fragility, more power, etc.

thebigbossyboss > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/29/2015 at 14:32

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Thanks mate. Was the 6.4L was V8 correct? Some other commenter opined the 6.8L V10 Trition was the one to go for if possible.

thebigbossyboss > TFSIVTEC drivesavolvo 01/29/2015 at 14:54

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6.8L trition vs 6.4L Maxx Force 7 which would you pick?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > thebigbossyboss 01/29/2015 at 14:58

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Well, it's pretty solid too - I was listing best option as I see it diesel-wise. The V10 Triton is bomb-resistant other than some versions with spark plug coming out issues, but it's basically just a good old Modular with two extra cylinders. The 6.4 diesel is a V8, yes.

thebigbossyboss > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/29/2015 at 15:01

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Good to know, many thanks for this knowledge I have passed it onto the people that control the moneyz.