Diesel Guys - Diesel Bedplate Leak - Thoughts?

[Ben]

So I had the truck in for service yesterday, and the tech reported seepage at the bedplate. The standard Ford response is that when detected, the leak should be fixed via bedplate gasket replacement. Cost, just short of $4000.

I've hit all the diesel forums for info. This is apparently a not uncommon problem in diesels, including the Ford (International) 6.0 and 6.4 engines ( I have the 6.4). Totally confusing on the advice on the forums. It's almost 50/50 on "get it fixed" versus "let it go as long as you can". I did notice many of the "get it fixed" recommendations were to guys still under warranty.

Though the dealership (at my dad's place, it's the first time I've been to it) put dire warnings (including exclamation points!) on my invoice about how I'm assuming responsibility for a repair I declined, I did manage to talk to the tech at the shop. He said that while he recommends getting it done, I could potentially go another 50K miles before I REALLY need to get it done. Right now as per his inspection, it is barely a seepage, and I haven't seen any oil spots on the ground where I park.

I crawled under to look around, and I saw where things were wet (damp, really).  I cleaned everything off and am gonna start monitoring to see how long it takes the seepage to build back up. I also specifically asked the tech if this could be catastrophic, like in all the oil suddenly blowing out in two seconds on the freeway, and he said "no". While not catastrophic, he said it will only get worse, but no way to tell if it will be sooner, or later.

So long story longer, I'm conflicted on if I should eat the costs now, or wait till I'm finding oil under the truck every day. I'm leaning toward waiting, given how minor the leak is at this point. On the other hand, once I pony up for the repair, it means I'm keeping the truck a good while longer (I've been thinking of downsizing to the new F150 or even a Tacoma), so if I'm gonna do it anyway, why wait? On the third hand, I hate the thought of doing it at all, because with all the work they have to do with pulling off the cab, pulling the engine, putting it on a stand so they can turn it upside down, then reversing all that, I can't help but think of all the little things that might not be put back exactly right during the procedure, and end up causing me nickel and dime problems down the road.

On the fourth hand, diesels are diesels, and as Captain Ron would say, diesels love oil like a sailor loves rum. Thoughts?

[Brad Johnson]

Leaking 6.0/6.4 bedplates are not uncommon. As you've discovered, repair requires engine removal and can run upwards of 15-20 hrs labor. If it's minor leak, all you get is an occasional drip, and there are no other associated issues I'd say don't worry about it unless you can get Ford to pay for it.

Keep browsing the Powerstroke forums. Wouldn't surprise me if someone has come up with a time-saving way to deal with the issue. Might even find a Powerstroke specialist in your area to speak with.

Brad

[K Frame]

Friend of mine ran a diesel with a mild bedplate leak for nearly 8 years. Every time he went in for service it was ***HOLY MOTHER OF EFFING GOD YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE THIS DONE NOW OR YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE LAME, YOUR DOG WITH COHABITATE WITH YOUR CAT, AND YOU WILL GET GRAY HAIR! DOWN THERE!***

It never got any worse, then he sold it.

Keep a solid eye on it, watch your oil levels, and start putting the money by now in case it gets worse.

If it's no worse by the time you go to get rid of it, you've saved yourself a nice sum for a new vehicle.

[Ben]

Friend of mine ran a diesel with a mild bedplate leak for nearly 8 years. Every time he went in for service it was ***HOLY MOTHER OF EFFING GOD YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE THIS DONE NOW OR YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE LAME, YOUR DOG WITH COHABITATE WITH YOUR CAT, AND YOU WILL GET GRAY HAIR! DOWN THERE!***

That made me laugh hard enough to forget the leak! 

I'm strongly leaning towards both youz guyz suggestions. I always check fluids and check for leaks religiously anyway, so it's not like I'm going to find myself with a blown motor from lack of oil. Who knows how long this seep was already there (I have 75K miles), and I've never had to add oil between changes.

I guess one potential downside is passing the problem off to someone else if I do a private party sale down the road. Honestly, I'd have no problem passing it off to a Ford dealer if I decided to do a trade-in for an F150, or even a gasser F250. Not from a "screw the corporations" POV, but from a, "You guys went through this for nearly a decade with the 6.0, and you still couldn't get it solved by the time you got to the 6.4?" POV.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

I do wish someone would market an aftermarket gizmo for checking fluid levels remotely. Be great for situations like this or for auto transmissions with no dipstick


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[Boomhauer]

but from a, "You guys went through this for nearly a decade with the 6.0, and you still couldn't get it solved by the time you got to the 6.4?" POV.

That's that wonderful International engineering.


As long as it's seeping oil just keep an eye on it. And put back money for the other 6.4 issues. If you're gonna pull the engine, might as well do some upgrading while it's out and easy to get to.

[never_retreat]

I throw this in because its not really worthy of a new thread. More of a PSA.
My 7.3 died the other day. No fuel. I call a few people I know to find a recommendation for a garage that will even touch the engine.
I will not go to the stealership.
So he test the fuel pump. Near death, almost no pressure.
Great drop the pump in. Something else is still wrong pumps not running continuously.
After further testing the computer has decided to stop telling the fuel pump really to turn on.
New computer 5-700 bucks.
Wire the pump to the key on position with a kill switch on the dash option "b".
You can guess which one is the winner.

[Ben]

That's that wonderful International engineering.


As long as it's seeping oil just keep an eye on it. And put back money for the other 6.4 issues. If you're gonna pull the engine, might as well do some upgrading while it's out and easy to get to.

Yeah, I'm beginning to see why Ford dumped International and went in-house for the current generation diesel.

I'm guessing on the big stuff, you guys probably let minor leaks/seepage go until it becomes an "add fluid every day" thing (at least when it requires major tear down)? With the abuse heavy equipment takes it seems it would be hard to be leak free. I seem to remember lots of wet spots in and under the backhoe I ran at the dump in my youth. The mechanics usually only bothered to come out if we blew a hydraulic hose or something. Otherwise they just dropped off fluids and went on their way. 

[230RN]

I will not go to the stealership.

I discovered a long time ago (and with a long story) that sometimes, occasionally, in rare circumstances, when the moon is full, and the volcanoes are quiet, the dealers won't tell you that there's a freebie fix on problems.

Check the Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) for your vehicle.

And sometimes, occasionally, in rare circumstances, when the moon is full, and the volcanoes are quiet, they bill you for the repair, and then go ahead and bill the manufacturer again for the TSB repair.

Neat, huh?

Terry

REF:
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/04/technical-service-bulletins-how-to-find-and-use-tsbs/index.htm
More:
http://www.info.com/search?qcat=web&r_cop=xxx&qkw=technical+service+bulletin  

[Boomhauer]

I'm guessing on the big stuff, you guys probably let minor leaks/seepage go until it becomes an "add fluid every day" thing (at least when it requires major tear down)? With the abuse heavy equipment takes it seems it would be hard to be leak free. I seem to remember lots of wet spots in and under the backhoe I ran at the dump in my youth. The mechanics usually only bothered to come out if we blew a hydraulic hose or something. Otherwise they just dropped off fluids and went on their way. 

While somewhat OK for an occassional use machine, it is poor practice to do that for a production machine.

Here's why- a down machine costs big money. Parts are just part of it, the machine isn't producing when it's down. That can mean big money loses, on the order of several hundred dollars per hour and on up.

Taking care of a minor problem before it becomes a big problem often will only take a short period of time and be relatively inexpensive to do so. Letting it go until it becomes a major problem can cost big money in downtime and components.

We have customers that are skinflints and run their machines into the ground without fixing the "little *expletive deleted*it". It doesn't work too well for them.

Conversely, we have customers that take good care of their equipment to include fixing the little stuff, and it pays them back in reliability and money saved down the road. There 10000 hour machines are in great shape, especially compared to the skinflints whose 10000 hr machines look ready for the junk pile.

[Brad Johnson]

I'm guessing on the big stuff, you guys probably let minor leaks/seepage go until it becomes an "add fluid every day" thing (at least when it requires major tear down)?

Nah, if it needs fixing, fix it. But in this case we're discussing the benefit of a $5 grand repair for a very minor seep that is, at most, a minor cosmetic annoyance (hopefully).

Brad