Off-RoadWeb Homepage Off-Road
Facebook Newsletter

Permanently Fixing a PowerStroke

Our STD Project Truck Lives!

By , Photography by

Okay, maybe I'm being a bit wishful when I state "permanently." I know better than to ever expect our longtime Super Duty project, the STD, to be resolved of all engine problems. But I have to imagine that we're not the only guys out there going through 6.0L woes. The Powerstroke 6.0L engine is a good basic design, but it has a few flaws that can make any positive comments lost in an onslaught of cursing and badmouthing that goes hand-in-hand with any recollections of this engine.

On the bright side, this truck has made us learn more about the inner workings of diesel engines-specifically Powerstroke diesel engines-and the entire staff has been able to learn what failures and fixes there are for these trucks' main issues. We've seen two major problems that plague most Super Dutys-both of which stem from the cooling system: oil issues that stem from the oil cooler, and EGR cooler issues that often stem from the oil cooler as well.

After years of this sad project truck running poorly (since almost brand new), our STD is running strong. In fact, I'm going to venture to say we have one of the best running 6.0L engines in the country right now, thanks to the guys (and girl) and Bulletproof Diesel in Mesa, Arizona. They've come out with two new products-an enhanced replacement EGR Cooler Upgrade and their Oil Cooler Upgrade-that, along with some new fuel injectors, have fixed our 6.0L diesel and gotten it to run better than we ever imagined possible. With this truck fixed up so well, what else could go wrong? Well, maybe that variable geometry turbo could go bad...but what are the chances of that?!

  • Bulletproof Diesel (BPD) started the upgrades by removing the turbo, the factory intake manifold, the EGR cooler, and pulling out the oil cooler block and housing.
    Bulletproof Diesel (BPD) started the upgrades by removing the turbo, the factory intake ma
  • Here is what the inside of a factory oil cooler looks like. It's no wonder these get plugged up. . Deposits of tiny solids in the cooling system can build up and clog these channels, leading to hotter engine oil. A clogged oil coooler is also often the cause of EGR cooler failure as well. If the coolant cannot pass through the oil cooler, it cannot get to the EGR cooler.
    Here is what the inside of a factory oil cooler looks like. It's no wonder these get plugg
  • Here is the factory HPOP (high-pressure oil pump) filter next to the one BPD provides on the bottom of their oil transfer blocks. The stock plastic filter screen seems a bit cheesy next to the BPD steel mesh screen.
    Here is the factory HPOP (high-pressure oil pump) filter next to the one BPD provides on t
  • Bulletproof's Oil Cooler Upgrade kit comes with three main parts-the billet aluminum oil transfer block, the Fluidyne air-to-liquid cooler, and an 18.5 GPM oil filter. High-pressure Goodyear hose, brackets to mount the cooler and the oil filter, and all the necessary hardware are also included. Instead of cooling the oil in the substandard factory oil cooler mounted directly on top of the engine, BPD replaces the unit with an oil transfer block and moves the oil filtration off the top of the engine as well. The benefits are better cooling, less clogging, and easier oil filter changes.
    Bulletproof's Oil Cooler Upgrade kit comes with three main parts-the billet aluminum oil t
  • The BDP billet oil transfer block is really a work of art. It's an outstanding piece with an inlaid seal that seats on the top of the 6.0L engine block.....
    The BDP billet oil transfer block is really a work of art. It's an outstanding piece with
  • ....Notice that the BDP HPOP filter's bolts are safety-tied with wire for zero potential of those bolts somehow finding their way into the high-pressure oil pump.
    ....Notice that the BDP HPOP filter's bolts are safety-tied with wire for zero potential o
  • BPD EGR Coolers
    BPD starts with a stock core that has three channels with radiator fins, much like your engine's radiator. These EGR coolers also have coolant sent through them, much like your engine's radiator.....
    BPD EGR Coolers BPD starts with a stock core that has three channels with radiator fins,
  • .....The difference is that the EGR cooler is pulling heat out of the exhaust with the coolant, and your engine radiator is pulling heat out of the coolant with air. Unfortunately, the fins in the stock EGR coolers get clogged......
    .....The difference is that the EGR cooler is pulling heat out of the exhaust with the coo
  • .....BPD offers the replacement units with six tubes to allow the exhaust to flow smoothly through the cooler while coolant works around the tubes. The BPD EGR cooler is a much better design, and even one that Ford dealerships recommend to modify their trucks with! The '03 EGR coolers are round units, while the '04-to-'07 EGR coolers are square units. Their functions are the same.
    .....BPD offers the replacement units with six tubes to allow the exhaust to flow smoothly
  • Here is an '03 EGR cooler and intake manifold (left) next to an '04-to-'07 cooler and manifold (right). There is not much difference, but they are not interchangeable.
    Here is an '03 EGR cooler and intake manifold (left) next to an '04-to-'07 cooler and mani
  • Since the BPD EGR cooler starts as a factory core, fitment is never an issue. Bulletproof Diesel was able to get the billet oil transfer block, EGR cooler, and manifold back in the truck before the turbo was set. If you've worked on these engines before, you know that disassembling and reassembling these engines is a slow process......
    Since the BPD EGR cooler starts as a factory core, fitment is never an issue. Bulletproof
  • .....Once the turbo bracket and turbo have been reinstalled, the Goodyear 3/4-inch high-pressure lines and 12 JIC fittings were screwed onto the BPD oil transfer block and routed around anything that might burn the lines (in other words, don't let these lines rest on the turbo in any way).
    .....Once the turbo bracket and turbo have been reinstalled, the Goodyear 3/4-inch high-pr
  • The BDP oil cooler comes with a bracket that sandwiches in between the bumper and the frame horns, making installation rather easy on conventional 6.0L trucks.....
    The BDP oil cooler comes with a bracket that sandwiches in between the bumper and the fram
  • .....Of course, we had a custom bumper, so Ken Neal of Bulletproof Diesel modified a bracket to mount onto our oil cooler on the A/C condenser.....
    .....Of course, we had a custom bumper, so Ken Neal of Bulletproof Diesel modified a brack
  • .....It worked rather well, and this bracket will likely have to be what you use if you have a custom bumper and winch.
    .....It worked rather well, and this bracket will likely have to be what you use if you ha
  • With the engine reassembled, Jacob Lopez routed the high-pressure Goodyear hose through the engine compartment to our cooler and to the giant remote oil filter.
    With the engine reassembled, Jacob Lopez routed the high-pressure Goodyear hose through th
  • Since we did not use a conventional factory-style bumper, BPD had to make a custom bracket to hold our remote oil filter. This is basically the same place the supplied BPD bracket puts the remote 18.5 GPM oil filter. We'll have to make a guard for the filter later.
    Since we did not use a conventional factory-style bumper, BPD had to make a custom bracket
  • To really top it off, our 6.0L Powerstroke engine was suffering from four bad fuel injectors as well. Jacob Lopez replaced the injectors with eight new ones since there's not much sense in improving your oiling system....
    To really top it off, our 6.0L Powerstroke engine was suffering from four bad fuel injecto
  • .....if you leave half your engine not firing. And since these injectors are oil-driven, it was good to add the Bulletproof Oil Cooler Upgrade and the inlcuded remote oil filter at the same time as the new injectors.
    .....if you leave half your engine not firing. And since these injectors are oil-driven, i
Sources
Bulletproof Diesel
134 East Broadway Road
Mesa
AZ  85210
888-967-6653
http://www.bulletproofdiesel.com
/
Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!

*Please enter your username

*Please enter your password

*Please enter your comments
Comments:
Not Registered?Signup Here
(1024 character limit)
Off-Road