Looking at an 05 truck and have some questions

[Johnstra]

Well, it's been a while since my last TDR post. I'm looking to buy a 3rd gen truck again, preferably an 03 6spd. Today I drove an 05 6spd, though, and I have a few questions.



1) Fuel economy: How do the 05s do. The 325/610 trucks don't do as well as the 305/555s, right? What's considered good MPG for an 05?



2) Dirty oil: I checked the oil on the truck I drove and it was absolutely midnight black. I remember some posts about the oil getting really nasty in 04. 5 and later trucks. What's the reason for that and does it seem to be a problem?



3) Modded Truck: Ideally, I want to find a truck that has not been chipped. This one has. It has a Bully Dog chip with the digital display (egt, boost, coolant temp, and ICP) on the column, cat-back exhaust, and an aftermarket air filter. The truck really runs!



4) Odd Sound: At 1500-2000 RPM, the engine makes a faint but noticeable ticking sound. It's been a while since I had my 03, but the sound seemed like it doesn't belong. It sounds like an exhaust leak but I don't see any soot around the manifold. If I rev the engine in neutral to 2k and hold it ther I can hear the sound and feel a very slight shake in sync with the RPM. Any suggestions what this might be? Would it make you walk away?



Other than the ticking sound, the truck looks well maintained and clean. No 5th wheel or goose-neck hitch.



What else should I check for or think about with the 05?



Thanks,

-john

 

[WAckerman]

I'll say that my 05 gets considerably worse mileage over my Uncle's 03 auto. He consistanly gets right around 20 (he drives like a grandpa though) where I get 16. 9-17. 5 no matter how I seem to drive it. Those are both hand calc's numbers by the way, on stock tires.



Couldn't say about going with a chipped truck though. Mine is stock, and will probably stay that way a while.



I do agree with you about the ticking sound around 2k rpm's. I just returned from So Cal and running the freeway with radio down so the kids could watch movies I really noticed the tick. There have been several posts on here though that say because these new trucks are so quiet, that we have begun to hear new noises that have always been there, but were not able to be heard over the other engine noises. I have joined the guys that think that way. The tick bothers me a little, but this truck has by far been the best vehicle I have ever owned. My biggest complaint is actually how loud the G56 transmission talks at 2200 rpm. I notice that more than the engine tick... oh well. Going to go with Amsoil syth at 30k and hopefully that'll help.



Good luck finding what you want, and hope what you gets treats you right.

 

[Johnstra]

Thanks Wackerman. How does your oil look between changes? Just looking at the color of the oil I'd say this truck hasn't had a change in a long time, but I seem to remember people saying the 610 engine makes oil black.

-john

 

[LesStallings]

No 5th wheel or goose-neck hitch. -john

That's a bad thing. I would much prefer a truck that has a pull history instead of a hot-rod history.

 

[Grizzly]

I have a 05 with the NV5600, 6 speed. My oil turns very black as soon you start the engine after an oil change, I have no ticking noise. My mileage is not good, but I do have a dually 4x4 and all my highway miles have been with the camper on, see signature. My in town mileage, empty, is 15+. My truck is completely stock and will stay that way. The engine is far more powerful then my previous 95 and it can handle the load of the camper much better then the 95. The 95 was a great truck, but this one is much better.

 

[WAckerman]

I'll second Grizzly in that my oil goes black fast. I'm pretty new to diesels, so I just chalked it up to it being a diesel, not necessarily a 3rd gen thing, but it very well could be.



I wouldn't say that not having a 5th or gooseneck hitch is a bad thing. My 05 doesn't have either but I know it had pulled on the reciever, and pulled fairly heavy. Just my . 02, not trying to flame ya, Les.

 

[Johnstra]

I appreciate the replies, everyone.



I know in the 03 and 04 305/555 engines oil doesn't turn black like it does in the 04. 5 and later engines. Even my old 12-valve oil stayed fairly clean looking to 5000 miles or so. I'm curious if it was ever decided what causes the 610 engines to do it. Additional pilot injection or something like that?



-john

 

[starkmr]

I've got an 04. 5 with the NV5600 and I get the same results every oil change, it turns black right after you start it, not sure why, my guess is that the oil doesn't completely drain. I've changed oil myself and let it sit for a couple of hours until it quit dripping and it still turned black the first time I ran it.

 

[jelag]

I own 3 3500 dually 4x4's, total over 350K plus miles... .

1 - fuel economy is 15-18 driving empty and taking it 5 or so under the speed limit... ... 11 to 13 towing a very heavy trailer... . (trailers up to 20K)

2 - soot, one of the byproducts of diesel combustion makes all diesel engine oil black... we change oil at 8K miles, and use a good grade oil that is nothing fancy and with that change the filter... we have a good track record with several fords and a 10 L Cat engine... we have never had a failure from oil issues..... I wouldn't worry about the oil unless you know that the guy has let it run say 15 or 20K miles... . between changes... .

3 - we put exhaust brakes on our trucks because we pull, we put air bags to level the trucks... . all have air horns... we have some other stuff but its only to make our job easier, tanks in the beds, steps etc... we have no other changes as we have several people who might step into the truck and drive it. . and I need 500k between trucks so they get NO chips.....

4 - can't talk about the sound can't hear it... . I changed to Dodges because of the issues with the fords injectors and fuel system problems... . I'm happy with them and am looking forward to either ordering a new F650 with a Cat or the new Dodge 5500... i'm thinking the F 650 might be cheaper and if so... say at least 3 grand I'll buy it. . but that choice is 2 or 3 months away.....

Hope this helps.....

 

[Matt400]

1) Fuel economy: How do the 05s do. The 325/610 trucks don't do as well as the 305/555s, right? What's considered good MPG for an 05?

I get 19 in my 05 and have seen a best of 21, unloaded of course.

Thats driving like an old fart keeping it in lock up with 3. 73's and 33" tires helps. Final drive on the OD is . 69:1. I could see a stick getting less but driving style seems to make the most difference.



I also owned an 03 and got 19 in that one, sold it to my son and it went to 16 in a hurry.

2) Dirty oil: I checked the oil on the truck I drove and it was absolutely midnight black. I remember some posts about the oil getting really nasty in 04. 5 and later trucks.

My 03's oil didn't seem to stay cleaner any longer than the 05 does.

3) Modded Truck: Ideally, I want to find a truck that has not been chipped. This one has. It has a Bully Dog chip with the digital display (egt, boost, coolant temp, and ICP) on the column, cat-back exhaust, and an aftermarket air filter. The truck really runs!

That would be ideal, you never know how hard it has been run but then you might also end up with some mods you don't have to buy.

4) Odd Sound: At 1500-2000 RPM, the engine makes a faint but noticeable ticking sound. It's been a while since I had my 03, but the sound seemed like it doesn't belong. It sounds like an exhaust leak but I don't see any soot around the manifold. If I rev the engine in neutral to 2k and hold it ther I can hear the sound and feel a very slight shake in sync with the RPM. Any suggestions what this might be? Would it make you walk away?

The "shake" would worry me, if I was going to buy it I would want to see how it feels without the chip.

 

[Johnstra]

I found and bought an 03 HO NV5600 w/ 49k on it and no mods.

-john

 

[Matt400]

Cool John, thats a good one for sure!

 

[JJPage]

The oil is most likely black because of the BullyDog. All the fuel you are feeding it causes soot. I know that my 03 turns black immediately since my fuel enhancers.



My truck has developed a tick also, but not just at a certain rpm, all the time, I am sure its an injector, will know soon enough.



As far as years, 03 / 05, I would not really have a preference, it seems to be easier to get more power out of the later years. Most likely better electronics.

 

[wneubauer]

Don't know if it matters, but 05 was the last year of the 7/70 powertrain warranty... .