Should i buy a 03-07 5.9 or 08 6.7

[Balzac]

Looking at a 08 and wondering the differences between the 06 and 08. all comments welcome.

 

[RVTRKN]

MY 07. 5 and 08 had growing pains, stick with 5. 9, if you can find a low mileage truck.

 

[Bouma]

I would go with the 5. 9. However thats what I own so I may be biased. My neighbor owns an 08 and I have a good fiend with an 08. Both have been good trucks, however both have seen the shop more than mine. All problems were related to emmisions or the turbo. Another thing I find interesting, I have ha two people in the last month ask me if my truck was a 5. 9, I replied yes, they then asked is it for sale. They were both driving 6. 7's

 

[jgillott]

I would go with the 5. 9. However thats what I own so I may be biased. My neighbor owns an 08 and I have a good fiend with an 08. Both have been good trucks, however both have seen the shop more than mine. All problems were related to emmisions or the turbo. Another thing I find interesting, I have ha two people in the last month ask me if my truck was a 5. 9, I replied yes, they then asked is it for sale. They were both driving 6. 7's

I have had similar offers this summer. Usually it occurs when I am buying fuel and someone comes over and asks if I would let my '07 go. They are offering insane $$$ too, which makes it all the more tempting. I bought it the way I wanted it new in '07, and I know I'll never have another one like it if I fall to temptation.

 

[HBarlow]

My '08 has been troublefree. Some early 6. 7s, most often the ones used in light duty short trip service, had some sooting issues. Cleaning and a few replacement parts on the ones that had troubles and software revisions for all cured the early problems.

About 95% of those who own 6. 7 trucks are very happy with the engines and the new and greatly improved six speed automatics. The fact that all 6. 7s provide engine braking with the new variable geometry turbo makes them superior to the 5. 9s that did not have an exhaust brake added just for braking and downhill control alone.

 

[Wingate]

The 5. 9L gets better fuel efficiency, but I would NOT let that be a deciding factor. The 5. 9L with low mileage and un modified are hard to come by... they do exist, but you will pay dearly for one. Buy one that been modified or high miles and you can find a deal or two. IF I were deciding on a 5. 9l vs. a 3rd gen 6. 7L, I would buy the 6. 7L in a heartbeat. You can get them MUCH cheaper than the 5. 9, since they are newer, you tend to find them with lower miles. Since they are the phase 1 6. 7L engines, they do have somewhat of a stigma about being trouble prone, which will lower the price vs. a comparable 5. 9l equipped truck. Buy the 6. 7L, you get an exhaust brake, if you purchase an auto, you get the 6 sp. auto vs. the 4 sp. auto behind a 5. 9l. Shop around and find pricing on one of the well designed delete kits for the 6. 7l and keep that dollar amount in the back of your mind and just figure on spending that on the truck. The addition of the delete kit will get rid of all the trouble prone emissions crap and get the fuel mileage back to the 5. 9l range, All with 2 extra gears, more power, lower purchase cost... etc... . Just my . 02..... Remember there is not much difference between the trucks... just engine/transmission differences.



Its almost comical sometimes at gas stations... It usually starts with someone looking at the front end then the tail lights and the conservation starts with, "Hey, nice truck, that an 06 model?" yeah. . " Man, pretty clean old truck... how many miles u got on it?" uummmm bout 50K... " U interested in selling it? sure... bout 33K oughta cover it unless I have to put tires on it, these factory ones are gettting lots of weather cracking... . U want it with or without new tires?

Ive only had two that pushed the conversation past there... .

 

[jgillott]

Its almost comical sometimes at gas stations... It usually starts with someone looking at the front end then the tail lights and the conservation starts with, "Hey, nice truck, that an 06 model?" yeah. . " Man, pretty clean old truck... how many miles u got on it?" uummmm bout 50K... " U interested in selling it? sure... bout 33K oughta cover it unless I have to put tires on it, these factory ones are gettting lots of weather cracking... . U want it with or without new tires?
Ive only had two that pushed the conversation past there... .

33K must be the magic number right now. I've heard that one a couple of times recently.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Most said it in their posts the 5. 9 has a proven track record the other is still trying to. Seems like allot of the problems exist around the afterburner exhaust system. Harvey said it best I think about the short trips killing them FIL's has been a great truck but he doesn't fire it up to go to the supermarket 10 miles away. Would hate to pay the repair bills when it goes off warranty and the exhaust starts acting up

 

[rscurtis]

I saw an '03 QCLB 4X4 6-speed for sale at a used car dealer in Orbisonia PA on Saturday. Nice clean looking truck, 160K miles. $20,500.

 

[RVTRKN]

My C&C with the 6. 7 has been good to me and even though it does have issues, mostly with the updated program, (don't update the ECM with the 6. 7 G56 if the program is virgin). I have had both, look at sig, and the 5. 9 with the NV5600 is by far the best truck on the market and an exhaust brake can be added on. My brother got the deal of the century when I let mine go, and every time I'm in regen with my C&C I think back as to why would I let such a good truck go. Stay away from the early 6. 7, and as much as I hate to admit it, do not get it with the G56. The new program is horrible that I (and it was my decision) updated it with. The truck was flawless before the update, now it struggles in regen, with no power on the lower RPM range and surges out of control past 2K RPM, while excelerating, even to the point it will slip the clutch when towing, when it surges, if I don't take care to keep it below 2K until 6th gear, even when towing even my light boat. The G56 has a bad reputation, but mostly because the NV5600 was so good, its hard to follow a good act.

 

[NavyDood]

For me... If I had to get another truck I would look for an 07. 5 or 08 with the 68RFE and do all the deletes.

 

[AABEN]

The 08 should be OK they have the bugs out of them now! They have a better front end. GOOD LUCK

 

[RScaletti]

Take all of the above advice and make your decision that only you can make. We cant tell you what is best for you. Me, I factory ordered a 07. 5 and drove that for 3 years. Sold that for a variety of reasons and bought an 06. The 6. 7 definitely had more power than the 5. 9, but the 5. 9 has been more reliable for me. I added a smarty and pacbrake to my 06 and it drives and pulls much like the 07. 5. My only regret has been losing the long bed and g56... In the end you will be happy whichever way you go.

 

[DRyder]

I was given approval from the war department for the purchase of a new 08, but opted against it due to the added DPF gear alone. If you want simplicity go with the 5. 9, if you want HP/TQ go with the 6. 7; they are all great trucks with the best diesel motor out there. Good luck!

Dave

 

[NAllen]

WOW I have an 03 QCLB like new condition all org. with 135k wonder what i could get for it?

 

[RVTRKN]

If it has the NV5600 a hell of a lot more, then with an auto! On edit, and its the HO!

 

[Balzac]

The 08 I looked at was not good. Found and bought an 06 QC 2 wheel drive from original owner with 110K miles in really nice condition for $17K. Laramie loaded, including sunroof. I took a trip 500 miles, got 27. 5 mpg pulling my flatdeck thru the mountains and 26 with an old bronco 2 back home. Awesome truck!

Thanks for all your advice.

 

[RVTRKN]

Congrats, update sig and post some pics.

 

[seafish]

I took a trip 500 miles, got 27. 5 mpg pulling my flatdeck thru the mountains and 26 with an old bronco 2 back home. Awesome truck!

Thanks for all your advice.

Congrats on your new truck... . but don't believe the overhead display for mpg... . it can be off "real" mpg anywhere from 10 to 25%.

For instance on my sig truck, with the speedodometer calibrated and NO tuners, the "lie-o-meter" reads 21. 6 on average, yet I NEVER get more then 18 mpg (combined mountain and highwya driving), hand calculated.

Fill your tank a few times and drive then do a hand calc, to know your actual mpg.



More importantly, ENJOY your new truck!!!

 

[mhsmith57]

Are those mpg's via the overhead computer readout or done old school; miles / gallons = mpg (hand or calculator)? I have an '05 2wd 5. 9L w/G56 QC short bed and continuously get 21-22 mpg calculated. I once drove from Vegas to S. Ca, drove around, then back on the same tank; 697 miles and 22+ mpg. Regardless what some say, the G56 does have its week link but I've got 91K miles on her with no problems "yet".