The world of powerstroke engines is dramatic, to say the least. Of course, everyone wants their engine to be a powerstroke model, but there are variants in it as well. Some of the age old ones are 6.0 and 6.4L. There are newer options as well but fanatics like sticking with the old ones. If you are among them, we are sure you are curious to know whether 6.0L is better than 6.4L. This will also help you determine what to go for in your next purchase.
In this article, we shall explore the pros and cons of the powerstroke engines so that you don’t scamper around for answers on the Internet. Let’s begin!
6.0L Powerstroke Engine
With factory horsepower of 325 at 3,300 rpm, the 6.0L powerstroke engine manages to impress age-old users. It comes with a displacement of 365 ci and a compression ratio of 18.0:1 It also has 4 valves per cycle.
The Pros
- It has a factory bed plate
- It offers up to 430 rwhp and allows custom tuning
- The rotating assembly can manage800 rwhp with ease
- Most of the 6.0L powerstroke engines also have TorqShift automatic transmission
- Repairs are not very expensive, especially when compared to 6.4L
The cons
- Many people report EGR cooler failure and valve sticking
- Failure of the engine oil cooler is also a common problem
- Turbos end up sticking
- High-pressure oil leaks are among the most annoying issues that 6.0L powerstroke has
6.4L Powerstroke
6.4L powerstroke offers a horsepower of 350 at 3,000 rpm, which is better than 6.0L. The valves are the same, though. It has a displacement of 390 ci, and the compression ratio is 17.5:1.
The pros
- It offers up to 600 rwhp. That’s more than 6.0L.
- It allows custom tuning
- The head bolts have a large diameter, protecting the head gaskets
- The TorqShift automatic transmission is tougher than 6.0L
The cons
- With age, you may notice cracks in the pistons
- DPFs almost always fail
- Oil can keep diluting
- Failure of the EGR cooler is not uncommon
- Radiators have a very bad name because they leak very often
- Repairs are very expensive
6.0 vs 6.4 Powerstroke
| Specs | 6.0 Powerstroke | 6.4 Powerstroke |
| Horsepower | 325 at 3,300 RPM | 350 at 3,000 RPM |
| Displacement | 365 ci | 390 ci |
| Valves | 4 per cycle | 4 per cycle |
| Tuning | Custom | Custom |
| Compression ratio | 18.0:1 | 17.5:1 |
Take our advice and choose neither! You will do much better if you go with 7.3L powerstroke engines. However, if that’s not an option, you should choose 6.4L because it clearly has better features than 6.0L. The only place where it loses is the repair expenses. If you can come to terms with that, 6.4L is your answer. Otherwise, if an average powerstroke engine works, 6.0 will work and let you save money when the time for repairs comes.
People also ask
1) Is 6.0 or 6.4 engine better?
The 6.4 engine is considered better but please note that it is expensive. It also gives more power. Having said that, if you have a bulletproof 6.0 engine, this will outrank the 6.4.
2) Why is 6.4 Powerstroke so bad?
We wouldn’t say it is very bad but many users face problems with oil dilution and lubrication. These are the common reasons why the 6.4 has received some bad rep.
3) Are 6.0 and 6.4 heads the same?
It depends on the model. The latter ones (from 2006) seem to be the same.
4) Is the 6.4 diesel a good motor?
It is quite good if you ignore the engine failures that a few users have noted.
5) Is a bulletproof 6.4 reliable?
Yes, but you must maintain it well and take good care of it.
6) How long will a Ford 6.4 last?
It will be your good friend until 200,000 miles if you treat it well and take good care of it.
7) What problems did the 6.4 Powerstroke have?
Problems related to fuel, cylinder washing, and clogging were common. Fuel dilution due to a problematic post-injection strategy was the biggest complaint.
8) Is a deleted 6.4 Powerstroke reliable?
Many users have said that a deleted 6.4 Powerstroke is quite trustworthy.
9) What is the most reliable Powerstroke engine?
Our vote goes to the 7.3L Powerstroke.
10) What’s better – 7.3 or 6.0 Powerstroke?
The 7.3 Powerstroke engine is the winner without a doubt.
Even though this is an old battle, we have had multiple queries about the two engines. This prompted us to write the article. We hope it has helped you!