Powerstroke shop summary interpretation help?

This is a stupid question. When you get to the point where you wonder why I'm asking such a stupid question, at least recall that I'm already aware, I just can't stop myself asking. The truck search drags on and I'm frustrated and want something to work out.

I'm truck shopping, and looking currently at an '08 F-350. I can't get to it in person, but the owner has kindly agreed to take it to a shop I found near him for a PPI, which will happen next week if I don't call it off over this item.

He also provided me with some diagnostics the truck got when he had some work done (replacing thermostats) in May, and there's some concerning stuff in the text of that testing. I'm hoping folks here with more Diesel-Fu than me can tell me whether it's a "that's not concerning," "that is concerning," or "run screaming." It feels like a "run screaming" and I may well go with that. I think maybe I've got false hope just because of the way it's added to the text almost in passing. And the fact the seller was happy to provide me with the docs from the shop. Maybe I'm taking crazy pills, but is there a non-horrifying explanation? As I type them up, I feel silly for even asking. I think maybe this is a prime example of how people end up doing crazy things if everyone around them seems sane and keeps up the appearance of normalcy...

Specifically, two things:

1. "Checked crankcase pressure and found out of the oil fill it is pulsing indicating a compromised cylinder causing the excess pressure. It is normal to have some excess pressure in the crankcase but it should not pulse."
2. "Also checked short term fuel trims for the injectors and found cylinder 8 was the highest reading a max of 7 but was fluctuating. Suspect base engine concern failed piston rings or piston itself is in the early stages of failing."

Is there anything else that stuff could be? Or any reason not to assume the obvious and unpleasant? See my Minor Rant about the scarcity of Supercab/long bed trucks to know why I'm so desperate.

Run away.

You have a cylinder that's failing.

Unless you want to buy a truck that you're going to need to replace the engine in short order.

On a diesel, excessive crankcase pressure is caused by 1 of 3 things.  The EGR system, Bad turbocharger oil seals, or excess leakage past the piston rings. With #2 above, it's pretty much a given it's a bad cylinder. This is not the one to buy. 

Thanks for helping me face the simple truth.

Nice to be able to walk away with confirmation.

There seem to be a lot of Super Cab long beds in Florida. No clue why, but if shipping/driving back is an option, I'd look there. 

In reply to Steve_Jones :

It's certainly worth looking into. Thanks!

In reply to Jesse Ransom :

'08 Super Duty is the 6.4, I'd avoid like the plague even if it had a clean bill of health

6.4 is a known problem.  Much worse than even the 6.0.  I think the biggest issue now with them is that it's literally nearly impossible to get parts.  The foundation of the engine is the Maxxforce 7 Navistar but I think there might be some Ford specific parts that are literally unobtainium.  Surprisingly though, Navistar had very little trouble with the platform in medium duty truck and bus chassis.  The current thinking is that the hotter tune Ford gave it combined with some of the earlier iterations of diesel emissions made it very unhappy.  But there are guys who specialize in the 6.4 and make them work one way or another.  They are known for their ability to make obscene levels of power - even beyond the newer 6.7 - when tuned and deleted.  

Looked at a bare bones, ex-Washington-state-owned 2WD '11 F350 XL yesterday. 241k miles, but drove great. Hoping to get it inspected early this week. Also, cheap!

There's also another a few hours away, older and lower miles. '03, 4x4 and nicer trim. One owner who hauled two horses.

 If those don't go anywhere I'll have to find out what shipping from Florida would run, because the truck Steve posted beats the local trends enough to leave some room. I  do have misgivings about buying cross country from a dealer, but as long as they're willing to work with me on getting it inspected...

 The other, and possibly better plan for my usage is to just live with the either less power or more thirst of a gasser, safe in the knowledge that a tired engine is a pain, not a doubling of the cost of the truck. I can't believe there are NLA parts issues for such a common engine family.

I have a supercab long bed 4x4 I'll be selling at some point (once I find a crew cab long bed that I like for a good price). 
 

it's in really good shape and I really don't want to sell it. I'd even considered briefly the idea of swapping a crew cab cab onto it. 
 

it's the 6.0 but contrary to popular belief, they're good motors.  The problems are known and documented and preventions are out there.  This has never, to my knowledge or evidence, had a tuner on it which is a big part of peoples' problems.  I put a coolant filter on it since the sand in the cooling system is what seems to cause issues.   Pretty stock. Leveling kit, upfitter switches, wheels/tires. 
 

also in Los Angeles so maybe not close.  
 

Steve_Jones said:

There seem to be a lot of Super Cab long beds in Florida. No clue why, but if shipping/driving back is an option, I'd look there. 

I think it's because snowbirds have RVs

Jesse Ransom said:

Looked at a bare bones, ex-Washington-state-owned 2WD '11 F350 XL yesterday. 241k miles, but drove great. Hoping to get it inspected early this week. Also, cheap!

There's also another a few hours away, older and lower miles. '03, 4x4 and nicer trim. One owner who hauled two horses.

 If those don't go anywhere I'll have to find out what shipping from Florida would run, because the truck Steve posted beats the local trends enough to leave some room. I  do have misgivings about buying cross country from a dealer, but as long as they're willing to work with me on getting it inspected...

 The other, and possibly better plan for my usage is to just live with the either less power or more thirst of a gasser, safe in the knowledge that a tired engine is a pain, not a doubling of the cost of the truck. I can't believe there are NLA parts issues for such a common engine family.

Just as one GRM'r to another, I'd leave that Florida truck alone.  I'm not trying to say there aren't honest dealers, solid cars, and good deals in south Florida, but I know some Miami people (305's we call them) who refuse to buy anything from that area.  They all look north.  

Thanks for the continued info and updates.

I've seen a couple more crop up more locally (Portland, OR), so I'm thinking that enough patience will get me something that checks out without having to ship or fly-n-drive from the absolute opposite corner of the country...

Or from L.A., though the RSVR would fit in the bed rather easily, right? (No! Bad Jesse!) Certainly easier than Florida, and my wife and I occasionally talk about hitting San Diego for a weekend to escape the PNW grey. There are a lot of moving parts there, but I'll definitely keep that info tucked away, thanks!

I was only able to get an appointment Friday to get the 240k-mile ex-Washington-state-fleet truck looked over at a local diesel shop, but so far it hasn't sold, so my fingers remain crossed. Still really impressed with how nice a 2011 base model was, not having driven a pickup newer than my own old-platform '97 save for a brief hop in a U-Haul half-ton Chevy I hated a few years ago, which felt like driving a rubber tuning fork.

I'm going to put this one up for grabs as soon as I finish detailing it.  It's a little older than what you're looking at and also just 4x2.  No idea what I'm going to ask.

Late year '99.  7.3.  117k miles.  As far as I can tell they are original.  Ran the Carfax.  I'm owner 3.  Owner 2 only had it for a very short while.  My father and I have had it since '10.  It's straight as a pin.  Only mods are AIS intake and 4" exhaust from the turbo back.  I do run a tune on it.  DP +80 Economy.  
 

I just picked up a low mile example of the very last 5.7 Tundra so I really no longer have a use case for this old girl.

Even if I find something locally, this could end up being a great set of trucks for GRMers wanting to tow!

I think duallies are super-cool, I just suspect I'd regret it in every parking lot and drive-thru. I rarely have anybody else in the truck, and even more rarely more than one passenger, and it'll get used for random truck errands more often than actual towing.

The 4x2 is probably a bonus for me. I don't need four wheel drive, so it mostly means extra load-in height which makes loading motorcycles even less fun. But so many trucks are 4x4 any more that I'm not ruling it out since it thins the search too much. I don't have Tom's confidence in the "walk the bike while working the clutch" approach to loading, so any pickup pretty much means winch or lift gate to load a bike, dealing with a trailer, or trying one of those wacky hitch-mount bike carriers.

I always did like the looks of 4X2 duallys.  I kind of hate to let this one go.

A GMT-400 dually is the prettiest truck they ever made.  That is a fact that cannot be argued.  It's too bad that their engine options didn't match their looks.  But that can be fixed.  If I had unlimited funds and time, I might try to swap a 7.3 Godzilla crate motor into one.  People put Chevys in Fords so why can't the reverse be true?

And it appears to be settled for this go-round. 2011 F-350 XL 2WD, 6.7L, 241k miles, ex-Washington-state fleet (don't know what agency), inspection didn't find anything more amiss than a aged serpentine belt, a leaky upper oil pan gasket (which isn't too bad, though it sounds like a bit of a job to replace), and slight play in the LF wheel bearings. For $7k, I've got room to just have everything tidied and feel good about it. Given that I'm busy building a driveway back to the shop I don't even have to feel that bad about not DIYing it. The oil capacity paint-penned in the engine bay seemed like a good sign for regular attention.

Thanks again for all the info, everyone!

A 401 CJ said:

 

A GMT-400 dually is the prettiest truck they ever made.  That is a fact that cannot be argued. 

That's debatable. I like these for some reason

In reply to Jesse Ransom :

i'm not very knowledgeable about diesel stuff, but man that seems like a freaking steal!