anyone on here have a ford truck with the 7.3L diesel?
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mildly retarded
SuperBike
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,278
From: Denver, CO
anyone on here have a ford truck with the 7.3L diesel?
I just bought a sweet ford 250 with the 7.3L! its awesome! it was well taken care of and has some mods. i just wanted to put a feeler out there to see if anyone has some experience with this engine. I'm new to diesel and might have some questions from time to time. ive been to other diesel specific forums but they all suck in comparison to our community here! as always thanks everyone!
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MotoGP
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,402
From: Kempner, TX
Had a 1999 F350 CC, LB 4x4 with a 7.3 that had 256,000 miles on it when sold..Have a 2003 (last year of the 7.3) with more then 163,000 miles on it now...
Most of those mikes towing a 36 ft Toy hauler that puts us at or over GVW when loaded for a trip.
One issue common to the 7.3 is cavitation in the cooling system... due to poor or neglected cooling system maintenance, flush and proper coolant use. the result is pin hole leaks in the cylinder ..mostly #8. If you have the motor scanned at a shop,, ask them to check for a contribution code..
Another common issue is glow plug relay failure.. cheap easy fix....and fuel bowl leak at the drain valve...
On our 2003... tranny flush new filter and fluid every 30k.. oil and filter every 5k unless it's easy hiway miles then take it to 7K. Cooling system flush and refil once every other year.
Only part failures have been 1 Alternator, 1 glow plug relay, one fuel filter drain o ring leak, shocks worn out at 60k
Most of those mikes towing a 36 ft Toy hauler that puts us at or over GVW when loaded for a trip.
One issue common to the 7.3 is cavitation in the cooling system... due to poor or neglected cooling system maintenance, flush and proper coolant use. the result is pin hole leaks in the cylinder ..mostly #8. If you have the motor scanned at a shop,, ask them to check for a contribution code..
Another common issue is glow plug relay failure.. cheap easy fix....and fuel bowl leak at the drain valve...
On our 2003... tranny flush new filter and fluid every 30k.. oil and filter every 5k unless it's easy hiway miles then take it to 7K. Cooling system flush and refil once every other year.
Only part failures have been 1 Alternator, 1 glow plug relay, one fuel filter drain o ring leak, shocks worn out at 60k
Last edited by E.Marquez; Nov 25, 2013 at 10:44 AM.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 501
From: Orlando, FL
I just bought a sweet ford 250 with the 7.3L! its awesome! it was well taken care of and has some mods. i just wanted to put a feeler out there to see if anyone has some experience with this engine. I'm new to diesel and might have some questions from time to time. ive been to other diesel specific forums but they all suck in comparison to our community here! as always thanks everyone!
Well you just happen to be in luck.... I am a ford diesel mechanic and if you have any questions, are in need of a wiring diagram, or something from the service manual I would be more than happy to give you a hand. Just shoot me a PM.
Cody.
P.S. That does go for you too Eric.
Last edited by sailorjerry; Nov 25, 2013 at 11:12 AM.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 458
From: Rome, GA
Ford has done 2 very stupid things in what I consider recent history, the first was doing away with the 300 straight 6, argueably one of the best gas burners ever created (only second to the chevy 350 v8) and the second was to do away with the 7.3l diesel, the best non comercial designed diesel ever produced. And this coming from a die hard chevy fan. I would buy a ford truck only if it were a 5spd and had one of those two engines.
You sir made a solid purchase that will live forever with nothing more than routine maintenence
You sir made a solid purchase that will live forever with nothing more than routine maintenence
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 501
From: Orlando, FL
Ford has done 2 very stupid things in what I consider recent history, the first was doing away with the 300 straight 6, argueably one of the best gas burners ever created (only second to the chevy 350 v8) and the second was to do away with the 7.3l diesel, the best non comercial designed diesel ever produced. And this coming from a die hard chevy fan. I would buy a ford truck only if it were a 5spd and had one of those two engines.
You sir made a solid purchase that will live forever with nothing more than routine maintenence
You sir made a solid purchase that will live forever with nothing more than routine maintenence
Just so you know, FORD didnt do away with the 7.3L international did since they were the ones making the engine, and the reason they did was the federal EPA regulations changed in 2003 so vastly that they couldnt not make the 7.3L meet the requirements and were forced to design a new engine to meet them..... Key note here blame the government not your Ford or International.
Also the new 6.7L is the first Ford designed engine since the early 80's and has so far fallowed amazingly in the 7.3L foot steps in terms of reliability. Sorry for the rant.
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 636
From: Baltimore, Maryland
I've been checking the market on diesels also recently, with my preference being a Cummins I6 or the Ford 7.3. I have a thing for inline 6 cylinders. The 7.3 has a good reputation though. My friends father had one he ran very hard, in his words "I did more burnouts in that truck than any other cars put together". His had over 500,000 miles with the most involved work being changing the injectors a few times.
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