7.3l Powerstroke guys I have a question.

[krism83]

When I took my truck in to get services I saw an 01 f250 on the lot for sale. The price in my opinion is a little to high for the condition of the truck but that can be negotiated. My question is how long are these motors lasting you? When if ever did you have to do a rebuild? How many transmissions has it gone through? Before I drop a load of money on something I would like to know if its half dead or not.

[Jingles]

I have heard that the tyrannies have caused some problems in some trucks however  (knock on wood) I just rolled 345,000 on my 99 F350 and no problems

[PolarBear]

My cousin had the same rig that I do(1997 F-350 crew cab 7.3) he had almost 500,000 on his and still got $12K in trade.

[bearpaw]

I have a 2003 F-350 7.3L, had to put a tranny in at a little over 100,000. Got about 150ish now and no more major problems. I had a starting problem, but members on here helped me troubleshoot the problem, I replaced the part and it's started better than ever since then. It runs great, most people seem to expect 250-300 thousand or more out of these trucks.

[krism83]

I have been reading a bit online tonight about them and from what I'm gathering those motors skate to 200k and will last upwards of 500-800k before they aren't worth the rebuild.

The truck I'm looking at is stickers at 12,700. 256,000 miles on it now and it needs a new bed liner (the plastic one is shot) and there is a good sized tear in the drivers seat. It has definetly been used but isn't beat to hell and back. Wondering if I can get the price right and do it or walk away

[bearpaw]

I have been reading a bit online tonight about them and from what I'm gathering those motors skate to 200k and will last upwards of 500-800k before they aren't worth the rebuild.

The truck I'm looking at is stickers at 12,700. 256,000 miles on it now and it needs a new bed liner (the plastic one is shot) and there is a good sized tear in the drivers seat. It has definetly been used but isn't beat to hell and back. Wondering if I can get the price right and do it or walk away

I am pretty sure there are a couple posted in the classifieds on here for about that price with a lot less miles. You might go through and see if they are still in the classifieds. I plan to get rid of mine at 250ish to 300ish so I don't have to fix too many other things. 

[2labs]

When I took my truck in to get services I saw an 01 f250 on the lot for sale. The price in my opinion is a little to high for the condition of the truck but that can be negotiated. My question is how long are these motors lasting you? When if ever did you have to do a rebuild? How many transmissions has it gone through? Before I drop a load of money on something I would like to know if its half dead or not.
[/quote

Ask bill jake at bethel automotive. Good people . They know diesel inside and out.

[buglebuster]

I sold mine with 100k for that.

[Mudman]

I traded mine in for a cummins.  I loved that truck.  had 180k, 100 when I got it.  01 f350.  Injectors pricey and when she was ready for 3rd trannny I was done.  Autos even when beefed up can be week.  Some get lucky but not typical.  My cousin has  a 99 pushing 400k now on his 3rd transmission.  Great engines and truck but have issues.  Price you seen is tooo much, sounds like a 9k$.   Bearpaw is right about the classifieds too. 

[buglebuster]

Mine had afermarket turbo, tuner, exhaust, air intake, and exhust brakes and the tranny was great. I towed alot with it. My buddy had a 2000 same as me with just exhaust and a chip, put 6 trannys in it. Hasnt put one in for over 150k now. His truck is pushing 350k now with no motor problems. We had a 97 at work with 500k that was abused, had a tuner,and never maintained. Still running strong when i left.

[HntnFsh]

 I agree with these other guys. Better deals out there.

[Mudman]

Mine had afermarket turbo, tuner, exhaust, air intake, and exhust brakes and the tranny was great. I towed alot with it. My buddy had a 2000 same as me with just exhaust and a chip, put 6 trannys in it. Hasnt put one in for over 150k now. His truck is pushing 350k now with no motor problems. We had a 97 at work with 500k that was abused, had a tuner,and never maintained. Still running strong when i left.

Ya that is the way these things are, go figure?   Great example.  My truck was modded as well.  It had a lot more guts than this 05 stock cummins I got now.  Smarty in my future. 

[sirmissalot]

I sure miss my 7.3

[buglebuster]

I sure miss my 7.3

I bet you get yours fixed yet?

[WAcoyotehunter]

2001 f350.  I replaced my transmission at 130k.  the motor is only so-so... I would prefer a cummins.

[wildmanoutdoors]

95 F-250, 280,000 on it. 4th transmision. I tow allot and very hard....

[Mike450r]

The 7.3 is truly a million mile engine.  It's all the bolt ons and auto tranny that go out first.  From the block in they are as bulletproof as they come.  But for that price there are lower mile trucks out there for sure.

[BsB]

We have three trucks at work with the 7.3 power stroke. All over 250k still going strong. One of them "knocks" louder that the others and it seems to run the best. Two have had the camshaft sensor replaced and various glow plugs also. Two are service trucks and one is a crew cab. They usually haul around 8k-12k pounds daily up logging roads between offroad fuel tanks and tools welder etc... My boss bought the crew cab from a JG Murphy auction not too long ago for $2k. Was in the dead row. All it needed was the cam shaft sensor. Runs like a top. At the auctions sometimes you get a score, other times you end up with someone else's problems.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[jackelope]

Don't forget about the rest of the stuff that will wear out with big mileage....front end stuff, ball joints, etc. That stuff can get real expensive too.

[huntnphool]

I own two and love them, one has 350k and no issues.

[hntrspud]

Got a 99 myself, but reading about all of you guys tranny issues makes me    Mine has 175k and I have a 6spd manual, I wont ever get rid of this truck!

[Mudman]

Got a 99 myself, but reading about all of you guys tranny issues makes me    Mine has 175k and I have a 6spd manual, I wont ever get rid of this truck!

Ya you got a rare goody!  If mine was a manual I would have kept it.  I really like my cummins now but the Ford Truck was great.  Your clutch aint cheap either.

[WaltAlpine]

99 F350 7.3. 225k with only cam sensor problem, which was recalled and reimbursed all previous expenses. It's old, but I won't get rid of it until it totally pukes. It may be a long time...The only other vehicle I have loved as much as this one is my 69 Chevelle

[bearpaw]

Got a 99 myself, but reading about all of you guys tranny issues makes me    Mine has 175k and I have a 6spd manual, I wont ever get rid of this truck!

Ya you got a rare goody!  If mine was a manual I would have kept it.  I really like my cummins now but the Ford Truck was great.  Your clutch aint cheap either.

I would love to have a 6 speed. I couldn't find one, the reason I settled for the automatic.

[LDennis24]

I just bought a 99 f350 crewcab with the 6 speed and it has a little trouble starting. It runs fine once it starts but not sure why its struggling to start. Any info would be greatly appreciated. What other issues can be expected? I was told this pickup is the unicorn of Ford 7.3l's. It's a great pickup, 140,000 miles paid a little extra for it but great pickup. Check out Dales in Couer d'Alene. They have alot of nice pickups for decent prices!

[WaltAlpine]

Glow Plug Relay?

[buglebuster]

Could be glow plugs but i doubt it as hot as its been, mine did that when it was time for new batterys.

[bearpaw]

I just bought a 99 f350 crewcab with the 6 speed and it has a little trouble starting. It runs fine once it starts but not sure why its struggling to start. Any info would be greatly appreciated. What other issues can be expected? I was told this pickup is the unicorn of Ford 7.3l's. It's a great pickup, 140,000 miles paid a little extra for it but great pickup. Check out Dales in Couer d'Alene. They have alot of nice pickups for decent prices!

I think huntinphool and a few others told me what relay to check and how to do it when my truck got hard to start. Check in this board for the topic, it was an inexpensive fix and my truck starts better than when I first got it.

[wildmanoutdoors]

The relay is right on top of the engine. It looks like a old Frod start solinoid.
Its about 45 bucks.

If its putting out 50 amps per side its fine.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I invite you here to ask more questions about Ford trucks.  http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums
 
I would not buy any consumer diesel truck with an automatic transmission. GM and Ford used the ZF 5 and 6 speeds that are great manual transmissions that will last just as long as the engines. Dodge has a couple very good manual transmissions behind the diesels too.  Jackalope is correct in that any truck from that era, (especially the Fords), have ball joint issues. The Sterling or Ford corporate differentials are pretty solid if you keep good lube in them. Ford brakes are too small, but there are aftermarket rotors that last twice as long and brake better. (ask me offline) 7.3's are known to have crank sensor, injector pump, injector, glow plug and the occasional turbo issue. But a person that does the correct maintenance and runs fuel additives that prolong pump and injector life will do well. The best thing for a 7.3 is to straight pipe it with a large down tube to aid in cooling the turbo, -and a little more torque.  The 7.3 is known for better fuel economy than just about any other diesel offered -even to this day...  They are a solid engine.
 
Get an Oasis report on any Ford truck you buy used.  (Fords maintenance record, if it was ever taken to a dealership for service/repair.)
 
-Steve

[Mudman]

I got 16mpg and 18-19 on freeway with my 01 auto.  My 05 cummins averages 18-20mpg and 23 freeway.  21avg and 25 hwy if you believe computer reading.

[krism83]

The price at the dealer is negotiable, I know there is flex room in there for them to cut a little off the sticker. As far as trucks on the boards here, I would like a lower mileage truck for sure but I don't have the 12k cash to get one or the ability to get get a loan for one not through a dealer sadly. When I got the truck I'm driving now I had no credit no down payment and no trade in so I got stuck with an interest rate suited for a credit card not a truck loan. Building better credit is a factor in financing this truck

[wildweeds]

I agree,12K is to much,I bought mine(a 97 crew 350) with 110k for 15 k,Ive done the ball joints and a tranny(it puked at 237k) and the vacuum pump and alternator bracket and water pump,it's got 250k on it now.The service manager at the dealership told me I was nuts for looking at a newer truck as the 7.3 is the best they've made.

Without even seeing the one your looking at and going off your description,it's at best a 8000 dollar truck,You know for a fact they gave the guy a 4000 dollar trade in.

[bearpaw]

There is a 1995, 5 speed dodge cummins in the classifieds for $7000, with 187k miles, might be a much better deal than the ford with more miles.