7.3l Powerstroke guys I have a question.

[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