Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Ford Power Stroke 7.3l is the best diesel engine.

I've got 153k on mine, and no issues whatsoever.
Have a complete Banks towing upgrade, and flat out pulls !
Changed my fuel filter yesterday, just because, and took a pic.

I recently grabbed a spare 7.3 with 88K on it for when mine bites the dust.
215K and still going strong.

Well, post again after you have 305,000 miles on it like my Duramax.

I have 300,000 on my 99 7.3. Only surprise repair was an IPC sensor. Cost me $166.

My truck rarely leaves the driveway without a trailer attached to it.

Yeah, heres my trailer !

Lol, it was competitive in its time, but 150K? That’s not even gas motor mileage.

I’ve taken three of them to over 300 K, wasn’t impressed. Cylinder kits wear out, lots of blow by, and the the EXPENSIVE injectors go all at about the same time. Not economical to overhaul.

Compared to the Cummins inline six it makes much less power and is less durable. I still have one on the farm, but I sure wish my ex hadn’t wrecked the dodge.

A stock 7.3l has little to bring to the modern diesel engine table, I agree.
Mine is far from stock, and for an 18 yo truck, still looks good, and low mileage.
I'm hoping to get another 150k out of it.
We all like different engines, for different reasons.
My whole package suits us perfectly.

412,000 miles on my 1999.

Can’t say I disagree.

Had 245k on mine when I turned it in, don't remember what was on the one before that.
It had to be able to go anywhere at a moments notice,never failed.

2001 with 308,000

I wonder how much HP/Tq the big 3 would be putting into OEM Diesel engines if EGR and DPF/SCR weren't required? Would we have seen the move to common rails, new turbo gas plumbing, etc or would we still be running sub 300HP ~500Ft/Lb motors that average 15-18 going down the highway?

the 7.3 is an OK motor , but hardly in the class of a 12 valve 5.9 Cummins

lots , lots more complicated and more stuff to go wrong

I can't see the engine!

Is that a Banks filter? I don't know about them, but the very similar K&N oiled gauze filters have a bad reputation for "dusting" turbo diesel engines.

How'd you get that many miles on a Duramax? Coasted down mountains or towed behind your Class-A?

Awesome and clean as a whistle!

I run a mid-80's GM 6.2, my first diesel vehicle, and it is nowhere near as clean as that one. However in its simplicity and drabness there is a certain beauty.

Not a pickup guy (so far at least) but if I were I'd be looking for one of those older 7.3's sitting in a dual tank version 4x4.

Glad you're happy with your diesels. By the way, Toyota engineers bought and tore down one of the two million mile Toyota Tundras...short verdict? Out of wear spec but above specs when put on the dynamometer. By the way, both million mile pickups were oilfield "hot trucks"...frequently overloaded. You Texans and Okies know about hot trucks.

The 7.3s were good engines.


The IDI and the Powerstroke.




Only real issues we worked on much were bad valve cover gaskets and oil galley plugs.


Both of which were actually pretty serious problems!



One nice thing about the Powerstroke.......you cant run one out of oil. Its impossible.

True that, & I don't have one nor a dog in the fight, but I make parts for them all & deal with several major bulk / volume engine rebuilders.

The 6.7 Cummins is the class of the market &, surprisingly, I've gotten a lot of good reports on the 6.7 Ford, not only from the regular rebuilders but also from the some that deal with the high performance market.

MM

"Diesels are just like sex- - - - - -highly overrated and stinky" One of Dad's favorite sayings after 60+ years in the auto repair business!
Jerry