Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives Is the 7.3 PSD a better engine than the 6.0 PSD?

I am looking for a crewcab to replace my 1998 Dodge 2500 with the V10. I hunt and pull a fifth wheeler with this truck. I like it very much, but the back seat (quad cab with suicide doors)isn't big enough for two kids and a 100lb dog (doesn't bother me or the dog, but the kids yap a bit). Anyway, I've been looking at the Ford offerings and see that the last year for the 7.3 was 2002 and the 6.0 took over in 2003. These trucks fall into my price range. Any reason to avoid the 6.0L?

I am also looking at a 2005 Dodge with a cummins and a 6 speed, but even with regular doors in the crew cab, it's a bit tight. The mega cabs are too much money for my budget. I had a 6.2l GMC diesel 2500 for years, so know diesel ownership, and am not that thrilled with them, except for the mileage and power. My V10 wins the driveability wars, but the gas mileage is pretty awful.

I would avoid the 6.0. There is a reason the 6.0 was only out a few years. You might luck out and get a good one but most people I know have nothing but trouble.

I would just get the Dodge as its available. If your dead set on a ford, wait for a 7.3

Just my .02

I too would get the Dodge.

If you just have to have a Ford, keep looking until you find a 7.3 in decent shape.

The 6.0 is a first class POS, you couldn't give me one. We've got two at work and they have spent more time in the shop than going down the road, while the 7.3 and cummins we have take up the slack.

Get the Dodge, I've ridden in the back of one (my own) for a good ways. I'm 5'11", 200 lbs and I was ok.

I've got over 14,000 reasons to avoid it.....

As soon as mine gets back from the shop its on its way down the road.

Wanna buy it?

A friend loves Ford and thinks his 6.0 is great, but those things have kept a lot of repair guys busy. I wouldn't take one if it were given to me. I also know guys with 7.3's who've had real good luck with them. The 7.3 isn't powerful by today's standards but if you're wanting a used Ford, it's a good engine. If I didn't care about how fast it was and liked Fords, that's definitely the one I'd get.

I have friends with Dodges who're real happy with them. Between that '05 and any Ford, I'd get the Dodge.

Also look at DMax. It's a completely different animal from the old 6.2/6.5.... nothing about the old ones is even remotely the same as a DMax. Since you're in Boise, go over to Maximized Performance Inc. and talk with Nathan about them.

After you drive a newer Cummins or Duramax you won't be as impressed with your V-10.

There is no comparison between your old 6.2 and the newer diesels. Its like comparing a 4 cyl to a 454 V8.

Bill

A good friend has let me borrow his Duramax with allison trans...... Holy Crap!!!

That thing is scary.

I miss my 2001 7.3 F350 crew cab

I also miss my 2005 F350 crew cab... all except for that 6.0 that was under the hood.

Search for a 7.3psd- they are out there, and they were in use for production vehicles up to a March 2003 build date.
There was an '02 F350psd7.3 single rear axle crew cab Lariat for sale here a couple of weeks ago with 60K miles on it. I know the dealer; he didn't get any action on it and took it to the CAA. People want new, and don't know any better.
I've had two Excursion diesels- had to sell the first one, a 2000, due to job loss. The second, a 2002, will be with me until I take a dirt nap.

My uncle has both the 7.3l and the 6.0l. The 6.0 is in the shop all the time and he had to replace a bunch of the injectors. The 7.3l has never been in the shop and i just got done borrowing it for two weeks and it has more power than i have use for. He added a 100 hp chip and there was a k&n intake on it when he bought it and it makes power! OR get the dodge. just stay away from the 6.0. There is a reason its called the Sick liter powerstroke.

I must be the only one with a "good" 6.0 Ford. My '03 has 160k on it and only maintenance (fluids & filters) has been done on it in all those miles.

I just got mine out of the shop with a $2200.00 bill.

Its going on down the road soon...

Its my last 6.0

I did go and drive an '06 GMC crewcab 4X4 with the 6.6l duramax at lunch today. I was pretty impressed with the (unloaded) power and the quietness of the engine. It has 65000 miles on it, is loaded with the allison 6spd tranny, and they are asking $28120 for it.

I must be living right, am on my second 6.0 ('06 F350 King Ranch, SRW, Crew Cab, short bed) which I bought new late in '05. First was '03. The '06 gets better mileage; I average 20 mpg at 70 mph in non-mountainouse terrain, goes to 17 between 75 and 80 mph. The only thing that went wrong with the '03 was a turbo hose that blew out under big load. The '06 had a redesigned hose assembly and has been trouble free.

Nothing - nothing - has gone wrong with the '06, and it's a pleasure that I'll have for many more years. I especially like that the '06 has a much tighter turning radius than the '03, same configuration.

Knocking on wood, YMMV.

YES!

Well, it turns out that I went with a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD crewcab 4X4 with the duramax and allison transmission. The truck has 95000 miles on it but the previous owner has always had the chevy dealer do the service work, and he put about $5000 worth of doodads on it ( Rhino lining, go fast exhaust, toolbox, 18" wheels & tires, etc). I bought it for $22500. I had looked at an '06 on the dealers lot, that had 65000 miles on it - asking price was $28120. So I think I did good on my deal. Not detailed as well as the one on the dealers lot, but I can clean it for $3-4000.

I previously had a 1986 GMC 2500 with a 6.2l diesel I put a banks turbo on. It ran OK but smoked quite a bit. I put 3 trannies in it, over 210000 miles. It was a straight axle 3/4 ton. Then I went to a 1998 Dodge 3/4 ton quad cab with a V-10 and automatic. It's a great truck - pulls great and very driveable, but gets pretty bad mileage, and I worry about the tranny with 110000 miles on it, as the Dodges of this vintage don't have the best reputation. This is the first truck I've owned that I was smart enough to leave alone - no lift kit, power goodies, etc.

After having a gas engine truck, I thought I'd never go back to diesel, but then I test drove the duramax and was very impressed with the driveability and power of the rig. The fuel mileage should be much better, but the payback on the difference is years out, I know. But the crew cab has enough room for my 2 kids and the lab, while I pull the fifth wheel or the motorcycle trailer, it won't need a tranny for while ( or ever) and the engine should last equally as long....

Most important is that it has a bench seat up front, so I can put my rifle alongside me....

You did well and 95K miles is nothing. You're gonna love that thing. They have lots of power as is. If you don't mind spending some money there are people in Boise who can make it very fast with better economy and better towing.

Its gone........yee haaw!

You sell or trade it Tom?Whatcha replace it with.

Traded it.

For this....