Buying 1st Super Duty - some clarifications

[SandW]

I've decided to part from my usual 1500 Suburbans and get a Ford F250 or F350. I'm need a crew cab, 4x4, dually or single. Most the trucks in my price range $15,000 and under, have between 150,000 and 190,000 miles on them. Gonna use it to pull a 8,000 to 10,000 lb RV trailer in a couple of years thru the Rocky Mtns. A few questions...

1. I've heard from several small truck shops and owners that the 7.3 diesel is the only Ford diesel to consider owning. From what they say the 6.0 and 6.4 have issues all over the place and people are always breaking down with them/they're not as durable. Is this true?

2. Is there a reliability difference between the 1999+ 7.3 Powerstrokes and the previous 7.3? Were all made by International? All all as long-lasting, but the powerstrokes simply faster?

3. I've also considered a Dodge (don't cuss me) with the Cummings, but they're so dang expensive compared to the used Fords. Does anyone know why and are the Cummings as good as the 7.3 diesels? GM diesels I've always heard were crap, so I'm not even considering them. Plus I hear all the 3/4 to 1 ton GMs have weaker non-solid axles and other parts.

4. Is there anything to look for, ask about, or watch out for when buying a used 7.3 (either 99+ or previous, I've looked as far back as 1995) when buying one? Are there magic mileage points that certain things must be done or risk of catastrophic failure/damage to them?

5. What should a well-tuned 7.3 get for city/hwy gas mileage without a tow load? One guy said he had a chip in his and his 2000 (or 2001) was getting 20 to 23 MPG (I didn't gather if that was city/hwy, or what). Is that possible with a 3/4 or 1 ton?

6. All the trucks I've considered are between 1995 and 2002. Are there any transmission issues with those years? Or different trans I should look for and prefer?

7. Lastly, I saw one nice Ford F250 with the V-10 6.8 gas motor, I'm considering. Are these good engines? Will they go 200,000 or more miles without rebuild/replace? What about the tow/power capacity when compared to the 7.3 diesels?

Thanks for your help! So many important questions, and I have so few brain cells to sort it out form the Internet. I've noticed when talking to dealers, they will tell you whatever you want to hear, so I really don't trust much, if anything, they tell me because it's always followed with "would you like to drive it off today?"

Andrew

 

[95_stroker]

First off welcome to SDD. I'll try to address some of your questions.

1. No.
2. The PSD debuted in 1994. In the 7.3L version it was and is an extremely reliable motor. Yes the earlier 7.3's were also made by International but were not direct injected turbo diesels. They were indirect injected diesels (IDI) and were also reliable but didnt contain the power potential that the DI version has.
3. First off, its Cummins not Cummings. I have yet to run across a Dodge that is more money than a similar year Ford PSD. Not sure what you are finding and why they would be higher priced.
4. Run an OASIS report on it if you can, CARFAX if you cant get an OASIS. Try to talk to the previous owner if possible.
5. You can expect anywhere between 15 and 19 with a well maintained PSD. Driven real soft footed you can get in the 20-23 range with them but dont expect it tank after tank. Its just not likely to happen.
6. Are you looking at auto or manual transmissions? The auto trannys in the 95-97 were the E4OD and it was a decent tranny. The 99+ SD's have the 4R100 in them and it is pretty much the same tranny as the E4OD. Torque Converters were issues in both trannys as were sloppy shifts. Neither tranny had proper cooling from the factory so an aftermarket tranny cooler is a must. A shift kit was the way to firm up the shift sloppieness and of course dropping the tranny and putting in a better TC would solve that issue. Manual trannys were pretty good although the 94-97's had the dual mass fly wheel that was a weak point.
7. I think you will regret getting into a V-10 over a PSD.

 

[SandW]

So the 6.0 and 6.4 didn't have massive problems like head-gasket recalls, etc? I've heard they had issues and after the warranty period Ford wouldn't help the owners out at all. I thought that was pretty cheap of Ford, but hey, we're talking about the same company that put bad tires on their stuff and then let it go betting the lawsuits would be cheaper than doing the right thing and saving lives. I've got a 6.0 2004 in my sites, but all but wrote it off due to the bad publicity I heard from everyone. I know not all the 6 and 6.4s had issues, but everyone claims they are the exception, and the rule is they're problematic. How do you see it?

I find very few Dodge diesels around. Either people are holding onto them or they sold so few compared to Ford and GM that I just haven't been lucky enough.

Either an automatic or standard. Makes little difference to me. I figured the standard would be more durable but there's few of them around. The automatics are the norm in my findings.

 

[bushpilot]

anything after 2003 on the 6.0 should be pretty good...problem free if you dont mod the hell outta it.
exhausts, gauges & a coolant by-pass filter are the 1st mods anyone owning a 6.0 should consider.

im problem free on mine...70k or so miles.

expect conventional wear, shocks, brakes, ball joints & sway bar bushings...all DIY.

like anything...maintain it and itll serve you well !

chips wont increase your mpg by any significant amount...and if you go w/ the 6.0L youll have
as much or more power than a mod'd 7.3

 

[Crumm]

(16) If you came here to "slam" or "knock" the PowerStroke, other trucks, other vehicles or the owners on this site, don't bother hitting "Agree", your account WILL be deleted, and your posts removed.

to the site.

Mike pretty well summed it up in his post. The 6.0 has had some problems but not "massive" problems. Some people claim the 7.3 is no good due to the minor CPS issue. You talk to Dodge guys and they will tell you about Fords problems. I personally like the Fords and think they do a fine job. If I was looking at a 2004 6.0 I would probably opt for a extended warranty just encase it was one that ended up having trouble since there are no makes or models that have not had problems of some sort in the past. It is easy to dig up dirt on anything.

 

[02stroker]

Very well stated Crummy. I've driven Duramax angines and I've driven Cummins engines. All have their good points and their bad points. It's all a matter of personal preferance, how well it does the job you need to do, and what is in you'r price range. I personally love my 7.3, but the later 6.0's are also a great engine. The GM heavy duty trucks as far as I know use an independant front suspension. Ford and Dodge use solid front axles. I drive approx. 20 miles to work one way and average about 17-18 mpg. Fuel milage will depend on how heavy a load you have and how you drive it.

 

[95_stroker]

I know not all the 6 and 6.4s had issues, but everyone claims they are the exception, and the rule is they're problematic. How do you see it?

I cant change your mind or make you believe what you dont want to believe, I suggest you go and buy the Cummings and enjoy it.

 

[SandW]

ha-ha, very funny. Just asking questions and trying to be thorough. Thanks for the inputs. I'm just sounding what I've heard while shopping around for a diesel. Seems the small-time truck shops and a few private sellers seem to have different points of view. Of course the private sellers were always selling their 7.3s!

So the 6.0 is basically the 7.3 DI with better gas mileage and better power, from what I gather? Reliability seems to be the same.

 

[95_stroker]

So the 6.0 is basically the 7.3 DI with better gas mileage and better power, from what I gather? Reliability seems to be the same.

Again, no. They are totally different engines and overall most guys got better mileage out of the 7.3L. Overall reliability was about the same with the 7.3 out shining the 6.0 in one or two production years.

I thought you were looking at 1995-2002 PSD's. Why are we talking about the 6.0L?

 

[SandW]

I've come across a few 2003 - 2004 Ford diesels but previously discounted them from the rap I was hearing from the street. But apparently I heard the wrong stuff. I'm considering a 2004 6.0 F350 with 143K on it. Anything in particular I should check out on that model year?