looking at buying a 97 f350 powerstroke, please help

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I am looking at buying a 1997 F350 Powerstroke 7.3L 5sp, crew cab 4x4. Its got 213,000km on it. And one problem, kinda a biggie he said #7 cyl has little to no compression. What am I looking at here, any common things, melted piston? Can I just put a piston in it, has anybody done this? It also had one other problem, when I was running it when it was cold, it kept cutting out momentaraly, it seemed to go away when it warmed up.

Thanks for any help

Will

[FordCowboy]

Not sure about the compression, I'm sure someone will have an idea, but as far as it cutting out when it is cold it could be the exhaust back pressure valve, it makes it feel like it kind of cuts out when the engine hasn't warmed up all the way, if that is it, it's normal and not a problem, just let it warm up.

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Ya, it would cut out very briefly, then keep running. I didn't drive it long, but seemed to go away when warm. Any other problems that can cause a misfire on #7cyl

[highland512]

When you say cut out do mean that the motor was actully not firing or did it just make a funny hissing sound and bog down.

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was definatly not firing for a split second. Then kept running. But that is the least of my concern. I'm real worried about the no compression in #7cyl

[DneprDave]

You can determine if it is rings or valves by putting a gage on that cylinder and doing a compression test. Squirt some motor oil into the cylinder, if the compression pressure comes up, it is bad rings, if there is no change, it is probably valves.

Dave

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Originally Posted by DneprDave

You can determine if it is rings or valves by putting a gage on that cylinder and doing a compression test. Squirt some motor oil into the cylinder, if the compression pressure comes up, it is bad rings, if there is no change, it is probably valves.

Dave

Yes I agree.

Thanks

[Koonswala]

i would not buy the truck with a pain like that it will need to be resleaved and bottom end worked on if you going to pull it out for that

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Originally Posted by Koonswala

i would not buy the truck with a pain like that it will need to be resleaved and bottom end worked on if you going to pull it out for that

How come it would need to be resleaved?

[Koonswala]

it has no compression on one cylinder