Engine question

[tgolden068]

I am new to the forums and even newer to owning a PSD. I just purchased a 2003 Excursion with what the dealer told me was a 7.3 L turbo diesel in it. Most of the paper work also says the same. The truck came with a booklet for the 6.OL and when I ran the VIN through a Ford website it says 6.0L International as the engine. A Ford enthusiast friend of mine said he thinks that if it was listed as being manufactured under the International name and not Navistar it should be 7.3L. The 8th position is a "P" as well.

I know the easy thing to do is just look at the label under the hood on on the engine but I do not have the truck with me for the next few days.

Any insight would help. I do know that 03 was the year where they split engines and went to the 6. My hope is that it is a 7.3L.

[dereku]

well looking under the hood is the easiest.

If you ran the vin and said it was a 6.0 then my guess is it is. Or it had an engine swap or vin tampering.

International and navistar are the same company there was just a name change at one point.

The 6.0 is a solid engine I would be happy either way.

[o0firemaster0o]

P is the code for the 6.0 made by International truck and engine co
F is the code for the 7.3 made by Navistar International
Same companies just name change from what I understand.
Not that I guarantee this is 200% accurate but here is a link
Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN codes)/Ford/VIN Codes - Wikibooks, collection of open-content textbooks
look for the light truck codes.

[Okiefromwatonga]

another way to tell is just look. If it says power stroke diesel on the fan cover you have a 6.0, if it says powerstoke on a small plastic on the motor, you have a 7.3,The intercooler pipes will tell you as well, if the pipe coming off the turbo is on the drivers side, its a 7.3, if its off the passenger side, its a 6.0. Hope it helps

[tgolden068]

Originally Posted by Okiefromwatonga

another way to tell is just look. If it says power stroke diesel on the fan cover you have a 6.0, if it says powerstoke on a small plastic on the motor, you have a 7.3,The intercooler pipes will tell you as well, if the pipe coming off the turbo is on the drivers side, its a 7.3, if its off the passenger side, its a 6.0. Hope it helps

It does have the large power stroke tag in the fan cover. It also has powerstroke badges on both doors which I have rarely seen on any Excursion. Either way, it's a great truck and I am glad to call it mine. My first diesel and loving it.

[03_Turbo7.3]

Pictures say a 1000 words...


7.3L



6.0L

[tgolden068]

1000 words was right. There is a clear difference and I do have myself a 6.0L. Not a 7.3. Thanks for the comparison. More power with the six liter no?

[03_Turbo7.3]

yes, lots more power. better trans too..

Run a vin check see if yours has had the head work done to it yet.

If not i highly recommend some studs, EGR delete and new headgaskets before you chip it etc..and youll never usually see an issue with it.. the 03 and 04s had wicked turbo whistle when chipped..

[Okiefromwatonga]

Originally Posted by 03_Turbo7.3

Pictures say a 1000 words...


7.3L



6.0L

Sure, show me up cause im stuck at work. Show off. J/K. I have heard horror stories about both the 7.3 and the 6.0, but it boils down to keep good care of it and dont beat on it and it will last ya. My 7.3 has 4 "lazy" injectors and still keeps on chugging away

[jtk27]

yes, when both are stock. There's a few things you need to do though. Flush the coolant system, install a coolant filter, get some gauges(edge insight CS or CTS are nice), do a egr cooler delete or bulletproof model depending on where you live. If you're gonna do power adders you will need to do studs as well. Have fun I love mine.