Looking to Buy Powerstroke

[raven882]

Hello Folks, I'm looking to buy my first diesel powerstroke and need advice. What I'm looking for is a Ford F250 with less than 100,000 miles from 1997 to 2006. What should I look for in getting the best truck engine? What improvements were made over the years? What should I stay away from?

This will be a second vehicle used for fun and a little work. I will modify over time. I'm need gas mileage of at least 18 highway. Thanks for any info.

[lifewitlooie]

get a NBS 7.3

[Big AL]

Welcome to the Site!
It really depends on the body style that you like. If you like the later models with the 6.0, be a little cautious with the 03 & 04 - early on some of them had issues. You can get OASIS reports run if you are interested in one (by becoming a premium member). That will give you the warranty history to see if it has had problems.

[westcoaststrokin]

First to the ORG!! Secondly this will get real biased real quick into 6.0 vs. 7.3 discusion. From what I have gathered the 6.0 get ya a little better fuel economy but the 7.3 is bulletproof with the exception of the CPS. So my suggestion would be to find the truck that ya like and go with it no matter what the motor. As long as the OASIS is relatively clean it shouldn't matter. Just my As far as fuel economy mine gets about 16 on the highway but that is with training wheels and a heavy foot.

[Big AL]

I get all around about 16 mpg. I have gotten almost 18 on the hiway. That ain't bad - because I had a 1986 F150 4x4 reg cab that only got 15 on the hiway. This PSD is a much bigger & heavier truck!

[ABOBB]

Welcome to Powerstroke.org

[raven882]

I'm currently considering one of two; the first is a 1997 diesel extended cab with 78000 miles and the second is a 2000 F250 4X4 7.3 crew cab, with 69000 miles.

What would be the differences in engines between these two diesels? Would the 97 have a 7.3? I may do minor modifications to gain HP/torque if I buy. Thanks for the input, I'm looking to buy very soon.

[dieseldan2005]

Originally Posted by raven882

I'm currently considering one of two; the first is a 1997 diesel extended cab with 78000 miles and the second is a 2000 F250 4X4 7.3 crew cab, with 69000 miles.

What would be the differences in engines between these two diesels? Would the 97 have a 7.3? I may do minor modifications to gain HP/torque if I buy. Thanks for the input, I'm looking to buy very soon.

yepie that 97 would indeed have the 7.3, but it is not intercooled. They started putting factory air chargers on em when they changed body styles. Now thats not saying that you can't put an intercooler on a OBS 7.3. Lots of people have done it. There are a few more little differences between the 2 motors, but nothing huge. Someone else can probably explain the diffs a little better than i can. I personally have a 2001 F250 7.3 and get around 17.5 to 18.5 just drivin around. I got 12.5 towing a 5000lb boat. Those numbers are before i put on my exhaust so it should even be better but i haven't checked yet.