7.3??? Good Idea?

[Hoytstroke]

Looking for a good farm/towing truck. Went by a dealer with a 02 F-350 7.3L in the parking lot. Looks like a nice truck. Should i look into this truck? Are they good reliable trucks when they get 150-250 thousand miles on them? anyone want to shine some lite on this

Greatly appreiated!

[rankroddin250]

the 7.3 was fords good diesel. they are verry reliable and many last well beyond 300k miles.
theyll tow all day every day and never complain and get great milage in the process.

[sawyer1]

They are real reliable mine now has 125,000 and it runs great as long as they were maintained good and for milege people on here are saying close to 500,000 miles, id say look into it.

[NCHornet]

I believe the 7.3 is the best powerplant Ferd ever placed in any vehicle!! That is why I have one. The 7.3 life can go well beyond 400K but it all depends on prior maintenance, just like with any other vehicle. You have never towed and enjoyed it like you will when towing with a 7.3. Somethings to look for specifficaly on the 7.3 are as follows.

Pull the lid off the airbox, if you see a K&N drp in filter, runaway!! These let way to much dirt in and have been known to dust many PSD's, remember dirt = death to a diesel!!
Take a screwdriver with you and pull the intake tube and shine a flashlight at the turbo fan, if it is chipped or the edges rolled over it means it has inhaled dirt = runaway!!
A thin coat of oil is normal inside the intake but there should be no dirt.
If the previous owner ran a chip or performance tune and didn't have at least a pyrometer runaway.
The 7.3 programming was tuned way down because of the weak 4R100 trans. The 2001 had the dreaded mechanical diode in the trans, just so you know in case you look at other trucks. These diodes would fail and Ford had to replace thousands of trannies, some say if a 2001 trans made it past 80K it was good to go, but???
If the PO has maintenance records it goes a long long way. I would run a Oasis report and a Carfax report. If the PO will allow you to take a oil sample and over night it to Blackstone Labs and get a expedited analsys done. This will tell you a lot about the condition of the engine. If he won't allow this , you guessed it, runaway!!!!
If I can help you in anyway just PM me.

[teglho]

I bought my '99 F350 dually crew cab 3.5 years ago on eBay for $14k. It had about 82,000 miles on it and I've got it up to 192,000 now. Just recently had the tranny and rear-end replaced and last week all the front end stuff (ball joints and tie-rods). The engine runs very well with no problems other than the recent fuel leak from stupid ULSD fuel. I previously owned a '96 F350 and put 100,000 miles on it in three years also. Bought it for $18k and sold it for $13k. Both had 7.3 powerstrokes in them and I am definately hooked on that engine. I am currently looking on eBay for another 'low mileage' 7.3l. I would definately recommend them, but just be sure to do your homework. There are signs to look for that warn you of expensive repairs or how the vehicle was previously driven/maintained.

[Jesse.James]

i love my 7.3 it tows very nice. if it isnt enough for you put a chip in it from tony wildman and its a completely new truck. you'll wanna tow every day. plus you can get good mpg especially when compared to a gas truck towing. it'll handle anything the farm will throw at it.

[CoalRollinRoosterCruiser]

Originally Posted by NCHornet

I believe the 7.3 is the best powerplant Ferd ever placed in any vehicle!!

AMEN TO THAT!!!!!!!!!.: thumb:

I most definitely second that.

[Hoytstroke]

Thanks for all your knowledgable help.

[cchase]

ive got 230k hard earned miles on the orginal motor, and atlest 2 trans... but she is still tuggin.. and it is in all forms a work truck

[D-man]

Originally Posted by Hoytstroke

Looking for a good farm/towing truck. Went by a dealer with a 02 F-350 7.3L in the parking lot. Looks like a nice truck. Should i look into this truck? Are they good reliable trucks when they get 150-250 thousand miles on them? anyone want to shine some lite on this

Greatly appreiated!

The 7.3 will last a very long time but, don't forget, there are a lot of other items than the motor that may also have a lot of miles on them.
Ball joints, brakes, transmission, alternator, powersteering, numerous bushings and bearings, u-joints, exhaust etc.,etc.,etc.,.......Many of which are expensive to replace and some will leave you stranded.
Some of these items is where I have spent all of my money. Motor runs like a top.