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Need Advice: Just Purchased First Diesel A 1999 F-250 Powerstroke

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#1 ·
I just purchased my first diesel pickup. It is a 1999 F-250 Superduty Supercab 4x4 with the 7.3L Powerstroke and an Automatic Transmission. The truck has 152,000 miles on it and is totally stock. I purchased the truck from my father in law. He purchased it with about 50,000 miles on it. He runs Rotella 15-40 changed at about 7,500 miles. The transmission has never been serviced while he has had it and it is the original transmission. I talked to Brian at BTS and he said I should drain the pan and torque converter, change the filter and fill it back up with dexron III. I asked about a shift kit and he said it wouldn't hurt it at all and recommended the Transgo HP2 kit. The water pump was replaced at 100,000 miles under warranty at ford. They put regular green antifreeze in it, I hope they also added a SCA to it, but I don't know. This is not a daily driver for me. It will be used on the farm and to pull my race car with which is about 500 miles round trip. I probably won't put 5,000 miles a year on this truck. I want to get everything up to par so I hopefully won't have any problems on my race trips.

I plan to service the transmission as Brian recommended and add the transgo kit.

I plan to change the antifreeze to a HD ELC such as Rotella ELC but I have to find some first, I haven't had any luck yet. The local International dealer wants $25.83 + tax a gallon for fleetrite. I will also be changing all the hoses when I change the fluid because they are all original.

Is there anything else I should be checking or changing? :dunno:

I was looking at Walley World and they have Shell Rotella 15-40 for 11.77 gal. and they have Motorcraft 15-40 for 11.67 5qts. Is there any difference between the two?

Are Motorcraft oil filters any good?

Your help and comments are appreciated.
 
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#2 ·
I just purchased my first diesel pickup. It is a 1999 F-250 Superduty Supercab 4x4 with the 7.3L Powerstroke and an Automatic Transmission. The truck has 152,000 miles on it and is totally stock. I purchased the truck from my father in law. He purchased it with about 50,000 miles on it. He runs Rotella 15-40 changed at about 7,500 miles. The transmission has never been serviced while he has had it and it is the original transmission. I talked to Brian at BTS and he said I should drain the pan and torque converter, change the filter and fill it back up with dexron III. I asked about a shift kit and he said it wouldn't hurt it at all and recommended the Transgo HP2 kit.

There are different theories on this. Some say that when a trans goes a long time between oil changes that changing the fluid can actually shorten it's life. This isn't myth ask any trans shop!! You don't have real high milage on yours so I would go ahead and flush it. You need to flush the system instead of dump and fill. If you need to know how to do this PM Me. I don't like shift kits, a tuned Valvebody would be a much better choice, BTS makes a good one as does JW, I have the FTVB and love it!!

The water pump was replaced at 100,000 miles under warranty at ford. They put regular green antifreeze in it, I hope they also added a SCA to it, but I don't know.

Can't dump all this on the dealer, the previous owner should have been checking the SCA level all along!!

This is not a daily driver for me. It will be used on the farm and to pull my race car with which is about 500 miles round trip. I probably won't put 5,000 miles a year on this truck. I want to get everything up to par so I hopefully won't have any problems on my race trips.

I plan to service the transmission as Brian recommended and add the transgo kit.

I plan to change the antifreeze to a HD ELC such as Rotella ELC but I have to find some first, I haven't had any luck yet. The local International dealer wants $25.83 + tax a gallon for fleetrite.

Good choice, it's the only coolant I would put in my truck. The Fleetrite is exactly the same stuff as the Rotella, just so you know. You need to ask the dude behind the counter for a Fleet discount, that Fleetrite "concentrate" shouldn't be more than $20 per gallon. Make sure you follow the proper flushing steps, just like the trans, dump and fill is useless.
I will also be changing all the hoses when I change the fluid because they are all original.

Is there anything else I should be checking or changing? :dunno:

Whenever I purchase a new to me vehicle I will change all the fluids, and I mean all of them. If the brake fluid has never been changed I would flush it as well. I would change all hoses and belts if original. I would also install a set of gauges, even a stock truck can benefit from having gauges.

I was looking at Walley World and they have Shell Rotella 15-40 for 11.77 gal. and they have Motorcraft 15-40 for 11.67 5qts. Is there any difference between the two?

Are Motorcraft oil filters any good?
YES, but I prefer WIX filters sold through NAPA.

Your help and comments are appreciated.
Welcome to the ORG!!
 
#3 ·
Some things to think about.

Depending on the build date of the engine, it may not be compatible to with the ELC coolant. Make sure to investigate this.

Do not use a "flush" machine to change the trans fluid. Use the flush method of draining what you can and letting the trans pump push out the old as you add the new. This way there is less chance of stirring up some nasty stuff in that abused trans. I would wait to add the kit to see if the trans will survive on its own after the flush.

Change the oil more often. Most 7.3 owners who have had their oil tested have found that 5000 is when most dino oil starts to break down and contaminates increase. Any name brand oil will be fine as long as it meets the spec. If it was running Rotella, then just keep the same.

When you are ready to get it really running, get in touch with Total diesel Performance. 7.3's really run on chips, 6.0 and above work better with tuners.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Thanks for the input guy's. I am torn as to what to do with the transmission. I just want it to last as long as possible. I have heard both schools of thought on changing the fluid. I will say the trans fluid doesn't look that bad. I would think that Brian at BTS would now what he is talking about. He mentioned a valve body but it ran $250.00 The transgo kit runs $60.00. He did say not to powerflush the transmission. He just recommended draining them, changing the filter and refilling. He said that would get all but 2 -3 qts. out.

As for the antifreeze the Ferd dealer did put in the SCA additive but I know it hasn't been checked sense, and no that is not the dealers fault.

I found a local distributor that carries the Shell Rotella ELC, I have to buy a case but it's only about $15.00 a gallon and that is the concentrate. By the way the build date on my truck is 05/99 which I thought was compatable with the ELC antifreeze. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I do plan on changing all the fluids including the brake fluid, power steering fluid, front and rear end, transfer case.

I will be changing the oil and filter every 5,000 miles or less from this point on.

I just want to get this truck up into shape. It really isn't that bad just needs a little TLC. My father in law is no mechanic and doesn't have a computer to find all this great information on. Thanks again! Keep the suggestions coming I have a lot to learn about these diesels :)
 
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