I have an all stock 2001 F250 7.3 auto. What is the best way to drive it to get to 300 or 400k miles? Do I need to hammer it on occasion? Take it easy?



Anyone with 400k care to share your secrets?



In all honesty, I am a total poser. I don't need an F250 or a diesel but some dudes drive sports cars, I have a big diesel truck. I just like to ride around in it. I don't really tow anything or do anything serious with it other than haul my wife to the beach on the weekends.

Lol you made me chuckle. You don't necessarily need to flog the truck just bc it's a diesel though some may disagree. More of the powerstrokes I see in town are grocery getters with tha mass majority being over 35-40yo. Change your oil every 5k and you are good. Your motor will last longer than the guy flogging it daily (work truck). 0.02 anyways.


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Stiction additives will help longevity also, look into additives and also oil brand. I know most people will disagree but I've used some of the oil additives and noticed a considerable difference

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IH put the longevity in there for you

Normal maintenance and maybe keep up on this stuff and you'll be fine (if the body doesn't rust out in the mean time...)

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1047813-failure-prevention-thread.html

 

Stop "hauling" (your words) the wife to the beach. That should make everything last longer. LMAO

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Thanks to everyone. I change the oil ever 3-5k and the fuel filter every 5-10k. i check the coolant to make sure the SCA is good every couple months with test strips. I had a 95 before this and that thing sounded like a school bus. This 2001 is quiet, too quiet. I'd like to make it sound like a school bus without messing up anything stock. I was going to put a TS 6 position in there but I figured if I just left everything stock it would last longer.

 

Leave it alone as much as possible and don't try to turn it into a hot rod. Get rid of the stock air box if it still has that and get an AIS. Nothing wrong with a nice 4" exhaust system either if you want more noise. Oil go T6 Rotella and AR9100, motorcraft oil and fuel filters.

Honestly the motor will probably outlast the body by a long shot if you're the typical 10-12k/yr driver unless you live in Arizona or Nevada or the likes. If you live in Vermont you'd be driving around on a bare frame with a cloud of brown dust trailing behind you by the time the truck had 300-400k on it.

 

Don't tune it. If you feel the need to hot rod it, do so after the oil and trans temps are up. Drive it to keep it from sitting (my scenario) and get everything up to temp. Filter everything. Install a trans and coolant filter. Beef up your trans cooler, change all fluids (to include the rear diff and transfer case). Keep an eye on everything from oil leaks in the valley to the oil pan. Install gauges and run the Torque App to monitor specifics. Open the intake to whatever you want and open the exhaust.

Keep your regular maintenance up and enjoy it.

I feel like I could beat this dead horse again and again but it's all about preventative maintenance (as mentioned).

Nice truck by the way!

 

Thanks to everyone for the reply. I am in south east georgia (near savannah) so I hope the body will last a good while. It isn't as good as arizona, but no snow or salt to rot the body. The truck came from Louisiana so it is rust free except some surface rust in the bed. I am going to do a herculiner to fix that.

Based on the comments, I'll stay away from a chip. I am not in a hurry anyway.

 

7.3 Longevity

My E99 will turn 417K this week. The Turbo, injectors, HP Oil Pump, and Fuel Pump are original. I change oil at 4/5K, fuel filters every other oil change, add Diesel Clean (Gray bottle) at each fill-up. I try to use Ford (OEM) parts whenever possible.

I have used Ford, Luk, and South Bend clutches, South Bend has worked the best.

I believe some modifications improve longevity. The Ford AIS, Banks "Big Head", Magnflow exhaust, SB Clutch and DP Tuning not only made the truck perform better it also "runs" better. The AIS filters better, the "Big Head" control the waste gate better, the Magnaflow allows the engine the breath better, the SB Clutch is smoother and has higher capacity, and the DP Tuning improves MPG, towing ability and overall drivability.

My experience is that good mechanical modifications, high quality tuning (hardware/software) and proper operation lead to longevity.

 

My E99 will turn 417K this week. The Turbo, injectors, HP Oil Pump, and Fuel Pump are original. I change oil at 4/5K, fuel filters every other oil change, add Diesel Clean (Gray bottle) at each fill-up. I try to use Ford (OEM) parts whenever possible.



I have used Ford, Luk, and South Bend clutches, South Bend has worked the best.



I believe some modifications improve longevity. The Ford AIS, Banks "Big Head", Magnflow exhaust, SB Clutch and DP Tuning not only made the truck perform better it also "runs" better. The AIS filters better, the "Big Head" control the waste gate better, the Magnaflow allows the engine the breath better, the SB Clutch is smoother and has higher capacity, and the DP Tuning improves MPG, towing ability and overall drivability.



My experience is that good mechanical modifications, high quality tuning (hardware/software) and proper operation lead to longevity.

Right on!


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were all saying the same thing lol... Keep up on maintenance and drive it. Every once in a while give it the ol' Italian tune up too :wink:

Common things with the 7.3l:

1.Keep a spare CPS in the glove box with a 10m socket, extension and ratchet.
2. quality filters and fluids


there is always more but just drive your truck man:grin:

 

there is always more but just drive your truck man:grin:

Pretty much. I chuckle each time a similar question gets asked bc it's either already answered in so many differing ways and people don't bother to search. I'm cool with it either way. Gives me something to do rather than hear the wife nag. You can't stop learning. Once in awhile , you're bound to learn something new

 

One practice that is not good is idling any diesel engine for extended period. Look up wet stacking if you want to know more.

 

My motor has 36000miles or 6000 hrs of idle time. I've never worried over it. If your truck has 300-500k in a 15yrs - that's a damn good truck and this "longevity" is relative. Anything with that many miles and years - by that time you wouldn't care much unless.... you're the guy that bough the car starting at 300-500k, then yes you're on borrowed time till something breaks and no longer relative.


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