Opinions on new model F250 Diesels

[sargentrs]

Got a friend who's looking into a Ford F250 4x4 Diesel as a daily driver and side business truck. In the past 10 years he's been through several other trucks, Toyo, Nissan, Chevy, never had a Dodge yet. One of the best trucks he's owned before all of that was a '79 F100 4x4 that he still regrets every trading. He drives an 80 mile round trip to his day job and runs a lawn service business on the side, 6 days a week during peak season. I tried to talk him into a bump with a 6BT conversion, like some of you guys, but he doesn't feel up the challenge. He's a good friend and one of the best all around people I know so I want to do my best to make sure he gets a truck that'll work for him in the long term. When it comes to Ford trucks, I trust very few people's opinions but you guys are the exception. With that said, he's been told to stay below 2000 year models and would like to have the 7.3L because he has heard that it's a more durable engine. Standard cab or extended cab preferred but drive train is most important. Budget is under $6000 so that leaves a limited range. Any of you guys got any opinions on what to stay away from? Engine/Transmission/Suspension/Transfer case lemons? I respect your opinions above many others. Any input or advice is greatly appreciated.

[1972hiboy]

I'm sure your going to get a wide range or responses on this, but ill throw in my opinion. I work for a large private transportation company so we have a large ford fleet. My particular location still has a majority of E350/450 fleet with 7.3ls with 4r100's behind them. I must say they are a simple, pre-smog engine that takes quite a pounding. I have Vans from 1996 clocked in at over 423,000 starting up every morning. Some people may scoff the fuel injection system but the reality is I've seen fuel injectors last 300k miles with proper oil changes before noticing any cold starting issues, 4r100's do have a finite life span but i dare say any transmission is that way. Yes, I have seen 5r110's die horrible deaths too so im not ready to bow down to the transmission gods thanking them for the 5r110 that would solve all my transmission concerns. Long story short, I would feel like I could depend and predict a older 7.3l and have a certain level of confidence with it. Now, here it goes. I'm not going to just come out and hop on the 6.0 bashing wagon. I think that if you want to spend a good chunk of money to attempt to make one stand up to time and abuse you have a good chance of success in a truck. We have other locations that run the 6.0 in the van platform and they don't give as long as a service life as the 7.3l. Its simple, too much heat. Thats the name of the game. get the engine hotter to burn more particles of fuel. That's why the 6.7 has a vast array of separated and multiple cooling systems to transfer more heat out of that engine as possible. 6.7 has some nice power but again your going into that realm of you not going to be able to do many repairs to that thing in your driveway and its going to be expensive. Yes the 6.7 is showing it has its own bag of woes. From computer software issues to turbocharger ceramic ball bearing failures, to cracked valves. For your buddies budget, in my area id say he could get a decent strip down 2wd in that price range. The 95-early 03 trucks with 7.3ls have had their prices inflated substantially because people who got stung by unexpected expensive repairs to newer trucks wanted their older reliable trucks back and were willing to pay for them. I have a early 99 ex cab shortbed 4x4 xlt and I still get business cards left on the windshield. Couple years back I turned down a 16k offer. Granted the 7.3l is going to be the slowest out of the box for all these options, I find their reliability to out weigh the short fall of speed. I don't have much to offer in the way of feedback for transfer cases, Ive never had a problem with my 99.

[sargentrs]

Thanks Hiboy! Good information.

[hazelnut]

I have a 99 F-350 that's got 320k on it. I bought it at a auction with 265k on it. I've been really happy with it since I've fix all the issues that were because of people who shouldn't work on trucks worked on it. A few issues it had was they replaced the fuel filter and didn't put the O ring on the filter before replacing it and trash got into the injectors. Another was they replaced the turbo and didn't replace the air filter that looked like it had been in there for 80k. There was some other stuff I had to fix to but I'm sure you don't need the complete list

The truck is a duel wheel and has a 11' utility box on it. And weighs about 9800# empty. I have put 5 ton of sand in the back of it and the truck handled it with no problem. The motor didn't strain and cruised in OD going 55 with no problem. The truck has plenty of power for towing and I've been impressed with the power it has. Other diesels will blow the doors off it in a drag race, But load both to gross about 15k and that's where the 7.3 will shine.

I had a 2006 with the 6.0 in it and put both trucks side by side one day to look at the differences between them. As far as having to work on them the 7.3 wins hands down. The 6.0 has so much more electronics and stuff under the hood that there isn't any room left under the hood. I couldn't see the exhaust manifold on the 6.0, The 7.3 was in plain sight. It looked like every free space under the hood the 7.3 had the 6.0 had found something to put there. I think when ford went to the 6.0 is when they started pulling the cab off the frame to work on the motor.

I had to replace the fuel injectors and glow plugs on both motors, The 7.3 wasn't bad to work on to change them, Plus I bought rebuilt injectors for about $1.000. The 6.0,,,totally different experience to change the injectors. My ribs hurt for 2 days after I finished, That's why they have that creeper you lay on to work on 6.0s over the engine. The injectors were about $2500-2800 from what I remember. And had only 100k on the truck when I had to change them. The reason I sold the 6.0 was because I took the truck to 8 different places to find out why it was running like crap cold, 5 of them were dealerships. Nobody could tell me what the problem was with the truck. Lot of good computers do to tell you what's wrong. One dealership said they had the truck hooked up to the big computer in Michigan and found no problems. After talking everybody I could to find out what was wrong with it most people told me the injectors need to be changed at 100k. Changed the injectors and fixed the problem.

From what I've heard over the years the 99s are one of the best diesels ford had. Electronic injection and twin blades on the turbo. Without a lot of extra junk in the way when you try to work on it.

The only suggestion I would make is that he get a truck with 3.73 gears. I've got 4.11 in mine and will lose 3-4 mpg going over 70 on the interstate. People tell me the 3.73s still get good mileage on the interstate running 75.

[Ranchero50]

Tell him to buy two vehicles, a used beater civic for the commute and a early 2k gasser 5.4l F250 for the side work. At 80 miles a day he's going to get clobbered in maintenance costs on the diesel and the fuel economy isn't that good either. My dad's '03 5.4 4x4 f-250 barely manages 13mpg empty, loaded with the NH TD29 and bush hog on the 18' trailer it's around 10.

I'm not a big fan of the International engines and Ford buried the newer stuff. 7.3's are not very thermally efficient and have cavitation issues if you don't keep after the coolant.

Actually, instead of a F-250 I'd say find a pre '94 D-250 with the Cummins and A518 trans. They are horrible dogs but are bone simple to work on and perk up with a couple mods. The 5.9 also runs cooler and starts when it's cold out (not something you need worry about)

[sargentrs]

Thanks, guys! Just the kind of information I was looking for.

[MadJoe]

I would point your friend to powerstrokehelp.com and this youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQz2vF ... Kf6g-pz9DA

Practically everything you need to know about buying a used Ford Diesel. This guy seems to really know what he's talking about when it comes to all Ford diesels and the pros and cons of each.

[XABN82]

I've owned a 2003 F250 with the V10. I put 190,000 miles on that truck and replaced one coil pack. Mechanically that's the best truck I've owned. Now I drive a 2008 F250 with the 6.4L diesel. The 6.4 is sweet, looks complex as all get out and I'm terrified something will break on it. So if just using a truck for a DD and then occasion work I'd say go with a gas burner. Here's my reason
V10 oil change is 6 quarts and a $4 filter
Diesel oil change is 16 quarts and a $25 filter
I change my oil every 5,000 miles then every other oil change I change the fuel filters, which are an additional expense.
I think if I were buying another truck, I'd look for a V10 or a 6.2L gas.
Sometimes the cure for wanting a diesel is to own a diesel.

[sargentrs]

Thanks for all the tips and advice guys!

[Maximus]

In California its hard to find a diesel 4x4 for under 6K. If you do, its going to have 200k+ miles. I dont have any advice to offer on the 7.3 other than the company I work for has a F350 flatbed we got new, and it only has 66k miles (2004 model) and its on its 3rd or 4th turbo. Ford service rep told us that "trucks that sit for extended periods will go through turbos faster" Its a dump bed truck thats used once a week for local distances as a jobsite cleanup truck, other than the turbo concern its been a great truck but no real mileage to compare its reliability. As far as diesels, I have heard a lot of good things about the early Duramax engines as well... (I own a chevy, ford and dodge truck, enjoy them all. not a die hard to any one brand...)

[1972hiboy]

In California its hard to find a diesel 4x4 for under 6K. If you do, its going to have 200k+ miles. I dont have any advice to offer on the 7.3 other than the company I work for has a F350 flatbed we got new, and it only has 66k miles (2004 model) and its on its 3rd or 4th turbo. Ford service rep told us that "trucks that sit for extended periods will go through turbos faster" Its a dump bed truck thats used once a week for local distances as a jobsite cleanup truck, other than the turbo concern its been a great truck but no real mileage to compare its reliability. As far as diesels, I have heard a lot of good things about the early Duramax engines as well... (I own a chevy, ford and dodge truck, enjoy them all. not a die hard to any one brand...)

2004 ford f350 will have the 6.0l engine, 7.3l was discontinued in early 2003 for the trucks. The 6.0ls are know for various turbocharger problems due to their complex nature of variable vanes inside the unit.