Hi everyone Merry christmass and happy new year. Well I'm not new to trucks as much as i am to Diesel motors. I have a 2000 SVT lightning that I use to tow my car to the track. Well I want to step up to a Superduty. But I don't know what motor to go with. 7.3-6.0-6.4 I got to so I like the interiors on the 08 and up trucks I really like them. But don't know much about the 6.4 motors. I keeping hearing that the 6.0's should be staying far away from them because of all the problems. And I hear 7.3s are one of the best motors.

So my ? is what are the pros and cons about all of these motors. What info can be found on the 7.3 and 6.4 motors. Also the trucks too any pro's and cons. Oh is it true when someone told me that you change the oli everytime you fill the tank with gas. They told me that a tank of Diesel fuel will last 3000 miles. Is this true. Because I don't believe that.

I really like this truck. probally a little to much truck for me. But love the look of it. I'm only looking to tow my mustang to the track and upgrade to an Enclosed car trailer. Mustang wiehgt 3300lbs Tralier around 4000lbs So would be under 10'000 lbs with tools and stuff.

http://www.stevens112autogroup.com/V...ails/518787263

 

Uh oh - I bet someone say's 'Cummins' ...

Yes the 7.3L are great motors (The one my uncle has here has 185k - no issues) but the 6.4L is also good...just hasn't been around long enough to 'prove' it's longevity. Yet, there are those out there that have near 200k miles on 'em without issue - so go figure.

anyway, if you are only towing what you say you are the V10 gasser is another good option..

Good luck in your search

 

^ v10

 

Wow, so this person tried to tell you that a diesel truck is either capable of 79mpg (assume the long box 38 gallon tank), or that the truck can carry 167 gallons of fuel on board? I hope to hell that you that you bitch slapped them and told them never to open their mouth again. Mileage on a diesel will run anywhere from 10-19mpg depending how the truck is setup and how its driven.


I hope you're not changing the oil every tank of gas. FYI the truck won't run very far on a tank of gas, they like FUEL much better. Big difference between the 2. Oil changes will go between 3000-5000 miles depending how its driven during that time. You can go longer between changes with good oil sampling.

After reading your post you need to just stick with a gas engine.

 

Figured a diesel pard would correct that one

 

Personally I would go with a 7.3L. They were around from 94.5-2003.25, and they were a proven motor. I have personally seen a hand full of 7.3L's with over 300,000 miles and 2 with over 400,000, and all were still the original motors, most were stock but 2 of them were slightly modded. Granted it takes more $$$ to get them to make big HP than the 6.0L or 6.4L, but even with a mild chip (100 hp or less) they are pretty much built proof unless you beat the _____ out of them. 99% of the time 7.3L's will also give you the best mileage between the 7.3-6.0-6.4. It is not uncommon for 7.3's to get 17-18 mpg+ while running empty.

My father currently has a 02 F350 supercab, long box, dually, 4x4, 7.3L/auto with 4.10 gears. Stock it got 17 mpg running empty and around 11.5 towing his 14,000lb 5th wheel camper. He now has PHP Gryphon with custom towing and mileage programs, running empty he has seen just over 20mpg but averages 18.5, towing he now averages 13mpg. I think that is very good for a 8000lb truck (rough empty weight), and around 22,000lbs when towing.

My father has previously had a 94.5 F250 7.3L, a 99 F350 7.3L and a 05 F350 6.0L. He traded the 99 in on the 05 6.0L and kicked himself almost every time that he was towing for doing this. The 05 got worse mileage and also has all kinds of injector issues, he got stranded twice while going south for the winter, both times were due to injectors. He had a total of 5 or 6 injectors replaced in the 40,000ish miles that the truck had. Finally he couldn't take it anymore and bought the 02 7.3L that he now has and sold the 05.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

P.S. I wouldn't count out the V10 either, they are great motors with lots of power

 

I call foul on the unloaded mileage, at least with the 4.10 gears. The 4.10 gears make the truck pull like no other since it puts it further up the torque curve at speed, but its above its fuel economy curve. The 7.3L trucks like it at 2000rpm or below for good mileage (I see between 2-3mpg drop in over 2000). If he's going off the overhead display they are notoriously wrong. The only way to truely get economy is to fill the tank until liquid diesel is visable at the filler neck and refill to that level. Diesel has a tendency to foam very badly, so until you see the liquid fuel you really don't know how much is in the tank. I know with my truck it takes 5 min to dribble in that last 5 or so gallons of fuel to get it that full. If I was to guess at his true mileage I'd say its 2 or 3 mpg lower unloaded.

 

The mileage is the honest to god truth. My father is 67 and drives like he is 80. 99% of the time he is running at 60mph. Even when mom and dad head south to Texas and Florida for the winter he runs at 60 mph the whole way. I went to South Dakota with my dad this last fall to get a motor for one of my uncles tractors, it was 450ish miles one way on I90. The entire trip, while dad was driving, we NEVER went over 60mph. That made for one heck of a long trip.

You are correct that at over 2000 rpms the 7.3L sucks more fuel. When I have driven his truck for longer trips on the interstate I usually run at 70mph, and most of the time the mileage has been anywhere from 15-16.5 while running empty.

 

Hrmmmmmmm.....I recommend doing A LOT of homework before buying a diesel

 

dont rule out a 6.0

find a truck with an EGR delete and head studs, those are the two main issues in the 6.0's design. the egr just sucks, the most expensive egr delete is about $625 that i have found, but can be done for as little as $1 if you can weld. just get an oasis and make sure you dont have a truck thats been destroyed. you can get both done (welded off and arp studs and headgaskets) for around $3k give or take on the shop you take it to. have heard alot more outrageous numbers from some people for just studs, and alot less from others. so if you get a truck without those done, plan on those 2 things eventually

a 7.3 is a great motor, but finding one with low miles will be the issue

i haven't heard much bad out of the 6.4's, they make some crazy power off a tune, but they have so much emissions crap it really kills the mpg.

in my 05 6.0 4x4 f250 i was getting 14-17 city and got 21 mpg one highway trip going 65. if you do get a 6.0, DO NOT get the newest flash from ford that came out in november. it really detuned the truck and killed my mpg's.

an f450 would be overkill for sure for what your towing, you'd be fine with an f250 towing that kind of weight.

 

It may be a tad overkill, but that is a great price. Even if it is overkill, you will never have to worry about overloading it or upgrading to a larger trailer later on.

 

That truck I think is over priced.. You should be paying about $29k tops for that truck used...

 

Just want to say thanks for all the info. And I will have to agree with this. I really need to do my homework.

Also I'm not looking for lot's of power or MPG. I drive my street/strip car on the highway for crusie. That thing gets less then 13 mpg on the highway ha ha so i'm use to things just sucking down gas. I want a decent truck that is all I'm looking for. I know the F450 would be over kill for me. But I thought it was a decent price. I Love the interiors on those trucks. Probally just try to find a nice F250 with crew cab. I have a whole year to decide and reserach.

 

It is an amazing price. I have seen older F-250s with more miles with less features and power for higher prices. I have also seen what these things go for new and the one you are looking at is low mileage and not that old. Just my two cents... good luck!

 

I like the body styles of the new ones best, but i'd go with a 7.3 for sure out of the 3 choices.