I'm in the market for a F250 (1997 thru 2000 from 4k to 6k price) what would be the tow capacity for a 7.3L V8 OHV 16V Turbo Diesel?......Also, what milage life expectancy could you draw from a diesel?...I hear it all the time, "life is still beginning after 100K"

 

There's guys out there that have gotten 800k miles on the 7.3L engines with just a couple replacement injectors and a rebuild transmission. Navistar used the T444E in lots of high mileage vehicles including some day-cab tractors. 100,000 miles really isn't anything to these engines.

 

You are splitting 2 totally different body styles - the changeover was in 1999.

Towing capacity will be in the 10k to 14k range, depending on transmission, axle ratio, 2wd or 4wd, and cab/bed configuration.

 

For sure your not quite on the model year breakdowns. Gen one PSD's from mid '94 to '97 and then early '99 through the first few months of '03 for the second gen PSD's in the superduty body styles.

While the 7.3L is a pretty tough motor, there is no magic aura that immunes them from dieing. The newest is now 10 years old and will require now more than just light maintenance. Valve cover gaskets, glow plugs, injectors, oil coolers, ect will just start needing replaced. And while prices of 7.3L parts have dropped dramatically, it still is gonna be pricy. Then on top of that everything and everything that has to do with the rest of the truck is normal maintenance.

I love workin' and having older trucks, it only is a little less money than a payment of a new truck.

An easier question to answer is what do you have/want to tow?

Adrianspeeder