hey all looking for a used diesel from the 90` being the cash flow isn't the greatest at the moment, and i am not sure i like the newer diesels or the cost of owning and fixing one so i narrowed down two possible candidates the 6.5 and the 7.3 idi turbo. which one is better i understand they both have some problems though i just started reading up on the 6.5s and i am almost scared of them now lol. anyway what is your opinion on these two motors they will be in a three quarter or heavier truck so no 1500 diesels though if you had one in a 1500 your opinion would be appreciated. also no Cummins at all way to much money for my tastes even the first generation. thanks all.
- Thread starter blue924.9
- Start date
T in NE
Well-known Member
- Location
- Cambridge, Nebraska
The 7.3 in any iteration is recognized as one of the most reliable engines out there. I wouldn"t shy away from one of the later turbocharged direct injected ones.
There's always the option of buying an old blown-up gasser and dropping a Cummins in it. Dodge already did the hard work on it, just gotta copy it.
There's always the option of buying an old blown-up gasser and dropping a Cummins in it. Dodge already did the hard work on it, just gotta copy it.
Justin SE IOWA
Member
I have 2003 superduty with the 7.3 and love it. I am only getting 12mpg though. I am in the process of doing some improvements to it to get better mph.
Formerly PaMike
Member
I have a 6.5 with 215k on the clock and no major work. These trucks are getting old and its hard to find ones that aren't all hacked and beat up. I think you would be better off finding an older 6 liter gas truck. You can find them pretty reasonable.
Super Trucker
Member
They will both do the job but in NO big hurry. The 7.3 is a tough
nut to crack they will take a beating. 6.5 have some problems
with cooling under heavy loads and need a little more
maintenance with under hood electronics. If you could step up
to a mid 90's truck you would have a better engine choices for
the same money.
nut to crack they will take a beating. 6.5 have some problems
with cooling under heavy loads and need a little more
maintenance with under hood electronics. If you could step up
to a mid 90's truck you would have a better engine choices for
the same money.
Richard G.
Well-known Member
Get a pre 99 Dodge Cummins. They just keep on going.
Richard in NW SC
Richard in NW SC
Cliff Nelson
Well-known Member
I would not be afraid of a 7.3. I had one in a '90 f250 naturally aspirated that was getting 17-18 mpg as a daily driver with 250k miles. I never had the valve covers off of it and it would probably still be going today but too many Wisconsin winters ate up the body of the truck.
I have a "97 K2500 with a 6.5, and I've been beating the pants off it for 60,000 miles. It's got 185,000 on it now. If you get one, the 97 and later trucks have the dual thermostat crossover pipe and they cool better. Get a PMD relocation heat sink, it'll help with the "reliability" problems of that motor. I also made a mechanical wastegate for mine when the vacuum pump went bad, and set it about 8-9 psi, as that's all it takes to clean up most of the black smoke and keep the EGT's about 1000. I have the #9 resistor, for max fuel rate, too. I was not afraid to buy mine, just realize that it's just like anything else, how the previous owner maintained it will dictate your experience with the truck. I like my truck, the Chevy is cheaper than the Ford and will definitely run with the 7.3 IDI. (most people will tell you it won't, but it will). I'll tell you whatever else I know. -Andy
T in NE
Well-known Member
- Location
- Cambridge, Nebraska
You are much better off going to one of the performance shops that has the proper Bosch equipment to rebuild a pump for a Cummins. Was that pump painted shiny black? If it was it came from Czechoslavakia or someplace over that way and is junk.
I don't know if this helps any, buy I have a 2000 f250 super
duty 7.3 direct injection turbo diesel, it has 190,000 miles on
it,all I've done to the engine is a water pump and altanator, oil
and filters ect. One thing to look at is the oil pans, as they are
prone to rusting threw, my brother is having the oil pan
replaced on his 1999 7.3 right now, it was $300 just for the oil
pan. I don't know how much labor is, you have to pull the
engine to replace the pan. Hope this helps.
duty 7.3 direct injection turbo diesel, it has 190,000 miles on
it,all I've done to the engine is a water pump and altanator, oil
and filters ect. One thing to look at is the oil pans, as they are
prone to rusting threw, my brother is having the oil pan
replaced on his 1999 7.3 right now, it was $300 just for the oil
pan. I don't know how much labor is, you have to pull the
engine to replace the pan. Hope this helps.
well i thought it out, and decided to include the newer diesels in my search, figuring that its not often something big like the injector pump goes out more gets wore out, so i figured they could always be rebuilt for a lower cost anyways and since this isnt my only vehicle i can always park it if i cant fix it right away
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
I have a F550 with 6 speed and the 7.3 its been a great truck have about 160,000 on it and done nothing to the engine but change oil and filters,rides and drives just like the day I bought it.
rustred
Well-known Member
but stay away from the ford 6.4 diesel. any little thing that goes wrong and you will be pulling the whole cab up to the rafters to work on the engine.. if you don't believe this then open the hood on one, and also look on internet, absolutely true!
ooh, and ford garages also say they like these engines... cause they bring the shop lots of money. you can spend about 3000.00 to lift the cab to do 100.00 worth of repairs.
ooh, and ford garages also say they like these engines... cause they bring the shop lots of money. you can spend about 3000.00 to lift the cab to do 100.00 worth of repairs.
Determined
Well-known Member
Having worked on and owned many of both, if it had to be diesel I would go with the Ford.
This is coming from a die hard GM person.
When diesel was 1/3 the cost of gas it was a no brainer.
If you are not going to use it enough for the diesel to pay for itself in fuel savings, good power can be had from a bigger gas motor.
454 in a 98 GM 1-ton pulls a 30 ft stock trailer without any problems.
When you start pricing out pumps, turbos and injectors for a diesel you can spend more than you will ever save in fuel real quick.
This is coming from a die hard GM person.
When diesel was 1/3 the cost of gas it was a no brainer.
If you are not going to use it enough for the diesel to pay for itself in fuel savings, good power can be had from a bigger gas motor.
454 in a 98 GM 1-ton pulls a 30 ft stock trailer without any problems.
When you start pricing out pumps, turbos and injectors for a diesel you can spend more than you will ever save in fuel real quick.
rodgernbama
Member
7.3 Powerstrokes are good engines that Ford put in
their Superduty line for several years. I still
can't figure why they changed. I have not owned
mine long and I do the oil and filters changes
myself to save money. But if you have to have
injectors replaced its pretty costly.
their Superduty line for several years. I still
can't figure why they changed. I have not owned
mine long and I do the oil and filters changes
myself to save money. But if you have to have
injectors replaced its pretty costly.
Robert Major
Well-known Member
Hi If you are giving that reply to service costs hes right. My 99 SD 7.3 near uses an $80 pail of oil each change the fuel filter is $30+ and I think the oil filter is slightly less and that doesn"t include air filter either. last performance one I replaced was $100, when I got the truck last year. I changed my oil/filters twice last year on my mileage, my 97 5.7 gas I can do oil and filter for about $60.
Regards Robert
Regards Robert
Robert Major
Well-known Member
Hi
6.5 is very un popular round me way to many guys had problems with them, the bottom end is weak on turbo motors. I now 1 guy that had one. it was a very nice truck, but he traded it for a Duramax before it gave trouble when extended warranty package ran out.
Biggest problem with the 7.3 will be the truck being worn out, on low budget ones. I got mine for $3000 nice looking body but steering/ front 4x4 axle, brakes and suspension were shot. I put $8000 in it doing work my self, so in it for $11.000. it is high KMS 538.000, p.o beat the daylights out of it for no maintenance in 400.000 he put on it. but a better investment than a 6.0 next generation with half the KMS due to repair costs on that pile of junk motor.
7.3 will make more of the money of 04 6.0 round here.
Have heard of a few guys say 7.3 heads can crack and some have had tranny problems. later 7.3s like clean oil in the motor for hi pop oil pump and injectors.
Yes they can be expensive if you get problems and to service. But I love my 99 and what I can tow with it. goes like a smacked rat, Kinda think the p.o put a power chip in but haven't found it. on a good run its getting about 20 mpg, on an auto trans.
Regards Robert
6.5 is very un popular round me way to many guys had problems with them, the bottom end is weak on turbo motors. I now 1 guy that had one. it was a very nice truck, but he traded it for a Duramax before it gave trouble when extended warranty package ran out.
Biggest problem with the 7.3 will be the truck being worn out, on low budget ones. I got mine for $3000 nice looking body but steering/ front 4x4 axle, brakes and suspension were shot. I put $8000 in it doing work my self, so in it for $11.000. it is high KMS 538.000, p.o beat the daylights out of it for no maintenance in 400.000 he put on it. but a better investment than a 6.0 next generation with half the KMS due to repair costs on that pile of junk motor.
7.3 will make more of the money of 04 6.0 round here.
Have heard of a few guys say 7.3 heads can crack and some have had tranny problems. later 7.3s like clean oil in the motor for hi pop oil pump and injectors.
Yes they can be expensive if you get problems and to service. But I love my 99 and what I can tow with it. goes like a smacked rat, Kinda think the p.o put a power chip in but haven't found it. on a good run its getting about 20 mpg, on an auto trans.
Regards Robert
Look at thoroughbred diesel for diesel parts. Maybe the new
high pressure pumps are that much, but 2002 Cummins
trucks and before are not. First gen dodge diesels are hard to
beat when it comes to reliability and economy (89-93). They
ride like a lumber wagon but are very tough and simple. I
sold my brother my 91 and it's pushing 300k and still runs
like a champ. Starting to need injectors, but they're cheap
($50+/- each) and easy to change. My opinion of reliable
cost effective diesels in order are 1st gen dodges, 7.3 ford
powerstrokes (95-early 03) then duramaxes. I've been around
and used alot of diesels.
high pressure pumps are that much, but 2002 Cummins
trucks and before are not. First gen dodge diesels are hard to
beat when it comes to reliability and economy (89-93). They
ride like a lumber wagon but are very tough and simple. I
sold my brother my 91 and it's pushing 300k and still runs
like a champ. Starting to need injectors, but they're cheap
($50+/- each) and easy to change. My opinion of reliable
cost effective diesels in order are 1st gen dodges, 7.3 ford
powerstrokes (95-early 03) then duramaxes. I've been around
and used alot of diesels.
showcrop
Well-known Member
I had an '01 E350 that I loaded heavy and towed heavy with for four years. After that it went to lighter duty for another four or five. The 7.3 may not have the power of the newer ones but it would PULL. I was on the way to a tractor pull once when going up a long steep hill I saw a buddy ahead with his Chevy pulling a tractor. I pressed a little harder on the pedal and went by him doing 80, while he was doing about fifty. I got to the pull about 40 minutes before him.
larryanderson
Well-known Member
Having had both, the 7.3 turbo was a long lasting durable engine that got good mileage.The 6.0 6.5 and now the new DEF required engine would have more power but our experience was the mileage wasn't as good and except for the newer one.We actually switched to Dodges and have been pleased but they got better mileage before computers and air pollution devices were added.Newer isn't always better.
The 7.3 IDI is a much heavier built engine then
any GM made 6.5. The newest 6.5s made for the
military have been beefed up quite a bit but that
doesn't count.
7.3 has a forged-steel crank, all gear-drive in
front, heavy cylinder heads with hardened valve-
seat inserts, heavy block, etc.
6.5 has a cast-iron crank, chain drive in front,
light cylinder heads that WILL crack when the
ports get hot, a light block that will crack at
the main-bearing webs after X amount of miles,
etc. There is no way to fix the main-web cracking
problem. GM tried with later 6.5s by making the
outside main-cap-bolts smaller thus leaving more
block metal. It helped but did not fix the
problem. I would not trust any 6.2 or 6.5 for
long-distance travel unless the oil-pan got pulled
and the main webs got checked for cracks. Once
they show - it's ticking time-bomb. Often around
the 200K mile mark.
I still have my 1994 IDI turbo 7.3. 350,000 miles
on it and the engine has never been apart. 4WD,
extended cab, long-bed, 4.10 axles, E40D trans.
Gets 17-18 MPG empty on highway in the flatlands
of Michigan. Gets 16 MPG in hilly New York.
I've also got many 6.2s and 6.5s. Running and
blown-up with broken cranks and blocks. I like
them because they've always been easy to buy
cheap.
any GM made 6.5. The newest 6.5s made for the
military have been beefed up quite a bit but that
doesn't count.
7.3 has a forged-steel crank, all gear-drive in
front, heavy cylinder heads with hardened valve-
seat inserts, heavy block, etc.
6.5 has a cast-iron crank, chain drive in front,
light cylinder heads that WILL crack when the
ports get hot, a light block that will crack at
the main-bearing webs after X amount of miles,
etc. There is no way to fix the main-web cracking
problem. GM tried with later 6.5s by making the
outside main-cap-bolts smaller thus leaving more
block metal. It helped but did not fix the
problem. I would not trust any 6.2 or 6.5 for
long-distance travel unless the oil-pan got pulled
and the main webs got checked for cracks. Once
they show - it's ticking time-bomb. Often around
the 200K mile mark.
I still have my 1994 IDI turbo 7.3. 350,000 miles
on it and the engine has never been apart. 4WD,
extended cab, long-bed, 4.10 axles, E40D trans.
Gets 17-18 MPG empty on highway in the flatlands
of Michigan. Gets 16 MPG in hilly New York.
I've also got many 6.2s and 6.5s. Running and
blown-up with broken cranks and blocks. I like
them because they've always been easy to buy
cheap.
It may seem that the cummins is more expensive but
in a lot of other ways it is just as expensive to
operate as any diesel. Iv had ford diesels and now
have a cummins because of fords 6.0. The dodge is
not an impressive truck to me but the cummins is a
really good engine. Ask yourself why so many big
trucks and heavy equipment use a cummins and not a
gm or navistar. Truthfully Ive found the cummins
parts to the same or less priced. I can get a
whole lot of parts the same or cheaper than ford.
My oil changes are cheaper because you use a
gallon less oil than a navistar. I can get a
factory bosh injector pump for 1500 bucks from
cummins which I paid 2000 for injector pump on
our ford service truck last year. Look at
replacment of injectors. 8 on a navistar versus 6
on a cummins. Cummins trucks are easier to work on
imo. Not knocking fords at all. Ive had alot of
ford diesels over the years still have a few in
the fleet but I wouldnt sell yourself short and
not even consider a cummins. Ill admit the dodge
is no where near the truck a ford is but I would
rule a cummins out.
in a lot of other ways it is just as expensive to
operate as any diesel. Iv had ford diesels and now
have a cummins because of fords 6.0. The dodge is
not an impressive truck to me but the cummins is a
really good engine. Ask yourself why so many big
trucks and heavy equipment use a cummins and not a
gm or navistar. Truthfully Ive found the cummins
parts to the same or less priced. I can get a
whole lot of parts the same or cheaper than ford.
My oil changes are cheaper because you use a
gallon less oil than a navistar. I can get a
factory bosh injector pump for 1500 bucks from
cummins which I paid 2000 for injector pump on
our ford service truck last year. Look at
replacment of injectors. 8 on a navistar versus 6
on a cummins. Cummins trucks are easier to work on
imo. Not knocking fords at all. Ive had alot of
ford diesels over the years still have a few in
the fleet but I wouldnt sell yourself short and
not even consider a cummins. Ill admit the dodge
is no where near the truck a ford is but I would
rule a cummins out.
rodgernbama
Member
The 7.3 don't have an injector pump. It was a high
pressure oil pump to fire the injectors. HPOP are
$400-$500.
pressure oil pump to fire the injectors. HPOP are
$400-$500.
My dad special ordered a 96 2500 with a 6.5 new. Those were the "diesel war" days with the big three trying to satisfy the publics want for diesel pickups. Our local news channel did its own test of the 3. ford, dodge and chevy. they were all rated close on hp and torque and the dodge won. But my mom wanted a chevy So my dad ordered a new chevy. It was a beautiful truck but it couldn't hold a candle to a 7.3 or a Cummins! It ran hot with the slightest load, had several expensive "quirks" fixed. And every time it left his garage it needed work. It was sold with only 48k on it!
I'll toss in my 2 cents. Most Diesels that old that are for sale have had several owners and either some kid rodded the heck out of it or it's been worked real hard. Most likely the truck itself is going to be in sad shape. Lot of the gassers were never pulled hard or left the black top. Plus with the extra you pay for the diesel, plus the extra cost of fuel I doubt it will pencil out. One of the mid 90's Ford or GM's with a big block (460 or 454) would be cheaper to buy and may ([b:fe2d9945e4]may[/b:fe2d9945e4] being a key work here) cheaper to buy and maintain.
My BIL and nephew got a 00 powerstroke. They also hae an older Ford Ranger. The ranger gets used way more than the 00 because it's cheaper to run when they are getting parts and such. Bout the only time the 00 really gets used at all is during harvest and taking livestock to the auction.
The older Dodge's with the Cummins are expensive to buy and everyone I know with the older ones have problems with the tranny back (and front if 4X4) the suspension and wiring (look it up). Other words great engine NOT MADE BY CHRUSLER it a very poor shipping container.
Rick
My BIL and nephew got a 00 powerstroke. They also hae an older Ford Ranger. The ranger gets used way more than the 00 because it's cheaper to run when they are getting parts and such. Bout the only time the 00 really gets used at all is during harvest and taking livestock to the auction.
The older Dodge's with the Cummins are expensive to buy and everyone I know with the older ones have problems with the tranny back (and front if 4X4) the suspension and wiring (look it up). Other words great engine NOT MADE BY CHRUSLER it a very poor shipping container.
Rick
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