I was really disappointed with how the truck performed. When I hit the gas on my 5.4 my truck just GOES. When I hit the gas on this 7.3 it was like the truck had to process my command and think about going, then it would roll, then it would go. In other words, from a rolling start this truck has no guts.

I tow a travel trailer with my 97 5.4, I weigh in at about 6500 lbs loaded, and my truck does very well with my load. Honestly, how would a Diesel really benefit me, except to say, I have a diesel?

HONESTLY, I am not trying to pick a fight or anything, I was just really surprised by the lack of "seat of the pants" feel from the Diesel.

I have had several people tell me that I need a 3/4 ton truck to pull my trailer, however my current truck does really good. I WANT a 3/4 ton but I am having a hard time justifying it because of how good my current truck does.

I have been considering taking a test drive in a 5.4 F250 (I love the 5.4) and had the opportunity to drive the PSD, I was simply not impressed. It felt slow, that is the best way I know how to describe it. Maybe I am just a gasser and need to accept it. I really would like to give a diesel a try but I am afraid that I would hate living with it day in and day out.

Anybody else out there wrestle with this quandary?

 

What you felt was turbo lag. Did you simply stuff it to the rugs from a roll? If so, try rolling into it a little bit to lite the turbo before going WOT.

 

I have early 7.3 but my turbo lags till about 2200 rpm. Than you can really feel take-off.

 

A turbo diesel is a different kind of power than you are probably used to. When you drive these trucks you can't just punch it to the floor, you have to ease into it... do it that way and you'll feel the boost come on and the truck will pull harder. The other thing is the PSDs have a drive by wire system (no accelerator cable from the go-pedal to the engine) it does take a second for the computer to recognize whats going on.
Where a turbo diesel shines is on the interstate or on mountain roads pulling heavy loads. I can guarantee if you line up your 5.4 powered rig with a similarly equipped truck with a PSD... put a trailer of the same weight behind both trucks. The 5.4 truck might beat the PSD off the line, but once that diesel comes up on boost it's gonna leave the 5.4 in the dust. Don't get me wrong I think the 5.4s are great engines, they have certainly proven themselves in my book. In my opinion the 7.3 PSD is one of the better (the IDI 6.9/7.3 diesels are the best IMO) diesel engines ever put in a Ford F250/F350 pickup... they're tough as nails and run forever.

 

i have not driven a newer diesel but i have driven a few 97-02 power strokes and stock they do feel lethargic IMO. i hardly ever tow but i did have to tow almost 6,000lbs with my '98 5.4 expedition and it did awesome! much better then i could have imagined even up a steep long hill, it kept 50mph. that being said those diesels can be modded to put out some serious power! i really want to get a load behind my V10 to compare to the little 5.4 lol

like said above, you have to drive them different, i also like the instant power of a gasser.

 

Mister is correct. You will need to relearn how to use the throttle in order to get the desired results. A gas motor will 'wind up' faster than a diesel, the catch is that once the turbo has spooled up, it will put down far more torque than any stock gas motor.

Once you have learned how to roll into the throttle and use it to move big trailers you will never go back to gas! I've owned gas and diesel and have been happy with both for different tasks but when it comes to a big trailer there is no way I would go back to a gasser. Oh, and the economy while towing is usually a little better if not a lot better or at least in mpg's. jm2cw

 

Remember, no one races a diesel (professionally) and that is for a reason. Gas motors, almost by definition, will have more OOMPH from the get go than a diesel. But a diesel will get more weight rolling up a steeper hill faster.

 

Well... welcome to the 21 Century

YouTube - ‪F1 DIESEL ENGINE‬‏

 

I knew someone was going to post something like that..

I meant mainstream racing. And that diesel is not like most, you can hear it rev like a v10!

 

Diesel engine have always lower HP/weight ratio so when it comes to pure acceleration in racing they will loose to gas engines. However most of the racing is longer distances that require fueling. When Hummers become available to private owners, they put gas engines in them, since the old 200 HP or so diesel was not really making it a race car. Than they took them to Baja and the gas cars didn't make it to fueling stops.
Same with F1. Those cars have to stop for fuel and this is a big time loss. If the diesel engine can save a stop, or 2, the better acceleration gas engine is not going to make up for lost time.
I see it all the time driving diesels on the road. With my truck I set CC at 65, or 55 while towing in CA. Then I get zoomed by those hotrod with gasoline engines. Quite often the same hotrod zooms by me 3 times before noon ...
When I drive diesel sedan, I make over 500 miles on the tank even going above 80 mph. NOBODY passes me twice in the same day.

 

Hmmm....perhaps the op didn't test drive the right one, mine is a stock 7.3 late 99 drw,cc, 350 with open element intake and straight exhaust....and it jumps like a jack rabbit almost instantly, and mashing the pedal produces a seat O the pants jolt, and 4 beautiful black stripes in the rear view mirror....go figure

 

The 7.3 was never meant to be a "quick" motor from stock. After mods it can certainly turn into a quick responding motor but from stock they are made more for towing and take a bit of turbo to wake up and go.

 

I dont know if this is why but i put the 6637 filter on my 01 in december 2010 and it seems to get off the line and wind up faster. It may just be me subconsciously validating my purchase hee hee

 

Stock they can be a little laggy, there is also the possibility that the one the OP drove had something wrong with the wastegate on the turbo, this can cause excessive lag....

BTW, if you don't like the lag, get a custom tuned chip, 6637 intake and straight pipe the exhaust. Problem solved. Now it will eat your 5.4L, any time, any place.

 

Yep... 6637 check exhaust check now im deciding on the tuner that would best suit me. Im thinkin dp f5 any thoughts?