Hey all. Just bought a 96 F-250 for cheap. $1200 w/ 263k miles.
Previous owner had it for 7 years, said he kept up on it. Only thing needed was shocks and 2 glow plugs by winter he said.

I work on gas a lot but know nothing about diesel, but like to learn.

First thing I noticed was that it ran cold. Won't get up to normal bar without driving and even then it won't creep past the N or O out of 'Normal'

He said he replaced water pump a year ago, I figure just a thermostat but there's so much to learn with diesel!

Also after reading others say their idle is 650. Mine is at 1200, I guess to just warm it up.

First thing I always do when I buy a car is coolant flush, thermostat, engine oil and filter. But that might be next week. I only put 200 miles on it so far.

Also after brother put a hole in a piston on a Chevy 6.5l turbo, I figured new $70 injectors all around. This truck's injectors are $400!

$3200 is out of the question since I'm still up for selling it, making profit and beating on my i6 F-150 and Escort. But I would like to expand, pull huge trailers and learn diesel so I'm up for keeping also.

So as far as that idle issue, should I just throw a thermostat in to cure that?

 

So your high idle sounds like you might have a chip installed on your truck. To verify this, pull the e-brake assembly and check the back end of the PCM. If you have a chip, there will be a wire coming out of the plastic of the housing.

As far as running cold, that is just how these trucks run. There is very spirited debate as to whether it is better to run the 203, 192, or 180 degree thermostat and it all boils down to what you're going to be using the truck for as well as where you are geographically ( ha see what I did? Boil? )

As for changing the thermostat, be very very careful with the housing bolts holding it to the top of the water pump. They tend to be an all around pain.

If you're already doing a coolant flush, you might consider swapping to fleet charge. If you prefer to stick to the regular green coolant, make sure and get the SCA additive to prevent future problems.

Hopefully, you keep the powerstroke around! These trucks can seem pretty intimidating at first but with lots and lots of home work and a little common sense, they are actually pretty fun to tinker on.

So yeah. Welcome to the coolest corner of FTE!!

 

Well said Jerrett, and Welcome to FTE.

 

That was a pretty good deal you got on that truck

 

my thoughts exactly.


I don't think your high idle is related to your temp. Mine barely gets to the N on 85 degree days. Follow Jarrett's recommendation on looking for a chip. It may just be stuck on the high idle tune. Is it a stick or automatic?

 

Welcome. I've used this site for a lot of info good place to be. I'm gonna also agree with the low temp my truck hardly moves the needle just gets to the beginning of operating temp range.

 

Thanks guys that bit of info on the coolant temps is nice to hear. As is info on the possible 1200 rpm chip and the fleet charge coolant.

For now, I'll hold off on the thermostat. The previous owner did say he had the water pump replaced last year and you say the housing is mounted to the water pump, so I'm sure that was changed and if those are norm temps for you guys, that's fine by me.
He got a new 96 rust free 7.3l. Thing was shining like no other.

Here's mine. Not a great pic at all. Looks better in person lol.

 

Looks pretty good at least it's one color haha

 

They may have put a short steam t-stat in it which will act like it doesn't have a t-stat. I run the 203* and my needle sits between the N&M