This thing is incredible and has converted me over from GM's 6.2 or 6.5. I just moved from L.A. to OR and had to drive with the truck loaded down along with a fully loaded 6x12 u-haul trailer.

I drove over the Grapevine in SoCal up the state through the Mt. Shasta mountain area three times!!! Although the truck has over 200k miles of 5th wheel service it seemed to thrive while going up the mountains with little evidence of pulling anything. This truck is totally at home while loaded down and climbing whatever you can throw at it.

I'm new to Ford ownership as well as diesel ownership but I can clearly see why so many Ford owners are so hardcore.

I'm sold!

 

Hey, how long have you had your truck, and whats the mpg you're get from it ..
Im looking at a 93 7.3l with 230km on it.. info on yours would be a great help

 

Hey phonebooth,

I've had it for about a month now. I moved from SoCal to OR and looked at renting a moving truck or buying a pickup. I decieded to go with a Ford diesel thinking I could sell it after the move. I was apprehensive of buying anything with 200k miles on it but after talking to a mechanic friend of mine who told me that he has seen Ford diesels with 500k I felt better.

To say the least, I'm impressed and I think I'll keep this one for a while;-)

P.S. I seem to get around 20 mpg if I keep it at 55-60 mph.

 

I have a 93 F250 non-turbo and love every second of driving it. This is my first diesel and I have had it for almost 4 years now. I can't go back to gas, unless it is a 460 or something else huge that has the same torque as the diesel. Mine has 280,000 km on it. The first owner was a contractor and hauled a trailer with it. It is rigged with the tow package and air bag suspension, so it handles like a one ton. I loaded it with 25 railway ties, approx 5000 lbs and the only thing that it did was make my ride smoother. I was passing rice burners at 110 km/h. I am the second owner of this rig and I use it soly for hunting and getting fire wood, so all it sees is rough roads and hard pulling to get trees out. I have done a ton of mods on it, and love the results. I like it cause it is simple to work on, and seeing as how automotive repair is not my trade, it makes my life easy.

So all in all, vote me into the "I love my 7.3" club. If my engine does ever calve, I will either resleave it or throw another IDI in it. I am a happy redneck.

 

Oh yah, with the mods, I am a minimum 17 mpg. I tend to have a heavy foot though cause I love the sound

 

LOL

ditto!

 

Welcome to the world of non- computerized diesels
These are good trucks but they can throw some little misteries at us from time to time. So remember this site and remember how much you love your truck so that you will never get rid of it. and plese share your knowledge with your compains.

 

My dad has a 94 7.3 non-PSD 4x4 ext cab F250 ....
he bought it because it wasn't computerized .... he loves it ....

I'm starting to look for one to set into my 78 F150 drag truck ....

 

Words of wisdom and good words to live by... share the knowledge!

 

Mine's a 94 IDI Turbo. I pull usually around 18,000 to 20,000 lbs. all over Mt. Hood on a gooseneck. Plus a 27 ft. 5th wheel travel trailer when me and the little lady decide to take a little time off. I would never trade my pickup for ANYTHING. It only has 133,000 miles on her and I've done very little as far as parts replacement. (A couple of injectors, glowplugs, starter, etc.) Man, she's worked hard on every mile I've put on her and she keeps going like the energizer bunny. I also have to agree with everyone about buying their IDI because of the lack of computerized sh--. Don't get me wrong. I do like the DI Diesels. They are a great engine with power to spare. But if I can't work on it, I won't own it. Simple as that. Anyway, thought I'd put in my 2 cents.
By the way, welcome to OR Hangfire.

 

Thanks for the insight on IDI, I tend to agree, I like working on my own stuff!

And thanks for the OR welcome;-)

 

I don't have a 7.3L but I love my 1985 6.9L. I have only had it for about a month or so and it needs a little work but it's spent all it's life 152k draging a 5th wheeler around. so I thought it wold be a good choice to haul a 12ft camper and a 20ft trailer laoded with quads I also get about 18mpg if I keep it under 55-60 and about 13-14 with just the camper on it.


Welcome to Oregon

 

I get about 10-12mpg with my IDI but then again a F-450 that weighs 7800lbs and has 5:13 gears probably doesn't do much for mileage. Hell its better than the 460 that only gets 6-8mpg but has more power. Would I go back to a gas pot no unless it was a 460 and some one else paid for the fuel.

I do like the 7.3 it does lack power and I don't have the money to spend 3 grand for a turbo. I will leave it turboless and deal with the slower road speed the truck pretty much tops out at 80km/h (50mph) the 460 powered truck would easily do 100km/h (62mph).

The old IDIs are like gas engines with carburators simple to work on easy to dianose the only difference is it costs 6 grand to replace a IDI. The other problem the 7.3 IDI has is cavitation if it strikes your engine say hello to expensive repairs ie your replacing the engine.


Good Luck

 

I work for Albertsons truck shop and we call it liner pitting. We test chemical balance at every service and adjust the level with a product called DCA4 from fleetguard. they claim it stops the pitting and keeps the cooloing system clean of rust and scale. I know it work b/c when I replace a water pump after 500.000 miles they look nice and clean in side just like the reman one I replace it with.

 

Thanks for the tip on the product grimlin. I haven't been using any products in my coolant, but I guess now is as good a time as any (my rig has 290,000 km / 181,000 miles and still going strong).