I'm new to both this site and to diesels. I have recently found a 97 250 4x4 with a psd that I'm looking to buy as a cheap tow rig and daliy driver insted of my lightning. It has a new trans,brakes,tires,shocks,batteries,. My concern is the fact that is has 200,000 on the original motor. The truck looks like new. I haven't drove it yet, that will happen tommorow. But for $11,000 it just seems to good to pass up. But the thought of the motor dying on me in the future is kinda scaring me due to the cost of diesel motors and parts. I guess what I want to know is with all the other parts that have been replaced on this truck and with the price what it is will it be a good buy? I know diesels tend to go a lot more miles than gas motors but I don't know how long these psd will last. If I'm being paraniod let me know. I just don't want to buy the truck and have to replace the motor in the next year regardless of the initial purchase price.
Thanks in advance,
Sonic lightning

 

Proably the most important thing to check is the Turbo inlet. Check to see if the filter had let alot of dirt into the engine. Check the edges of the turbo compressor wheel for damage. If the truck has been taken care of it should easy last alot longer.
Good luck and welcome to the forum~!

 

I bought my 97 off ebay and love it. Paid 11,500 for it with 80,000 miles. If the truck looks and drives great even with 200,000 miles it might be worth buying. Maybe you can get the price reduced.

 

11k seems a bit steep. I just bought my 95 F250 PSD for 6800$ (2WD). 212k miles w/ new trans, tires, batts and glow plugs.

Make sure you know to check the valley below turbo for fuel leaks before you buy. I did not and found leaking banjo gaskets and a filter housing all cracked to hell. I spent 450$ on the parts to fix all the leaks.

The parts guy at the local international dealer told me the 7.3 will go 500k miles easy if it is taken care of. If you are going to worry about something, make it your E4OD.

 

Thanks for the info and the quick response. The kelly blue book says this truck wholesale is 10,700 and retail is 14,300 with 200,000 miles on it so I didn't 11,000 was that bad. But now I'm seeing the diesel in a whole light.

Thanks again,
Sonic lightning