a buddy of mine is lookiin into buying a 94.5 powerstroke that has 190k miles on it. hes a lil concerned about what to look for with that many miles on it and also how easily/the cost of a new engine would be. hes the kinda guy that wouldnt be afraid to slap 5k down fer a brand new factory ford crate engine, but are they still available and how much would they really be? thanks fer the help and any info fellas.

 

Have him run an oasis report from a dealership or there are places like carfax to see if there was trouble with the truck. When starting the diesel check to see if it is smooth running or runs rough but smooths out after a few minutes. This would indicate a glowplug problem or a compression problem in a cylinder. Ask for maintance records. If possible take to a mechanic and have them go over it. might be worth the $. Most diesels if maintained properly will go for 300+K miles. Just go over the truck and ask a LOT OF QUESTIONS. Also beware there are reports of flooded vehicles hitting the market.

 

i wouldnt be afraid of those kind of miles at all on the motor. concern yourself with things like:

balljoints
tierods
was the oil changed regulary?
filters changed """""?
tranny fluid """ """ """ ?
air filter changed """"?

 

A few things I would check.

If its automatic and a 4x4 if nothing has been done to the torque converter I would give that a good test run. If its a standard the dual mass fllywheel may be of a concern. Have a good look in the rad exp tank for oil or carbon as it could have a bad head gasket or cracked head. Look for bad oil leaks on crankshaft seals. Jack up the front end and check for slack or worn out ball joints. Does it have new tires possibly hiding something? Listen closely for klunks or other gear train noises when test driving. open the hood and have a good look with it running and also when shut down.
I'm sure this thread will get lots of mileage with the amount of experience here. Also have a look at Steve Baz site as he has a topic regarding buying a used PSD

 

He can get a crate engine 7.3, but it will be a reman.....and five grand wouldn't get it. $7500 might....

I agree with the board that 190,000 shouldn't be a concern as long as it's been kept up. If it starts easily and runs smooth without smoking chances are it's in pretty good shape.