Help.I have a 7.3,Should I get a 03 6.0 ????

[floridadude]

I have a 2000 7.3 with about 110,000 miles. I do love it. I have a chance to get a 6.0 03. What do you guys think about the two motors? Pros/Cons? Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!!

[Supercab]

If this helps any I wouldn't take 2 6.0 trucks for my LATE 1999 F350 7.3 Dually!!! I have a friend that HAD an '04 F250 4X4 King Ranch with all the toys, IT was in the shop 25% of the time he had it, HE finally got rid of it!
His "old" truck (now his Son's) is a 2000 F350 4X4 7.3 and has nearly 300k well cared for miles and never has had any serious problems.
Read some of the posts on here about the 6.0s and deceide for yourself.

[rollerstud98]

I love my 6.0, in over 3 years of ownership its only been in the shop for maybe 10 days, and 4 of them are the body shop when it was hit in my parking lot at work. I'd take another one any day. Mine is also an 03 and has about 130k miles on it

[SteveBricks]

Given a choice between a 03 7.3 and an 03 6.0 I'd take the 7.3.

[floridadude]

Thanks for the replies. However I'm still not sure. The 6.0 I drove pulls like a son of a gun. I have to say it does pull better than my 7.3. But Everything I read and hear is that the 7.3 is a lot more reliable. I don't want to be without a truck because its always in the shop. Guess I have some more thinkin to do. Thanks again.

[wlihntr]

of all the 6.0's the 03 model year was BY FAR!! the worst year (later 05's and up are the ones to look for) . you could get lucky and not have many problems with it but i wouldnt ever consider paying money for an '03 6.0

[floridadude]

Yep that's what I keep hearing. I would hate to buy it and have to keep taking it in for repairs.

[JIM_C]

Mine's been a solid truck - no engine issues since a reflash in October 2003, runs great. Just ran out of warranty and I'm considering EGR delete and head studs to address the well-known weak points in the 6.0.

[dcaddi2]

I own my truck for 2 years, and I absolutely love it. 03 6.0l . A really good friend of mine has a 7.3 with a chip, big exhaust, etc. and I leave him in my smoke any time. We also took test rides in each trucks, since that he wants to have a 6.0.
Yes, the 03 had some issues, mine had it too, but if you get rid of the week points of it, you get a great truck. I would take an 03 6.0L any time before I would even think to get in a 7.3.... but it's only an 03 owners opinion.

[Mark250]

There are lots of happy 03 owners out there, but given a chance, that is the one year you should avoid. IMHO, wait for an 05 or up.

[MDB]

110k on the 2000? Why change, dang that things barely broke in! It's your money, do what you want, but IMO, you're not upgrading much, so why mess with the possibility of problems with this first year? A friend has an 03, and no matter what he does, he gets 12 mpg, pulling or empty, and they can't fix it. Had several injector issues, etc.
It sounds like you really want an excuse to buy it, and you aren't really looking for objective feedback, rather you are looking for someone to tell you what you want to hear. As said, it's probably a bad move, but if that's what makes you happy for now, go for it.

[rollerstud98]

i get over 20 mpgs empty with my 6.0, and they are way nicer to drive with multiple people riding with you, much easier to speak in the cab

[dcaddi2]

Originally Posted by rollerstud98

i get over 20 mpgs empty with my 6.0, and they are way nicer to drive with multiple people riding with you, much easier to speak in the cab

Well, that 20 mpg is more likely 16, except if you run a tuner.
Anyways, this question passed through my mind and I asked a few people. Which one? 7.3 or 6.0 and if it is a 6.0, how about an 03?
The "street people", said definitely a 6.0, much nicer ride, the whole feeling is more like a truck what you're not just using to work, you actually can enjoy it too. Which year? Oh, of course the newer is better, less problems.
Than I asked some friend, who is a performance truck builder, and his opinion is the 03 is the best year???!!!! First reason of his is the leaf springs, so you can jack it up to the sky easier, better, than a coil-ones. Second - in his opinion - the turbocharger is the best in the 03. At the late 04-s Ford changed the turbocharger , because some of the 6.0 owners thought that the turbo is annoyingly loud. ( IMO that is the best part, when my F250 "private jet" takes off. )
So let's see what are those issues, what the 03 has/had and the newers doesn't.
-ICP sensor and connector - cheap fix, little hard to get to, but possible on the 03
- stretching head bolts - all 6.0 s doing it
- EGR cooler - all 6.0 s
- oil cooler - all 6.0
- HPOP system - the pump can go bad, but the newer models has the quick connector, what does go bad , and it is hard to get to

Make it shorter, lot of people says the 03 is a bad year, but somehow, the later models pull the same issues too, but it is like " Oh, it's just an accident! " But if it's an 03, the problem is because the 03 is a bad-bad year....
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[a-rod]

KEEP THE 7.3!!!! Your playing russion roulette with a 2003 6.0. Your 7.3 will run forever. I had an 04 6.0 and traded it off for a 02 7.3 and couldnt be happier.

[tjthegreat]

if you want more power,get a 6.0,if u want reliabilty get the 7.3