Maybe a couple injectors or a gas cap!
Sorry just couldn't resist!
Possibly getting an Excursion and have a question...
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 351
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From: South Texas/RGV
I have an Ex 7.3 diesel that is used for a daily driver. I've owned diesel vehicles for over 20 years. In normal conditions there is no difference. In normal weather you don't even need to cycle the glow plugs. Just when colder. Warm-up time is a little more than a gasoline but not _THAT_ much more.
I am a huge fan of diesel engines but for most people the economics just don't justify it. Don't buy it if your goal is "saving fuel" unless you drive a lot of miles (as a WAG 20k+ miles a year, mostly highway) and plan on keeping the vehicle for 100k+ miles.
Since I do a lot of long distance driving (700+ miles/trip at least once a month, 3000 miles at least once a year) and often tow trailers the distance between fill-ups and the towing capability is well worth the premium.
I am a huge fan of diesel engines but for most people the economics just don't justify it. Don't buy it if your goal is "saving fuel" unless you drive a lot of miles (as a WAG 20k+ miles a year, mostly highway) and plan on keeping the vehicle for 100k+ miles.
Since I do a lot of long distance driving (700+ miles/trip at least once a month, 3000 miles at least once a year) and often tow trailers the distance between fill-ups and the towing capability is well worth the premium.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 1
From: Liberty, NC
Lol scottman! If $2K will scare someone, I could only imagine a whole headgasket job and everything else with that. I don't know and don't want to know.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 80
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Thats why I bought an 8k$ v10X, a 6.0 could burn through 8k$ on a head gasket oil cooler EGR job!, I am not Bashing, I love my 6.0 f250, just did not want to spend the extra $ just to get to spend more down the line to make it right. Now we have a choice depending on the trip; long or short, towing or not.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
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I did use the expensive parts though!
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Clinton, Utah
Been looking at the 6.0L Diesel and now after reading all of these posts I am fearful of buying one. Should I be or is there some blown out of proportion things here? I really think I want the diesel but I need some help deciding what to do.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 44
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Well, do lots of searching here, then find a truck you like and get the oasis report from ford that will show all major rework that has been done. That way you can see if it was a lemon or if it has had some of the problems and they are now taken care of. The 03s and early 04's were the biggest culprits.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Clinton, Utah
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 81
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From: The 405
early 04's meaning they came out at the end of 03'...yes look for 05's or if you can get into a low mileage 7.3 that's always a smart move but good luck because those are like finding a woman that gives mouth hugs.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 80
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The biuld date is on the door post, very early 04s had 03 motors(they say 03 on the valve cover,) I had an october 03 built 04 f250, and now have a febuary 04 built 04 f250, both have 04 motors, but the later build has more of the fixes that ford put in during the run. I love my 6.0, but my experience with them showed me what I might have to spend on a 6.0 excursion, so I factored it in when shopping. I decided that the savings on fuel costs did not justify the much larger up front cost to purchase and fix a Diesel powered Excursion that will only be driven 10-15k per year. If we did not already have a sorted out 6.0 f250 to tow our toys with the choice would have been different.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
I have an '02 7.3, we bought it strictly for the towing and our fam size, wife, four kids, 2 dogs. This is my first diesel and I wouldn't have it any other way. The 7.3 is bullet proof. I did a lot of research on 7.3 vs 6.0, be careful with 6.0, Ford had a lot of problems with that new engine in the year it was released, mid model year '03. A friend of mine has a v10, he's happy with it other than the mpg. bottom line, towing=diesel.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 80
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7.3s are good, but not bullet proof, trans issues, HPOP failures, plus diesel Xs are more nose heavy and tend to wear out front end components faster(all else being equal). Also similar 7.3 Xs are going for about double the price of a v-10, you do the math. I am not bashing, but my buddy bought a "bulletproof" 7.3 last year and has been all through the front end, transmission,HPOP,shocks and brakes, and the truck was bone stock, clean anhad 15k miles. Just be realistic, all machines wear out and fail, so plan accordingly.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 80
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Correction 150k miles, the truck was an 03 f350 cc, my 04 f250 6.0 cc cost slightly more(with only 44kmiles) I paid only to delete the EGR add an exhaust, intake tuner, oasis showed EGR, oilcooler and head gaskets done under warranty. Without an egr I have over 50k miles without trouble while my buddy has 40k miles with a lot of repairs, my recently aquired 01 X v-10 111k miles was purchased and sorted (new brakes fluids axle u joints, shocks and steering stab) for less than his repair costs.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 70
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I own a 2003 4x4 7.3L Excursion that I bought used in 2005 with 16k miles on it. Current odometer reading is 135k miles. Here's my take -
I wanted the diesel engine because I love all things automotive and mechanical. I do a lot of my own maintenance, but as others have pointed out the maintenance on a diesel engined Excursion can get expensive. But I chose the diesel engine anyway because I've driven several trucks past the 200k mark and wanted something that hopefully can go past 300k. Given my ownership time frame and mileage goals, I believe I might come out ahead with the diesel engine. However I realize most people don't keep a vehicle as long as I do so in that case the gas engine may very well make more economic sense.
My only worry is that I'll have my Excursion so long I'll be one of those old codgers that wants to be buried in the thing.
I wanted the diesel engine because I love all things automotive and mechanical. I do a lot of my own maintenance, but as others have pointed out the maintenance on a diesel engined Excursion can get expensive. But I chose the diesel engine anyway because I've driven several trucks past the 200k mark and wanted something that hopefully can go past 300k. Given my ownership time frame and mileage goals, I believe I might come out ahead with the diesel engine. However I realize most people don't keep a vehicle as long as I do so in that case the gas engine may very well make more economic sense.
My only worry is that I'll have my Excursion so long I'll be one of those old codgers that wants to be buried in the thing.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
7.3s are good, but not bullet proof, trans issues, HPOP failures, plus diesel Xs are more nose heavy and tend to wear out front end components faster(all else being equal). Also similar 7.3 Xs are going for about double the price of a v-10, you do the math. I am not bashing, but my buddy bought a "bulletproof" 7.3 last year and has been all through the front end, transmission,HPOP,shocks and brakes, and the truck was bone stock, clean anhad 15k miles. Just be realistic, all machines wear out and fail, so plan accordingly.