I would like to buy an Excursion for my daily driver and to tow my 8,000 lbs camper about once a month. I almost closed the deal on an 04 with the 6.0, but got spooked after reading all the problems that motor created. What was the best motor offered in the Excursion? Should I roll the dice with a 6.0, look for a good 7.4, or go with the V10???

THANKS

 

No question if you can find a nice low mileage 7.3 (tough to find) go that route. Diesel is always the way to go in my opinion.

 

As a V10 owner I'd say the V10.... but the best overall engine was most likely the 7.3. Great power, good mod potential and extremely reliable. The hard part - and getting harder everyday -is finding one in decent condition now with low enough miles for you to enjoy. The V10 is a great engine - depending on the year there were a few issues but none serious enough to walk away from. Almost all of the modular engines have exhaust stud problems where they break off over time. The 2000-02 V10's had spark plug thread issues where they didn't have enough threads and the plug wasn't installed correctly it could blow out. I tow a 30ft Sea Ray with twins, etc - weighs about 11k on the trailer and the V10 tows it great. Mileage is bad but I didn't buy the thing for economy..... Good luck in your quest! Mine took 6 months to find and it was well worth it.

 

For towing, 7.3 hands down. You say you'll be towing once a month but after you find out what you can tow, you may be towing more often. Sure stock to stock the 6.0 is faster but I want durability and longevity. With a few mods, the 7.3 can hold it's own.

Now realize this, owning a diesel requires more money in general maintenance and a greater knowledge in how a diesel system works, specifically the 7.3. Simple things like oil changes, fuel filters and such will cost more. If you're OK with learning about these motors and working on it yourself, this board is an incredible resource to maintain and repair these motors and the trucks they're wrapped with. You'll save a ton of money. In my opinion, if you tow at all, the diesel is worth the extra money and effort.

 

After owning 7 diesel pickups (one 7.3 X) you see what I'm driving and there's a reason for it!

The smokers all sound cool and stuff but the higher cost of fuel and general maintainance is NOT offset by the tow-once-a-month crowd!

Roughly speaking (on average) you'd have to consistantly get 2MPG better with the diesel to break even with a gaser just in fuel costs. Then add the additional expense of oil and fuel filter changes. The 7.3 is no saint either. Failed camshaft position sensors are a regular occurance.

On a recent trip to SD from IL my Dad spent $45 more in fuel to drive his 2011 Denali duramax than i did in my 03 V10 X. He consumed DEF and uses 3 gallons of oil at regular change intervals. I'm ahead $100 on that one trip alone.

 

Am I the only person that has never had a cps failure in my 7.3? And DEF is not a factor in 7.3s...I wouldn't buy a new diesel because of the crap they put on them.

I think the best overall engine could be the 7.3 diesel or the V10 depending on what you want. The 7.3 gets better mileage and lasts longer, but maintenance costs are much higher. 7.3s also don't like to sit for long periods of time. The V10 and other gas engines don't mind sitting as much, but the V10 will get pretty poor fuel mileage compared to a diesel.

The 7.3 is the motor to get if you drive it often and keep it a long time. That is when the maintenance costs will be worth it.

Then there's always the extra noise a diesel makes...but what truck-loving guy doesn't enjoy that.

 

On my second 7.3 and have never had a CPS failure. I wouldn't let the dealer perform the recall and I have a black spare in the console just in case.

 

This is my first diesel and I love it. 7.3 all the way.

 

Should the 6.0 be avoided at all cost? Dealer called this morning offering another 1k for my Tundra. It's an 04 with 92k miles

 

I have had a 2000 7.3 and currently drive a 2000 v10. Did the 7.3 have it's perks? Sure it did. I got 15 mpgs hwy with a programmer and and didn't have many repairs except for a water pump, glow plugs and 2 cps's. I traded that truck off with 270,000 miles. Like I said previously I am currently driving a 2000 v10 and it has 230,000 miles. The only maintenance on this truck so far has been plugs, 3 cop's, altenator and exhaust studs. Sure I am only getting 12 mpgs hwy but at the current cost of diesel being 90 cents higher, and I am using 5 less quarts of oil per oil change. It begins to be a bit cheaper for me in my situation. I don't tow much more than a 5k# boat so I didn't really need a diesel for that. Heck I could get by with a explorer if I didn't mind losing the room. It's different strokes for different folks. I liked driving the diesel for the cool factor but once I really evaluated my situation from the money stand point I realized the gas was my realistic choice. You will be happy with either one they both tow great just one will do it at 2000 rpms and the other will be at 3300.

 

smithder - I've gone back and forth on this and am no expert but like you, I tow rarely but often argue with myself about gas V. Diesel. My V10 has approx 425 F.P.T. versus the 570 on the 6.0 diesel. I tow a 25 foot airstream (approx 7K lbs) and have NO issues towing. A well set-up hitch and balanced load are of primary importance.

Having said that - if I got a good deal on a 6.0 and had a good mechanic to fix - pre-emptively - the cooler issues (? - can't recall exactly the nomenclature of the design fail), I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

I've got to say, other than the usual Excursion problems (wander; balljoints; bushings; alignment; springs, etc) I have had zero problems with mine. Once I got all the problems "fixed", this thing tows and drives like a dream.

 

I'm beating myself up on weather or not to buy the 6.0. There is a low mileage v10 in town too.

 

Don't bother with the 6.0, unless your willing to drop a couple grand in it to "make it right." It is a great engine when it's fixed though. And for anyone to say a V10 is a better buy than a 7.3 when talking about fuel is absurd. I'm on my 3rd 7.3 (first X) and with a 300 dollar chip it gets anywhere from 17 mpg to 25 on the highway...I have buddies who own a V10...were talkin 8-13 mpg here. I am certain The extra 20-30 cents per gallon (at least in my area) for diesel does not cover this improved MPG...even an extra dollar a gallon may not...just my 2 cents

 

I've got a V10 with 225000 miles and I love it just drove 880 miles into a strong head wind @ 65-75 mph and avg 12mpg 285 tires 3:73 gear. Plus I can work on it if something does happen. If not going to tow a lot I would go with a V10.

 

Oh forgot to mention the initial cost of a power stroke over a V10 found my V10 for $3500 if it had been a PS would have been $8500.