When does a 7.3l ''really break in''?
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Highland Mills, NY
When does a 7.3l ''really break in''?
Hey guys, I've been a ford guy all my life, always wanted a diesel pick up, and finally got my '99 F-350 in january of 2010. I bought it with 80605 original miles on it from an older gentleman and it now has 82575 on it (dont worry its garage kept in climate controlled 70 degree weather all year round) My question is ever since I got this ''cream puff'' I have been told a whole lot that this is ''low miles'' and ''its barely broken in". Now is 82000 miles really that low on these, I know that they can go to 1000000 miles if maintained properly and it has been dealer serviced all its life, by the book I might add, but is it really that low, thats just hard for me to swallow that 82000 miles is low and just when do these engines ''really break in''. I have a friend with a 2002 f-350 tow truck that has 75000 miles on it and the thing sounds, looks and smells like its about to fall apart, of course he beats the hell out of it. What do you guys think about my 2 questions though?
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 7,649
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From: Wallingford, CT
It's all in the maintenance.
Parts like injectors and glow plugs do wear after time but 82,000 miles truly is nothing to these trucks when properly maintained.
Mine is sitting at 155,350 miles right now and is extremely mechanically sound and I am far from easy on that truck. It does have some body rot but that is normal to the north east and poor maintenance as far as washing the salt off the truck.
That being said I could go ahead and stop changing my oil and filters and it'll start giving me heaps of problems in no time.
Parts like injectors and glow plugs do wear after time but 82,000 miles truly is nothing to these trucks when properly maintained.
Mine is sitting at 155,350 miles right now and is extremely mechanically sound and I am far from easy on that truck. It does have some body rot but that is normal to the north east and poor maintenance as far as washing the salt off the truck.
That being said I could go ahead and stop changing my oil and filters and it'll start giving me heaps of problems in no time.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2012
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Your 82000k/mile cream puff is still in diapers so to speak.
Well maintained, as yours apparently is, it will last a loooooong time and as for when is it "broken-in", I'd say with your truck's use and maintenance you could say it will be "broken in" at around 120-130,000 k miles.
Well maintained, as yours apparently is, it will last a loooooong time and as for when is it "broken-in", I'd say with your truck's use and maintenance you could say it will be "broken in" at around 120-130,000 k miles.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 52
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From: Central Point OR
I think most diesel engines that I have over hauled in the last 40 years (mostly Cat products) and I enclude the 7.3 in this is 90% broke in in the first 10 hrs of operation at running tempeture. JMO. I also think 82,000 is low milage and you should expect 400 or 500,000 miles if not over chipped and taken care of with out major repairs. I expect injectors in about 300,000 any way that is what Oregon Injector told me. I have 180,000 + on my 01 now and running as well as new.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2011
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From another site I'm a member of. My thread I started before I actually bought my '01 7.3.
Ford SD 7.3 Diesel Mileage.
<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->The marine dealer attached to our Ford dealership has a small fleet of 99-00 7.3's used to pull boats across the country for delivery. Last one I changed oil on had 834,000 on it, still runs like a champ. On it's 3rd clutch now. They all have mileage similar to that. The drivers absolutely love them, don't want to get newer trucks. Unloaded he said they're averaging 21 mpg highway.
Ford SD 7.3 Diesel Mileage.
<HR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff; COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->The marine dealer attached to our Ford dealership has a small fleet of 99-00 7.3's used to pull boats across the country for delivery. Last one I changed oil on had 834,000 on it, still runs like a champ. On it's 3rd clutch now. They all have mileage similar to that. The drivers absolutely love them, don't want to get newer trucks. Unloaded he said they're averaging 21 mpg highway.
Posting Guru
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
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From: Texas
Barely broke in is just an expression. The engine itself was broke in long ago, which is normal. The maker of our engines published the B50 life of this motor at 350,000 miles, and that was based on it's designed use as a medium duty truck motor, not the light duty work our pick ups see.
Is 82,000 miles low on the motor? That depends on how well it was taken care of. When we were looking for a truck for my wife, I passed over some trucks with mileage in their 80's in favor of one with 150,000 on it because it was in better condition and had been maintained better. The only thing I'd be worried about with those miles if it was maintained well would be leaks that are likely to develop from o-rings that are suffering from "lot rot"
Congrats on your purchase. I've got 407,000 miles on my 7.3 that I bought when it was new and it's showing no signs of tiring out.
Is 82,000 miles low on the motor? That depends on how well it was taken care of. When we were looking for a truck for my wife, I passed over some trucks with mileage in their 80's in favor of one with 150,000 on it because it was in better condition and had been maintained better. The only thing I'd be worried about with those miles if it was maintained well would be leaks that are likely to develop from o-rings that are suffering from "lot rot"
Congrats on your purchase. I've got 407,000 miles on my 7.3 that I bought when it was new and it's showing no signs of tiring out.
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Gone Fishin for Mark
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 2
From: West of Houston
What Chris said about the o-rings is 100%. You can expect that with zero miles. Sounds like you got yourself one heck of a good find.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
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From: Puget Sound
I saw a recent post where somebody popped open a 7.3 with 320K and the cross-hatching on the cylinder walls (from factory machining) was still there. "Just broke in" is nothing more than a term we proud owners of the 7.3 use to embellish how far these bad boys go. I have 1/4-million miles and the guys with 400K are going to tell me mine is just broke in. I wonder if the guys with 800K would tell the guys with 400K theirs are just broke in.
I have driven more than one gas vehicle into the ground at about 1/4-million miles. I take good care of them and they still run well, but everything is falling apart faster than I can fix it at that point - plus it's hard to justify replacing expensive stuff on a gasser with that many miles.
I have no problem justifying replacing expensive stuff on "Stinky". He's worth more (to me) than a gasser that is truly just broke in.
I have driven more than one gas vehicle into the ground at about 1/4-million miles. I take good care of them and they still run well, but everything is falling apart faster than I can fix it at that point - plus it's hard to justify replacing expensive stuff on a gasser with that many miles.
I have no problem justifying replacing expensive stuff on "Stinky". He's worth more (to me) than a gasser that is truly just broke in.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,500
Likes: 14
From: South Carolina
"lot rot" , i like that expression.
Certain co-workers of mine think i am nuts when i speak critical of low milage vehicles (example-a 10+ year old gas vehicle with less than 100K).
Going from low use to medium/high use invites those "leaks". Usually those vehicles are/were not DD.
Certain co-workers of mine think i am nuts when i speak critical of low milage vehicles (example-a 10+ year old gas vehicle with less than 100K).
Going from low use to medium/high use invites those "leaks". Usually those vehicles are/were not DD.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 13,484
Likes: 42
From: Stevens Point, WI
Over the years and all the new trucks we have gone threw I would say on average our trucks feel the best (broke in, driving good, everything seems in its prime) around 100,000-175,000 miles.
At that time is when we seem to notice everything runs the smoothest, we get the best mileage, the motors seem to run the best, and stuff. Also this is not just with the diesels, we notice the same thing with our gassers as well.
My 7.3 X has 175K on the clock now and after some maintenance stuff it feels great! The motor I feel couldn't be much or any better then what it is right now. Everything just works.
A FYI we have diesels and gassers with over 400K on the clocks and still going. Our 95 351 truck has something like 375K on it and the motor runs just as good as ever. Never smokes, doesn't use any oil, and gets the same mileage it has always gotten since 100K.
From what I see it is not the motors people have to worry about in vehicles now days, its the rest of the vehicle that doesn't hold up. Very especially in rust regions! Our 95 that runs and drives absolutely perfect is dieing from rust...
At that time is when we seem to notice everything runs the smoothest, we get the best mileage, the motors seem to run the best, and stuff. Also this is not just with the diesels, we notice the same thing with our gassers as well.
My 7.3 X has 175K on the clock now and after some maintenance stuff it feels great! The motor I feel couldn't be much or any better then what it is right now. Everything just works.
A FYI we have diesels and gassers with over 400K on the clocks and still going. Our 95 351 truck has something like 375K on it and the motor runs just as good as ever. Never smokes, doesn't use any oil, and gets the same mileage it has always gotten since 100K.
From what I see it is not the motors people have to worry about in vehicles now days, its the rest of the vehicle that doesn't hold up. Very especially in rust regions! Our 95 that runs and drives absolutely perfect is dieing from rust...
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Highland Mills, NY
Thanks for the replys guys I do apprieciate it. The truck came from long island but I live here in good old orange county new york, where the snow falls heavy and so does the road salt because all the city folk around here cant drive in rain let alone snow! It was a good find and I am preserving her. It never sees wet roads just sunny dry days. I got my (never gave me a days trouble and is my second one) 2009 ranger to do the rest for me. I have to say thank you to you guys for all the advice over the years and helping me keep it running in tip top shape! It is almost back to perfect it is at the dealer right now getting the trailer harness replaced ( some idiot bothced the hell out of it somewhere over the years) but that and a good detailing and shes good as new, no rust anywhere, all original pan and under body paint all still perfectly intact not even undercoated. Thanks again guys and ill have to post pictures some time of my 2 trucks im sure guys like you would appriciate to see them, take care
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