Hi everyone, I'm a newer diesel guy and would like to understand what I need to do to maintain my truck. 97, F250, 7.3, 166k everything works perfectly. I keep the truck out in arizona 6 months a year hooked up to a 15 watt solar charger and drive it with a trailer into Mexico for the winters.
The person I bought the truck from maintained it with a totally open wallet and had no intention of ever selling it until he ran across a F450 which is his fourth Ford truck. I have a newer transmission (Ford) The fuel pump, water pump and alternator have all been replaced.
I put in gauges, new tires and wheels, changed out the radiator hoses and the bottom one is weird, put the right antifreeze in and tested with the coolant strips. After 6 months when I come to arizona the truck immediately starts with the turn of the key.
I would like to keep the truck running as good as possible and would like to know what you people think I should do preventatively?
My first diesel. Strange but ist seems almost too good to be true.

 

Regular oil changes, using time intervals (months) instead of mileage if you're letting the truck sit for long periods. Nonsynthetic oil acidifies just from sitting and loses lubrication properties over time. Change the filter too ...

Also, keep an eye on the SCA levels in your coolant. I guess on a Stroke that's not as critical as it is on an older IDI, but still an excellent idea on any diesel (or any engine with a high compression ratio).

Some biocide and/or Diesel Kleen in the tank with every fill up.

 

Thanks, just about what I've been doing. I didn't believe it would be that easy. I've been changing the oil twice a year using non synthetic and checking the coolant. I have been using Diesel Kleen in the U.S. and not so much in Mexico as they run higher sulfate diesel.

 

I think (though I hope someone else will chime in, as there's always more to learn around here) that it is pretty simple, providing you're not going to make the truck sit for years.

Diesels seem to be a lot better about "just firing up" after long periods of sitting than gassers. Diesel fuel doesn't go bad nearly as quickly. Of course, stuff doesn't like to grow in gasoline.