ill be picking one up soon actually by the end of the year.

what should i be looking for mileage wise(not MPG), work done to the motor and what are the main problems the 7.3 has??

 

so, this is your 1st diesel? Welcome! How could u wait that long! I picked up my 2nd one 3 weeks ago. When I see it, have to get it on the spot. Just a bump for u. Erwin

 

yes first diesel. i didnt know anything about newer trucks till ii got the V10 the V10 was im first car newer than a 65 lol

 

Well i know with my truck i had some pain in the *** problems.
1- Check to make sure that if it was ever in a front end accident that they put the windsheild in correctly or it will funnel water into the fuse box (Found that out the hard way)
2- My truck came from Virginia. Its warm most of the year there so they didnt know the glow plugs were bad. If its got over 120,000 on it and its still got factory plugs you can be guaranteed that there is going to be at least one bad one. If ones out they all are. DO NOT USE AUTOLITE GLOWPLUGS. IF THE TRUCK HAS THEM DONT BUY IT.
3- Theres a wire harness underneath the valve covers that can wiggle lose. If it does your cylinders will start sucking air. If you ever take the valve cover off to replace injectors or glowplugs do this. 7.3 Diesel Powerstroke misfire runs rough code P1316 injector wire harness connection - YouTubeIt involves about 30 seconds of work.It will save you in the long run because it is a common problem. Had to do it 2 months after i replaced plugs and ill tell you what after taking that valve cover off the first time your never gonna want to do it again. I luckly had extenders and swivle heads on my socket set but most people dont.
4- Take your truck to the dealer a few days after you get it and ask them to do all the recall work on it. It will also save you in the long run best of all its free.
5-About 150,000 or less if you can find it would be great but if not the injectors start getting tired around 200,000 so be warned. Injector replacement if you do it yourself can range from $1500 to $2000. If its the right price go for it.
Other then that my trucks pretty solid. Will pull a bit harder then your V10. If you tune it leave it in lower setting for most of the time. The harder you run it the shorter the life of the engine. One more tip, I use Mystic semi synthetic motor oil in my truck. You can go 10,000 miles an oil change on it. The 7.3 takes 4 gallons of oil so if the dipsticks a little low at 6 or 7,000 top it off and it will be golden until 10,000 She will treat you well as long as you stay 4 steps ahead of it at all times. That truck will be pulling itself into the scrap yard on nothing but the engine and transmission. Just like that V10. These are Fords Hayday trucks. Built to last and built to get **** done. Good luck

 

thank you soo much for all the info!!!! how many miles does yours have?

 

151,231. Mines a 4 door with 8 ft bed. Manual Tranny. Very hard truck to find on east coast. I like the manual better. The Manual is a ZF (German Transmission) It is bulletproof. Its clunky tho. It rattles at low speeds (Normal friction rattle) and can be a pain to shift at times. If your a standard guy like me you will be amazed the power it puts down. The 4R100 automatic is garbage haha im not gonna lie at 150,000 youll be looking at redoing the automatic. Ive had a couple friends run into that problem but it all depends on how badly used it was. The 4R100 doesnt stand up to hard work to well but ford Automatics are generally that way.

 

i have 3 truck that have 175k 189k 195k on autos not a problem at all.
if you keep the ATF cool and clean it will last a long time.

i have 4x4 CC 6 3/4 bed best mpg was 19.1 worst 10.1
in town 15.1 on the road 16.8

 

Wow you guys get crappy millage. I get 22 highway and 18 city.

 

is that from the lie-o-meter or hand calculated?
i drive a lot of windy back roads and drit roads that kill my mpg, cant keep a good speed.
and my truck is 80% of the time pulling a trailer.

 

Hand calc i mean im not great at math but i went from one fillup to another about a gallon off and it figured out to be about that and I drive the same kinda roads you do haha. Only about 60% of the time do i have a load

 

A manual tranny is good for an extra mile or 2 per gallon.

 

Oh also your power steering pump is most like going to be wineing. Put some Lucas oil powersteering fluid in it. It Will hold it for a while but you will need a new one. If it goes you lose your brake pressure too. thats no good under a load hahaha but bad power steering pumps are common in the 99 to 03 7.3 psd

 

WOW. This thread is interesting.

 

I would not put lucas powersteering fluid in. if your have problems then do a flush with ATF. If your still having problems then r2 the pump.

 

I found that doing the power steering flush does wonders for the pump, and for steering.
Ford Super Duty Power Steering Flush | Superdutypsd.com

I run synthetic transmission fluid in my power steering pump. No additives.