I drive a03 super duty with the6.0 my boss has2 more as his personal trucks the 03 is his too company truck they are the newest trucks we got and the only ones that give us problems our 460 7.5 gas engine won't die but sucks gas the 6.0s are really good on fuel but you never know when they gonna blow up so why did it phase out the 7.3

 

Emissions reasons. They are also underpowered compared to the 6.0.

 

but the early6.0 is so problematic in comparison I think they tried to cram too much power into a small engine but I really don't know diesel engines are a mystery to me and too expensive my 351w is fine for me

 

Production of the 7.3 was discontinued in 2005. It was no longer available in the U.S. Market after June 2003. This was done to meet the Environmental Protection Agencies mandate to reduce both noise and carbon emissions of Hydrocarbon Vehicles.

This platform placed Ford in the lead over all other light duty diesel platforms offered in the U.S. and Foreign Markets. Their "Bread and Butter".

The 6.0 is, for the most part, a very good engine. It is extremely technologically advanced compared to the 7.3 Both were built by Navistar International, a subsidiary of IH.

The 6.0 drastically reduced emissions by the addition of a more complex Injector, Exhaust Gas Recirculation System (EGR), and a Electronic Advanced Variable Nozzle Turbine (VNT) and The Torqshift 5-speed 5R110 5 Speed Automatic.

Still, both the 7.3 and 6.0 is considered the First Generation Powerstroke Platforms. Even though, in 1999.5 MY a redesign of several key parts were employed into production.

The issues with the 6.0 were seen in the first two years of production MY 03 and 04. Ford had corrected the majority of the deficiencies by MY 05.

Still, the prevailing issues were the EGR and Head Gasket. Both can be "Bullet proofed" and the owner can expect a virtually problem free life span thereafter similar to the 7.3.

I would be remiss if not stating that the 6.0 is no where as forgiving as the 7.3 on many levels.

The Second Generation was MY 07-10. But, it was pushed back to MY 08 because of problems with the 6.4 Power plant.

The Third Generation (current) MY 11 on feature the 6.7 Power plant.

 

It wasn't the power that was the downfall of the 6.0L. The real issue was a combination of 1) the introduction of new emissions equipment, and 2) the use of sub-standard components, and 3) the lack of education to the end users in terms of maintenance requirements.