Need Rebuild?
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Joined: Jul 2017
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Need Rebuild?
Hi, I just purchased an early 99 F250 4x4 Heavy Duty 7.3 with lots of updates including GTP38R turbo and 4" exhaust including downpipe and tuner, +++ . I purchased this for a trip from CA to IN pulling a car trailer with my Ford Focus. The first two days I was getting between 14 and 15 mpg. but then on the last day and half my mileage dropped tank by tank to about 9 mpg. It was still pulling strong but a bit rough at idle. I was in too much of a hurry to get to my new home and couldn't afford to find a diesel shop to check things out (let alone repair it if they found something).
When I got to my Indiana home and was unhooking the trailer I noticed a trail of oil. In my 1000 sq ft garage, I dumped in about 10 qts of oil before it was up to mid level. Upon further inspection, I found that somewhere on the trip, I had the common (?) dipstick oil pan flange o-ring leak. I had never seen any oil under the truck at even my final motel so never expected this (nor even heard of this 7.3 weakness). My question is, since the engine was still running strong but just rough idle and terrible mileage, what are the chances that I need a rebuild. It currently has about 220K miles.
When I got to my Indiana home and was unhooking the trailer I noticed a trail of oil. In my 1000 sq ft garage, I dumped in about 10 qts of oil before it was up to mid level. Upon further inspection, I found that somewhere on the trip, I had the common (?) dipstick oil pan flange o-ring leak. I had never seen any oil under the truck at even my final motel so never expected this (nor even heard of this 7.3 weakness). My question is, since the engine was still running strong but just rough idle and terrible mileage, what are the chances that I need a rebuild. It currently has about 220K miles.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 4,807
Likes: 125
From: Colorado Springs
Welcome to FTE.
Just replace it, there was a seller on eBay but I haven't seen them available but here is what I used. Pricey but fixed. My guess is your oil was getting critical low for the injectors to run properly.
https://www.dieselpowerproducts.com/...xoCk6cQAvD_BwE
Just replace it, there was a seller on eBay but I haven't seen them available but here is what I used. Pricey but fixed. My guess is your oil was getting critical low for the injectors to run properly.
https://www.dieselpowerproducts.com/...xoCk6cQAvD_BwE
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 17
From: Jacksonville, FL
To expand on the previous answer, the chances of serious damage happening to your engine is limited by the fact that the injectors need oil to actually run. If the oil level gets too low they will shut the engine down long before any damage from lack of lubrication should happen. The reason it was running a little rough is probably because you were on that line of your injectors having enough oil to drive them, as mentioned in the above response.
Repair any leaks you may have, clean up the residue, fill up or change the oil and you should be good to go again....
Repair any leaks you may have, clean up the residue, fill up or change the oil and you should be good to go again....
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,296
Likes: 11
From: freeland, mi
I also doubt you hurt anything in relation to low oil anyway. Like mentioned the truck will quit running when it gets too low on oil due to the fact it needs oil to run injectors. Ask my wife how she knows. Lol.
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