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I agree, but I cannot have confidence in the CP4.2 HPFP. I just cannot bring myself to that. On the other hand, RAM trucks are nice and have great accessories, but they are not built to a standard I would enjoy long term. Duramax is out, I drove a Duramax a lot at my last duty station and I didn't like it. Granted, it was a stripped down based model bought by the government to be a tow pig for some of our air cargo pallet loading, but I didn't like the truck at all.
Well, I would like to think that the 7.3L I own will be a viable option for the next 20 years, but I also like to have a back up plan and if possible a second back up plan. Just like life, trucks are not guaranteed tomorrow. Look at @brian42 for example... He just got done installing 160/80 injectors and got his truck running the way he wanted and some jackwagon in a Jeep (I think it was a Jeep) sideswiped him and the truck was gone the next week.
I have faith in the 7.3L mechanically, but not faith in the EPA, future elected officials, distracted drivers or the ability to get quality parts for the next 20 years. Maybe I am wrong, maybe not... Maybe since my truck is 99% (I say 99% because I have to install the 363 SXE yet) that I am starting to look at the next viable candidate to be the Sous tow pig.
Once the house is paid off, we will be completely debt free. I will owe no one anything... So, that opens a whole new world of choices, be it I will not buy another new vehicle unless I have own a helicopter and take it to go pick up the new vehicle after my "take care of it person" has secured a good deal. I feel I should be planning now, making notes of viable options to consist of trim packages, years to avoid and years to look for, etc...
A gasoline truck is not in the cards for me as I am spoiled by using the commercial diesel lanes and saving money on fuel with the TSD Logistics fuel card. I know the new gasoline engines paired against the 10 speed transmissions are great, but I cannot see myself pulling into a gasoline lane waiting for a Honda to move so I can try and squeeze 60 feet of truck and trailer into a 20 foot lane.
Anyway, your spidey senses are right, but just in the initial stages of planning and preparing. A 6.7L PSD with a CP3 conversion is at the top of the list, but as I understand it that is still a new concept and needs to be vetted more. We have been a Ford family since I can remember, even as a young kid. But, I am not brand loyal, I am quality and reliability loyal, that is how I ended up with a 7.3L PSD.
I think he should have tube framed it and kept it.
Well, if you do make the jump the 6.7 community will be richer for it since I know you will bring your research skills to that platform.
I agree, but I cannot have confidence in the CP4.2 HPFP. I just cannot bring myself to that. On the other hand, RAM trucks are nice and have great accessories, but they are not built to a standard I would enjoy long term. Duramax is out, I drove a Duramax a lot at my last duty station and I didn't like it. Granted, it was a stripped down based model bought by the government to be a tow pig for some of our air cargo pallet loading, but I didn't like the truck at all.
I also don't care for the Duramax. My dad has a 2006 2500 long bed with the LBZ. Plenty of power but I just don't like the GM style and feel (to this day). My dad "loaned" it to me for almost 9 months while I did my 2 month injector replacement. While I appreciated his generosity it solidified the fact that GM trucks are not for me...ever.
Originally Posted by Sous
Well, I would like to think that the 7.3L I own will be a viable option for the next 20 years, but I also like to have a back up plan and if possible a second back up plan. Just like life, trucks are not guaranteed tomorrow. Look at @brian42 for example... He just got done installing 160/80 injectors and got his truck running the way he wanted and some jackwagon in a Jeep (I think it was a Jeep) sideswiped him and the truck was gone the next week.
It was a Jeep...a red 2-door Rubicon driven by a douche. He claimed to have no idea what happened but when I got the police report it was exactly the opposite...it was all his fault. The only consolation I got from that was that he had to wait in the rain on the side of the freeway for a flatbed since his front wheels were both pointing inward.
I had planned to keep my money pit for 1M miles but life had other ideas. I miss driving my 7.3L but don't miss owning it. It's kind of nice to use any pump at the station and only use 7 qts every oil change.
When I went looking for a new truck I couldn't bring myself to get another 7.3L as I would always compare it to this one. I didn't mind owning a 2003 truck since I bought it in 2007. The only real option if I wanted to stay in the compression ignition game would have been a common rail and that's just a jump I'm not interested in. Emissions junk, DEF, etc., are things I didn't want to deal with and, as much power as they make compared to what I had, they don't have the personality that my 2003 had.
As to the topic I always used Power Service Diesel Kleen. Always in stock at my local auto parts store (and Walmart). Gimmick or not I had read that the 7.3L was designed to run on LSD so when ULSD became the standard we lost lubricity and I used PS to restore some of that. Right, wrong, good, bad, who knows. I used it and it gave me some piece of mind.
I loved my 6.7 dodge and ford, both animals tuned. I got out of the ford and I dont regret it. This was my boss 2014 6.7 with about 210k. I know ive sharerd these on here before but I figured this was appropriate
He always tried to buy fuel at busy stations. But apparently got some water and it was too late. I would be a little more comfortable with the huge filter/separator they put on the 17-ups as apparently the 11-16 was sub par. Or an aftermarket. This required a full system replacement. Hes almost to 300k miles and has been running optilube per my recommendation since they new fuel system. He always has kept filters changed
I lost two injectors in my 2007 cp3 5.9 getting a load of bad fuel in Missouri, luckily didnt melt the pistons. I put on two auxiliary filter/water separators after buying new injectors.
Had great luck with my dodge 6.7, I put a water separator/2 micron filter on it right after i bought it.
If i move to a newer truck, it will be a gas 7.3. My brother in law makes too much money working on newer diesels. I had great luck towing with an 06 v10 and 5 speed auto. I can only imagine how much better the 7.3/10 speed combo is.
Sous alot of truck stops have an RV lane or two for gassers pulling a 5th wheel, I think you can search for em
I loved my 6.7 dodge and ford, both animals tuned. I got out of the ford and I dont regret it. This was my boss 2014 6.7 with about 210k. I know ive sharerd these on here before but I figured this was appropriate
He always tried to buy fuel at busy stations. But apparently got some water and it was too late. I would be a little more comfortable with the huge filter/separator they put on the 17-ups as apparently the 11-16 was sub par. Or an aftermarket. This required a full system replacement. Hes almost to 300k miles and has been running optilube per my recommendation since they new fuel system. He always has kept filters changI lost two injectors in my 2007 cp3 5.9 getting a load of bad fuel in Missouri, luckily didnt melt the pistons. I put on two auxiliary filter/water separators after buying new injectors.
Had great luck with my dodge 6.7, I put a water separator/2 micron filter on it right after i bought it.
If I move to a newer truck, it will be a gas 7.3. My brother in law makes too much money working on newer diesels. I had great luck towing with an 06 v10 and 5 speed auto. I can only imagine how much better the 7.3/10 speed combo is.
Sous alot of truck stops have an RV lane or two for gassers pulling a 5th wheel, I think you can search for em
My sentiments exactly. @scraprat has a good thread going on his new 7.3 he just acquired. Check it out. Seems a very viable and affordable option should Betsy ever kick the bucket.
Of course, I have grown to become almost complacent with the fuel prices since trump took over, now that they are reversing my opinion might change again. But then again now i remember I had my v10 when gas skyrocketed from 06-08 and it wasnt the worst thing, even 9-10mpg towing
As for my Opti-Lube XPD experience today, no noticeable difference in performance and MPG's are going to be low as I was fighting a strong headwind most of the 5 hour trip towing the 5th wheel to the beach.
There is a very informative discussion on fuel additives going in in the 6.7L sub-forum right now that I thought might provide pertinent information for seekers of said information.
Be warned though, if you do not like science, data accumulation and analysis or posts longer than a few paragraphs, DO NOT click the link below.
I finally had a few minutes to calculate the MPG's during a 2 part 10 hour drive 600 miles total towing the 5th wheel after a double dose of OptiLube XPD.
I did not notice a difference in sound when idling or running at 55+ MPH. The truck started easily after sitting over night, but the ambient temperature was about 55° that morning and due to the Denso starter and NorthStar AGM batteries, the truck usually starts easily.
For 60 miles of the first part of the trip there was a strong crosswind and for the remaining 240 miles there was a strong headwind. About 75% of this journey was at 65 MPH or thereabouts.
The trip back was the same speeds and duration, but a strong crosswind for 240 miles and a strong headwind for the last 60 miles.
Keeping in mind I was towing a 5th wheel with 10K - 12K payload/loaded weight, 265/75R16 tires, 255,000 mile OEM AD injectors, ZF6, 3.73 gears and a 4x4 truck.
The average MPG's was 10.2 MPG for the entire journey with the two legs being 7 days apart. This is a bit lower than what I normally see towing which is 11 - 13 MPG based on the speed, elevation, terrain and wind direction.
But, keeping in mind there was a strong headwind for 300 miles and a strong crosswind for 300 miles, I think 10.2 MPG is pretty good.
I believe @jstihl was curious as to my results from the infusion of XPD after he saw good initial results.
I hope this helps someone in the future if they are considering a fuel additive.
I have been running Redline Racing 2-Stroke at around 200:1 on my 1997 since 2007 and it makes me feel good! I bought the 1997 with 115k and it has 180k now. Instead of messing with different additives with different claims, I went with just lubricity. I figure if Redline 2-Stroke oil can lubricate a whole engine at 100:1,.at 200:1 it has to help. My new to me 2000 had 112k last month and I started the ritual with this one as well.
