7.3 Godzilla Engine Failure Thread, Post Them Here
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2022
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From: Everywhere and nowhere
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2021
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From: Ridgway, CO
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 850
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From: Virginia
When I first posted my comment about the 70s on page 2, I was worried it might derail the thread from the O.G. topic (7.3 Godzilla failures)
However, since my comment, this thread has gone from 7.3 failures (or lack thereof), to the 70s, to GM truck motors, to "C's get degrees" (I graduate college in a few months, they absolutely do) to the 6.2 Ford, to the 5.0 Coyote, a brief mention of the 300 "big six", then to 6.7 upper oil pan leaks (or lack thereof for that one guy)
All good discussion (mostly), but I would just like to add that my 7.3 Powerstroke with 262k miles gets 35mpg towing my 25,000lbs camper up Mt. Olympus on my way to visit my Uncle Zeus. Oh, and it also has ZERO oil leaks and makes 501hp and 1201tq
However, since my comment, this thread has gone from 7.3 failures (or lack thereof), to the 70s, to GM truck motors, to "C's get degrees" (I graduate college in a few months, they absolutely do) to the 6.2 Ford, to the 5.0 Coyote, a brief mention of the 300 "big six", then to 6.7 upper oil pan leaks (or lack thereof for that one guy)
All good discussion (mostly), but I would just like to add that my 7.3 Powerstroke with 262k miles gets 35mpg towing my 25,000lbs camper up Mt. Olympus on my way to visit my Uncle Zeus. Oh, and it also has ZERO oil leaks and makes 501hp and 1201tq
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Phoenix, AZ
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 1,735
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Seeing as the forum is such a minor % of the 5-6 figures of 7.3L sold annually id say it would be best if someone (FishOnOne) took to the road and actually consulted Ford certified service departments to find out how many 7.3L related failures of any kind have come through their shop.
Ill start you off. D.F.P Fleet Inc. I service six 7.3l Godzilla engines and have had two spark plug wire failures.
Ill start you off. D.F.P Fleet Inc. I service six 7.3l Godzilla engines and have had two spark plug wire failures.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,937
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From: The Great State of Texas
Seeing as the forum is such a minor % of the 5-6 figures of 7.3L sold annually id say it would be best if someone (FishOnOne) took to the road and actually consulted Ford certified service departments to find out how many 7.3L related failures of any kind have come through their shop.
Ill start you off. D.F.P Fleet Inc. I service six 7.3l Godzilla engines and have had two spark plug wire failures.
Ill start you off. D.F.P Fleet Inc. I service six 7.3l Godzilla engines and have had two spark plug wire failures.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2021
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From: Ridgway, CO
Next time I see my cousin I'll ask him which will probably be Christmas. Having said that, the last time I did talk with him he did say in all his years with Ford ('94) he has never seen anything close to this many engines replaced due to lifter/cam failures as the 7.3 godzilla. He also mentioned most of the engines they have replaced were from people traveling as they don't sell many gas engine trucks. To a much lesser degree he did mention cracked piston failures on early production units which I'm assuming may have caused the cylinder scoring, but not 100% on that.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 1,735
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7.3L short and long block replacements from Ford are not on backorder, I can order one now with a few weeks ETA. 6.7L short and long block have a TBD availability date.
I was in an F SuperDuty course earlier this year for the 2023 model year changes. Course was full of Ford dealership fleet techs from RI, CT and MA. Reliability and common failures were discussed as usual and no stories of failed 7.3L by anyone in attendance. Im curious as to the actual numbers your cousin has witnessed but being "one" tech in "one" location isnt anything conclusive though.
I was in an F SuperDuty course earlier this year for the 2023 model year changes. Course was full of Ford dealership fleet techs from RI, CT and MA. Reliability and common failures were discussed as usual and no stories of failed 7.3L by anyone in attendance. Im curious as to the actual numbers your cousin has witnessed but being "one" tech in "one" location isnt anything conclusive though.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,937
Likes: 2,651
From: The Great State of Texas
I'm not making this claim... A ford mechanic who's been working on Ford trucks for ~32 years with 2 years of Ram/cummins mixed in is. Having said that I've been on this forum for a few years myself and never read of engines being replaced by defective lifters/cams. Hell we've run Ford OBS 460's for many years and maybe got an oil change once/year and never had a lifter failure on any of them.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,937
Likes: 2,651
From: The Great State of Texas
7.3L short and long block replacements from Ford are not on backorder, I can order one now with a few weeks ETA. 6.7L short and long block have a TBD availability date.
I was in an F SuperDuty course earlier this year for the 2023 model year changes. Course was full of Ford dealership fleet techs from RI, CT and MA. Reliability and common failures were discussed as usual and no stories of failed 7.3L by anyone in attendance. Im curious as to the actual numbers your cousin has witnessed but being "one" tech in "one" location isnt anything conclusive though.
I was in an F SuperDuty course earlier this year for the 2023 model year changes. Course was full of Ford dealership fleet techs from RI, CT and MA. Reliability and common failures were discussed as usual and no stories of failed 7.3L by anyone in attendance. Im curious as to the actual numbers your cousin has witnessed but being "one" tech in "one" location isnt anything conclusive though.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 4,285
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From: Everywhere and nowhere
I'm not making this claim... A ford mechanic who's been working on Ford trucks for ~32 years with 2 years of Ram/cummins mixed in is. Having said that I've been on this forum for a few years myself and never read of engines being replaced by defective lifters/cams. Hell we've run Ford OBS 460's for many years and maybe got an oil change once/year and never had a lifter failure on any of them.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 2,969
Likes: 2,407
From: Ridgway, CO
I'm not making this claim... A ford mechanic who's been working on Ford trucks for ~32 years with 2 years of Ram/cummins mixed in is. Having said that I've been on this forum for a few years myself and never read of engines being replaced by defective lifters/cams. Hell we've run Ford OBS 460's for many years and maybe got an oil change once/year and never had a lifter failure on any of them.
It is pure comedy at this point. Somebody else was so fear stricken by this false mantra they want to start a poll about lifter failures
I would bet that gets as much traction as this thread. It is a non issue and there just is not a rash of 7.3 failures no matter how many times you try to push the notion that there are.Even if there were the replacement cost of the 7.3 vs 6.7 is a factor of at least 3.. My friend lost his 6.7 in his 2015 at 225k miles, seized up, metal in the oil pan. It is going to cost him and easy $20,000 to fix his truck. If my 7.3 goes completely gunnybag I can do it for a third of that.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2021
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Here is my summary of the thread:
7.3 owners: "yeah people should get a PSD if you need it and willing to deal with the potential shortcomings, but we are cool with what we got"
FishOnOne: "bro these 7.3 things fail ALL THE TIME, my cuz who is a mechanic that I see once a year says so"
7.3 owners: "anyone here has a failure?"
*critckets*
7.3 owners: "huh"
FishOnOne: "But all those failures! Look at that one youtube review! Even the 6.2 was better!"
7.3 owners: *look at each other and shrug*
Did I miss anything?