7.3 Durability?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 225
Likes: 82
I would love to read threads where everyone was thrilled with their truck and almost no problems at all. Most owners go onto forums to discuss problems, few comment on how great and trouble free their truck is. So it can look like the trucks are just junk, when in reality not true.
The unfortunate part is that someone can honestly tell us theirs has been perfect, and then have it crap the bed.
we could try to track how long until the truck breaks something, and look at the time between failures or average point of failure.
There is no way to accurately track the problems, because there are too many variables. But to throw some perspective at this we should look at how many trucks are out there, and compare it to the number of failures we have heard.
Now, multiply those failures by some factor, to include the people who haven't posted in the forums you read.
Ford sells hundreds of thousands of trucks per year. I cannot find numbers for the 7.3 specifically, but my SWAG is at least 100,000, which means there are half a million out there.
I haven't read every post back to 2020, but a sampling leads to the impression there may be less than 20 people who posted here that their cam went out. Again, I did not go back to 2020, so there may have been more posts back then.
Let's say there were 100 failures per year, so counting 2024, that would be 500, which would be a .01% failure rate.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 227
Likes: 139
I am honestly more concerned about the possibility of the AC compressor going out. Not to say there is not the possibility of a lifter-camshaft failure, but it seems more probable at this time that an AC system failure occurs.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 667
Likes: 156
My town doesn't even have a stoplight......17 is a lot of trucks 😂
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 388
From: Oregon
27K on mine and no issues so far. Very happy with it and no regrets.
I have 3 F550 with 7.3L in my fleet at work (road maintenance). 2 2020's and a 2023. Both 2020's have had the spark plug wire issue. They have around 15-20K miles on them, they idle a ton and tow and haul 100% of the time. The 2023 with only a few thousand miles is having a computer issue. It keeps going into limp mode and dealer can't figure it out. Done it 3 times in 2 weeks. So far, thats been it but yeah time will tell.
I have 3 F550 with 7.3L in my fleet at work (road maintenance). 2 2020's and a 2023. Both 2020's have had the spark plug wire issue. They have around 15-20K miles on them, they idle a ton and tow and haul 100% of the time. The 2023 with only a few thousand miles is having a computer issue. It keeps going into limp mode and dealer can't figure it out. Done it 3 times in 2 weeks. So far, thats been it but yeah time will tell.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,967
Likes: 2,664
From: The Great State of Texas
The Autonation Ford dealer here repairs ~140 Fords per day.
Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 71
Likes: 20
From: Louisiana
I have a 2022 King Ranch F 350 DRW with the 7.3L and 4.30 gears with 80,000 miles on it and zero problems so far. The mileage is mostly highway with occasional towing of my 5th wheel which weighs in at 18,000 Lbs.and my 20" utility trailer loads varying. I am very happy with everything about this truck.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 227
Likes: 139
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
7.3L replaced at 33K on my 2022 F350 Tremor
I wanted to add to tally of 7.3L of breaking with some kind of roller/ oiling issues. My 7.3L developed the dreaded tick at 33K. Dealer mechanic stated that #6 took 9min to see oil upon startup and lifter was worn down by 1/8", Ford replaced engine. Took my dealer 2.5 months to get the truck back to me and when it was returned there were tons of issues with the install and obvious broken parts and uninstalled items. To spite the missing bolts broken bug-guard- etc., the truck just feels terribly underpowered. The dealer said its fine and its all in the "learning transmission," Ford-Corp said there's nothing they can do, but I could pay$$ to another dealer to provide a diagnostic. If I'm going to shell out money for a truck (that's still under warranty) I think I rather take it to a 3rd part dyno to actually see where the # are at. What do you all think?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 123
Likes: 81
I wanted to add to tally of 7.3L of breaking with some kind of roller/ oiling issues. My 7.3L developed the dreaded tick at 33K. Dealer mechanic stated that #6 took 9min to see oil upon startup and lifter was worn down by 1/8", Ford replaced engine. Took my dealer 2.5 months to get the truck back to me and when it was returned there were tons of issues with the install and obvious broken parts and uninstalled items. To spite the missing bolts broken bug-guard- etc., the truck just feels terribly underpowered. The dealer said its fine and its all in the "learning transmission," Ford-Corp said there's nothing they can do, but I could pay$$ to another dealer to provide a diagnostic. If I'm going to shell out money for a truck (that's still under warranty) I think I rather take it to a 3rd part dyno to actually see where the # are at. What do you all think?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 701
From: Minnesota
I wanted to add to tally of 7.3L of breaking with some kind of roller/ oiling issues. My 7.3L developed the dreaded tick at 33K. Dealer mechanic stated that #6 took 9min to see oil upon startup and lifter was worn down by 1/8", Ford replaced engine. Took my dealer 2.5 months to get the truck back to me and when it was returned there were tons of issues with the install and obvious broken parts and uninstalled items. To spite the missing bolts broken bug-guard- etc., the truck just feels terribly underpowered. The dealer said its fine and its all in the "learning transmission," Ford-Corp said there's nothing they can do, but I could pay$$ to another dealer to provide a diagnostic. If I'm going to shell out money for a truck (that's still under warranty) I think I rather take it to a 3rd part dyno to actually see where the # are at. What do you all think?
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,967
Likes: 2,664
From: The Great State of Texas
Its a luck of the draw when it comes to parts availability. Kind of like when my alternator failed, the dealer told me I was lucky one was available.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 208
Likes: 51
From: Wisconsin
My 2020 7.3 CCLB with 3.73 gears 42,000 miles 40% towing a 16,000 lbs. loaded Jayco 5th wheel ..
Only recall was windshield wipers .. Fuel mileage, short trip around town 13-14 mpg, Long haul 16-18,
Towing 7-9 depending on terrian .. No problems runs great .. Lots of folks claim better fuel mileage
mine is hand calculated .. I think it is about where it should be ..
Only recall was windshield wipers .. Fuel mileage, short trip around town 13-14 mpg, Long haul 16-18,
Towing 7-9 depending on terrian .. No problems runs great .. Lots of folks claim better fuel mileage
mine is hand calculated .. I think it is about where it should be ..
