7.3 vs 6.7 - Help
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 5
My question is do you do extended warranty? It sure seems like the miles racked up in a relatively short span would burn through the standard 3/36k bumper to bumper and the 5/60k miles powertrain on the gasser or 5 year/100k miles diesel pretty quickly.
I only ask because you mention being out of warranty. With your usage it seems that warranty is going to expire quickly even on a new truck.
I only ask because you mention being out of warranty. With your usage it seems that warranty is going to expire quickly even on a new truck.
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 5
The best choice based on overall costs for OP needs is the 7.3/6.8. I dont even think this is rationally debatable.
Reliability too is improved over the 6.7.
You've lived the CP4 downside and all the added maintenance of the 6.7.
IMO you need to be pulling very heavy most of the to even begin to justify a 6.7.
Many foks, for various reasons, just have to have the most torque available whether they need it or not, no matter the added cost or downsides.
Reliability too is improved over the 6.7.
You've lived the CP4 downside and all the added maintenance of the 6.7.
IMO you need to be pulling very heavy most of the to even begin to justify a 6.7.
Many foks, for various reasons, just have to have the most torque available whether they need it or not, no matter the added cost or downsides.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,957
Likes: 1,362
From: NY/Canada border
Having had several 3.73 trucks in both 6.2 and 7.3, I'm now on my first 4.30 truck. I really don't notice much difference in day to day driving. Fuel milage seems to be relatively close. The 4.30 does have more grunt pulling a trailer. But in all honesty my trailers are not heavy for this particular truck. Probably 8-9k for the 8.5x20 enclosed that I pull for my business 6 months of the year. Now and then I might put my 6600 pound skid steer into my 6x12 dump trailer or haul a car or the skid steer on my 22 ft. tilt bed. The last car hauled was a 1998 Lincoln Town Car. I haul a 7x14 enclosed with 2, sometimes 3 motorycles along with assorted tools, luggage and a couple of spare tires on vacation every year. None of the loads I've encountered were a problem for this engine/axle combo. There's definitely less downshifting in the Virginia mountains on the vacation trip.
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 5
The 7.3 will do what you want minus a few points on the MPG, but the 8k savings buys a lot of fuel.
I have 3.73 in my F350 with 7.3 and I dont think I would want the 4.30's, but I have never driven a truck with them. F350 with 3.73 is rated at 17.8k lbs conventional and goose so plenty of weight available. Im on my second 7.3 truck. Nothing wrong with the 1st, but it was bought as an interim truck when I was pretty sure my ordered 22 wasnt going to get built. It never got built and I re-ordered the 23 i have now.
The long term reliability of 7.3 vs. 6.7 debate will go on forever IMO. Both are stout platforms IMO. The 6.7 has a few insanely expensive parts to replace if they implode(CP4/fuel system, exhaust system, etc...). The biggest issue so far in the 7.3's has shown to be the lifters which then take out the cam. Johnson is making a replacement 7.3 lifter that if mine ever needs them thats what will go in. The trans between the two seems to be equally "meh"... so there is that!
I would likely get the longest warranty that you can get from a place like Flood or Granger.
I have 3.73 in my F350 with 7.3 and I dont think I would want the 4.30's, but I have never driven a truck with them. F350 with 3.73 is rated at 17.8k lbs conventional and goose so plenty of weight available. Im on my second 7.3 truck. Nothing wrong with the 1st, but it was bought as an interim truck when I was pretty sure my ordered 22 wasnt going to get built. It never got built and I re-ordered the 23 i have now.
The long term reliability of 7.3 vs. 6.7 debate will go on forever IMO. Both are stout platforms IMO. The 6.7 has a few insanely expensive parts to replace if they implode(CP4/fuel system, exhaust system, etc...). The biggest issue so far in the 7.3's has shown to be the lifters which then take out the cam. Johnson is making a replacement 7.3 lifter that if mine ever needs them thats what will go in. The trans between the two seems to be equally "meh"... so there is that!
I would likely get the longest warranty that you can get from a place like Flood or Granger.
As for the other parts you listed yes they are a concern. My only way around that would be an ESP, get rid of it before warranty is up, or plan on buying aftermarket items to replace or attempt to prevent some of those issues from arising.
As for the weights I tow it can range from 10k to close to 18k depending on what skid or mini x (279-299D3 or 303-305’s) I’m hauling but it’s pretty sporadic - maybe a few times a year. I haven’t met anyone using the 4.30’s and only have seen the MPG hit I would take. I am hard on my truck and may or may not drive it like a race car sometimes so I’m sure the transmission was partially self-inflicted..
Last edited by H_Pach1; Dec 1, 2024 at 09:46 AM.
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 5
My thought on this is the only way around it would be to do a bypass kit or pay someone to install a DCR at some point to try to avoid that - just more added costs for the already expensive set up. I have seen people avoid the CP4 issues by using fuel additives to keep it lubricated instead of just relying on the diesel fuel itself to do it which seems to work well from what I’ve read. Just another thing to have to pay for every once in awhile..
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,957
Likes: 1,362
From: NY/Canada border
I had an extended warranty on my current one - I think I got bumper to bumper up to 75k. That is one of the things that I have to look into more and something I need to do further research on to see what that additional cost would be. Do you think doing a 7.3 with an extended warranty that takes away from the savings of getting away from a diesel would make better sense?
But if you're getting extended warranty no matter which motor you choose, the diesel has the added initial price premium over the 7.3 plus the warranty cost. That's a decision that you as the guy who puts on the miles and knows the truck's uses better than anyone has to weigh.
I see where these decisions can be kind of a dilemma. You research online for common problems and then the bug gets put into your head about all the things that could go wrong but probably won't. We usually only read about problems, not how wonderful someone's truck was for 200,000 miles.
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 5
I guess that would depend on if you planned on the extended warranty if you buy a diesel. If you weren't going to get it for the diesel but will for the 7.3, then subtracting the warranty cost from the savings of the gasser is a legitimate factor for you.
But if you're getting extended warranty no matter which motor you choose, the diesel has the added initial price premium over the 7.3 plus the warranty cost. That's a decision that you as the guy who puts on the miles and knows the truck's uses better than anyone has to weigh.
I see where these decisions can be kind of a dilemma. You research online for common problems and then the bug gets put into your head about all the things that could go wrong but probably won't. We usually only read about problems, not how wonderful someone's truck was for 200,000 miles.
But if you're getting extended warranty no matter which motor you choose, the diesel has the added initial price premium over the 7.3 plus the warranty cost. That's a decision that you as the guy who puts on the miles and knows the truck's uses better than anyone has to weigh.
I see where these decisions can be kind of a dilemma. You research online for common problems and then the bug gets put into your head about all the things that could go wrong but probably won't. We usually only read about problems, not how wonderful someone's truck was for 200,000 miles.
That is true - I wish there was more of the “my truck was wonderful” posts but unfortunately there isn’t. I have been seeing some dealerships offering the free 10 year/150k on new purchases. I know it’s through a third party and if you don’t follow the contract to a T you are screwed. I’m not sure if anyone has really tried using that to its fullest advantage or if it’s not worth the headache.
More than likely it’s either get the diesel with no ESP (unless I find something that isn’t ridiculously expensive) or do the 7.3 with an ESP. I don’t have much experience with ESP’s so I’ll have to do some more research on those things and add that to the everlong pro/con list…
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Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 5
Having had several 3.73 trucks in both 6.2 and 7.3, I'm now on my first 4.30 truck. I really don't notice much difference in day to day driving. Fuel milage seems to be relatively close. The 4.30 does have more grunt pulling a trailer. But in all honesty my trailers are not heavy for this particular truck. Probably 8-9k for the 8.5x20 enclosed that I pull for my business 6 months of the year. Now and then I might put my 6600 pound skid steer into my 6x12 dump trailer or haul a car or the skid steer on my 22 ft. tilt bed. The last car hauled was a 1998 Lincoln Town Car. I haul a 7x14 enclosed with 2, sometimes 3 motorycles along with assorted tools, luggage and a couple of spare tires on vacation every year. None of the loads I've encountered were a problem for this engine/axle combo. There's definitely less downshifting in the Virginia mountains on the vacation trip.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8,007
Likes: 2,688
From: The Great State of Texas
My thought on this is the only way around it would be to do a bypass kit or pay someone to install a DCR at some point to try to avoid that - just more added costs for the already expensive set up. I have seen people avoid the CP4 issues by using fuel additives to keep it lubricated instead of just relying on the diesel fuel itself to do it which seems to work well from what I’ve read. Just another thing to have to pay for every once in awhile..
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,044
Likes: 1,336
That’s good to hear. The max I’ll tow is up to 18k with a Cat 299/305 and a big Tex - albeit very rarely (few times a year). Do you like how the 4.30 drives empty? What sort of MPG are you seeing on the highway? I do very limited city driving so I’m not as concerned about those numbers
just depends on the miles expected with that behind.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,957
Likes: 1,362
From: NY/Canada border
That’s good to hear. The max I’ll tow is up to 18k with a Cat 299/305 and a big Tex - albeit very rarely (few times a year). Do you like how the 4.30 drives empty? What sort of MPG are you seeing on the highway? I do very limited city driving so I’m not as concerned about those numbers
Hauling the bike trailer and associated gear on vacation, running 72-75 on the interstates brings me down to 8.5 - 9 mpg. Which is actually about .5 better than the 2022 F350 with 7.3/3.73 that I had previously.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 545
From: Wasilla, AK
Don't forget fuel mileage. With the 7.3 running 35 inch tires and going 75-85 you will be lucky to hit 11.5 - 12 mpg.
If I were in your position my vote would be for the 6.7 with 3:30 gears.
If I were in your position my vote would be for the 6.7 with 3:30 gears.
Thread Starter
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Trailering
Joined: Nov 2024
Posts: 16
Likes: 5
I agree about the ninth injector. I haven’t had any issues with my emission system (yet..) but IMO, I feel that when looking at other forums most people have DEF/DPF issues due to them not driving the diesel often like it’s intended to be (whether it being a second truck, drive more city then highway, don’t let it sit through a regen if needed, etc..). With how much I drive I hardly ever get into regen just because it burns off for the most part unless I’m idling on a job site to be on my computer using the truck hotspot. With how much I drive DEF doesn’t stay in the tank long too which I believe is another source of issues for others.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 591
Likes: 320
I think UPS has a bunch of 7.3's in their trucks.
The lifter issue "appears" to be mostly in trucks that idle a lot. It was "rumored" that the variable oil pump, at idle, wasnt putting out enough pressure/volume and that was a major cause of lifter failure. Ford has a TSB out for 2020-2022 that reprograms the oil pump for more output at idle. I think that programming change was incorporated for 23. I say "rumored" simply because Ford has never admitted the issue. I believe the Godzilla has the lifters oiled last just like an LS, so they will obviously be the last in line for oil in a low pressure/volume situation. No/low oil flow means loss of control of pre-load(which then can cause the lifter to beat the **** out of the cam), no oil up the push rods to the rockers, etc...
With that said, I wouldnt expect to see lifter issues on a truck that see's a ton of highway miles.