Some of the times it is tuff to do but I have to be brutally honest here. I had an 01 F150 xlt 2WD super cab Triton V8 I loved and I just traded for my first 4x4. This new truck I know very little about mechanicly but I love it and have wanted it for 2 years. It is a 03 F 350 4x4 CC 7.3L. I can use the 4x4 hunting and that is great but to be honest my main reason is the truck is just down right bad a** lookin. The diesel sounds great and I like the predicted gas milage. I am lookin for a top 5 list (or 10, depends on how much typing you like to do) of what I need to do with my first brand new big truck. ie: engine and tranny upkeep, fuel additives, do's and dont's. I dont plan on any high $$ modifications right now but maybe in the future. I have the toy I have always wanted now I just wnat to make sure I don't screw it up. I have been checkin out this board for a couple weeks now and you guys and gals seem to be the authority on whats goin on in the Ford world. Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to provide.

 

welcome code red.... glad to have ya here... when i found FTE, I looked in the various galleries and saw things on trucks that absolutetly amazed me... You'll also find that no question is too small...ask away...

PSD POWER, YETI, MONSTA, FORTYFORDS, ABENDX, GHOSTRIDER304, HIROLLN, GARY E K, MRROTTNDOG, 4X4X4X4, CO4X4SD and many others are always more than happy to help out a new SD owner.....

again, welcome... come on in, the waters warm

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-Jan-03 AT 07:59 PM (EST)]>Some of the times it is tuff to do but I have to be brutally
>honest here. I had an 01 F150 xlt 2WD super cab Triton V8 I
>loved and I just traded for my first 4x4. This new truck I
>know very little about mechanicly but I love it and have
>wanted it for 2 years. It is a 03 F 350 4x4 CC 7.3L. I can
>use the 4x4 hunting and that is great but to be honest my
>main reason is the truck is just down right bad a** lookin.
>The diesel sounds great and I like the predicted gas milage.
>I am lookin for a top 5 list (or 10, depends on how much
>typing you like to do) of what I need to do with my first
>brand new big truck. ie: engine and tranny upkeep, fuel
>additives, do's and dont's. I dont plan on any high $$
>modifications right now but maybe in the future. I have the
>toy I have always wanted now I just wnat to make sure I
>don't screw it up. I have been checkin out this board for a
>couple weeks now and you guys and gals seem to be the
>authority on whats goin on in the Ford world. Thanks in
>advance for any help you may be able to provide.

Welcome "CODE RED" I would just like to tell you a little saying that is realy true " Service will get you Service "
If you need anything, just email me

and I will do all I can to help.
The guys on this board are the greatest
Once again, welcome aboard

 

Welcome to the insanity that is the FTE Super Duty Forum!

Here's my top-10 (or 10-ish -- depends on how many I come up with) list of things to do to the truck:

(1) Performance Chip - I'm not big into this, but all the guys who want more horses out of their engines swear by them. And I hear that the one offered for sale through this site is among the best.
(2) Gibson Exhaust -- help your rig "breathe" a little easier (don't have one yet, but it's on my list) - there is a proven performance gain, and it makes the truck sound a whole lot cooler
(3) Make the switch to full synthetic oils -- including transmission, gearbox, differential, etc. I plan on doing so in the spring, and all the posts I've read indicate improvements in performance & MPG.
(4) Bed Liner (gotta' protect the shiny stuff)
(5) Bed Cover -- I really like the Truxedo (not the one I have, but the one I wish I bought in retrospect) - keeps your load clean, helps a bit with mileage, and dresses up the truck well, IMHO
(6) Vent Visors -- complete the "bad-****" look, and let you crack a window in the rain!
(7) K&N FIPK -- advantages are debateable, but I've been bitten by the bug... I think I'll get one - decide for yourself.
(8) PIAA HID Headlight bulbs -- for less than $75 and 2 minute install, you can't beat the lighting improvement these things gave me! They're street-legal, and just about turn night into day.
(9) I hear that the really **** diesel guys like to get their oil analyzed from time to time. Sounds like a good idea -- you can tell a lot about your engine based on the oil anlysis read-outs I've seen from other guys.
(10) Put a V-plow blade on the front to push everyone out of your way!

Oh yeah... don't forget to give your diesel a chance to "warm-up" before pulling it out of your driveway, and if you're pushing it on the highway, make sure it gets a nice "cool-down" (keep it running for a few minutes) before you kill the ignition. It's also a good idea not to let it idle excessively (this term has been debated as anywere from 10 to 30 minutes).

I don't know much about fuel additives for diesels, but I can tell you that you should NEVER use oil additives. It's all a bunch of BS; the oil companies put a lot into fine-tuning the chemical formulas of their oil for optimal performance & protection. Any additives will NOT help, and might even harm your engine. Just use a good quality engine oil (not the cheap no-name stuff) and change it often.

I'm sure others on slammer's list will have a lot more to say than I, but that's my 2 cents! Good luck with the truck, and welcome to our madness!!!

 

Well lets see......not a lot of money?? Hm..can't help you there, but when you get lots of it, I would go with:

At least a 10" lift and at least 38" tires
Gear change to make those tires work
A performance tuner to get that diesel barking.
A good exhaust to help with the barking
Any other shinny trinket that looks kewl weather it helps the bark or not.

 

1.Keep your engine oil and filter srviced.
2.Change your fuel filter as recommended.
3.Buy quality diesel fuel.
4.ENJOY YOUR NEW TRUCK!

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-Jan-03 AT 08:58 PM (EST)]Welcome to teh best sight on the net. congrats on the new truck. Nothing like a brand new pickup.

haroutd really did a good list. Look at my mod list and you will see all that I really want on my truck. I still have a few things I would like to do.

Exaust
C/B
Pyro guage
Trans temp guage
Hmm....I know I have more, I will have to think on it


>(1) Performance Chip - I'm not big into this, but all the
>guys who want more horses out of their engines swear by
>them. And I hear that the one offered for sale through this
>site is among the best.

Very good Idea but kind of pricy

>(4) Bed Liner (gotta' protect the shiny stuff)

A MUST!!!!

>(6) Vent Visors -- complete the "bad-****" look, and let you
>crack a window in the rain!

They help alot

>(7) K&N Filter, I don't know about the FIPK?


>(8) PIAA HID Headlight bulbs -- for less than $75 and 2
>minute install, you can't beat the lighting improvement
>these things gave me! They're street-legal, and just about
>turn night into day.

My next mod!!!

>(9) I hear that the really **** diesel guys like to get
>their oil analyzed from time to time. Sounds like a good
>idea -- you can tell a lot about your engine based on the
>oil anlysis read-outs I've seen from other guys.

I haven't heard of this but I will have to look into it.

>(10) Put a V-plow blade on the front to push everyone out of
>your way!

Hmm.... Good idea....

>
>Oh yeah... don't forget to give your diesel a chance to
>"warm-up"

Good Idea!!! I always do.

>I don't know much about fuel additives for diesels, but I
>can tell you that you should NEVER use oil additives. It's
>all a bunch of BS; the oil companies put a lot into
>fine-tuning the chemical formulas of their oil for optimal
>performance & protection. Any additives will NOT help, and
>might even harm your engine. Just use a good quality engine
>oil (not the cheap no-name stuff) and change it often.

I don't use any additives, But if it will help the longevity of the motor I would try it.

Justin
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=9313&.jpg
http://members.lycos.nl/dukesofhazzard/dukeslogo.JPG

2002 F-350 SC LB 4X4 6SPD PSD. 3.73 gears. 2.5" leviling kit. K&N air filter. Rhino lined Bed. Prodigy trailer brake controler. 35x12.5x16.5 BFG A/T. 16.5x10 ultra wheels. pop up gooseneck hitch and firestone airbag spring helpers. Reese fifth wheel hitch for my new toy hauler. Superchips microtuner.

My imagenary friend thinks you have a mental problem

 

Welcome aboard Code Red

 

>again, welcome... come on in, the waters warm

Yea, and for some reason the water is warmest around Forty.

Anyway, welcome!!!!!

Like was mentioned before, if you want to be able to keep stuff dry in the bed from time to time, the cover is a must. I like my Truxedo.

A spray in bed liner is on my list also.

But, first you better get some kind of trailer brake controller hooked up because it will be embarrassing when you can't stop whatever load your neighbor lines up for you to pull when he finds out you got the PSD! I like the Prodigy.

Matt

2002, F250 SD, SC, 8' Bed, V10, 3.73 LS, Arizona Beige, ICI Stainless Step Bars, Truxedo Tonneau, Prodigy Brake Control, Flowmaster 40

 

>
>But, first you better get some kind of trailer brake
>controller hooked up because it will be embarrassing when
>you can't stop whatever load your neighbor lines up for you
>to pull when he finds out you got the PSD! I like the
>Prodigy.

Damn it Matt, you one upped me, I forgot to mention that. Go with the Prodigy you will be happy you did!!!! Its worth the extra money.


Justin
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=9313&.jpg
http://members.lycos.nl/dukesofhazzard/dukeslogo.JPG

2002 F-350 SC LB 4X4 6SPD PSD. 3.73 gears. 2.5" leviling kit. K&N air filter. Rhino lined Bed. Prodigy trailer brake controler. 35x12.5x16.5 BFG A/T. 16.5x10 ultra wheels. pop up gooseneck hitch and firestone airbag spring helpers. Reese fifth wheel hitch for my new toy hauler. Superchips microtuner.

My imagenary friend thinks you have a mental problem

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 07-Jan-03 AT 00:06 AM (EST)]Code

Is yours an automatic? Go synthetic in the tranny if it is. The tranny is the "weak" point on the PSD. If its a "stick", don't worry about it. If you do "chip" it, its even MORE of a load on the tranny. Put a tranny and exhaust temp gauge and monitor them, especially if towing.
Enjoy the ride

 

Hey glad your here, I'll second everything posted above. Hope your new ride gives you years of dependible service. And if you need help all you need to do is ask.

Oh, Slammer thanks for including me in your list of helpful folks, it means alot!!!

Will-

 

Welcome aboard!!!! This is the most helpful group of people you'll ever meet on the net!

I can't really add anything to what's been listed above, so enjoy your ride and check here often. You won't be disappointed!


Gary M.

White 2002 F250 SD, SC, SB, 4x4, 6.8L v10, 3.73LS, 4spd Auto, Reverse Aid Sensor, Class IV Hitch, Offroad Package, Manual Hubs, 40/20/40 Bench Seat, Towing Package, Camper Package, Lariat, Putco Locker Side Rails, Mud Flaps, K&N Filter, Vent Visors, Aluminum in-bed Tool Box (sits in the bed, dosn't hang over the bed rails), Vent Visors, CB radio w/102" SS Whip Antenna, Autolocks programmed off, Seatbelt Minder programmed off, Key in ignition sensor wire dosconnected...

White 2002 Ranger 4x2 3.0L V6 XLT 2 door supercab with the power group, auto, chrome wheels, mud flaps, body side molding, vent visors, Leonard cab high fiberglass camper shell, and the 60/40 bench seat as my daily driver

 

First of all, WELCOME Code Red. And second of all, all the above answers you have received I could not have answered better. However, I would suggest that you just start by maintaining your new truck. Follow the Mfg. service intervals and keep visiting FTE. You will gain a wealth of knowledge from "real world" Super Duty owners. Anything that you could do to your new ride has probably been done here. But what is great, is when you do plan to "tweak" that new S/D, you can always come here, tell everybody what you want to do, and more than likely somebody has had experience and can tell you if it is good or bad. So start by enjoying your new truck and visit FTE often. In time you will find just what you can do to make your truck just what you want it to be.