For the 2026 model year Ford has now made the 6.8L an option in higher trim levels to allow someone to spec a bit fancier truck with a slightly less ridiculous MSRP. I'm looking at replacing my 30 year old Dodge pickup that I currently use to pull my RV in the next year. I'm thinking that the 6.8L will do a good enough job horsepower-wise, but I'm wondering if it would be more or less prone to long-term issues than the 7.3L. I'm hoping this would be the last HD truck I would ever buy and I don't believe I would ever buy an RV big enough to warrant more HP than what the 6.8L has.

From my perusing these forums, The main issues I've seen mentioned related to the 6.8L is some issues with transmission coolers leaking and some concern that the transmission is a lighter duty unit that may not hold up. Other than that, I've not really seen much chatter related to problems with the 6.8L.

What are your thoughts? If the 6.8L would do the work you needed it to do, would you purchase it to save a few $'s?

In case you are curious, my RV weighs a bit less than 10K lbs fully loaded. I've been pulling it with a 96 Dodge with the 8.0L V10. I think that engine does just fine, but a few more gears in the transmission would really help it out.

 

Less than 10k then the 6.8 will be more than fine.

 

F250 7.3 comes with the same transmission as the 6.8 now, with few exceptions, so that shouldn't be a deciding factor for you.

 

So, did the 6.8 get the "bigger" 7.3 transmission?

 

No, the 7.3 now gets the 10R100 transmission that is behind the 6.8 instead of the 10R140 it used to be equipped with. I think the 7.3 still gets the 10R140 if it's in an F350 though.

 

I have no personal experiences with the 6.8 but, as stated above, I think it will be just fine for what you will be doing with it.

I replaced my 2003 F250 Lariat, with the 6.8 V10 that I ordered, with my current 7.3 equipped 2024 F250 Lariat. As you can expect it was a HUGE jump in ride quality, power, and tech. I am sure you will find the same thing going from your 96 Dodge to a current truck. When I ordered my truck the 7.3 was the base engine for the Lariat. So, it was a no brainer to get it. I've been very impressed with the power of it. I am sure you will be more than happy with the 6.8 since it's just a slightly smaller version of the 7.3

 

The difference is marginal if not unnoticeable. We're talking about an output difference of 6%. The 6.8 can do anything the 7.3 can do. You will find a rating difference between them in the F250 but that's not because of the engine, which we know because in the F350 they're rated identically with the 6.8 getting an edge in payload for the reduced weight.

From Ford's literature;

 

I like the fact that I haven't really heard any horror stories about the 6.8L engine and I've got to believe they would be showing up by now if there were significant issues. The fact that Ford has now started using the same transmission on many of the 7.3's is also a sign that there hasn't been enough problems with them to keep them from doing so. At this point I believe that either the 6.8L or the 7.3L will do what I want it to do.

Having made that decision, the next step in the process is trying to find the right deal. I typically purchase used vehicles, so knowing that either engine will work allows me to not be so fussy there. The problem I'm having with purchasing used right now is that I feel the asking prices of recent model year Super Duties are so high that I may just get a new one instead. I want to get something that isn't already all used up and the asking prices on trucks that meet my criteria just seem high to me, or at least high enough that going new is certainly a viable option.

Fortunately, I'm not in a big hurry. I'm retiring next summer and my old Dodge will work OK for what we're planning next year, but after that I want to start roaming the country a bit and want something newer to do that.

Thanks everyone for your insights! Keep 'em coming if you've got more wisdom nuggets for me.

 

My 2022 7.3 is rated to tow 21,500lbs. There is now 6.8L combination that is rated that high.

 

And 2022 is before the 6.8 was offered and before the 10r100 was put into superduties. The limitation of the rating is not because of the engine. All other things being equal the 6.8 can do everything the 7.3 can do and is rated identically. You have to look for differences outside of the engine to find differences in rating.

That said Ford's literature is also somewhat inconsistent on ratings. I don't recall what page exactly I copy-pasta'd those numbers from off Ford's site but their towing guide doesn't have 18,900 listed for any 250. The 350 is 18,900 with a 6.8 and 4.30 or 18,800 with a 7.3 and 3.73. 7.3 and 4.30 brings it up to 22,500 which is 1,000 higher than yours. I'm sure yours isn't less because your 2022 7.3 is weaker than a 2025 7.3. These couple thousand lb differences on the high end aren't because the engine is going to break, and at max weight moving forward isn't as critical as control and stopping anyway. AFAIK all the 6.8's have a 10r100 behind them and that's the limiting factor IMO.

 

I have a 2024 f250 for a little over a yr now. Have not had any issues with it. 6.8 v8 running great, transmission is great. Now adding 7.3 to this baby box transmission, can't be so wimpy now can it. I'd pick this transmission over the 6 speed any day owning them both.I have no leaks (yet), every thing is good, keep my fingers crossed.

 

I've never towed a camper and thought to myself, I have too much power. Plus the fuel economy between the two are in the noise.

My $0.02

 

I still think it's stupid that the 6.8 exists. It's purely a marketing exercise on Ford's part. The two engines are so similar in build and power output that it's pointless to offer both, and it doesn't cost Ford more to build a 7.3, so clearly the only reason the 6.8 was created is so that they could upcharge for the 7.3. It's pathetic.

 

It's pathetic that Ford has multiple options? Look at the F150, the 2 7 is pathetic, only th 3.5 should exist. It's pathetic that Ford offers a SO when an HO psd exist.
I get it, you don't like options.
Ford could turn the 7.3 up to 500hp and 650ftlbs. They want to just edge out the competition, not kill the competition and risk 10% more warranty failures.
both of those engines are mildly tuned for reliability.
the 6 8 is the base engine.

 

Unless you're just buying whatever the local stealership has on the lot and don't care than a 6.8 probably is good enough.

Myself 7.3 all day long ordered the way I want it. "But" I keep and drive them more than the normal person.