I am a Ford guy at heart. I just bought a fifth wheel (12,000 Lbs) and am looking to get a truck that will handle it. I keep getting told that I should get a Dodge with the Cummins turbo Diesel. I, however, like Fords and have spotted a 1988 F350 Crew Cab with the manual and 7.3 Diesel that looks like it rolled off the show room floor, but has 155,000 miles on it. I need to know if these older Diesel engines had problems. I have heard they were different than the powerstrokes of today. Can anyone help me out? I am looking for reliability, MPG, Pulling power, common problems, Etc. I appreciate the help.

 

Any turbo diesel will have gobs more power than a non-turbo, at least in the line of trucks that you are checking out.

 

From my own personal experiences, the 7.3 IDI is one heck of an engine. The basic difference between the older 7.3 and the stroke is the method of injection. IDI stands for indirect injection. The engine had a precombustion chamber where the fuel was ignited to quiet the engine. the stroker on the otherhand is DI or direct injection, where the fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber. and of course, the IDI was not turbo'd (unless the engine is an IDI turbo diesel, then of course, it is. however, these are rare and u most likely have one without the turbo.)

My experience comes from a 93 model, but it is the same engine. The engine is nearly bulletproof. ours had the odometer disengaged for the last three years and was at 100,000 when that happened. it was used solely as a farm truck. it spent its entire life hooked to a goosneck flat bed, cattle trailer, farm wagon or tagalong. it has pulled a 21,000 pound backhoe (not easily, but it did), numerous 10,000+ pound loads of cattle, and the last big load was 16,500 pounds of tabacco. no oill leaks, no oil burning. the only issue we ever had was a problem with the pulleys lining up early on. it went back five times, but the last time was in 97 and that fixed it. the pulling experience is pretty enjoyable. the engine will lug like no other. it doesnt have the low end grunt like a cummins, but it will fight forever before it chokes out. and the engine is a dream at highway speeds. should have plenty o power for your fifth wheel.

i will warn you that they are a lil cranky to start in cold weather, but we rarely plugged it in. gets pretty cold in ky, but it would start with a lil time and effort. sold it last year to a local boy who has since reamed the hell out of it. but other than a lil blue smoke everyonce in awhile, it is still running.

we also averaged about 18-20 on farm diesel. and btw, it had a five speed too. the truck was a 350 reg cab flatbed dually 4x4.

if the truck is in good shape and engine has no noticable knocks or leaks, i say go for it.

 

You might get a better response if you post this in the pre-powerstroke forum. The IDI is fully capable of pulling that load, just don't expect to go anywhere in a hurry.