I am completely new to diesels. I have been working strictly with 429-460 big blocks. I am looking to buy a 6.9L diesel, but I have some quesions. What are the differences in maintenence? What are the advantages & disadvantages? What kind of mileage do they get? Power at flywheel ( numbers? )? Thanks.

 

I dont know about numbers on these but we have about 9 on our ranch. The get run into the ground and still run. If your going to pull get the four speed because the autos suck.

I hope this will help you a bit.

Ben

 

The diesels get better mpg. But I think One big disadvantage on them is that they are very expensive to repair and rebuild.


1985 "Cowboy Cadillac" Ford F-250 4x4, Granny 4-speed, 4:10 Gears, 460 with Holley 750cfm 4-barrel Carb, Custom Painted Block (Ford Dark Blue), Rebuilt Transfer Case, BFG Trac-Edges, Tachometer, Kenwood CD Player and Pioneer Speakers, 27" cherry bombs dualed out each side with 2 1/2 inch pipe, NAPA Premium Clutch, NAPA Premium timing Chain, Gooseneck Ball, Hitch Reciever, Whistler 400 radar detector!

"When in Doubt GAS it"

 

Hi, just a little conflict of intrest..... (1) I have an F250 4x4 with a 6.9 diesel and a C6 automatic it is great will pull anything I hook to it without cooking a clutch!!! And as far as being expensive my diesel has 157,000 miles on it and has never had the valve covers off so how expensive is that if you figure it out by mileage I have 3.73 gears in it and get 19 mpg (19.8) just cant get 20 but this truck is the best thing I ever bought in the last 47,000 miles since I bought it I have replaced 1 set of glow plugs @ 6.50 each 2 batteries and one alternator.
John

 

Why a 6.9L? I think you should consider a 93.5-94.5 7.3L IDI with an ATS turbo. I have heard they are good engines, competitors to PSDs, and easy to work on. I don't know much about the 6.9L, I'd immagine it gets better mileage and lower power because it is a smaller engine. But, why do you specifically want a 6.9L?

Logan

 

Hi, the power numbers aren't high it's 175hp and I beleive 315 ft. pnds. torque as for maint. there are no tuneups like you are used to. change oil, filter, fuel filter,air filter, and once in a while a glowplug. thats about all there is to them the 7.3 is a more powerful engine but the 6.9 is a really good engine and will last forever if taken care of. It's not a neck snappin tire frier, but will pull or haul anything you can throw at it.
John

 

Diesel repairs are more expensive but you can run them forever. the only diff. really is glow plugs instead of spark plugs. and the way the motor works. stick with a diesel, good luck

-Jacksland

 

Hi, repairs might be more expensive when you have them, But right now I have a 86 F250 with a 6.9 it has 157,000 miles on it and the Only things I have had to do to it are glow plugs @ $7.00 apiece and tighten up the fuel pump bolts came loose other than that it has never had the valve covers taken off!!! and how many repairs would I have had with a gas engine? John

 

I just anwsered a which is better v10 or 7.3ltr but im sure it will help you out.
definatly go with the 7.3 ltr Power Stroke turbo diesel. It has a ton of advantage over the v10. The Diesel huals more gets better gas mileage is a stronger engine less cost. What else could you ask for? That little 4,000 to get it is nothing to compared to the tune ups and gas on the v10. I saw what you said diesel gas might go up. Do you think that its going to go up so far that you would get the equlavent to 10 mpg? I know that fords v8 460 is just a huge gas guzzler and a v10? It must be whorse. How dose it fell to floor your v10 going up a hill and lose 1/4 tank. Seems bad to me. I get a lot of questions about diesels vs gas and a lot of time the subject noise comes up. I say well The Power Stroke is loud but so is the v10. Go in a tunnel and roll down your windows with both trucks you'll notice the powerstroke is not much louder. Another question that comes up is how long do they last and apox how much to run them. Generly if you take care of your diesel get the oil changed Get it majorly tuned up every 30,000 miles your truck is going to last 300,000 miles +. As for the price to run them. All depends on how much you drive. Get the oil changed every 5,000 at max. The powerstrokes take 11 qts as from what I know. Also keep the fuel injectors clean by using diesel fuel cleaner once in a while. I recament REDLINE anything. If you want to do it right use redline products. I have has 3 diesels in my life I got 450,000 thousand miles out of all of them using redline products from the first day. Im sure if my trucks would have lasted longer but I could only afford heavy trailers. Out of the facts you work on a farm you need a truck. Get a real truck not some v10 that will keep your wallet empty. Don't listen to some the dealers who say there v10 gets 18 mpg on the freeway. Cause I garentee your not going to want to drive 40 mph in cruscontrol like they are. Ford wants to sell there trucks do not listen to them and if I where you go to the priceing selection on this page 2 find out what the truck you want costs wholesale so ford can't try to sell you a F-350 7.3 ltr powerstroke for 37,000 cause its only worth 28,000 wholesale becareful if you find a guy lieing 2 you leave and find another perason.
Theres my 2 cents worth of information. But really you know that fords v8 460 cannot go across town with out using a tank do you think the v10 a larger engine with more power is going 2 do better? Well I can tell you the powerstroke will.