I am currently looking at 92-96 F-250 supercabs (long box, 2x4) to haul around a 9.5-10' camper (between 1750-2000 lb.). I was wondering about the reliability of the turbo diesel engines from these years of trucks. Are there any common problems or concerns? What kind of mileage does one get out of one of these trucks (loaded and unloaded)? How many miles do thes engines typically last for under normal hauling conditions? Also, which auto tranny did Ford use with this engine? What is the reliability like with those trannys?Any info that you could provide would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!Cheers,Ian

 

Check the Ford Diesel website for the scoop on powerstrokes.

 

Ford brought out the 6.9l in '83 and then the 7.3 in '88. Ford added a turbo to late '92's, and then the Powerstroke in late '94. I have heard with normal maintence that the powerstroke can get as much as 200k and sometimes more. it all depends on how you drive it and the trucks drivetrain. Mileage varies, I know a guy who has a 89 F-350 dually, thats got to be nearing 250k. he hasn't had and serious problems. He swears that he gets 28mpg. That, of course, is the old 7.3l naturally aspired. hopefully the psd's get better. The engine takes about 16 quarts of 15w40. Which can get kinda pricy if you don't do your own maintence.

Good luck
ryan

 

>I am currently looking at 92-96 F-250
>supercabs (long box, 2x4) to haul
>around a 9.5-10' camper (between 1750-2000
>lb.). I was wondering about
>the reliability of the turbo diesel
>engines from these years of trucks.
> Are there any common problems
>or concerns? What kind of
>mileage does one get out of
>one of these trucks (loaded and
>unloaded)? How many miles do
>thes engines typically last for under
>normal hauling conditions? Also, which
>auto tranny did Ford use with
>this engine? What is the
>reliability like with those trannys?Any info
>that you could provide would be
>appreciated. Thanks in advance!Cheers,Ian

Transmission used from 92-96 was either the E4od or the Aode.

 

The biggest problem is cavitation. Without the use of a special additive poured into the radiator the coolant will vibrate. This vibration is caused by the slight expansion of the cylinder wall as the pistons move up and down. When the coolant vibrates it acts like little hammers and chips away (pitting) at the cylinder walls. Usually by 100,000 miles the cylinder walls begin to seep through and your engine is then due for an expensive rebuild. The prevention is easy: use the additive. The problem is you can ask most diesel owners (or diesel salesman) about cavitation and they don't know what your talking about. Ford didn't bother to tell the customers. The 6.9L had the problem. The 7.3L has thinner cylinder walls for bigger pistons and has a greater problem. Hope this helps you locate a good used truck. Chris

 

THE TRANNY IS ETHIER A C6 OR E4OD THE AOD WAS NOT USED BEHIND THE DIESEL.THE Y HOLD UP GREAT IF MAINTAINED. OUR 93 HAS 140K WITH NO ENGINE REPAIRS BUT THE TRANNY WENT AT 75K [THIS IS IN A 14 CUBE TRUCK].OUR 95 HAS ALMOST 90K IT DID HAVE TROUBLE EARLY ON FROM A WATER LEAK IN THE GAS TANK , THAT KILLED THE INJECTORS AND THE TOP HAVE OF THE MOTOR. AS FOR THAT CAVATATING MY FRIEND HAS A 84 6.9 WITH 500K ON THE ORIGINAL BLOCK INCLUDING PISTONS WITHOUT EVER ADDING ANTHING BESIDES NEW ANTIFREEZE.

 

 

I work for FedEx and all of our older step vans use the Navistar/International 7.3L Diesels, some (the really old ones) are naturally aspirated, I've seen some of these step vans with well over 300,000 miles; granted we maintain our trucks, the newer turbo diesel 7.3L engines have more power...but it seems like they have more problems...

 

got 333k on my 94 idi runs strong yet.motor was never touched internally,tranny went at 250k,turbo at about 275k and alternator and starter around the same time. i would say 250k would be about the service life of most components if properly maintained.

 

Gearhead,
You are looking at trucks that could or will have 3 different engines in them.

A 92 will have a 7.3 IDI NA motor.
93 could have either a 7.3 IDI NA or a 7.3 IDI turbo
1994 could have either a 7.3 IDI NA, 7.3 IDI turbo or a 7.3 DI turbo (Power Stroke)
1995 thru 1997 and later engines are all Power Strokes
All Power Stroke engines are turbocharged.

IDI engines are mechanical engines, much easier to work on and parts are much less expensive.
The power will be slightly lower than a Power Stroke in stock form for the turbo equiped models.
The IDI NA has less power than the turbo models.
There are many IDI diesels running around with in excess of 300,000 miles on them, in fact we had a post recently of one with over 600,000 miles and still going.

With modifications the Power Stroke has the potential of producing more power than you can get out of an IDI engine without extreme modifications.

As far as how long any of them last, that depends mostly on the amount of care the engine was given by the previous owners.

Diesel mileage varies greatly depending on how well it is taken care of, the terrain you live in and the driving style you have.

Jack rabbit starts and fast driving suck down the fuel in any type of engine, the diesel is no different.
High altitude has a dramatic effect on naturally aspirated diesel engines, they need a lot of air to perform well.
Turbo diesels are less affected by high elevations, the turbo keeps the air supply to the engine.

 

I have had 6 idi's. All 7.3l, the first was an 88 with 388,000 miles on it till I wrecked it. An 91 with over 700,000 miles and a 94 turbo and a few more in between. These are bulletproof engines! I don't care what anyone says. The most common problem you'll have with high millage is the injector pump.. I've done a lot of work to my 94 and was dyno'd at 348 hp and 620 ft lbs of tq. I will post the paper work to prove it.

 

the 94 was a idi

 

i find that hard to believe that your idi was throwin down that hp at the wheel.

 

me too!!!!

 

My first diesel truck was a 95 F-250 extended cab that I bought to haul around a 9.5 foot camper and a trailer behind. I bought the truck with 165K miles on it, sold it with 189K miles on it two years later because my family out grew the small bench seat in the back. It was a great truck and I never had any issues. I am very conscience with my maintenance though and I had a manual transmission. I have friends that have or had automatics with the 7.3 Powerstrokes and it seems like ~150K was the magic number for the automatics where most of their trucks needed transmission work. I don't know which automatic they had, could have been that they all had the same.

I really enjoyed that truck and would still have it if my wife didn't make me sell it when I bought my newer truck. I’ve tried to get another truck just like it a few times, but again, my wife keeps getting in the way.