I had a 2004 F350 with the 6.0 in it and i had to sell it, i am going to get another one but i am wondering what motor i should get. I really liked my 6.0 but i have heard that the 7.3 is a great motor some say even better. I would love some first hand info on the two engines

 

for staying together and out of the repair shop it's the 7.3 all the way .but then you are also looking at a older truck also.
my 7.3 was one of the two best fords i have owned and the second is in my sig.

 

I have a 2003 7.3 6sp F350 XLT 4x4 with manual hubs and I wouldnt change a single thing with it even if money was no object. The truck does not know how to die, and even if it did the 7.3 can be worked on by someone with average mechanical skills. It may not have as much power as a 6.0 but a 6.0 has 0 power when it loses the injectors or a head gasket. not saying 6.0 are bad, just saying i would personally trust a 7.3 more for reliability. and the 7.3 does have plenty of power. Just my 2 cents, hey at least your getting a superduty either way.

 

A lemon is a lemon no matter what it is...i guess all these bad 6.0s are because of poor design but the 7.3 has been around for a while so it will keep u out of the shop if its properly cared for. When i drove the 6.0 it was quiter in the cab and i didnt like that at all...i wanna hear my engine running! I belive the 7.3 will be in the books as one of the greatest diesel motors put in a pickup. Personally ide like a little more MPG out of my 7.3 but im not gonna go with the 6.0(HAH!) just cuz of MPG. Not dicing Ford or anything but i hope to god i never ride in a NEW Ford Diesel Powered Ambulance.
Go with your Heart and ull be saticfied Either way your doing the smart thing and not buying one of those Duraslacks.

 

two other questions. Is it easier to make power out of the 7.3 or the 6.0 and the interior in the 7.3 trucks vs the 6.0 how does it differ
thanks

 

im also interested in this question, i would like to know what transmissions were in a say, 2003 7.3 and a 2003 6.0. I am also in the market for either a 2002, 2003 ford and ask myself the same thing.

 

the 2003 7.3 had the 4 speed auto and the 6.0 2003 and later model trucks had the torqueshift 5 speed auto. The interior had a change in the 05 model year and later.

 

Much cheaper and easier to get a 6.0 to higher hp numbers and faster times. The reliability is the concern most people have.

A 7.3 can achieve just as much power as any 6.0, or more, but it will take much more money to get there.

Interior is the same in all the trucks 7.3 or 6.0 until the 05 and 06 models, which get a reworked dash and instrument panel. There are a couple minor changes over the years like a new style back seat in the 04 and later, which can lie flat or lift up, but the interiors are pretty darn similar until 05/06, and even then it's mainly just the dash. They do have some other cool new features though like the upfitter switches and integrated brake controller.

I got a used 7.3, because I plan to keep it for a long time, and just don't trust the 6.0 at all.

 

I've had a 95' F-350 7.3, 99' F-350 7.3, an 04' F-350 with the V-10, and now have an 06' F-350 with the 6.0,,
A Ford tech F'd up my 95, 7.3, was a dog after he worked on it, problems with the Dual-mass flywheel, ran good at first, wish he never messed with it.

The 99' 7.3 was a good running motor,,the auto always shifted weird, after they finaly got the truck straightened out, it was a good rig, but heavy, with dump body,,best mpg I ever saw was 13.1.(in gallery)

The 04 was a V-10 6-speed, DRW with 4:30's this truck, never let me down, would tow very good, and fly,,but best mpg I did see was 11.6,,was the best truck of the 3,(in gallery).

Now to my 06' F-350 with the 6.0,, this engine has been flawless, have about 6700 miles on it now, mpg been creeping up, filled it yesterday, 15.6 mpg (first time it got in the 15's), mixed driving, and I actually had it up to 95, mph on that tank, still pulling no speed limiter yet, but then I backed off, truck has a couple small issues, shudder on take off about 5 mph, TS tranny shifts weird now and then,,will have it checked soon. Have a few spots here where I have compared the speed from the V-10, to the 6.0, and the 6.0 is a little quicker with 3:73 gears as the V-10 had 4:30's but was a 6-speed, all and all, very happy so far with the 6.0, and its all stock. (in gallery)

 

Had a 97 7.3 psd F250 4x4. It was a good truck. It left me standed 3 times for the cam sensor. The auto hubs never worked when I needed them to. Got stuck many times in mud. Even with all the problems I still liked the truck. The 7.3psd motor had more than enouph power. The trans was a bit week and seemed to slip quite a bit under load with a trailer. I sold her with 125k to a friend and she is still going strong.
My new rig (see sig) is just awsome. Will run circles around the old truck. The 6.0 has more power than the 7.3. I've had no problems (ford related) with 20k miles. I'm very happy with new truck and it tows like a beast.

 

One other big difference is the turning radius. THe newer SD's have a much shorter turning radius...05 & 06's. I went from a 7.3 to the 6.0. Can't wipe the grin offa my puss.....

 

Snore.... same old 6.0 bashing. Quick question, Captchas ....ever OWN a 6.0?? and no I'm not flaming you, but I do question the qualifications of some here to pass judgement. The last person I questioned never owned one but was giving advise on the right engine to have. The newer 6.0 is a great engine and once the 6.4 comes out, it will be at least as mighty and reliable as the 7.3 ... if you catch my drift ;-)

 

Oh and for the record this is my 2nd (2004 and 2005) 6.0, I had a (1999) 7.3, a 1999 5.4 and a 2003 V-10 - feel free to ask away. The 7.3 is a good motor - a good 3 yr old motor - I like my warranty and after 80k miles combined on those 6.0's (one which is chipped btw) I can attest I will NOT be going back to a gasser

 

shaggy, unless u are buying a new superduty, i would go with a 1999-2003 7.3
i had a 2001 powerstroke (gallery) and it was the best truck ive ever owned. i know own a 2006 6.0 (gallery) which is also a great truck. ive had 3000 trouble free miles, but with all the issues flying around with the 6.0 the only way i felt comfertable buying one was getting it new for two reasons. 1) ive had it since 9 miles, i know exactly what that motor has been through and how it has been treated, and 2) a full factory warrenty. and that my freind is by far the most important thing when u spend superduty kind of money
keep it ford

 

What the original poster needs to do is research the engines and their common problems. With a 7.3, the only thing that will really leave you stranded with no warning signs is a CPS failure, but it's such incredibly common knowledge that anyone that's a member of the forums should be well aware and carry a spare and a wrench to change it just in case, as it's a 15 minute job.

There will be folks who got a 6.0 and haven't had any problems, and are thrilled by it turning circles around their old 7.3 (which is actually nearly 20 years old, not 3... and in its current direct injection form, it's 12 years old). People who've had this experience will rave about the 6.0 and how it's the best engine there is, no problems, blah blah. It seems that they're unaware of all the problems the motor actually does have and still continues to have. Rather than basing your decision off the experiences of a couple people on the forum, do some research or spend time reading in the respective engine-related forums and see what kinds of issues arise with each engine.

Another point to consider... talk to just about any Ford Diesel Technician (there are a few that belong to this site and others), and you'll find that they just love the 6.0 because it keeps them very busy at work... and they most likely drive a 7.3.

I personally think the 6.4 will be a bigger disaster than the 6.0, considering it's supposed to have, what, FOUR EGRs?? I guess we'll see...