Hi,
I'm looking at getting an early to mid 90's f250. People have told me to get one with a diesel since they're tougher than gas. Is there signifigant difference between the Powerstroke and the other deisels offered for these model years ?
Thanks,
John

 

The older diesels (1983 to 1994) are indirect injected (fuel is injected into a pre-combustion chamber in the cylinder head) and use a mechanical injection pump and injectors. The newer Powerstrokes are all computer controlled and most are direct injected (i.e. the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber)

Factory hp rating on the older diesels was under 200 hp, the newer trucks go up to 350+ hp. That said, you can easily tweak an older truck to put out 300 hp be adding a turbo, aftercooler and turn up the fuel. Some of the 93 and 94 models were factory turbo charged; however turbo boost was set very conservatively with both intake and exhaust systems that were very restrictive.

The older diesels are built tough and will last a long time. 300k to 400k miles on the factory diesel engine is not uncommon.

Most folks on this forum will tell you that they prefer the older trucks as they are build simpler and are a lot easier to work on. Their simplicity also makes them more reliable than the newer trucks.

I got two, a 91 NA and a 93 Turbo and they both are in excellent condition eveso they are almost 15 years old. I look after them well, not that they need a lot of looking after in the first place.

Milage on some of the early 90's IDI's can be better than the later 90's Powerstrokes and even beat some of the 2000's.

Late 80's and early 90's automatics (E4OD transmission) had their share of issues and did not do well for heavy towing, but can be reliable if proper aftermarket upgrades are performed.

I like my IDI's they are very reliable, they are paid for, and I just jump in and they go.

 

This is a question that has a lot different oppinions...what it comes down to is money and how willing are you to part with it. Most of the guys that own IDIs do most of mechanical work themselves, main reason, they can, no computer, thus saving big repair bills. Theres more to a truck than an engine, powerstrokes are from newer trucks, less milage, less wear etc. Stock IDI vs Powerstoke is no comparison, as Hamberger stated [horsepower]. So you see, gas milage is only part of the equation, you can buy a powerstroke, and if you need a injector replaced, your looking at a major bill, on the other hand if it was an IDI, your looking around $20.00 and you can install it yourself. Buying any used vehicle is a crap shoot, but without them we wouldnt have sites like this. lol

 

Cool, vey good info. Thx

 

I personally perfer the powerstrokes, but can appreciate the simplicity of the IDI's. I grew up working on computer controlled cars and motorcycles so that's something I'm totally comfortable with and the PSD's make more power and are easier to mod for additional power. Both are quite reliable and get the job done. Some stuff is more expensive on PSD's, but then other things help ballance out the equation. For example, a PSD injector is really expensive compared to an IDI injector, however an IDI also has an injector pump, where as the PSD does all the work at in the injector so to be fair you'd have to compare a pump and injectors on an idi to a set of injectors on a PSD....Botom line, if you like simple mechanical stuff get an IDI, if you need more performance or like computers get a PSD.

Just FYI in 94 you could get a ford with either a NA IDI, a Turbo IDI or a PSD. Later than 95 its all PSD's and prior to 94 its all IDI's (the Turbo IDI was available in 93 and 94).

have fun

 

well the price on parts for one exp. valve covers gasket. idi 5.99 a set. PS 49.99 each. idi injector, 37.50 reman. PS injector 309.00 each reman. every thing for a powerstroke is high, why you think they call it a powerstroker you will have a poweriful stroke when paying parts.

john

 

A quick question, is it possible to use a turbo from a powerstroke on an IDI?

 

Anything is possible, but the better question would be, is it economically justifiable?

With the amount of custom fabrication required I would say no.