I am just starting the tedious job of educating my self on Diesels. I have a Suburban 2500 w a 454 but it just is not cutting it towing. I want to go F350 and am looking at a 1995 to 1999 year range. My questions are simple and my sound stupid but please help.
1) Some trucks are listed as Power Stroke Diesels and other as just diesel, is there 2 engines types during those years?
2) Are there and years that were better engine and performance wise then others.
3) I know that a diesel engine just starts to brake in at about 20-30,000 miles, so a truck with 80-100,000 should be OK. Any think to look at with that type of mileage to tell engine condition.

I thank you for this and any more bits of wisdom that can be passed on. I want to start looking and not waste time, I want to tell if someone just did a great clean-up on a truck or if they really keeper it up.

Thanks a Million for your help!!!

 

if you are going to by a stroke i suggest newer than a 00 in o1 they bumped up the horse power and fuel economy. as for how many miles remember that they have a 5yr 100,000mi powertrain warranty which covers pretty much everything on the engine. if you cant afford a 01 i strongly recommend nothing older than late 99

 

Howdy,
I'm looking at buying a 94 F250 Turbo Diesel for $11k and was curious about your comment to not buy a PowerStroke older than 99. Is there something wrong with the older engines or is it just that the 99+ models have more HP and Torque?
By the way, does anybody have a recommendation about any books that review/rate the F250s with PowerStrokes throught the years? I keep hearing that this year was good but that year was bad but I'd like to see some real documentation.
Thanks

 

I Have a 1996 Ford F-250 Power Stoke Ext. Cab Lonng box, 4x4, I Recently pu a chip in it for an extra 50 horse and improved shift points. And it hauls a**. When I stop on the hi way and press on the gas it breaks loose, then I put my foot in it and it hits 80km/h. I've lined up the new doges and I kill then. As for chevys 6.5 I might as well pulled it.

I also put a straight 3" exhaust system on it, this is a great truck i currently have 260,000 km on it and its running better than ever. I usually get about 22-24MPG


I use to have a 1988 Ford Diesel 7.3L it was ok for power, but before i go rid of it i took it to a diesel shop to get the injection pump looked at, I got it replaced and they turrned it up to max. specs. and adj. the timing to 9.5 any high and you risk damaging your glow plugs. That was a truck then boy, she smoked black and hauled.

Ford started to produce the 7.3 in 1988, it realy is and international motor. In 1994 they came out with the turbo diesel, the same motor as the previous years but with a turbo. I think 1996 was there first year for the powerstroke turbo diesel, a totally different engine than the pervious years, this engine was electronicly controlled by computer, where as the other years it was manuly controled. Till 1999 when they change it for more power.Now there is a new 6.0l powerstoke coming out in 2003. I,m looking forward to it. I would hesitate on buying a powerstroke ever again. I would probably buy a turbo diesel again to, and the first thing that I would have done to in is the pump turned up and the timing changed. Went these truck are made the injection pumps are turned down to california emisions where I live I don't have to worry about that.

hope I helped

 

I think the first year for the turbo-diesel IDI was in 93 and the Powerstroke was late 94, I think. I just bought a 96 and love it so far, except for the transmission throwing codes. I think the no older than 99 is just somebodys personal preferance. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

Howdy,
Thanks for the advice. I've read that the Power Stroke came out in 1994 and has been improved 6 times since but it seems difficult to find out any details about what changed and when and any significant problems with the different years of the Power Stroke. Does anyone know of a book or magizine that summarizes or compares the different years of the Power Stroke engine - say for the 1990s?
Thanks,

 

To answer the original question, I know a guy who bought a '95 and had some trouble with the electronics. He finally replaced it with a '96 after several rounds with the dealer, and after they finally admitted there was a problem that Ford supposedly fixed with the '96 models. Personally, because of this, I wouldn't go back past '96. Also, the body style changed in '98 or '99, so that might matter to you. I kinda like the '96 - '97s myself.........