7.3 vs 6.0
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 909
Likes: 0
i have a 04 6.0 they say to stay away from the 03's but IMO they all can have problem's my 04 has been great to me...but i also take very good care of it...I.E 16oz of PS each tank change the oil every 5k and run a by-pass...and i mash it everyonce and a while to make sure the turbo vanes dont get sooted up and stick...great truck only 23k on it....
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Dunmore Pa.
Just my opinion but if the 7.3L is still in good shape keep it. I own a 6.0L and when it runs good it is awsome but when it does not I want to light it up.
Having driven both (stock) the 7.3l feels like it comes on sooner but loses on the top end. The 6.0L comes on slow but once spooled up hang on. Unloaded feels like a hotrod car.
Having driven both (stock) the 7.3l feels like it comes on sooner but loses on the top end. The 6.0L comes on slow but once spooled up hang on. Unloaded feels like a hotrod car.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 716
Likes: 0
From: memphis
I agree the 7.3 seems to be a bit more trouble free than the 6.0 and bullet proof
many go to 300,000+ miles. I have a 6.0 ran good but the first time I got water in fuel
It has not recovered, I need injectors.
The 6.0 has more power and the 05 up ride better, but If I had a good health 7.3
I would not trade it. IMO
many go to 300,000+ miles. I have a 6.0 ran good but the first time I got water in fuel
It has not recovered, I need injectors.
The 6.0 has more power and the 05 up ride better, but If I had a good health 7.3
I would not trade it. IMO
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 743
Likes: 0
I have an 05 and I absolutly love it. I have driven many 7.3l modded and stock, and I would never own one. I guess if I had problems with my 6.0l I would be singing a different tune. I guess its all in the luck of the draw.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Thanks for replies, don't necessarily need newer, but would really like 4x4. Other than that, this truck is perfect. Local driving I get 17-18 mpg. I don't find as many used 7.3 4x4 with long bed. Have been also told that the first 6.0 had the most problems.
Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 5
From: Northern Arizona
blueflat, do you need four wheel drive or would it just be nice to have? What do you use your truck for?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 221
Likes: 29
From: USA
I drive an 03 60 bought new and driven about 100 miles a day. Truck also sits for extended periods when out of town, sometimes weeks at a time. Just turned 50k no problems. Love it.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Building contractor, still farm alittle. 95% of time just me,tools,dog. This truck has plenty to pull livestock, or loaded flatbed with tractorloader. Its just when you get off the drive, or the bad snow we had again this year that she lacks. Had thought of getting some more aggressive tread for back tires, have also considered gooseneck trailers, was told that would distribute weight better to rearend. Spoke to local ford salesman hour ago, told me pretty much same what I've read here, there are some good 6.0 s but percentagewise, he can't keep enough 7.3s around.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 21,113
Likes: 3,939
From: Ohio
I'm working on a 2000 7.3L right now that isn't flawless....looks like I am having to go inside the engine instead of a few relays or simpler things in life. Any engine requires maintenance at some point in time.
Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 5
From: Northern Arizona
It certainly sounds like you could use 4WD blueflat.
My 05 6.0 has been flawless for 30K miles. Not one hiccup and I have towed 12,500 pounds over 7K miles. The truck has needed the front brake rotors replaced (warranty) and the cd player froze (warranty). Certainly no reflection on the 6.0.
The 6.0 had a rough start in 03, no doubt, but Ford made the necessary changes and it's been an excellent engine backed by an outstanding automatic transmission. The 05 and later 4x4 trucks have coil spring front suspension with a tighter turning radius than all previous years and a Dana 60 front axle.
My 05 6.0 has been flawless for 30K miles. Not one hiccup and I have towed 12,500 pounds over 7K miles. The truck has needed the front brake rotors replaced (warranty) and the cd player froze (warranty). Certainly no reflection on the 6.0.
The 6.0 had a rough start in 03, no doubt, but Ford made the necessary changes and it's been an excellent engine backed by an outstanding automatic transmission. The 05 and later 4x4 trucks have coil spring front suspension with a tighter turning radius than all previous years and a Dana 60 front axle.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,952
Likes: 512
From: Foothills, CA
I owned a '99 PSD and it never gave me trouble, the next owner had a crack in one of the aluminum intake tubes (very minor), so I'd still say it's pretty much problem free. If you can afford the '05+ it'll be the most noticeable difference from your '01. They just are more refined, ride-wise, bigger brakes, etc., plus the integrated brake control came starting in '05. My '99 had a SCMT set on 60hp mode and it was a slug compared to my stock 6.0. As others have said, the torqshift is a simply amazing trans!
I say go for it!
I say go for it!
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Thanks for info. You guys have backed up what salesman had suggested also, that the 05's up had more improvements, and on the whole better luck with the 6.0. It will be hard to trade this 7.3 off tho. On a trivia note, was told that the 00-02 's had a Caterpiller injection system . True?
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,654
Likes: 0
From: Bossier City, LA
Well Cat was the guniea pig on the project. They did all the research with Federal Grant money, so the technology was shared. It is the same system on the 6.0, the 6.0 has increased injection pressures. Heui was the name they gave it, Hydraulic electro-something or other. In any case it was all for not, as they are going back to common rail due to the issues in which were not really revealed in testing, real world caught them sure enough though. It's probably not dead, and we may very well see it come back and work as it was supposed to, (pilot injection and fuel/emissions savings) this is one of those things I believe the Government pushed bigtime and Forced the manufacturers (emissions credits, waving emissions fines, Cat had a bunch of non compliant motors that were taxed an additional fee for not meeting new regs in time, Cat was also supposed to pay a portion of this as well, probably didn't though) to hurry up and run with it.
Anyway after all that, I owned an 03 PSD with the 6.0 and now an 05, the 05 is light years ahead of my old 03. The tow command and coil front end (4X4) are worth the price of admission alone, and Yes the tow command works that well.
Anyway after all that, I owned an 03 PSD with the 6.0 and now an 05, the 05 is light years ahead of my old 03. The tow command and coil front end (4X4) are worth the price of admission alone, and Yes the tow command works that well.
