Looking at a 2001 F-250 XLT Lariat, 7.3PSD, auto, long bed ext cab.

Have had it for about 4 days as a test drive, used it to tow a jeep on an open trailer about 100 miles and it feels way down on power compared to the 00 Ram 2500 Cummings I am possibly getting rid of. (too many issues with the Dodge).

I checked the overhead mileage computer (I'm sure it's not 100% accurate) and it indicated about 11.5 mpg towing and 17.9 empty, mostly highway driving. Is this normal for these trucks? (the dodge was getting about 15 towing and 22 highway)

I don't know the rear gear ratio, do know it's not a limited slip however if that helps. The truck feels sluggish even empty unless I really mash the skinny pedal........climbing hills it downshifts and holds 2700 rpm or so. No black smoke or any other colored smoke coming out of the tail pipe. There is a small pool of oil in the intake valley area.

It was a one owner truck, very well maintained from the looks of it, drives nice and trans shifts smoothly.......it just doesn't seem to have the power I'd expected.

Before I drop $16,000 on this thing and then find out it's got issues I figured I'd come here and see if you guys could give me some pointers. Air filter is new and clean. Beyond that I'm clueless about Diesels.

Thanks and Happy Easter.

 

Welcome to FTE. I'm not sure why you think you're clueless about diesels if you've been driving a Cummins. The PSD will have a different feel than the Cummins. If you're unhappy with power there are plenty of mods you can do to fix that.

First you can't trust the computer to tell you mileage. A few are accurate or close, most are way off. I'd check into the oil leak, but it's likely something simple that we can help you fix.

As for other tips on what to look for read this. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...questions.html

 

I have only driven the Cummings for a few weeks off and on as I've been in Iraq since purchased. I just came in from taking the Ford down to wash it and grab some breakfast.

I realize how subjective the butt dyno is, believe me I do........the Ford just really feels down on power. No check engine light though.

On another note, when I do give it throttle it sounds gravelly if that makes sense......and at cold start up, it starts fine, idles at about 800 - 900 rpm initially, then I hear what sounds like an air compressor hiss sound and the idle jumps to about 1200 - 1300 until I tap the throttle, then it drops back down.

I will do a search myself but if you know of a chip or programmer that is plug and play (I don't want or need to get involved in another money pit like my jeep) that will boost performance as well as fuel mileage...primarily interested in mileage gains....then I'm all ears.

Thanks for the help.

 

Welcome home. The high idle when cold is normal. Touching any of your pedals will send it back down to normal levels. DP-Tuner seems to be the consensus for best programmer, but you need to add guages and other things first. You might see a slight increase in mileage, but to get better MPG's with or without a chip the best thing to do is go easy on the skinny pedal.

Cummins is a great motor and will likely feel stronger. The problem is the truck they put around the motor.

 

Tell me about it..........ball joints (upper and lower), tie rod ends, drag link ends, hydroboost pump leak, governor and transducer in the trans..........all at one shot. That's why the Dodge is going to the wayside. I've narrowed the replacement down to this '01 SD and an 02 Dodge 2500 Cummins. Ford has 96K on it as of this morning and the Dodge is at 67K. I'm torn, prefer Ford trucks but like the power of the Dodge and I'm concerned about the oil leak. From searching it sounds like what you guys on here all call the HPOP or something along those lines but I'm not inclined to get greasy working on it myself so it's a shop repair issue if I do buy it.

Thanks again for your help, I appreciate it. As for the welcome home, I'm heading back out on the 7th for another 6 months so I'm trying to get this all taken care of so when I do get back I can hook the trailer up and drag the Jeep out to the trails without any hassle.

 

That hiss you hear sounds like the truck going into high idle so it will warm up faster. Before you start looking at a chip your goin to want to get an intake, gauges and exaust. Your goin to need a boos, trans temp gauge and a exaust gas temp gauge so you can see whats goin on wiht your truck when you chip it. Im my personal experice any of the off the shelf tuners dont give you better milage, it just shows you better on the computer overhead. The best chip IMO is the Dp-tuner it is a custom chip set up for you and your truck. I have seen better milage with their 80 econ setting.
www.Dp-tuner.com


On Edit: I need to type faster next time, Chris beat me to it..

 

Heh, yeah you guys are quick. I really don't want to get into the whole modification thing, was hoping there was a programmer out there that would work well with the factory equipment. I don't want to race the truck or beat on it, just want it to pull a 4,000lb jeep on a 1200lb trailer up and down hills and do it while getting better than 11.5 mpg.

I guess I'll look harder at the 02 Dodge, take it out for a few days and see how it does and go from there. I'm really concerned about the leak on the top of the engine too.

Thanks again

 

Well for $16k, plus about $1500 you can have a truck that will blow the stock Dodge away and be very reliable at it. The leaks on top of the engine are quite easy to fix, and may not be a real "leak", but a side-effect of having the crank case vented directly into the turbo. The pressurized oily air pushes past the rubber boots and makes it look like you have an oil leak. I panicked when I saw mine, but when I found this site, all was right with the world, and my truck is much happier for it. I'd say if you're getting a good deal on the PSD, get it and drop a few more bucks into it, not for "racing" mods per se, but more like power adders & reliability mods.

Maybe I missed it, but how many miles are on the truck?

 

I don't race my PSD at all, but I got an upgraded transmission valve body (BTS), gauges (tranny temp, boost, exhaust temps), better air intake, and a DP Tuner. Occasionally I pull a 20' horse trailer and she does great. My mileage (empty) gets as high as 19mpg.

I know I'll get flamed for this, but the Cummins will most likely get you consistent, better mileage and might be a better option.. MAYBE. I will not give up my PSD for a Dodge truck. Period. Where my girlfriend lives is ranch land. If I see 20 truck & trailer combos in a weekend, 16+ are 7.3 PSDs. 2-3 are Cummins, and then there's the oddball Duramax.

So, if you want a truck that will seriously last and be able to work HARD...7.3 PSD all the way. If you plan to abuse it, unload in a couple years, and want the best mileage at the expense of a so-so body, get the Dodge. FYI - Wheatina (a member here) pulled a 49,000lb loaded wheat truck last year up a slight grade on a 1/4 mile gravel road with his 7.3 Dually Ford. These trucks are S T R O N G ! ! !

 

The truck has just a tick over 96K on it, it's an '01 Lariat Ext Cab 250, auto trans. I'd like to be able to find out the axle ratio in it but doing a search on here didn't show me anything useful. I might have just not done it right though. LOL

It won't be getting abused, I need it to reliably haul a 4000 pound jeep up and down some hills here in eastern PA and that's pretty much it. I've been driving it a few days now, and combined city and highway (mostly highway) I'm seeing right at 15.8 according to the on board computer.

I would much prefer the Ford over the Dodge, especially based on my most recent experience with Dodge, but I don't want to sell myself short if that makes sense.

I'll look into that oil leak that might not be a leak, thanks for the tip.

 

Don't believe the overhead "lie-2-me(ter)" - calculate by hand to get accurate numbers. if you want tops in reliability, then go for a Ford 7.3 Super Duty, but the "mods" are things you'll want to do to 1) make your life easier, 2) improve reliability, and 3) get the best mileage possible. I'm from MD originally and Strokin_It7.3 lives in MD currently - I know the hills you'll likely be going to, so get the Ford for sure. There's lots to check on any used vehicle but the crew in this forum are just stunning in their knowledge and abilities.

 

I agree don't trust the lie-o-meter mine says I am getting 15.8 but hand calculated I am getting 19 unloaded in town.

 

I drove an 02 Cummins 2500 longbed ext cab (basically the same setup as the Ford) today, as well as an 04 Crew Cab shortbed cummins with the 6spd in it.............went ahead and bought the Ford.............the Dodges just felt wrong, strange noise out of the 04 and the 02 had the cocked steering wheel and pull to the left I first experienced when I found out my 00 needed Ball Joints.

I'm gonna rely on you guys a lot I think, want to get this potential oil leak resolved before the 7th when I head back to the sand box.


Thanks guys

 

stock they might have more power but overall the ford is the way to go (thats not just me talkin a couple people I know think that overall ford makes a better truck after towing with dodges and chebys) the 7.3 is a good workhorse and will outlast the others IMO.