Why are the tuned 7.3's more desireable??
Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 936
Likes: 0
From: Carlos, MN
As said before 6.0L have alot of problems and even after the problems are fixed it will continue to have the same problems again and again. The 7.3 is reliable and has never failed me. And I have pulled many vehicles out with it. Including 2 chevys at the same time, one was a 1 ton the other was 1/2 ton both buried in a ditch.
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,405
Likes: 2,894
From: Reed Point, MT
As far as the 6.0 head gasket issues go, too much of a good thing is never enough. By that I mean that the 17 headbolts that the 7.3 uses PER HEAD is far superior to the 10 per that the 6.0 uses. It's kind of the same deal when building a blown or high-perf Chevy engine vs. a Ford. Would you rather have 4 bolts around each cylinder or 5?
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
If I may chime in:
I recently bought my first truck with a diesel motor. But I have been driving vehicles on a regular basis with Powerstroke motors since they were introduced. I still remember our first ambulance at work with the PSD. Compared to the older 7.3's, that thing was a rocket. And we never had any trouble with them.
As our fleet is constantly evolving, I have driven every year Ford with a PSD. We never had any trouble with the 7.3's. But the 6.0's were constantly out of service and in the shop. One of the 2006 ambulances we have is on it's 3rd complete motor. It has less than 30,000 miles. Turbos are constantly going out. Head gaskets. Fuel problems. Electrical issues. Cooling issues.
And that first 7.3 PSD ambulance we had, it is still in service with another jurisdiction. And still on it's original motor with over 150,000 hard miles.
So when I was in the market for a F-350, I didn't even bother looking at a truck with a 6.0...
I recently bought my first truck with a diesel motor. But I have been driving vehicles on a regular basis with Powerstroke motors since they were introduced. I still remember our first ambulance at work with the PSD. Compared to the older 7.3's, that thing was a rocket. And we never had any trouble with them.
As our fleet is constantly evolving, I have driven every year Ford with a PSD. We never had any trouble with the 7.3's. But the 6.0's were constantly out of service and in the shop. One of the 2006 ambulances we have is on it's 3rd complete motor. It has less than 30,000 miles. Turbos are constantly going out. Head gaskets. Fuel problems. Electrical issues. Cooling issues.
And that first 7.3 PSD ambulance we had, it is still in service with another jurisdiction. And still on it's original motor with over 150,000 hard miles.
So when I was in the market for a F-350, I didn't even bother looking at a truck with a 6.0...
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
From: Tupelo,Ms
now thats a real test cause ambulances mostly run about 23 hrs a day if im not mistakin and its a good bit of idle then easy then FULL blown response. ive heard the same story from a paramedic buddy here. and he said they aint had probs out of the new 6.4's YET but i do have to say their new superdutys look BADDDDDD bull blown led's all the way round and big huge "i aint playin" grill! wheeewwww i bout dookd my draws!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
now thats a real test cause ambulances mostly run about 23 hrs a day if im not mistakin and its a good bit of idle then easy then FULL blown response. ive heard the same story from a paramedic buddy here. and he said they aint had probs out of the new 6.4's YET but i do have to say their new superdutys look BADDDDDD bull blown led's all the way round and big huge "i aint playin" grill! wheeewwww i bout dookd my draws!
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
From: Tupelo,Ms
ohh i like the looks of the new superdutys but i just dont bout that motor! i wouldnt trade my 7.3 fur it by any stretch!!! but they do look bad the new ambulances here have the exhaust swept out before back tires on drivers side with a huge a$$ DANGER sticker pointed to it. and they got some big fender flares on front soooo i may just buy 1 from them when they retire um make me a mobile huntin club out of it!
i'll camo that sum b out he he he
i'll camo that sum b out he he he
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
You mean like this?? 
I was bored the other day, so I got out the spray cans. lol...
I was bored the other day, so I got out the spray cans. lol...
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Flagstaff, Arizona
Joe is that the Ol' "spray on mud" that Mike was advertising for last year?????? haha
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: maui,hawaii
from what I was told the 7.3 is a multipule use engine used in many applications but to put it into the ford truck it had to be detuned to pass regulations. the 6.0 is also a multi use engine but they had to boost engine to run in ford pick-up also as far as the head problem with the 6.0 they have aluminuim head and 7.3 cast to me less flex and much stronger 7.3 all the way
Master of Strokes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6,808
Likes: 25
From: CA
Personally I have no problems with either my 7.3 or 6.0. Now I don't drive the 7.3 easy but then again I don't tow 13,000 with it either like the 6.0 does. I have not had any major problems with either motor so as far as it goes both engines are great. Side note my dads fire house has a 03 F-550 with the 6.0 and it has 335,000 miles on it and the only problem is 2 EGR valves.
Smokin
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,849
Likes: 0
I'd have to agree with you all on the reliability of the 7.3.
