Wondering what is the better of the two Diesel engines ford introduced in the Excursion, 7.3 or 6.0?? In the market for a Diesel Excursion but trying to decide what is overall better. I am leaning more towards the 7.3 due to its proven record but i know the 2005 excursion were not that bad. One good thing in the 2005 is the 5 spd auto trans. Thanks.

 

I had an 01 Ex. with the 7.3 now have an 05 with a 6.0 i liked the 7.3, more of a work horse. if i did it over again, i would go with the 6.8 V-10 . had it in my 02 superduty. hassle free winter performance

 

International and many Ford mechanics depend on you getting the 6.0 to keep their paychecks going in this economy. What do you think?

 

LOL! So true!Look in my sig, you can see which one I prefer and stand by.Stewart

 

With my X in the shop and the possibility of it being totalled, I did some learning on the 6.0. The 6.0 is a very well engineered engine, it's also built to tighter standards and more sensitive than the 7.3. Therefore it requires more love and closer attention than the 7.3

For starters, filters...

Be it air, oil, fuel, or trans, it's highly suggested and recommended that you use Ford Motorcraft filters and nothing else. The filters on a 6.0 are some of the best out there when it comes to keeping contaminants out of the engine. Us 7.3 owners can get away with buying non Ford fuel filters off of ebay and using them in our trucks with no real issue. There is more than what meets the eye when it comes to the difference between a Ford designed 6.0 filter and a purolator, napa, or anything else out there. These filters are specifically designed for the 6.0 and it's filtration requirements and is often imitated, but never duplicated.

Fuel

Proper lubrication on the fuel side of the injectors is just one of the keys to an awesome, trouble free engine. Regualr use of either Stanadyne (if you can get it) or Diesel Kleen will keep your injectors happy and your engine running smoothly.

Oils, coolant, and other fluids

Never use any of the cheap or blended stuff or you'll end up replacing an engine sooner or later. Nuff said.

Since I've learned more about the 6.0 and what would be required of me as a potential owner (if my truck was totalled out), I've realized that it's not that hard to care for; you just need to be specific, pay close attention, and give your truck what it requires of you.


As far as the 7.3 is concerned, it's proven track record and reliability is something that sets it apart from any other diesel engine out there. To be honest with you, either way you decide to go you will end up with a truck that will bring you years of trouble free, faithful service, you just gotta take good care of it. Happy hunting

 

From what I have read, the 6.0 is just more of a hit and miss engine. . "are you feeling lucky?"
7.3 is just about a bulletproof workhorse.... Humm wonder why you don't see 6.0's in medium duty trucks.. like my 00 International 4700 with the T444e

 

That too, before you buy one, check out the oasis report and make sure it doesn't have any major issues with it. Some trucks live at the Ford shop and may have a troubled future. Thats why when I see a low mileage 6.0, I'm very leary of it. Higher mileage 6.0s may sometimesshow reliability and a trouble free engine, again check the oasis report.

 

04 6.0 with 180k trouble free miles. Sure, you are highly recommended to use Motorcraft filters. To bad that they're dirt cheap and readily available just about anywhere. I don't see the downside to that one. Just switched over to Rotella 5w-40 oil with fuel and oil filter changes. It's colder than hell here, I plug the truck in overnight. Timer kicks on at 3am, and by the time I start it at 6am it runs beautifully.

Original batteries and nothing more than general maintenance, minus a vacuum leak in the 4x4 that prevented me from using 4wd on the fly for a short time, this truck performs. 7.3's are nice, but the 6.0 is my cup of tea. A lot would disagree, but think about it. That 7.3 has been out forever. Everyone and their mother has owned one. The 6.0's are newer, and much fewer people have had them, so there are fewer people to attest to their strong performance and minimal maintenance. Sure a few people have had their 6.0 gernade on them. I'm sure a few 7.3's have as well.

However you don't hear about people who have had no problems, you hear about people with the problems. Threads like "my 6.0 won't work" or "my 6.0 spun a bearing" might pop up, but how many "my 6.0 is running awesome at 180k" threads do you see? People just don't start threads like that. I should start one...

I towed 3 cars up an icy hill that were blocking traffic the other day. To get around the chaos I had to drive through a field up the hill, as there were cars everywhere. Quite honestly, I didn't feel the cars behind me. I've hauled 6000lb car trailers and forgotten about them. I get 13-14mpg sitting in bumper to bumper traffic every day, 18-20mpg on road trips. I could not be happier with this engine.

 

This sums up the 6.0 very well. There was also a problem with casting sand left behind during manufacturing the engine that can be very troublesome. The sand can plug the oil cooler causing failure of it and the EGR cooler,a coolant filter is required on some trucks. The other thing is the 6.0 does not like to be left to idle for extended periods,high idle mod is a must or you will have a engine problems. Then there is the head bolt issue,some stretch and lift the heads some don't it's hit and miss so IMHO plan on studding the engine at some point.

 

Yeah, but remember, what goes up must come down. I remember when 1999-2003 7.3 filters were expensive. When I first got my truck in August 2001, I remember I was floored when they told me how much it was for a fuel filter. (more if I let them change it)

That's exactly why I'm considering one if my truck gets totalled out. I've experieneced the 7.3 and am quite knowledgeable about it's ins, outs, quirks, and how make a sick 7.3 run like a champ. I feel it's time to move on to a 6.0 as I'm someone who is always willing to learn about and try something new.

 

If it were mine, I'd stud the engine today. Why? In my experience, when an engine is like a woman going to the bathroom outside. She tends to want to go with her girlfriends. Very often, I have something that goes out and affects another item. How much the effect is variable.

Also, when you stud the engine today, you can control things. When you let it break, some law always dictates that it breaks in the middle of BFE. Take my trans. Did it break in town? No. The diode gave way when I was out of town with an RV. IOW, when it breaks, it breaks at the worst possible time.