Ok, I am just going to throw this out-
I have 225K on my SD, manual 6, 4" back, 4 spot Bully dog chip, usually on the 2nd slot, wicked wheel, 6637 filter. (Used to run stacks, but got tired of washing the boat). It leads a pretty easy life, doesnt pull like I used to, mainly either a lightly loaded gooseneck, or a 4500lb trailer. I do throw some smoke every now and then, but lots of highway miles too.

The only thing I have ever really done in the motor was to replace the turbo pedestal Orings, the injector seals, and a CPS. My question is, how does someone tell if rings and cylinders are still good? It smokes quite a bit when cold, blue smoke, but not super bad, and it normally clears up within a minute, maybe a minute and a half. No smoke other than black on the road when driving. No problems (KNOCK ON WOOD!!!), just curious how a diesel shows its age. Are the powerstrokes better off getting a new longblock type replacement, or just cylinder sleeves and rings?
Thanks, have a good one!

 

start truck, remove oil fill cap, and turn oil fill cap upside down and place it on top of oil fill tube. Did the pressure of the vapors coming out of the fill tube "blow" the cap off the tube, or did the cap just fall off from vibrations from the engine. If it was from the vapors then you have too much blowby, and it could be a cylinder is going down. If you look at the vapos coming out of the tube is it a steady stream, or a puff, puff,puff. Stream is o.k., puffs= not so good, depending on the force of said puffs.

 

Can't really answer your question since I've only got 280k on mine. If you're worried about your rings, pull the oil fill cap at idle and check for signs of blowby. Seeing smoke is ok, seeing puff, puff, puff, that you can feel by placing your hand over the fill tube is bad.

Powerstrokeshop.com sells a rebuild kit for a little over $1000 when the time comes, so you might want to bookmark that site.

 

i dont think these engines are sleeved... i've heard that the 444 or 7.3 is considered a throw away block.. you COULD however just bore it over then sleeve it with new pistons and rings. short block runs about 3k if i remember right

 

to check for blow by..take the oil filler cap off and set it on the filler spout upside down..it will vibrate off but if it blows right off..you have too much blow by..I have read hundreds of rebuild threads on the other site...a lot of them with over 200k on them..most everyone said the cross marks from honing are still on the cylinder walls....it seems the rod and main bearings are what you need to be concerned about...but even they last well over 200k..that is if the preventive maintenance has been done to the truck during its life time..

 

the proper way to check rings is with a differential cylinder tester, but that will require you to take the valve covers off and pull the glow plugs on the cyls and get an adapter.

you put in usually 80 psi regulated and see how much pressure blows by the rings. generally anything less than 60 psi indicated on the low side gauge means the ring/seal is toast. The tester also tells you if the valves are leaking by hissing in either the intake manifold or the exhaust.

the puff test on the oil filler is easier but not as accurate

 

I'll bet if you replace all your glow plugs, the smoke will clear up.
All it takes is one burned out glow plug in the morning to make a lot of smoke until the engine warms up.

 

Cool, I just got home, will try the oil cap trick tomorrow. Hey Kwik, long time no talk. Did the glow plugs with the injector seals about 2 years ago. Soo not looking forward to doing it again, but it did cross my mind. It still starts OK down to around 10 or 11 degrees still, I can put up with a bit of blue till it gets much worse. 27 below the other day did stop me in my tracks though, the GFCI outlet got me at the firehouse when I was trying to sleep. What a surprise.

I guess the whole ring/engine thing comes down to mulling over buying a new one, which I really dont want to do, but it does seem now is the time to buy...I also like the 7.3 over the newer diesels, love my 6 spd, and the truck just "fits". I wouldnt have a problem remotoring in another 60-80K or so, especially if a short block would be 3000. I cant say I would be too upset about putting 5K in a truck that I can get 400K from, especially with the miles I log, I view it more as a really expensive preventative maintance.
Does that make sense to anyone?
Will update on the oil cap tomorrow. My gut says I am good, but it would be nice to know.
Dig
PS, Hey Brandon, never heard of a 650 dash in a SD. Got a pic?

 

I am in almost the same boat as you are, high miles and wondering what is coming to me down the road in repairs. I have made my mind up. I am going to get another truck. The motor might last us forever but it is everything else around ti that makes it questionable. When it comes to the point that your paying enough in parts every month then it is time to invest in a newer truck. Sooner or later the high mileage truck will cost me a job or ever worse, a customer. I can't have that on my clock. A customer is going to need something done right away and the truck is going to let me down. Will it be the engine? who know, might be a tranny or something else. at this point it isnt worth it to keep it. We both need reliable transportation. keith hawthorne ford has a 7.3 with 50k on it if your interested. they are located in my holly nc. It isn't worth it man lets get us some newer trucks

 

Yep, here ya go! Unfortunatley it wont work for you with the handshaker.....

 

That is sick. If i could find something to put there in that square instead of switches, i'd have one.

 

That is a wicked cool dash, I wish I could use one. That is the first thing that has made me not like my 6. Surprised they dont fit, but have really never poked around the 650s much.
Put the cap on and also used my palm, no puff-puff at all, just a steady flow of smoke. Good news for me, matches the 40 degrees and sun we are finally seeing here in OH.
Thanks for the input, it sure is hard considering getting rid of my ride. 99% sure I will just keep it. Guthrie, I understand completely, and if the right deal comes around, I might jump on it, but for now, I just can't see fixing the unbroken.
Oh PSD powergods, please dont make that statement bite me in my ****!!!