Gas vs PSD
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 2
I'm sure that truck has had its share of repair work as well, it takes a lot of time and money to get a pickup to that kinda mileage. It is a testament to that power-plant though. There's two things that really separate the pickup from the semi-trucks and mileage, besides the obvious weight. 1) Semi's have a lot more gears in their transmissions, allowing the truck to keep lower rpms and stay in the engines peak torque curve longer. (look at the modern autos having 6-7 gears, and the manuals like the Eaton 10speed.) Compared to the pickups with a 4sp like the 7.3. The gearing in the axles is also way lower taking strain off the drive train. 2) The driver of a semi is vastly different than the driver of a pickup. The semi (of the most part) is in no hurry to get moving after a stoplight, and for the most part doesn't weave in and out of traffic accelerating and decelerating with every car he passes by. The pickups have a harder life then semi's because the drivers push them more.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 0
From: Dongola, IL
I'm sure that truck has had its share of repair work as well, it takes a lot of time and money to get a pickup to that kinda mileage. It is a testament to that power-plant though. There's two things that really separate the pickup from the semi-trucks and mileage, besides the obvious weight. 1) Semi's have a lot more gears in their transmissions, allowing the truck to keep lower rpms and stay in the engines peak torque curve longer. (look at the modern autos having 6-7 gears, and the manuals like the Eaton 10speed.) Compared to the pickups with a 4sp like the 7.3. The gearing in the axles is also way lower taking strain off the drive train. 2) The driver of a semi is vastly different than the driver of a pickup. The semi (of the most part) is in no hurry to get moving after a stoplight, and for the most part doesn't weave in and out of traffic accelerating and decelerating with every car he passes by. The pickups have a harder life then semi's because the drivers push them more.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 155
Likes: 2
I would have thought they would be lower than that, and cross referencing it does look like I'm wrong on the axle gears for semis. Still lower first gears though, which still takes a lot of shock off the drivetrain. I yeah I forgot about the power to displacement being much lower on the larger rigs.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,267
Likes: 5
Also they don't get cold started to run to wal mart or safeway.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
also semi's usually redline about 2100 rpm. The one in my truck has a sweet spot of around 1400rpm and even on acceration and shifting it stays within the 1100-1500rpm range. RARELY does a pickup engine stay that low much. my 7.3 is almost always above 2000rpm on acceleration and around 1900 cruising 2 lanes and over 2000 on interstate.
The rear ratio's are very deceptive. my F250 has 3.73 gears the big truck has 3.31s but that doesn't account for tire size. The ones on my pickup are 32.8" the X-one tires on the semi are 40.4" But as noted the semi has 8 more gears.
Also something else to take into consideration- 7.3 holds 15 quarts of oil the big truck holds 12 GALLONS and has 3 oil filters.
The rear ratio's are very deceptive. my F250 has 3.73 gears the big truck has 3.31s but that doesn't account for tire size. The ones on my pickup are 32.8" the X-one tires on the semi are 40.4" But as noted the semi has 8 more gears.
Also something else to take into consideration- 7.3 holds 15 quarts of oil the big truck holds 12 GALLONS and has 3 oil filters.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 11
I don't know how you say that. The turbine, bearings or liquid bears, and the housing has to be made out of materials that displaces heat or none effected. To me that suggest that heat is the enemy of the exhaust side as well.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Holy ****!
800 pages of this? wow....
Where to start......?
Ah what the hell, I don't care about power, I'll keep my 2 old slow IDI's, at least they hardly cost me anything in maintenance and they'll work an pull what ever will hook up to 'em, sure I'll be in the slow lane, but who cares, pass me and quit honkin
800 pages of this? wow....
Where to start......?
Ah what the hell, I don't care about power, I'll keep my 2 old slow IDI's, at least they hardly cost me anything in maintenance and they'll work an pull what ever will hook up to 'em, sure I'll be in the slow lane, but who cares, pass me and quit honkin
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 0
From: Dongola, IL
Well, Heat within reason. My point is that hot air helps make the turbine side more efficient. Even if it were possible to use cold air through the turbo(exhaust side) it wouldn't be near as easy to spool the turbo....
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 0
From: Dongola, IL
also semi's usually redline about 2100 rpm. The one in my truck has a sweet spot of around 1400rpm and even on acceration and shifting it stays within the 1100-1500rpm range. RARELY does a pickup engine stay that low much. my 7.3 is almost always above 2000rpm on acceleration and around 1900 cruising 2 lanes and over 2000 on interstate.
The rear ratio's are very deceptive. my F250 has 3.73 gears the big truck has 3.31s but that doesn't account for tire size. The ones on my pickup are 32.8" the X-one tires on the semi are 40.4" But as noted the semi has 8 more gears.
Also something else to take into consideration- 7.3 holds 15 quarts of oil the big truck holds 12 GALLONS and has 3 oil filters.
The rear ratio's are very deceptive. my F250 has 3.73 gears the big truck has 3.31s but that doesn't account for tire size. The ones on my pickup are 32.8" the X-one tires on the semi are 40.4" But as noted the semi has 8 more gears.
Also something else to take into consideration- 7.3 holds 15 quarts of oil the big truck holds 12 GALLONS and has 3 oil filters.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
the heat is only an advantage in that hot air is for lack of better word "larger". when it cools off it contracts (principle that turns the engine) so as you get the turbo further away from the engine the exhaust gasses cool and slightly contract meaning less actually pushing through the restriction that is the turbine housing. BUT remember that in a turbo the two sides are connected so if you could keep the exhaust side cooler the intake side would also be cooler and thus produce denser air making more power. One of those catch 22 situations but I know some turbo gasser drag cars put the turbo at the rear bumper, yes you have more lag but the peak power is increased so they claim.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 7
Although its been many years since I owned a 7.3 I would have to say the worst thing was the amount of noise it made warming up. In a campground it was impossible to be quiet if you wanted to leave early.
My last 7.3 gave me a lot of trouble and that's not typical of a 7.3. Even if I found a great deal I would still go with a late model 6.0 for the noise reduction.
And my 6.0 was a lot of trouble.
Now I'm in my second V10. I think I'm going in circles........
My last 7.3 gave me a lot of trouble and that's not typical of a 7.3. Even if I found a great deal I would still go with a late model 6.0 for the noise reduction.
And my 6.0 was a lot of trouble.
Now I'm in my second V10. I think I'm going in circles........
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
To much noise in a campground? LOL
Tell me about it! IDI's are even louder than Powerstrokes, early morning cold start with the timing advance on it, man, probably wakes everyone up in the campground with a nice Diesel smell
Tell me about it! IDI's are even louder than Powerstrokes, early morning cold start with the timing advance on it, man, probably wakes everyone up in the campground with a nice Diesel smell
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 7
I forgot about those early 7.3's. Although I never owned one I have heard them.
