6.9 opinion
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Haha well my "turbo" on my 6.9 is a 7.3 IP lol, acually made a fair difference. But NEVER will I put a Turbo on my 6.9 and 1990 7.3 I hate the Whistle a turbo makes! And plus i'm all about keeping everything as original as possible so me putting a turbo would kill the originallity. But yes lol I do agree a turbo makes a BIG difference, i've driven a 2001 7.3 Powerstroke.
You don't like the sound of a turbo?
As Jim Allen once said, there's no excuse for a N/A diesel. Sounds like yours is running rather well though.
Just one observation. Your total rig might be over 10 000lbs, then thats not really comparing to the mentioned exampler earlier. You need to add another 5500lbs at least for the weight of the tow vehicle.
After closer investigation I discovered that their is something shady about the truck. The truck has no id tag inside the sticker panel because it was repainted. Also, the registration stick says 1987 but the 6.9 motor tag says 1983. So either the original motor died and they put in an 83 and just painted the truck or it was originally a 1983 truck that was wrecked. Then someone bought a 1987 donor truck and put that body on it and just registered it as the new truck. Either way, I don't think I'm going to buy it now. I think the 6.9 is a great motor but I really just wanted to have a truck with the ZF5 in it. My current truck has only the three speed C6 in it and it kills me on gas with the 460.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
In my experience you're lucky you drove a 2001 PS because the '94-'97 PSs are kind of a dog stock.
My buddy's '01 PS has a "chip" but it is WAY quicker than my '97.
My '94 IDI turbo is pretty much stock and suprisingly it's not too far behind the '01 and will blow the doors off of my '97 PS.
BTW your motorhome must be kinda rare. I've been looking for a later body style 7.3L IDI conversion van and they're hard to find, most are work vans. I might have to settle for a PS.
My buddy's '01 PS has a "chip" but it is WAY quicker than my '97.
My '94 IDI turbo is pretty much stock and suprisingly it's not too far behind the '01 and will blow the doors off of my '97 PS.
BTW your motorhome must be kinda rare. I've been looking for a later body style 7.3L IDI conversion van and they're hard to find, most are work vans. I might have to settle for a PS.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Blasphemy!
You don't like the sound of a turbo?
As Jim Allen once said, there's no excuse for a N/A diesel. Sounds like yours is running rather well though.
Just one observation. Your total rig might be over 10 000lbs, then thats not really comparing to the mentioned exampler earlier. You need to add another 5500lbs at least for the weight of the tow vehicle.
1983 is not a good year for the IDIs. Prone to cracks and the heads are also weaker. I'd pass....
You don't like the sound of a turbo?
As Jim Allen once said, there's no excuse for a N/A diesel. Sounds like yours is running rather well though.
Just one observation. Your total rig might be over 10 000lbs, then thats not really comparing to the mentioned exampler earlier. You need to add another 5500lbs at least for the weight of the tow vehicle.
1983 is not a good year for the IDIs. Prone to cracks and the heads are also weaker. I'd pass....
Haha you know what N/A means? Need/Air lol TURBO!!!! but not for me haha!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
That's another good reason why I wouldn't put a Turbo, I'm pretty sure it does put more wear on the engine. I do believe a non-turbo diesel will live longer with proper maintenance, I gotta perfect example: My 1990 F250 7.3 IDI has 374,000 miles and starts/runs and drives like new. (well doesn't start like new in winter thought lol) and plus doesn't burn Oil, the Oil level will go down a bitty bit after time but nothing to worry about. I wish I can say the same for the body thought.... I got no more floors. lol
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
If you drive a turbo engine like it should be driven, time to warm up to operating temp before you hammer the throttle, cool down time before you shut down, oil changes when it should be done, the turbo will have a very small impact on engine life.
In fact if you tow or haul often, I am going to say the turbo will actually increase engine life.
Power to run over those small hills in high gear with the turbo engine, the NA engine is back there dropping gears to get to the top.
That time at higher RPM's counts as miles not driven after a while.
Let's look at an example on a long 70 mile grade like the Rockies.
If I was in my truck with a turbo, at 2550 RPM I am running 70.5 miles an hour.
If I was NA and had to drop a gear to third, 2550 would be 37.5 miles an hour.
In that instance, the turbo engine just drove almost twice as far with the same amount of engine revolutions in 1/2 the time.
With the turbo, I am burning more fuel per revolution of the engine.
But I am not burning twice as much, so the MPG numbers are better also.
Actually after thinking about it, I am going to say the turbo will increase engine life across the board.
In fact if you tow or haul often, I am going to say the turbo will actually increase engine life.
Power to run over those small hills in high gear with the turbo engine, the NA engine is back there dropping gears to get to the top.
That time at higher RPM's counts as miles not driven after a while.
Let's look at an example on a long 70 mile grade like the Rockies.
If I was in my truck with a turbo, at 2550 RPM I am running 70.5 miles an hour.
If I was NA and had to drop a gear to third, 2550 would be 37.5 miles an hour.
In that instance, the turbo engine just drove almost twice as far with the same amount of engine revolutions in 1/2 the time.
With the turbo, I am burning more fuel per revolution of the engine.
But I am not burning twice as much, so the MPG numbers are better also.
Actually after thinking about it, I am going to say the turbo will increase engine life across the board.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
No one even bothers to offer a diesel vehicle anymore that is N/A. What people tend to forget about diesels is they are free breathers and when they are not turbocharged, they run more rich the harder they are pulling. This increases thermal loading on the engine until you have to back off the fuel to a safe setting. Its basically a linear relation. More load = more heat. Turbocharged [diesel] engines are a little different and can stay out of the heat for longer before EGTs get dangerously high.
All the extra air that goes into the engine actually reduce EGTs for the same amount of power produced/fuel consumed. This also tends to help MPGs too for obvious reasons. Folks also forget that thermal loading plays at least as big a role on head gaskets as actual head pressures. Less thermal loading across the operating range means the increased risk of a head gasket failure is negated.
I'm not trying to pressure anyone into feeling like they HAVE to turbocharge their IDI, but there certainly isn't a reason to be afraid to as long as you don't go nuts with it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 21,285
Likes: 15
From: Nutter Fort, WV
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Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 6,900
Likes: 3
From: Campbell River, B.C.
Honestly, I don't think what you did was nuts at all. You basically redesigned the engine instead of just slapping on a turbo and calling it good. Your experience was the main reason I was confident enough to have 20 thou taken off my pistons when I rebuilt my engine. On a hot summer day, it will still fire off without glow plugs when parked in the sun. Header wrap mad a noticeable difference too.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 0
From: Sweet Home, OR
That's another good reason why I wouldn't put a Turbo, I'm pretty sure it does put more wear on the engine. I do believe a non-turbo diesel will live longer with proper maintenance, I gotta perfect example: My 1990 F250 7.3 IDI has 374,000 miles and starts/runs and drives like new. (well doesn't start like new in winter thought lol) and plus doesn't burn Oil, the Oil level will go down a bitty bit after time but nothing to worry about. I wish I can say the same for the body thought.... I got no more floors. lol
but my '94 IDI Turbo has EXACTLY the same mileage as your '90 and it runs awesome too.I personally would have to agree that a turbo actually extends your engine life if used SANELY.
I'd hate to have to prove it with real world trucks though as there are old Fords with a ton of miles on them that are both ways. I could see people THINKING that the NA engines were more durable though because of the many 7.3Ls that have had their lifespan shortend because of the thinner cylinder walls.
My grandfather-in-law has an old style block '85 6.9L witth a little over 300K on it and he just had to do the first rebuild on the C-6 about a year ago.
It's a real working farm truck too.
Cummins made N.A. 4 and 3BTs also but they never were used in pick ups so it would be hard to tell if they had any shorter or longer lives.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
If you drive a turbo engine like it should be driven, time to warm up to operating temp before you hammer the throttle, cool down time before you shut down, oil changes when it should be done, the turbo will have a very small impact on engine life.
In fact if you tow or haul often, I am going to say the turbo will actually increase engine life.
Power to run over those small hills in high gear with the turbo engine, the NA engine is back there dropping gears to get to the top.
That time at higher RPM's counts as miles not driven after a while.
Let's look at an example on a long 70 mile grade like the Rockies.
If I was in my truck with a turbo, at 2550 RPM I am running 70.5 miles an hour.
If I was NA and had to drop a gear to third, 2550 would be 37.5 miles an hour.
In that instance, the turbo engine just drove almost twice as far with the same amount of engine revolutions in 1/2 the time.
With the turbo, I am burning more fuel per revolution of the engine.
But I am not burning twice as much, so the MPG numbers are better also.
Actually after thinking about it, I am going to say the turbo will increase engine life across the board.
In fact if you tow or haul often, I am going to say the turbo will actually increase engine life.
Power to run over those small hills in high gear with the turbo engine, the NA engine is back there dropping gears to get to the top.
That time at higher RPM's counts as miles not driven after a while.
Let's look at an example on a long 70 mile grade like the Rockies.
If I was in my truck with a turbo, at 2550 RPM I am running 70.5 miles an hour.
If I was NA and had to drop a gear to third, 2550 would be 37.5 miles an hour.
In that instance, the turbo engine just drove almost twice as far with the same amount of engine revolutions in 1/2 the time.
With the turbo, I am burning more fuel per revolution of the engine.
But I am not burning twice as much, so the MPG numbers are better also.
Actually after thinking about it, I am going to say the turbo will increase engine life across the board.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Sorry to burst your bubble but my '94 IDI Turbo has EXACTLY the same mileage as your '90 and it runs awesome too.
I personally would have to agree that a turbo actually extends your engine life if used SANELY.
I'd hate to have to prove it with real world trucks though as there are old Fords with a ton of miles on them that are both ways. I could see people THINKING that the NA engines were more durable though because of the many 7.3Ls that have had their lifespan shortend because of the thinner cylinder walls.
My grandfather-in-law has an old style block '85 6.9L witth a little over 300K on it and he just had to do the first rebuild on the C-6 about a year ago.
It's a real working farm truck too.
Cummins made N.A. 4 and 3BTs also but they never were used in pick ups so it would be hard to tell if they had any shorter or longer lives.
but my '94 IDI Turbo has EXACTLY the same mileage as your '90 and it runs awesome too.I personally would have to agree that a turbo actually extends your engine life if used SANELY.
I'd hate to have to prove it with real world trucks though as there are old Fords with a ton of miles on them that are both ways. I could see people THINKING that the NA engines were more durable though because of the many 7.3Ls that have had their lifespan shortend because of the thinner cylinder walls.
My grandfather-in-law has an old style block '85 6.9L witth a little over 300K on it and he just had to do the first rebuild on the C-6 about a year ago.
It's a real working farm truck too.
Cummins made N.A. 4 and 3BTs also but they never were used in pick ups so it would be hard to tell if they had any shorter or longer lives.
