Traded a gas 3/4 ton Chevrolet last month for a 2001 F-250 Crew Cab 7.3 Turbo. I have several diesel farm tractors but this is my first experience with a diesel pickup. Bottom line, I think I got hoodwinked. This truck has nowhere near the power that my gas truck did. I didn't realize it at first as I didn't know what it SHOULD feel like since it was my first diesel. I noticed it last week when I stopped to open a gate and the right front tire was in a small rut, maybe 4 inches deep. The truck would not even think about pushing out of it, if I mashed the pedal it would just lug and never pick up rpm or spin a rear wheel. I had to put the thing in 4 low to get out. I'm going to need to put this thing on a 24' gooseneck deckover and haul some serious weight with it in the future, and know it's not up to it right now. It seems to make pretty good power above 2000 rpm, but nothing below that. If I come to a stop on a wet road and put it to the floor, it does nothing for a second and then slowly starts easing on until it gets to around 2000 rpm then takes off a little better. I've had it for a month, driven about 500 miles, and I changed all fluids and filters the day after I traded this guy for it, it has burned ZERO oil. It does puff a bit of blue smoke when you crank it the first time each day, and another puff when I first start to pull out of the drive, but no more after that. If you really lay on it, it doesn't smoke, no black smoke or anything. I dug around a bit and someone told me I may have too thin a filter, I just put a 3" motorcraft in it and the 3" is what the technical bulletin calls for. Something odd: The airbox looks like it's missing some stuff, the battery is exposed and the airbox is open along the side until you get to the filter lid. Also noticed there was a piece of red electrical tape covering the sensor on the back side of the box by the filter, removed that and nothing changed. Only other idea I have is that there is a bracket on the dash where I'm guessing a programmer was once mounted. Any chance someone used a chip to turn the thing way down and it's just been left that way? I don't believe the engine is worn so bad to lose that much power, only 130,000 miles and like I said, no oil use at all. Turbo sounds good, spools right up and no issues there.

 

First, you should post in the 7.3 diesel forum. It will get you better specific answers to your 7.3 questions. Read the that forum. IMO, it is the best forum on the Net.

My 00 F250 7.3 is a dog without a tuner....

Thing to check.

Check engine light on? Turbo dusted? Can you hear the turbo work (whstle) when hitting the gas? Look for soot stains around the turbo, the up pipes, exhaust manifolds, Intercooler (IC) pipes and boots. Soot stains indicate the exhaust is leaking and robbing you of boost, You can hand tighten each clamp to verify. Do not over tighten. I use a 1/4 ratchet to minimize the chance of over tightening. If you suspect a boost leak, you can make a boost leak detector for under $10 but you must have access to an airc ompressor. What kind MPGs are you getting? How many miles on your engine? Do you have a boost gauge?

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...questions.html

You'll be surprised at the performance difference a DP Tuner can add to your 7.3.

 

stock that motor makes more than what you're getting out of it fix it before you tune it.

wish i had an idea of whats goin on with it but I'm sure you'll find answers here or in the 7.3 section

 

i would say you have a turbo boost leak a bad turbo or a plugged fuel filter or injector. but post in the 7.3 section and they'll get you fixed in like an hour. my dads 7.3 stock will womp on allot of trucks better with the programmer but that thing has loads of low end you defiantly have a problem