Questions(looking into buying a diesel)
 

Well I have been looking into buying a diesel truck and will most likely go with the Dodge 5.9 or the Ford 7.3. So if you take care of a 7.3 how many miles can you get out of one, and what is the MPG for a 7.3. I drove two 6.0's the other day and did not like them, and one of them was reading 7-8 mpg, if thats all the millage I can get out of one I will go with the Dodge. Any info would be appreciated, considering that I know very little about a diesel. :confused:

I just bought a 2001 Powerstroke
 

I really love the F-350 I just bought. It is a 2001 4X4 crew cab with the 7.3 liter. I have filled up 3 times with it and have averaged 18 miles to the gallon.It only has 41,000 miles and runs like a champ.

By the way the 18mpg is hand calculated not through the truck computer.

Some people here on the forum have reported 750 K on their 7.3l ..
Here is a buying guide for buying diesel ... see:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...ers_Guide.html

The overhead computer is called the "Lie-O-Meter" for good reason... Most folks get between 15-20 MPG with their trucks. I have gotten close to 20 with mine with the below mods, but I usually run closer to 15 because I'm not too nice with my accelerator pedal. }>

If you can drive it like Grandpa, you'll easily get 550-600 miles on a tank of fuel for the short bed, or 750-800 per tank on the long bed. But you really have to hand calculate everything, and do the "Harpoon" mod in the tank to make it easy to fill it to the same point every time. The stock tank setup is very difficult to get accurate mileage measurements because of the fill tubes extending so far into the thank (the Harpoon mod is cutting those tube flush with the top of the tank).

with the proper maintenance these trucks can run forever 500k-700k with ease. And for mileage it all depends on how you drive. There are many mods that can be done to the truck to increase mileage.

Thanks guys. What about buying one of these trucks used, would it be safe to buy one that has 100,000-150,000 miles on it. The truck would be a daily driver and I would most likely put mods on it as I could afford it.

My truck gets 15 but once again with my mods and heavy foot, it doesn't help matters. Buying one of these trucks with around 100,000 to 150,000 miles is not a bad idea at all. With the 5 7.3's my family has bought, around these miles you will have to start putting some new parts on it such as, ball joints, u-joints, water pump, and alternator. But you are going to run into this with whatever brand you choose in my opinion. Just find one that has had the history logged on it so you know what your getting...don't take the dealers word for it like I did. Good luck and you will fall in love with the 7.3 if you get one. And you will also have all kinds of help with it one here.

P.S. my overhead console says I get 34.5 mpg...I WISH!!