need help,,,Power Stroke or an IDI
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,573
Likes: 5,609
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i would say yes. the strokers are nice, but the maintenance costs are a lot higher.
with an idi, all you need to run it is fuel in the tank, oil in the pan, and 12 volts to the fuel cut off switch in the injector pump.
and even with that, i have seen an idi run off of a 12 volt lantern battery to keep the switch open after the trucks wiring burned up.
with a stroker, everything is computer controlled
with an idi, all you need to run it is fuel in the tank, oil in the pan, and 12 volts to the fuel cut off switch in the injector pump.
and even with that, i have seen an idi run off of a 12 volt lantern battery to keep the switch open after the trucks wiring burned up.
with a stroker, everything is computer controlled
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,573
Likes: 5,609
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
back in the day, yes.
but any IDI out there is now at least 16 years old. i would say cavitation issues are not worth worring about now. if it was gonna happen, it would have happened long ago.
but any IDI out there is now at least 16 years old. i would say cavitation issues are not worth worring about now. if it was gonna happen, it would have happened long ago.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,158
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From: West Texas
The truck in this pic is a first year powerstroke 4x4 and gets 20 mpg easy when running empty. With the camper loaded and ready to go it gets about 15-16 but that's about 3800 pounds of top heavy wind pushing camper on it too. Add on our 3 horse trailer weighing about 16000 pounds and it drops me down to 12 mpg usually. It doesn't get any better with any diesel. My kids 93 IDI gets about 17-18 or so but is an automatic trans with a flat bed. I've seen it down as low as 8 mpg when loaded.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
I test-drived the truck I am considering.
It has the IDI. I could tell that immediately upon opening the hood thanks to the descriptions in the thread...
Further confirmation, not that it was needed, is that is has "K" as the VIN's 8th digit and a 11/93 build date (early in the 1994 model year).
What kind of rear end ratio could it have? The first gear felt like my 4x4's low range... and @ 50 mph, the engine was already past 2,000 RPM (truck has standard-sized F-250 wheels).
That sucks for highway fuel economy... I'd have to change the rear end. For that I would have a few questions.
Should I start a new thread for that somewhere else on the site or is hijacking this one OK for now?
It has the IDI. I could tell that immediately upon opening the hood thanks to the descriptions in the thread...
Further confirmation, not that it was needed, is that is has "K" as the VIN's 8th digit and a 11/93 build date (early in the 1994 model year).
What kind of rear end ratio could it have? The first gear felt like my 4x4's low range... and @ 50 mph, the engine was already past 2,000 RPM (truck has standard-sized F-250 wheels).
That sucks for highway fuel economy... I'd have to change the rear end. For that I would have a few questions.
Should I start a new thread for that somewhere else on the site or is hijacking this one OK for now?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 42,085
Likes: 6
From: Lakewood, Ca.
I think you'll have the best luck if you start a new thread in the IDI forum. Here's a link:Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L) - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,573
Likes: 5,609
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
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I have a little question for tjc, if he'd be so kind as to answer it, I'd really appreciate it. It's regarding a comment he made in this thread. (tjc, I would send you a PM, but the forum software doesn't seem to allow it.)
I'm a hair away from having a Ford truck again in my driveway, but I'm hesitating because of one thing.
Since I'm not sure he ever checks out the 6.9/7.3IDI forum, but I know he's probably following this thread, I'm posting here.
But here's the link to the thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-question.html
Thanks a lot in advance for the help...
I'm a hair away from having a Ford truck again in my driveway, but I'm hesitating because of one thing.
Since I'm not sure he ever checks out the 6.9/7.3IDI forum, but I know he's probably following this thread, I'm posting here.
But here's the link to the thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-question.html
Thanks a lot in advance for the help...
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,573
Likes: 5,609
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
sorry if my ramblings worried you, or got you thinking on a wrong track.
sometimes what i type looks good to me, but actually makes no sense to sane people.
i actually do visit the idi forum at least once a day.
and i reworded my answer regarding cavitation in that thread for you..
here is todays post:
that statement of mine was worded a bit off center.
what i meant to say was, since the engine is at least 16 years old it was taken care of, so worrying about cavitation is not as big an issue as a truck with an engine that has been replaced 3 times because of cavitation issues.
an original engine with over 200k miles on it was was properly maintained.
a truck with 100k miles on it with 3 engines replaced was beat to death and never had the hood opened.
sometimes what i type looks good to me, but actually makes no sense to sane people.
i actually do visit the idi forum at least once a day.
and i reworded my answer regarding cavitation in that thread for you..
here is todays post:
that statement of mine was worded a bit off center.
what i meant to say was, since the engine is at least 16 years old it was taken care of, so worrying about cavitation is not as big an issue as a truck with an engine that has been replaced 3 times because of cavitation issues.
an original engine with over 200k miles on it was was properly maintained.
a truck with 100k miles on it with 3 engines replaced was beat to death and never had the hood opened.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 15,014
Likes: 35
From: Semper Fi tell I die!
so true.. hate to say it cause i love the power of my powerstroke but the idi is king of the road with savings.
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