Diesel truck discussion

Most of my truck’s life is spent towing. I ride a motorcycle about 75% of the time. This is good to hear. Have you guys done much maintenance?

 

I wouldn't be too worried about the automatic option. The 4R100 behind the 7.3 is pretty good. When I bought mine, it had a Ford remanufactured E4OD in it, which is just a less electronic 4R100. I put a Transgo Tugger shift kit in mine, and it's been great. Nice crisp shifts, and I used to plow commercial parking lots with it for a few years, so it wasnt treated well.

My old roommate had an F550 with the 4R100. It weighed about 10-12k on average, and would tow 6-8k lbs fairly regularly with ease. It plowed city streets, or parking lots for its entire life with him and had no issues.

 

I gave 8500 for the one I posted pics of. I'll be near 12k into it after the built trans goes in. With the 7.3 make the seller run it long enough to get up to temp then take the oil fill cap off and sit it upside down on the fill tube while it's running. If theres enough pressure coming out of the tube to move the cap around it's a sign of possible blow by issues with the rings. The factory auto is pretty solid the biggest problem is the factory cooler on 7.3 trucks isn't much bigger then a power steering cooler. The 6.0 trans cooler bolts right in and is 25 row vs the 7.3 7 row factory cooler. Keep it cool and it will serve you well even towing heavy on occasion.

 

Awesome thanks! I have been reading up a lot, that makes sense. I’m also reading about checking the valley for oil leaks as well.

I also tow a lot, but don’t exceed 55mph and luckily most of what I do is dead flat. I feel like the hills cause heat and that's what really kills the trans. I would probably immediately swap to the bigger cooler, but worry anout damage done from 200k-300k without it.

 

Chance are high, real high, that you will not find an original auto trans in a 200-300k truck...hopefully you can find one that was just rebuilt...or even better, one that needs rebuilt (and price is right because of it) and then you can get a trans built to your specs, and know what's what with it from the get go.
Good advice on the oil cap trick...forgot about that one.
My advice would be to go look at a stone cold engine, see how it starts/runs cold, then run it long enough to get it hot, see if anything changes or seems wrong either way. I had a '99 PS that ran fine cold, but developed a miss when warmed up...turned out to be worn injectors...which FYI, are often only good for 200-300k miles...and are a big $ repair...

 

A good built 4r100 will start just south of 4k and go up from there. Unless you can do the work yourself. Wish I had that skill set would save me a bunch of money right now.

 

A few pics from the trip home from Anchorage. Was in the diesel truck, if that counts for anything. You can see the Matanuska Susitna glacier, in the 4th one down.

 

53’ almost two time zones.

 

But they're a quick/easy fix.

If you're buying a 2-300,000 mile truck, id expect to do the tranny.

 

I figure I do about 10 k a year, probably less as I use my motorcycle a lot. If it lasrs a few years, im still ahead vs car payments. I planto put in an aftermarket or 6.0 cooler. The six spd is nice, just hard to find, not worth settling on a worse truck just for that.

 

You need a box trailer to haul all your saws?!?

 

I dont remember which one I have, but it's a large aftermarket cooler.

 

Nope. Ive been selling to fund my floor. Wanna buy a saw big T?

 

7.3 Powerstroke 348,000 Original Owner. Driven & owned diesels since1970. This F-250 is the most dependable vehicle I have owned...

 

Any opinions on when injectors are needed? I have heard to replace at 200k... a buddy has originals on his well into 240k or so. Speaking 7.3. This diesel stuff isinteresting!

 

It has a lot to do with how the truck was maintained, (and some luck) if it had regular oil changes with quality oil, and run clean/quality fuel, I've heard of them making it well over 300k...or not even 200k with lesser maintenance...

 

Here's one for ya Reddingnative , just popped up on FB MP locally, 2001, 7.3 auto, 123k miles, says NO RUST, ready to ride, $20k