Ford 7.3 vs 6.0

[Prairie Master]

I'm guessing Ford stuck w/ the crappy 6.0 b/c it kept the trucks heading back to the shop for work.  Giving the company more money.  The 7.3 is too efficient and didn't have any problems.  As for why exactly the 7.3 is better I don't know but I won't touch a 6.0 Ford.

Ask Mudfreak, Chillin, or Anoriginal.  Forgot some of the others on here that are real Ford owners.

I have a early build 2003 6.0(the worst of the worst) and I couldn't be any happier with it. The truck has 68k miles, tows a 12,500pound trailer, goes 95mph on the interstate with 17mpg, and has never had any trips to the dealer for anything other than 1 sensor change. Also, when you are comparing these engines, don't forget about the 2nd most important part of the drivetrain, the transmission. The 7.3 is very reliable, but has less power and a transmission famous for blowing. The 6.0 is famous for blowing but has more power and a rock solid transmission. Where you run into problems on the 6.0 is not injectors, it's putting chips and blowing the head gasket because the head studs are too elastic. You can upgrade the head studs and not have much trouble out of the engine. Of course the easiest way to do the studs is removing the truck cab.  I also FIRMLY believe the reason my truck runs so good is because I don't baby it. I run that truck hard. However, I always change the oil every 3-5k miles and fuel filters every 15k miles or sooner. If you baby the engine around and don't give it a work out I think you will be more prone to problems. If you go for extended periods of time without filter replacements your askin for trouble.

I agree

I too have an 03 it has 86,000 trouble free miles, I also work the truck like its suppose to be worked I tow a lot of weight. A lot of the problems with the 6.0 are the people who just use them for a status symbol (maybe the truck goes up to home depot for a few bags of mulch) but they never work the truck which causes the soot build up, or they put outrageous aftermarket tuners on them to race them at the track, causing the blown head gaskets and streaked head studs, (the diesel should be used to pull the car to the track not to race at the track). The best advice to give is good maintains and use the truck for what it was intended for.   

[Exmx54]

I also have a trouble free 03 6.0 that isn't babied. It will pull anything I want, including my 32' trailer twice a week, then I can unhook and burn pretty much any car in stock trim. 70k miles trouble free.

[sykolincoln]

The 7.3 has been around for a long time. IHC and Ford have been getting a little more power out of it every year till about 2003. They cannot get the design to meet current EPA regulation.
The 6.0 in IHC trim (only about 270hp) is pretty reliable. Ford hopped the power curve up to make it more appealing for pick-ups. Ford rushed to get this unit in the F series and acceptable to EPA regulations. There was not a lot of real world R&D before the 6.0 hit the road. The first units had many gremlins. The last two years they seem to be holding up well.

Me, if I could find a low mile 7.3 I would by it. If you get the 6.0, get a new one.

thats what I heard as well that the early 6.0 had a slew of problem, I have a 99 7.3 and love it, it has a few mods, but mostly to make it more efficiant and stronger. I can pull a 7000 llb load from here to chicago and still get 20mpg with it, so I think its a great engine, my only downside is the truck its in, it is only a day cab long bed, and I could really use a crew cab dually, any guys out there have a 7.3 dually??  I know one thing that my truck may be better than a dually is that is weighs alot less being only a day cab. also its a 2wd, and gets stuck like a pregnant dog when I goto scrub, lol.

[Jeepin']

Man look at the responses generated overnight.  I see most say unless you run the truck hard and the way it was made for it will be more susceptible to problems?  Ford does seem to be going downhill lately, they used to be the only trucks I would drive but now im questioning that.  I have been looking into the new 2008 F450 and man is it one sweet truck but the pricetag makes me cringe.  One thing about the new F450 that I couldnt figure out was the tailgate, it has some sort of accessory attached to it.  One helps hold the tailgate up I can see but the other is a pole...

[qt314nfla]

It's a handle and a step so you can get in the bed easier.

[Jeepin']

It's a handle and a step so you can get in the bed easier.

Oh..... that makes sense

[Bigscrb15]

its a great idea for us fat people. goto www.ford.com and goto the 2008 Super Duty, it will explain all the new stuff.

[Mars]

The 7.3 has been around for a long time. IHC and Ford have been getting a little more power out of it every year till about 2003. They cannot get the design to meet current EPA regulation.
The 6.0 in IHC trim (only about 270hp) is pretty reliable. Ford hopped the power curve up to make it more appealing for pick-ups. Ford rushed to get this unit in the F series and acceptable to EPA regulations. There was not a lot of real world R&D before the 6.0 hit the road. The first units had many gremlins. The last two years they seem to be holding up well.

Me, if I could find a low mile 7.3 I would by it. If you get the 6.0, get a new one.

low miles? what? its a diesel. arent they made to go like 500,000+ miles? i thought that was one of the 2 points. torque and long lasting. well, them again, were talkin bout ford so maybe low miles is better. 

Yes, Fewer than 100k. The 7.3 was engineered for a 330,00 mile median time between failures. Most will make it with 2 water pumps, one fuel pump and one turbo replaced.
Not all diesels are designed for 500k miles. A 12 liter I-6 might, not a 6~7 liter V-8. The Cummins 5.9 is also good for 300,000 but you will need two fuel pumps and a set of injectors, and 2~3 water pumps by then.
I have not seen any major issues with the Isuzu/Duromax, mostly sensors.
As others stated the 6.0 needed more R&D. Add a chip to the 6.0 and almost 600hp is possible but the head bolts stretch.

[Chillinthemost]

My 6.0 is doing just fine. Its  my least favorite engine of the big 3 but it is by far the best complete package. 

[Bigscrb15]

I have not seen any major issues with the Isuzu/Duromax, mostly sensors.

The Duramax had tons of issues with their injectors.

[lugnuts]

well as a 17yr chrysler/dodge mechanic in a dealership I can say everyone has there problems I have a older 97 F250 with the 7.3 powerstroke and it has 143K and I have replaced 1 water pump and 1 fuel lift pump and 1 trans overhaul (that was my fault though) and I just got a 04 F250 crew cab 6.0L diesel last sat. and man that 6.0 runs very well I guess time will tell with the 6.0 I had a 5.9 cummins ram and hated that truck it seemed to always have issues like 4 transmissions in 65K miles 3 evaporator's and 2 injector pumps and a complete repaint because the paint was peeling bad. im pretty strict about taking care of my car's and trucks regular oil changes and filters. I hope the 6.0 gives me as good service as my 7.3L has (I still have my 7.3 truck)

[Chuck_Norris]

author=Smoknbanshee link=topic=21483.msg269487#msg269487
The real chuck norris just stood up.  Chuck you bring the facts.  Great explanation.  I will stick with my old slow reliable 7.3 powerstroke

Smoke you said it Reliable 7.3!
The tribal wisdom of the Dakota Indians passed on from one generation to the next says that when you discover that you  are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. However in modern business because of the heavy investment factors to be taken into consideration. Often other strategies have been tried to deal with dead horses including the following
1.) When you find yourself on a dead horse buy a stronger whip
2.) Appoint a committee to study the horse
3.) Arrange to visit other sites to see how they ride dead horses
4.) Lower the standards so the dead horses can be included
5.) Reclassify the horse as living impaired
6.) Harness several dead horses together  to increase speed
7.) Promote the dead horse to a supervisory position
We live in a society that rides failing programs long after they have died we often copy that lunacy by pursuing habits and goals that will never satisfy. In Hebrews its says "throw off anything that keeps us from running Gods race well." If your Horse Stinks, then he is probably dead. Find one that lives.

[Smoknbanshee]

dude, great explanation.  I love it.

[dynodon]

I love my old trusty ( powerful) 97 , 7.3 so much, I found an 03, 7.3 with 14,500 miles on it. Needless to say, I love the 7.3

[Anoriginal]

I had a 1983 F250 4x4 regular cab 4spd with the old 6.9 diesel in it. It went 420k miles on the first motor. I put a new on in it and drove it another 110k before selling it.

I had a 1988 F250 4x4 regular cab 5spd with a 7.3. It went 280k miles. After it started burning oil (the truck was submerged early in life) I installed another 7.3 with a Banks Sidewinder II turbo kit and drove it another 30k before selling it. It is still running today.

I had a 1997 F250 4x4 ext cab auto with a 1st generation PSD. I traded it in with right at 210k miles on it with zero problems. Still looked, ran and drove great.

Currently have a 2005 4 door 4x4 PSD auto King Ranch. I love it. I've got 33k miles on it. No problems at all. I consistantly pull a 24' goose neck with my swamp buggy on it back and forth the the everglades and a 33' Contender back and forth to the Keys at 75mph with the cruise set. The truck is beautiful, rides terrific and the interior is nicer than my wife's BMW.
The engine has tons of power and does everything I ask of it. No complaints.

The big three all make good trucks. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. I chose Ford because, like Chillin said, they have the best overall package in my opinion. Just my opinion and my experiences.

[26YFZQUAD]

IT'S THE LUCK OF THE DRAW SOME ARE GOOD AND SOME ARE NOT SO GOOD I WORK AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND SEE ALOT OF OF 6.0'S GETTING WORK ON A LOT OF THEM ARE COMPANY TRUCKS SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE ABUSE THEY GET IT WAS THE SAME WAY WITH THE 7.3'S SOME WERE GOOD SOME WERE NOT SO GOOD    OH AND CHUCK NORRIS THE RECALLS YOU MENTIONED ARE FOR A LOW CAB FORWARD THAT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TRUCK THAN AND 08 SUPERDUTY

[Mars]

I have not seen any major issues with the Isuzu/Duromax, mostly sensors.

The Duramax had tons of issues with their injectors.

Yes, I have heard. In our fleet (county) we are running them in mini-busses (5); so far only one injector problem. We are running a lubricity additive in our fuel which should be helping with injector issues.

[Joedirt]

I have a Chevy ( Gas Hog)...and Nothing further to contribute to the Ford Diesel Discussion.....Except needing to see the word Chevy in this Thread.....

[yunt2ride]

true. i guess i forgot we were talkin about a ford truck here. im so used to my toyota. never had anything but tires and wiper blades replaced. 108k miles and runs like it just rolled off the showroom floor.

yea, toyota does have the quality issues under control.

your both right.

But FOX can your Toyota haul a 15k lb trailer and a full load in the bed doing 70MPH down the highway???  I doubt it.  

no, but i dont need to. the new one will pull 10k lbs. my point was not for you all to get toyotas, but to basically say fords have quality issues. all that about my truck and toyota had nothing to do with this thread but i just put it there. i really dont know why. lol.

10,000 miles. Thats funny if you think a 1500 series truck can pull 10,000 lbs comfortably and then stop without any problems. My theory is that if it doesn't pull it comfortably and stop good then it does not need to haul it.

[Smoknbanshee]

true. i guess i forgot we were talkin about a ford truck here. im so used to my toyota. never had anything but tires and wiper blades replaced. 108k miles and runs like it just rolled off the showroom floor.

yea, toyota does have the quality issues under control.

your both right.

But FOX can your Toyota haul a 15k lb trailer and a full load in the bed doing 70MPH down the highway???  I doubt it.   

no, but i dont need to. the new one will pull 10k lbs. my point was not for you all to get toyotas, but to basically say fords have quality issues. all that about my truck and toyota had nothing to do with this thread but i just put it there. i really dont know why. lol.

10,000 miles. Thats funny if you think a 1500 series truck can pull 10,000 lbs comfortably and then stop without any problems. My theory is that if it doesn't pull it comfortably and stop good then it does not need to haul it.

VERY GOOD THEORY....

[Fox17]

true. i guess i forgot we were talkin about a ford truck here. im so used to my toyota. never had anything but tires and wiper blades replaced. 108k miles and runs like it just rolled off the showroom floor.

yea, toyota does have the quality issues under control.

your both right.

But FOX can your Toyota haul a 15k lb trailer and a full load in the bed doing 70MPH down the highway???  I doubt it.  

no, but i dont need to. the new one will pull 10k lbs. my point was not for you all to get toyotas, but to basically say fords have quality issues. all that about my truck and toyota had nothing to do with this thread but i just put it there. i really dont know why. lol.

10,000 miles. Thats funny if you think a 1500 series truck can pull 10,000 lbs comfortably and then stop without any problems. My theory is that if it doesn't pull it comfortably and stop good then it does not need to haul it.

its supposedly as wide as a f250 just a lil shorter. it has huge brakes on it. so it is like a gas f250 (just with more horsepower) and torque. it probably weighs mas much. if the suspension can handle 10k lbs, the engine can so it will be just as good. supposedly nissan and toyota are developing big superduty trucks. we'll have to wait and see.

[LakeMaryKid]

FOX17 are you still rambling like a dumbass?

-Curtis-

[big-daddy]

FOX17 are you still rambling like a dumbass?

-Curtis-

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                thats funny right there!

[Chuck_Norris]

IT'S THE LUCK OF THE DRAW SOME ARE GOOD AND SOME ARE NOT SO GOOD I WORK AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND SEE ALOT OF OF 6.0'S GETTING WORK ON A LOT OF THEM ARE COMPANY TRUCKS SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE ABUSE THEY GET IT WAS THE SAME WAY WITH THE 7.3'S SOME WERE GOOD SOME WERE NOT SO GOOD    OH AND CHUCK NORRIS THE RECALLS YOU MENTIONED ARE FOR A LOW CAB FORWARD THAT IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TRUCK THAN AND 08 SUPERDUTY

I stand corrected on the recall's, We have just recieved our 1st 08 superduty today, Talk about tight quarters in the engine bay

[flroper]

have 04 f350 dually with 100,000 mile with cold air intake and superchips programmer .It runs awesome but have had some injector trouble and turbo trouble , I pull a 15,000 lb horse trailer with it and run  it hard. if pulling moderate size load buy a v10 have a 01 f250 with 235,000  miles only repair  1 fuel pump ,other than tires and brakes .