6.0 or 7.3

I'm looking into purchasing a used Super Duty and I was wondering which engine to go with. I've heard some bad things about the 6.0 but thats usally coming from people who own the 7.3. I've only owned gas trucks up until now but I really want to purchase a diesel. Is it also true that Diesels engines' have a much longer lifespan than gas? The trucks in my price range tend to have about 80k on them and i've been told that 80k is just about getting broke in for a Diesel. Any light you can shed on this subject will be greatly appreciated.

"Either" was not an option in the poll....

The BIG "problem" with the 6.0L is people idle them and cause the turbocharger vanes to stick. Engine runs ok, no damage or anything truely bad, but has very low power when this happens.

Otherwise they are as good as the 7.3L was and make TONS more power. That is a little problem for fuel consumption, the more power you have to use, the more you tend to use. You cannot make more power w/o burning more fuel.

The 7.3L PSD is about the most reliable diesel ever in a pickup or van, and yes at 80,000 miles they are at about 1/3 of their life if they are not abused (like anything else abuse kills).

It really depends on what you are going to do with it. If you will be towing a LOT, the nthe 6.0L is better mostly because of the trans and higher power. If you just want a diesel because they get better mileage, then the 7.3L would suit your needs better, and more places know how to work on them w/o doing damage.

I'll only be towing a couple of atv's at the most, nothing major. I've always liked F-250s but I don't see the point in getting the 5.4 and with gas being high the v10 is out of the question. Thanks for your input.

I'll only be towing a couple of atv's at the most, nothing major. I've always liked F-250s but I don't see the point in getting the 5.4 and with gas being high the v10 is out of the question. Thanks for your input.

Pretty ambitious getting a F-250 Diesel with only forseeing towing a couple of ATV's at MOST. If/when you get one I can only hope you put it through more of a proper use than just hauling a couple of ATV's which most any vehicle can do.

How many people do you know that own diesels that really need all that power?
Truth be told if we drove what we needed as oposed to what we want we'd all be driving around in Toyota Priuses (sp don't really know the plural of prius).

How many people do you know that own diesels that really need all that power?
Truth be told if we drove what we needed as oposed to what we want we'd all be driving around in Toyota Priuses (sp don't really know the plural of prius).

Actually quite a few, I usually see more of people driving what they can afford/be comfortable with than what they need. For example I saw an explorer pulling a ~34' travel trailer, the poor explorer's rear was bottomed out and the front was lifted to the point any more lift would have the tires off the ground. But I see your point, you like big powerful trucks, as do most truck owners. Just with the cost of purchase, diesel, and the factoring of mpg it's nice to have an actual purpose for the truck every once in a while (or more often).

The 6.0 is a big,big,big POS.I have seen this from a Jasper rep that brought in a piece of paper on this.Jasper does a huge improvements(about 30 on the 2004s and 5 on the 2005s) the 6.0 since they have a very good R&D,an improved injector wiring harness,improved pistons,the manifolds for the vans,injectors,improved egr passages and more.This is true and I have seen this paper and I know this Jasper rep very well.This is the last year of the powerstroke,done with and it will be a Cummins next year

The 6.0 is a big,big,big POS.I have seen this from a Jasper rep that brought in a piece of paper on this.Jasper does a huge improvements(about 30 on the 2004s and 5 on the 2005s) the 6.0 since they have a very good R&D,an improved injector wiring harness,improved pistons,the manifolds for the vans,injectors,improved egr passages and more.This is true and I have seen this paper and I know this Jasper rep very well.This is the last year of the powerstroke,done with and it will be a Cummins next year

Well this IS the last year for the 6.0L next year (2008 model) ford will have the 6.4L Powerstroke Turbo Diesel. We'll see how good it holds up when it comes out.

The 6.0's have a tendency to destroy,turbo chargers, they seize and the engine blows up, go with the 7.3 they have a whole lot more power, my dad's truck can be towing a 22' trailer full of furniture and it will still accelerate as well as it would unloaded.

The 6.0 is a big,big,big POS.I have seen this from a Jasper rep that brought in a piece of paper on this.Jasper does a huge improvements(about 30 on the 2004s and 5 on the 2005s) the 6.0 since they have a very good R&D,an improved injector wiring harness,improved pistons,the manifolds for the vans,injectors,improved egr passages and more.This is true and I have seen this paper and I know this Jasper rep very well.This is the last year of the powerstroke,done with and it will be a Cummins next year

The demise of the powerstroke has been greatly exaggerated.

The powerstroke has the worst mpg.It goes like this in mpg:#1 is the Dodge Cummins,#2 is the Chevy/GMC Duramax and the Powerstroke is last.The 6.0 has injector problems too.Jasper does a a whole redo on the 6.0 including an improved turbocharger

I seem to see quite a few 6.0 powerstrokes with A LOT of miles on them on ebay. I don't think they are as bad as everyone says they are. I've also heard of someone driving reasonable on the highway and getting 22 mpg with the 6.0 powerstroke.

If everything goes right, I'm going to own a 6.0 powerstroke in 4 years.

The 6.0 is a big,big pos and go to shop that is a Jasper dealer to see that sheet.If a 6.0 powerstroke blows up,go with a jasper.Jasper updates the 6.0 with a nationwide warrenty.Most auto salvage yards will not warrenty an used 7.3 or 6.0 powerstroke.

I seem to see quite a few 6.0 powerstrokes with A LOT of miles on them on ebay. I don't think they are as bad as everyone says they are. I've also heard of someone driving reasonable on the highway and getting 22 mpg with the 6.0 powerstroke.

If everything goes right, I'm going to own a 6.0 powerstroke in 4 years.

Must be buying used then, 2007 is the last year for the 6.0L Powerstroke Turbo Diesel...2008's will have the new 6.4L powerstroke turbo diesel

oh god, STAY AWAY FROM 6.0/6.4 ENGINES.
there is a national shortage of ford diesel technicians, because the 6.0 and 6.4 are such a nightmare that people refuse to work on them.

these engines are well known for hard start issues, egr cooler leaks, egr valves consistantly go bad. injector problams, HEAD GASKET problems , belly pans leak(thats the famous oil leak) high pressure oil system problems, the variable vane turbo eats its self up.
these engines are worthless junk, and ford is slaping patches on these pigs just to try and make them last through warranty.
this is not fords fault. they are currently stuck in contract with international (the A-holes that make that crap) ford has been trying to get out of the contract for years, and will finally get out of it in 09. after that you can say good bye to those pieces of junk

In our fleet usage, we have had no more or less problems with the 6.0 over the 7.3. The 6.0 is certainly quieter, and much more civilized. My drivers prefer them at a ratio of approx 3 to 1.

However, when it comes to transmissions, (or just the torque converters alone) the tranny behind the 7.3 is much more prone to failure. Ford did definatly improve things here.

While not directly a engine issue, it is no small chump change to change out a trans, and it bears thinking about more than just the engine in your purchase.

David

ya, the torqueshift transmission is sweet. shifts way better then the old 4r100

The 7.3 is a piece of junk too.One of my father's friends has a 1999 super duty that he the engine rebuilt before 200,000 miles.You do not want the 2008 6.4 either,Ford has a recall on them.The recall is regarding flames coming out of the exhaust and this has been happening.My Uncle Steve took his in for the recall and it got worse.If you hear someone getting great MPG out of a powerstroke,full of BS.The get about 8 pulling a trailer.Keep the door open after one has ben running,phew.The exhaust smoke stinks and DO NOT LET THEM SIT IDLING IN PARK! The Ford powerstroke is not made for idling in park and shut them off for this reason.What Jasper does improvements on the 6.0 is 100% true and is not a lie.

I'd go with the 5.9 cummins 24 valve if I had to chose

I have a 2000 F250 with a 7.3 and a 6 speed and I get about 21 mpg around town and 27 mpg on the interstate. I have had very little trouble with it, on the other hand I work on alot of both the 6.0 and the 7.3 and the 7.3 always have 200,000+ miles on them and the 6.0 are barely out of warranty and are no stranger to the inside of a shop. The 6.0 are a far cry from the 7.3 but if they are running right then they run good as long as you dont have a straight shift behind it. They werent designed to be with a straight shift, they dont make enough low end torque to pull out of its tracks with a loaded trailer.

If you want to get get rid of the 6.0/7.3,there is a conversion kit out there to put in a Cummins in and it goes for $16,000.00.I heard about this today from my local Snap On dealer which he got from a shop he stops by.A place did a test on the 6.0 and went through 4 engine blocks

I have a 97 350 with 320k
so it will last ,it still pulls well , but has had its issues
the 7.3 still has the original injectors
oil has been changed every 3k since new,all other fluids as well
ihave allways run lucas upper cyl lube
also no engine mods

The powerstroke has the worst mpg.It goes like this in mpg:#1 is the Dodge Cummins,#2 is the Chevy/GMC Duramax and the Powerstroke is last.The 6.0 has injector problems too.Jasper does a a whole redo on the 6.0 including an improved turbocharger

I don't know what you are smoking, but it is some good stuff. You are totally wrong. Yes the 6.0 powerstroke doesn't do very good mileage wise as a general rule, there are exceptions, but for the most part not too good. I have had experience with all three and promise you that the cummins is dead last. Don't get me wrong, great engine and well proven in medium duty trucks, but wow. Duramax's aren't bad, and 7.3 Powerstrokes are just as good or better. I had a 97 Powerstroke and it was no trouble to get over 20 mpgs before I started modding it. It did have 3.55 gears and a 5 spd to help it, but no complaint. 8k and 20mpg was good. Even modded I still got 16 or better everyday and I had a lead foot from the word go in it. If you have more power, you do use it.....
I am a certified GM mechanic, so have experience with the dmaxes too, mileage was fine, the only problem I had was no offense to anyone specific, but they were junk shit. In my book they compare right up to the 6.0.....
I would take a 7.3 or a cummins anyday, not a dmax though.
If you are gonna keep a 7.3 stock, get whatever year you want, if you are gonna chip it, don't go any newer than 00, anything newer has powdered metal rods, fine for stock, but a weak point for chipped up....

yeah he dosen't know too much about diesel i guess, we've had our arguments on powerstroke vs cummins before.. just ask he remembers me ;)

6.0L are great motors, just when they first came out in 03 they were tund up to high and keep blowing there powerhead. but the 6.4L are bad ass except kids these days puting tunes in them and blowing the botom end out, if your going to put a tune in one rebuild the botom end

6.4s make the power because they are common-rail injection with a CP4 fuel pump

7.3s with acceptable mileage are becoming hard to find and will bring a premium if you do find one. Having said that, I'd hold out for a 7.3, if you HAVE TO have a Ford. Hell of an engine.

If you buy a 6.0L..........the up side is that you will be on a first name basis with the guys at the parts counter AND the head mechanic at your local Ford dealer.

You decide.