Bad Mileage 7.3L Turbo

[xkikbxr]

Hi eveyone,
I actually have 2 small problems
#1 is I just Bought this F350 with the 7.3Lturbo it has about 149000 on it. I runs great Lots of power But I always thought that Deisels Got better mileage than Gas engines ....I'm only getting about 10mpg and that's hauling empty..I'd hate to see it when I have a load. Is there Something wrong with the fuel consumption??

#2 is I can be sitting at a stop light after my engon is warmed and the battery light will start flashing on and off. Now I also have a dash Guage built infrom the factory But it says Im charging fine. I have never seen any vehicle with both a dummy light and a Gauge from the factory, Which one should I believe, I have not had a problem starting the truck at all.

Any advice would be helpful.

P.S. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PSD AND A TRUBO DEISEL??? Im Confused!!

[ModMech]

x,

There are five diesels available in Ford trucks (P/Us).

1. '82-'87? Navistar built 6.9L IDI (Indirect Diesel Injection), don't buy one (better than the GM 6.2L tough).
2. '88-'94 Navistar built 7.3L IDI, Good engine, FAR better than the 6.9L, but lacks power and does not have great economy.
3. '94 7.3L Turbo IDI, same as the 7.3L IDI, but turboed. Nor *AS* reliable as the 7.3L IDI, but better power, and a good engine.
4. '94-'02 7.3L DI "Power Stroke" diesel. GREAT engine, none better for a pickup. Excellant power, good economy (10-18 load dependant). Excellant reliability.
5. '03 up 6.0L "Power Stroke" diesel. Early (pre' 11-'03) engines were not that great, later engines are STELLER. FAR better than any other diesel in a P/U.

So, the question is, which year truck do you have, and it is a '94, which of the two enignes do you have?

Oh, any diesel can be a "turbo". The "Power Stroke Diesel" is turbocharged, and has no typical injection pump, lines or injectors. It uses high pressure oil to inject fuel thru the injectors instead of a gear driven pump. It is a VERY robust system, and provides excellant power and efficiency.

[xkikbxr]

Hi ModMech,

I have a 1994 F350 Dually Crewcab The engine is the Navistar brand 7.3L Turbo I don't know what type of transmission other than it's a 3 speed with an OD on the shifter whih I already had to take to the shop and have a new TPS installed because of the shifting problem...Come to find out it wasn't the TPS though it was the wires going to it...The corroded and stopped it from shifting properly...LOL to a tune of $156.00.
It's just that my dad has a 1990 F250 with the 7.3L navistar NON Turbo and he runs with loaded tool box's all the time and he get's like 17mpg I guess I thought I'd get about the same. Mines only getting 10mpg

[ModMech]

OK, you have the same basic enigne as your dad does, only with a turbo.

Gearing in the rear-end does play a significant role in fuel economy, as does the fuel injectors. At 10 MPG, I would suspect that you have at least one injector that is weak, and is not properly atomizing the fuel. This reduces power, causing you to press more on the go pedal that you should for a given speed. This equals wasted fuel.

Your trans is a E4OD. The later ones, like yours, are almost bullet-proof.

[dougger222]

First off the E40D is not bullet proof at all!!! The R4100 which replaced the E40D in 99 Super Duty's is not bullet proof either. I had a R4100 fail in the 99 F250 at 83,000 miles and it was supposed to be stonger than the E40D. The only way to get a bullet proof auto tranny is to pay a professional tranny builder to build you one. BTS in Arkansas rebuilds E40D's and R4100 to bullet proof standards to the tune of $3,600 plus shipping with a two year warranty unlimited horse power and mileage. Sun Coast can also do a good job at rebuilding diesel trannys.

Anyways, before you start pulling injectors or bring the truck to Ford to pay $100 for a computer test which may show nothing I'd start by replacing a few thing.

First, do an oil change if you just bought the truck.
Should be changed every 5-10K miles.
Second, replace the air filter. Should be replaced every 10-20K miles
Third, replace the fuel filter, easy to do on top of motor. Should be replaced every 10-20K miles.

My uncle has a 97 F250 Powerstroke with over 300K miles and he averages 18 mpg.
Fourth, go to www.thedieselstop.com over 45,000 owners of diesel Ford trucks.

[dougger222]

BTW, In Jan, Feb, March of 2003 the 7.3 Powerstroke was still being made and put in E350's, Excursion's and all F250's+.

The 99 Powerstroke signifies the first year an intercooler was used. 02 Powerstrokes have powder coated rods, all earlier versions have forged rods.

[ford350]

i have a 1990 f350 7.3l non turbo diesel and herd that a early 1994 7.3 with the ford turbo would bolt right up to mine? is it true or what? im looking at the complete system through banks but if i can use the turbo off a 94 i would just go that way. thanks for your time josh

[big white bufflo]

here are some mpg stats i have had three 7.3 97 truck 97 came with 3.55 and 4.10 axle 4.10 will get only about 10 to 12 mpg the 3.55 will get up to 15 mpg now the 99 and up come with 3.73 and 4.10 they to will only get about the same and up to 18 mpg the trick is to keep the tach under 2000 rpm for best mpg before they went to this ultra low sulfer fuel my truck got way better mpg hope this shed some lite on your issue