Miles on your old 7.3 diesel?

[S.Clancy]

I'm gonna bring back this thread after driving my old 7.3L all over creation this year hunting. Had an idler pulley fail on me in a bad spot (45 miles into the Missouri Breaks, ha) but I limped it back to town and replaced it (and the other idler pulley and put a new tensioner in) in the town's park.

I think I am going to be doing my first big time maintenance stuff on my rig; glow plugs, harness, relay, injectors (since the valve covers are already open), probably a new alternator, turbo leaks, etc.

Just under 250K miles now and just got back from an 1800 mile trip through CO with the ol girl.

 

[PSDBowhunter]

I'm gonna bring back this thread after driving my old 7.3L all over creation this year hunting. Had an idler pulley fail on me in a bad spot (45 miles into the Missouri Breaks, ha) but I limped it back to town and replaced it (and the other idler pulley and put a new tensioner in) in the town's park.

I think I am going to be doing my first big time maintenance stuff on my rig; glow plugs, harness, relay, injectors (since the valve covers are already open), probably a new alternator, turbo leaks, etc.

Just under 250K miles now and just got back from an 1800 mile trip through CO with the ol girl.

That's pretty good. Is your truck all stock? No chip, etc?

What injectors are you going to go with? Sometimes the remanufactured ones can be hit or miss.

 

[Wrench]

My turbo went down at 275k. It had a wicked wheel and tunes....so it was in tough shape. I put the new KC on it and it's quiet and more boost.

I'd do a pressure test when you have injectors out to make sure you don't need cups too.

I'm at 290k now and it runs better than new.

 

[5MilesBack]

I'd do a pressure test when you have injectors out to make sure you don't need cups too.

If he's already in there, he might as well just replace them.

 

[PSDBowhunter]

If he's already in there, he might as well just replace them.

Yup. Good call on injector cups at that mileage.

 

[S.Clancy]

That's pretty good. Is your truck all stock? No chip, etc?

What injectors are you going to go with? Sometimes the remanufactured ones can be hit or miss.

All stock. From what I understand you have to upgrade a ton of stuff to make it so everything can handle improved performance.

 

[S.Clancy]

Yup. Good call on injector cups at that mileage.

If he's already in there, he might as well just replace them.

Yup. Everything goes.

With the amount I've saved over the last 10 yrs buying 16" tires vs 18" or 20" like new rigs all this work is like net zero.

 

[PSDBowhunter]

All stock. From what I understand you have to upgrade a ton of stuff to make it so everything can handle improved performance.

Yea, I've been down that road for the last 13 years with mine. I went a little overboard though.

Is yours a super duty or an OBS?

 

[S.Clancy]

Yea, I've been down that road for the last 13 years with mine. I went a little overboard though.

Is yours a super duty or an OBS?

OBS.

 

[wapitibob]

Glow plugs are overrated, just plug it in during cold months. Stick a 100 amp glow plug relay in it then change plugs and harness when you need injectors. I changed factory injectors at 377K. That HP turbo o-ring always leaks.

 

[Wrench]

Blind bearing puller works great to pull cups. Riffraff's tool is great too. Beru is the glowplug to have.

25c mod is a must too.

The KC turbo is so nice and quiet.

 

[AK Troutbum]

I've jumped into the 7.3 diesel world twice in the last 8 months. A 2003 F350 with 208K miles. And then, just last week, a 2003 Ford Excursion with 128K miles.

The word on the streets is that it's not out of the ordinary to be able to get a half a million miles on a 7.3 that stays taken care of. I've got 2 friends who are right around 400k on their 7.3 pickups.

So, what's the mileage on your 7.3? Any tips and tricks to keeping them young? So far, I've learned to keep an extra glow plug relay in the pickup. What else?

You must have bought a couple early 2003's, because that's the year that Ford came out with the 6.0L, and it was a complete POS from the get go. I was in the market in '03 and ended up buying a 5.9 Cummins. It continues to be my everyday driver and currently pushing 350K miles with pretty much zero engine work.

 

[GARLICSALT]

Bought this 1997 F250 4X4 in 2000 with 42,000 on her. the boys gave her the nickname the Mallard back in the day (white with green band). For the most part it's our hunting/camping rig with 190,000 miles these days. Been a few Ca. bucks that have got to ride home in the camper. Off the top of my head I can't think of any real issues we have had with this pic up.

 

[S.Clancy]

Bought this 1997 F250 4X4 in 2000 with 42,000 on her. the boys gave her the nickname the Mallard back in the day (white with green band). For the most part it's our hunting/camping rig with 190,000 miles these days. Been a few Ca. bucks that have got to ride home in the camper. Off the top of my head I can't think of any real issues we have had with this pic up.

What kind of MPG are you getting with the camper? That's high on the list for next purchases...

 

[GARLICSALT]

That is a low profile pop up style camper, so it is not quite as heavy as some full size white knucklers. I say that because I have been in some very windy conditions in big azz full size rigs.
Anyhow I get about 14MPG with this set up.

What kind of MPG are you getting with the camper? That's high on the list for next purchases...