I flip-flopping between keeping this truck or selling it and buying an older low mileage 7.3...

A nice low mileage 7.3 is going for about 15-16K and I don't owe much more than that on this truck. PLUS this truck is so much nicer in regards to creature comforts, noise levels, ride quality, etc... than my 2001.

The only real problems I've had are DPF related and the turbos leaking. The turbos were just replaced a week ago so I don't have to worry about those for some time.

What other problems have you guys experienced with these trucks? I want to know what I could expect to break sometime soon. I've had the radiator and CAC replaced so I'm not worried about that. Has anybody experienced any internal damage? injector failures? trans failures?

I've got 96K on it and I'm curious how much longer it'll go with just normal maintenance? The problem areas seem to be emissions related so if I ditch the DOC and DPF I think I'll be OK. Is the engine fairly bulletproof if I remove the emissions stuff?

I'm not looking to race the truck, but a delete tune would help with the mpgs and some power, no?

 

What I want to know is where you're finding a low miles 7.3 for 15K. Last one I've seen here in ATL area was 45,000 miles for $27,900. Everything I've seen for 15K has 150,000 or more on them, I had pretty much the same plan as you but can't find the right 7.3L. My 08 is low mileage (26K) but if I were where you are I'd take a hard look at the ford 200K mile extended warranty and keep on truckin. Might be the same price as the chip/delete and would protect you from the really hard failures. I know it's a hard call and a lot of folks on here are having to make the same decision. I see two pretty clear patterns on here 1, the DPF delete guys seem to have very few peoblems, but when they do they are doozies 2. The people who do a lot of accelerated maintance seem to do OK even with the DPF on. Those are just my general impressions from doing a lot of reading on this and a couple other diesel sites. Hope it helps. PS: you will get a lot of responses to that question and some will even agree with others.

 

My definition of a low mileage 7.3 is ~100K mileage. Money wise it doesn't make sense to pay almost the same as the payoff amount on my truck for a 7-8 year old truck with almost the same mileage.

I don't plan to race mine so hopefully the DPF delete wouldn't cause any problems. Just looking to keep it from makin' fuel and get some MPG from it.

My only concern would be the bedplate problems. Hopefully by now I would've experienced those though... knock on wood!

At this point I have zero faith in the DPF system. Or maybe my dealer has just put a bad taste in my mouth because of it. We'll see though. The DPF will get repalced here in the next week or two. The dealer will either do it voluntarily or involuntarily! I'm planning to call the Ford Field Engineer if the dealer gives me the run around. I just got new turbos last week and the regen every 1.5-2 days still exists along with the black pipes.... Other than this I love the truck!

 

Well, I agree with Stanley. Two groups here. The maintance heavy work the truck group does better.

As for me, I had the recalls and the following:
Bad TCM
ABS light last year during the snow storms, turned out to be nothing.
Had the blend door issue and passenger side window needed a slight adjustment.

Can't think of anything else.

Still original radiator and CAC.

 

Maybe I'll be OK then. All of my miles during the week are highway and I maintain the fluids and filters like I should...

 

The only problems ive had with mine is a bad radiator. Been spartan tuned for about 15000 miles and never looked back!

 

My air con is broke. It blows cold air on driver’s side and hot air on passenger's side. Not so bad during the summer but now, I think I will be taking it in soon.



2010 running Spartan 210, AFE full down-pipe back 4" exhaust and AFE Stage II air in-take

 

So its safe to say that over 95% of all the 6.4's problems are related to the DPF?

 

I would think coolant leaks are more than 5% of the problems.

 

Major problems with the 6.4 could be related to higher mileage, but I have had '09 for one year and 12,000 miles with absolutely no problems. Yeah, I get regen once/tank, but I have hauled a 13K lb. 5th wheel for about 5K miles and the beast hauls like a tractor. I've just changed the oil a couple of times, fuel filters, and drive it. This is my first diesel, so I don't know what the difference between 7.3 and 6.4 would be, but I love this truck!

 

Im on the fence about the 6.4 as well. If I decide to keep it I think the best thing is to tune it. Dealer says nothing wrong with my truck but it blows white smoke at times, 12 mpg is a gift from the heavens, and its actually dangerous when pulling in to traffic because of the take off lag. But officially speaking the truck is 100% according to the dealer.
I think its a good engine if you ditch the DOC/DPF but then I am concerned about the radiator, EGR coolers, and fuel pump that all seem problematic.

 

I will sell you my 7.3 for 10k low miles only 375000 miles

 

I will sell you my 7.3 for 10k low miles only 375000 miles

 

Why buy yours? I have a lower mileage 7.3 still sitting here in the driveway. It only has 329K on it!

I'm with you caprang. Once mine rolls 100K it's getting DOC/DPF deleted and chipped. I'll also block off and drain the EGR coolers and turn off the EGR valve too...

 

If you are looking for mileage then a 7.3 is the way to go. My truck in sig gets 700 miles per 3/4 tank(38 gallons). 25mpg.

If you want some dang impressive power the 6.4 is the way to go. My 08 f-450 gets 10mpg if I drive super conservative. But it's a beast for towing or dragging.

They are totally different beasts. I just snagged an 05 f350 cclb king ranch with a low comp engine so hopefully I can compare them all haha