Besides the typical B.S. like "my Cummins sounds cooler", "the Cummins is a I-6", and "my piston and rods are bigger", what are the downsides to a stock or mildly modified 7.3L Powerstroke?

Although I'm only around Cummins back home, I've become interested in them...the first vehicle I buy will be a Diesel, and I'm looking at all the different options.

Whatever I get, it will be mildly modified...for example, if I had a 24V, I'd do a module (box) and (most likely) injectors, along with the "basic" air filter upgrade and gauges.

Thanks.

 

realistacly I don't think there's any real downside ...........my friend has a 99 PSD 1 ton **looks around to make sure nobody's looking** and it's a nice truck

 

make sure you get the optional heated tailgate so your hands dont get cold when you are pushing that stroke off the highway.

As far as I know the 7.3 powerstrokes are ok, but stay away from the 6.0L

 

jlells01, I was like you.My buds have diesels and most of family does and to be honest I always liked gas burns cause dang there fast but I just wanted a diesel.

I started to look around and then I just settled on Dodge.I went back and forth, drove a ford, drove a dodge and really I was gonna have to look at buyin a 97 and under PSD and I got on the forums and found out that really unless you want to go into a lot of money they are only worth about 235hp and I think like 575 pounds of Torque accordin to the forum I was on.

A chip, 4 inch down pipe, and exhaust and thats about it.The older ones don't have an intercooler and stuff and a couple of other things that hold them back.Now don't get me wrong if you could get a 99 and newer Rock On.They look good, drive good, handle good, (I got a girl friend thats got one) but I just want a Dodge.

 

The 7.3 is a fine engine. The main thing to watch for is proper maintenance to prevent cavitation. Ford sells an additive, I believe that the part # is FW-16 to add to the coolant. They also sell test strips to verify that you have the proper amount in the coolant to prevent cavitation. The strips look like (but are not) PH test strips. The additive either degrades or dissipates over time so it must be periodically replenished. It is best to use the test strips because it is possible to add too much of the additive. As you might suspect, the coolant test strips are cheaper from an International dealer than they are from a Ford dealer. The engine is basicaly a Navistar T444E engine that was available in the 4000 series International truck line.

Left unmaintained the cavitation will eat away the cylinder liners and leak coolant into parts of the engine it was never meant to see. This usually begins in cylinder # 7. In early model years of the 7.3 Ford did not mention this maintenance item in their owners manuals. Ford had the engines modified to accept Ford parts in the "front group" (alternators, power steering pumps, water pumps, etc). When they did, they eliminated the coolant filter that was standard as part of the water pump on the International trucks. The coolant filter was a regular maintenance item that came pre-charged with the anti-cavitation additive. It took them a year or two to catch the mistake and change the maintenance specs to include this item.

I would suggest taking some test strips with you when you check out the truck.

 

Should coolant be checked in all diesels?? Don't want to hi-jack, but I think it's a good question..

 

the newer 7.3 psd's also got the PM rods which liked to let go when putting like 400hp down... nothing like a ventilated block to save weight eh

 

Don't need test strips for your CTD...no liners!
RJ

 

#1 glowplugs
#2 wiring harness
#3 cavitation
#4 oil leaks
#5 fanbelt tensioner
#6 rear oil galley plug seal...

No thanks

 

#8 only good for 250,000 miles or so

 

You skipped #7 FORD

 

All of my friends also have PS, and I was looking at getting one. The big thing that I looked at was the price, PS are just more expensive to buy. Then I started talking to some guys that had cummins and they said they had more torque, better milage, and are easier to maintain. Enough info for me to look at cummins rather then a PS.

 

What really drove me nuts with mine (besides the horrible idle knock) was its inconsistency. Since the injectors are fired with high pressure oil, temperature and humidity changes can affect them. Some days it ran great, others not so great. You never could tell. When it was cold out the engine just wouldn't sound right. So now I happily have a Cummins with no regrets.

 

More expensive to modify, more complex, harder to work on because everything's crammed in so tight. The 7.3 is a good reliable engine, but I like the Cummins better.

 

hey, at least they circled the problem!