7.3L Powerstroke or 5.9L Cummins with over 200k miles -- still lots of life, or not?

[jas67]

Well, it is only day 6, and I already had a problem with this truck (please don't start a flame war against Ford because of this).

I've only owned the truck for 6 days. The first 5 days were great, now I'm a little scared (esp. given the bad rep that the 6.0L has).

This morning on the way to work, I got the "Check Guages" message. The oil pressure guage was showning 0 ('L') , so I parked it, and walked the 3.5 miles back home. After consulting with my nephew, who is a diesel tech for a local Ford dealership (who consulted with the other diesel techs), I removed the oil filter cap, and cranked it, and let it run for 15 seconds, and shut it off. This procecedure was to determine if the problem was the sensor, or the oil pressure regulator sticking (which, on the 6.0L, they apparently can). Well, it fill right up, and overflowed, so it seems that it has oil pressure.

Being cautious, I had it towed home anyway, I didn't want to kill my engine for want of a $45 tow charge. When I got it home, since it seems it has oil pressure, I pulled it into the garage, and was going to go buy a new sensor. NOW IT SHOWS NORMAL PRESSURE

So, what now?

I sent a text to my nephew, and am awaiting his call. I think I'm going to get it to him for diagnostics. Any thoughts on this? Anyone ever have problems with the oil pressure regulator on the 6.0L?

 

[Dargo]

If it's any consolation, when I first bought my truck it had an oil leak. I took it to a dealer to have it fixed and the day I got it back it still had an oil leak. (they obviously didn't fix it) I found a reputable dealer who had a ASE Master tech who only worked on diesel engines. He is the one who assured me that, after working on the 6.0 since day one in Ford pickups I shouldn't worry and they were good engines. After he fixed the oil leak (about a year ago), the truck has been great. I've upped the hp and have a youtube link to a 1/4 mile drag run with the 8170 pound truck which ran a 14.2 quarter mile. I've towed close to 20k pounds for nearly 12,000 miles since the oil leak was fixed as well. Not one single problem since.

If your truck is like mine, get the correct repair and you should be good to go. It sounds like a sending unit from what you describe. Here is my truck being babied YouTube - F350 4X4 crew cab dually 6.0 PSD 8170 pounds running 1/4 mile

 

[Bill_C]

There's a couple of possible solutions: a) you could get a real oil pressure gauge! (Maybe add a 3 gauge A-pillar mount and also add a boost and pyro gauge) b) merely replace the sensor (actually it's just a pressure switch) and hope for the best, or c) get a data logging setup (AutoEnginuity and a laptop or similar setup) There' s also some fancy computerized gauges that can let you select which parameter you want to see.


...BUT...

Here's one nice thing about these engines: the injectors need oil pressure to run. No oil pressure, the engine won't fire up. On my 7.3 (and i think it's the same for the 6.0) the high-pressure oil pump (HPOP) must produce 500 psi or the computer will not fire the injectors. So if your engine ran, you had oil and both oil pumps (the traditional low-pressure oil pump as well as the HPOP) were fine. (The low pressure pump, in addition to supplying lube to the traditional engine things like bearings, also supplies the oil to the HPOP which then raises its pressure even more to "power" the injectors.)

Your "gauge" gets its signal from a separate pressure switch. When the engine is off or jsut started up, the pressure is less than 7 psi (going from memory), the switch stays open, and no power goes to the gauge. The gauge reads "low". When oil pressure goes up, the switch closes, and the circuit is completed. The needle on the gauge moves...to a position that's just somewhere other than the other position. IT'S NOT A REAL GAUGE!!

Again, your engine ran, so you had oil and oil pressure.

I urge you to check out forums such as PowerstrokeNation.com or Diesel Forum - The Diesel Stop.com There is a wealth of info there that will save you big bucks as well as helping solve problems like this.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You are lucky! No really the 6.0L is one smart engine and it has hydraulic injectors so with no oil pressure it will not open the injector to allow fuel in and that means no runnie!!!!

Its a smart design. It uses engine oil to open the injectors. This is the hydraulic part. This system can prevent many problems but it has also caused a few. The early engines had bad o-rings at the injectors allowing oil into the combustion chamber. The other problem was Rotella. It foamed along with some other oils and caused the injectors to open early or stick. The oil foaming issue has been solved. I can remember when I got my 04 it came with a paper that had approved oils. I then noticed a few months later that Rotella display had "Reformulated And Now Approved For The Ford 6.0L"

Anyway I think its a bad sensor or something simple like a loose wire. Just you plain bad luck. End result is if oil pressure is really lost it will not run because no fuel can get injected.

Chris

 

[Bill_C]

Oh, for anyone that has questions about the operation of the 7.3 or 6.0 engines, go here Diesel Technician Society and download the appropriate pdf. Yep, they're big files, but they are extremely informative (and free).

I cannot over-emphasize how helpful these "coffee table books" (as Ford calls them) are. They are truly a "must-read".

 

[chrisreedtn]

BILL C! Good to see some one else from TN, I am building the kroger up there on the gallatin/hermitage line.

I drive my green f250 up there every day from lewisburg..

 

[texasjohn]

I can only tell you that somewhat over a year ago I found a '97 F350 dually crew cab 7.3L on Craig's List for (after negotiation) $5K. It was in near mint condition, 320K miles, manual transmission, excellent maintenance, tool box and 100 gallon external tank included. So far, no problems, I drive it about once a week.

Am happy with it for the price, rear ratio such that it is built for very heavy pulling. I read a lot on TBN about various different pickups.... as seen below, there are numerous experiences and opinions. The individual pickup I found seemed to be a sweet spot for price, pulling power, reliability, and availability.....less than 2 miles away. Haven't seen another such vehicle on CL since.

 

[saltbranch]

I did not read all the replys, so this may be old news.
I like the prepowerstroke 7.3's, the powerstroke injectors are high dollar to replace. When Ford went PS, I went Dodge. At the time I was running oilfieild hotshot. My first 97 dodge went over 500k miles, but I had **** with the 5th gear/reverse nut stripping off. 1st 200k I replaced the nut 3 times, then there was a "fix" by a local tranny guy that worked. I had a 93 f350 that I traded in with close to 400k for the 97 Dodge. That old truck ran great. The Dodge got alot better MPG. Had an 01 dodge that I traded the 97 in on, ran it close to 300k before trading in on a 04 Dodge. The 01 and 04 Dodges, I had a driver in for the most part as I got hired in 2000 by a company I hauled for to run the shipping/recieving dept. The 97/01 and 04 pulled a 40' G/N.
The company runs Fords period, at the time I started they had 2 1999 F450's with the 7.3 PS, standard tranny.Both trucks were traded in @ around 150 k miles and we had several injectors replaced on each, the factory clutches kept popping out springs on the clutch plate, we went to Luke clutches with good results. Those 2 trucks were replaced with f650 with the 5.9 cummins/allison autos, 1 pulls a 48'drop deck the other has a 24' bed. Have a 145k on the 1 pulling the drop deck with no problems, the 24' bed truck is nearing 60 k with no problems.
We had 2 of the 04' F250's with the 6.0's,autos. 1 was junk and traded off, the other we still have with maybe 130k miles. In 05 we bought a f-450 with the 6.0/standard @ 134 k motor blew- 8200.00 for a new long block from Ford. I currently have 3 08' f250's with 5.4 gas/auto and an 08 6.4/auto diesel f250 to contend with. The 6.4 is a powerhouse but only gets 2-3 more MPGs than the gassers. Granted the largest load the trucks pull are on a 20' bumper pull loaded upto 8k.
If I had to chose between the PS and 5.9, I'd go 5.9 on my experience.



"$12k is about the max I want to spend, as this will not be a daily driver, and will only see 3k-5k miles per year. The CFO (SWMBO) would be happier if I spent less, but it can't be "ugly", or she won't ride in it."

If this the case I really would look at a gas truck, the worst thing you can do is let a diesel sit. It would be really hard to make the #'s in cost,mpg, and maintence to justify a diesel for that annual mileage estimation, IMHO. Chevy has about the cheapest gasser out there to replace parts on, thats what I am looking for a good deal on myself in a 3/4 ton. BTW, my daily driver is Toyota about to hit 250k, runs like a top. I like the dodge diesels, ford gassers, think the chevy gassers are cheaper to own, love my Yota wheelbaro.
JMHO.

 

[jas67]

I can only tell you that somewhat over a year ago I found a '97 F350 dually crew cab 7.3L on Craig's List for (after negotiation) $5K. It was in near mint condition, 320K miles, manual transmission, excellent maintenance, tool box and 100 gallon external tank included. So far, no problems, I drive it about once a week.

Wow! What a CL find!
100 Gallon tank!?!?!? For the truck's engine, or one of those for filling equipment?

My bladder can't last the range of the 30 gallon tank that's in the truck (and my wife and kid sure can't)

 

[Bill_C]

FWIW, the Powerstroke injectors have come down in price considerably. PowerStroke 7.3 Injectors for example. I'm saving up for a set of Stage 2's.....

Realistically, though, if the oil is changed regularly a set of injectors should be good for 300K miles or more IMHO....