Glad only one diesel in my driveway!!!

[Joshpow]

Off topic story but good laugh for everyone but me! Guys I really like my ol 02 250. 7.3 with an adjustable chip, cold air intake, 4 inch exhaust. Nearly 400 hp and over 700 lb ft. Lots of fun for a big truck and still get good enough fuel mileage. I wouldnt have said that yesterday!!! What began as a simple set of bad glow plugs cost me 200 dollars and over 6 hours of greasy work! Ends up being a bum set of autolite glows and a bad relay. Both at once. These trucks suck to work on. I had to lay down across the engine and get greasy to the elbows!! The socket wont clear the injectors or valve pushrods so you loosen the pug and use needle noses to squeeze them out. Same to replace. Intercooler tubes, AC compressor, breather assembly, hoses, wires, you name it running where you need to be. Bolts to crawl for and some to stuff your head inside the fenderwell. Others just outta reach. Just a mess. Finally got it starting good again though.

So.... moral of my story...... If you got glowplugs to change on a powerstroke, it will be fun. Oh, and dont call me!!!

[Ranchero50]

This is why I won't own a post '94 IH diesel. Absolute junk to work on.

Just wait until the turbo base O ring seals go out and it's puking oil out the back.

Oh yeah, just wait until an injector craps out, you get to replace all 8

Jamie

[AK F100]

I loved my Powerstroke while I had it, but yes, it was a pain to work on it when I had to. Luckily, I put about 100,000 miles on it and no real major problems (other than the transmission, but a shop did that work). I did glow plugs and a lift pump for the fuel. While it was a task, I still had fun doing it.

[hazelnut]

Ive got a 2000 7.3 that ive put new injectors and glow plugs in, didnt seem to be bad at all after i changed them on my old 2006 6.0, 7.3 is a dream compared to a 6.0, When ford swaped engines they must have thought the 7.3 had to much room under the hood because when the 6.0 came out everything was packed under the hood so tight you couldnt even see the valve covers LOL.

[Joshpow]

I cant complain. I got 186000 on mine and great service. Pain to work on but so far, knock on glass to save my @$$, it aint had alot of troubles. Just fun when it does. Love my truck but working on it is a mind game. Had heard the 6.0 is even worse. Oh well it starts ok now and no complaints right now. Just hope it will be nice to me and not break down for a good long time. Dont want to ruin my good luck either!!

[mlheppl]

I've got the 7.3 in my 99 SD. I'm going to have to replace the glowplugs before the snow starts falling. I'm really not looking forward to this as I don't have a garage or shop to pull it inside. I hate to pop the valve covers when in the gravel and dirt. I've read that I should replace the clips for the glowplug wiring while I'm there. Have you guys done this with your 7.3? Also what glowplugs have you had good or bad luck with?

[AK F100]

Also what glowplugs have you had good or bad luck with?

Stick with Motorcraft or Beru, that's what I was told. Stay away from Champions, I have heard the tips are prone to swelling and break off in the head. I'm sure there are others that will work, this is just what I was told.

[j41385]

Makes me glad the Cummins only has the one central Grid heater under the intake horn.

[hazelnut]

mlheppl, On my 7.3 i replaced the glow plugs with motorcraft, All of them were still working good but with 260,000 miles on them they had done there job. The wireing for the injectors and glow plugs i replaced to, Sometimes the wires will get to close to a pushrod and ground out causeing a injector to not open or a glowplug not to work. Be sure to turn over the engine with the glow plugs out to blow out any oil that gone in the cylinder when the glowplugs were removed. Dont know if you have alligator clips, but they will make your life easyer when you put the wire back on the glowplugs.

[papabug71]

We have a bunch of the newest Ford diesels at work, 6.4 I think? If you guys think the 7.3's & 6.0's were difficult to work on, check out the brand new Ford trucks. You cant even see the block. . .

[cdeal28078]

I was in the local Ford dealer a while back getting the stereo in the wife's 07 Mustang replaced and saw a pretty new Ford Diesel in and being worked on.
I don't know the year or engine as I am not interested in them and don't keep up
The hood was up and I could see the radiator support area. I don't think one more sensor, fan, cooler or anything else could have been stuffed in, on or around anything else in there. I was amazed looking at it. I could not imagine having to just change the oil and filters on one. I figured right then that to own one someone would have to be either rich or be a Ford Diesel mechanic. I know that is not the case but man that thing sure is stuffed.
I asked the guy working on it who was just doing an oil change, how he liked working on them. He said he'd rather take a beating.
Dang nice looking truck though and if I could afford the payments and maintenance I would drive it
clint

[fireguywtc]

I was in the local Ford dealer a while back getting the stereo in the wife's 07 Mustang replaced and saw a pretty new Ford Diesel in and being worked on.

Sorry for off topic thread highjack, but I must ask. What was wrong with your wifes mustang radio? My wifes 06 has the shaker 500 and all of the buttons have had the paint come off them. Other then that the radio is fine. I have looked everywhere and no one has just the buttons. Its rediculous.

[hazelnut]

We have a bunch of the newest Ford diesels at work, 6.4 I think? If you guys think the 7.3's & 6.0's were difficult to work on, check out the brand new Ford trucks. You cant even see the block. . .

Ive looked under the hood at 6.4s and jamed up even tighter than the 6.0s, I remember when i had a 93 or 96 7.3 and everything was mechanical. i could turn up the RPMs or fuel with a screwdriver. Them days are long gone I dont understand why the emissions are getting so tight in the US, China has underground coal mines burning out of controll for years and years that are polluting more than all US cars and trucks on the road year after year.

[j41385]

If you cut my wrist you would have old Ford Blue run all over the blade. I just cant force myself to like the IH diesels, Cummins is my choice, and Ford Chose that too for the MD trucks. Give me a 6bt Please.

[Oren09]

Have you tried changing the spark plugs on the Ford diesels? It's impossible