As you can see in my sig I'm a Dodge fan....but the 7.3L powerstroke is a very fine engine! Good fuel economy, good for towing...cost of upkeep....all diesels can be spendy if you have a problem...Some 7.3's seems to have glow plug issues that make them hard starting on cold days.....I'll let the ford guys verify or nullify this issue. But not a real spendy fix.

I just sold my 2001 F350 with the 7.3L Powerstroke, only because I wanted a dually to pull my bigger trailer with.  Loved the truck.  Give it two thumbs up

Oil changes are spendy on any diesel however.....will run you anywhere from $60-100 each time.  The transmission paired with the 7.3L on my series truck (1999-2002) wasn't the greatest, but I think 1998 and prior was very solid.  

Hi cascadia, the truck you are looking at buying is a good choice for pulling a horse trailer. We have 3 Ford trucks and all diesels, from 6.9L to 7.3L, with and without turbos.  I like Ford trucks and I like them with diesel engines in them. I prefer them with namual transmissions, but the one you are looking should do o.k. for you. My vet and a couple of contractor buddies have very similar trucks to the one you are looking at buying and they don't have any complaints about their Ford trucks.

Cost of upkeep shouldn't be that bad compared to gas engines. A little more for oil changes, but that's about the biggest difference I can think of. 2 batteries instead on one, but buy REALLY good batteries and you don't have to buy them that often. Diesels require a lot of cold cranking amps from the batteries and that's another reason to buy good ones. Glow plugs were referrenced in an earlier post and they should be checked at least once a year for proper operation. Good glow plugs, good batteries and you shouldn't have any problems starting in the winter. Ford diesels come with an engine block heater and I rarely use mine on any of my trucks. Tends to make the electric meter on the side of the house really spin when you plug them in.

As for fuel economy, you should get 15/18 mpg empty (not towing) and you could drop down to as low as 10/12 mpg towing a heavy load. By example I have a 1985 F250 6.9L 5 spd manual and it will do over 20 mpg empty on the highway. Our 2001 Super Duty 7.3L does an honest 19 mpg empty and around 12 mpg loaded/towing.

Hope this info helps and happy trails.

Hi, The 7.3 is and was a good engine, as far as glow plugs they are not that hard to change and if they by chance do fail you can give it a shot of starting fluid in the air intake and it will start right up.

I see you live in Oregon, as do I.With that said if you buy the 2 wheel drive,never drive in wet grass,mud,sand, or other soft surfaces.Unless you only drive on hard surfaces........you will regret the day you got a 2wd diesel.That engine is an anchor in the front and you will spin your wheels on any slippery surface,wet grass,mud,sand,gravel.If you travel on forest roads,they are pretty good as long as you don't stop on a hill.Even with limited slip,positrack,etc.

In Oregon you need 4x4 to realy enjoy all that this state has to offer.

If all you do is drive from paved lot to paved lot and NEVER travel over the cascades,go to the beach,or travel forest roads, you will be just fine with a 2x4.

I had a 99 F250 2x4 and quickly learned about how fast I could get stuck on wet level grass.

Sure there will be people who will say "I have a 2 wheel drive and I never have problems" and to this I will say from personal experience,B...S..t !!

Think hard on this purchase,it may be hard to resale if you buy it and learn you can't enjoy the back country. Just my personal experience.Thanks for your question and good luck on your choice.

I own a 97 F250 with a 7.3L Powerstroke. They are great motors and will give you years of service provided you do the proper maintenance. The Ford auto trannys (e40D) in the old body sytle trucks aren't the best in the world and not typically good for more than about 90K miles....so if this truck has not a new tranny, I'd figure the cost of one in the deal.

If you are in hilly country, plan to go off the paved road or anyway that gets some rain, you are going to be surprised at how easily a 2WD truck will get stuck. Diesel engines are a big block of iron. The 2WD configuration would be my biggest concern.

Good luck in your search.

rattler

That's true, unless you like supporting your local machanic, you should not use starting fluid in this engine. I have an early '99 F250 with a 7.3 184K miles and running strong, It is a very good engine, almost as good as the cummings. For towing; it's the first truck I've had that I can be tootling down the interstate with 3 horses in tow, be going 70 mph, and accelerate uphill while passing someone. As for the 2wd, the other night I was on bare dirt, no trailer, not that steep of a grade, trying to back up, nope. I had to get out and lock it into 4wd.

If you want to know more about the engine, a great web site is http://forums.thedieselstop.com/ubbthreads/

DUHHHHH! if the truck won't start......the glowplugs must not be workin........glowplugs don't work.......no problem with using a short shot of starting fluid in air intake.........I typed it s l o w l y so you people can read it clearer........if it started you wouldn't need a starting aid.......get the picture! if glowplugs work don't use it.

If the mechanic at your local garage can't start it ....what do you think he uses ?????? come on think......think......thats right starting fluid...yea give yourself a pat on the back!!!!

You can also plug it in if equiped with a block heater.

Now I turn you back to the DUUUUUUh department.

The key is small squirt in the snorkel,enough to start,not blow it up.

The glow plugs are far easier to replace on the 6.5 than on the 7.3. both cost about $10 each.you can check them before tearing things apart,but if it is over 100k you need to replace them anyway.Looks intimidateing when you take valve covers off but not too bad.I think they charge around $400 to replace them at Ford.And that may be for only 4.

Anyway if there is doubt about hurting it just use a block heater till you get them working again.Usually starts ok above 25 to 30 degrees.

Other than that pretty simple to change oil and fuel filter.Different than cummins, where if you get air in system it wont start till you bleed it.Giver it tlc good fuel and lube it runs a long time.

My 2000 F350 lost 2 glow plugs at 65000 miles. This was during the 2002 olymipics and I was working at the downhill venue. The truck would start just fine in my garage in the morning but wouldn't start after being parked at the ski resort all day. A small shot of starter fluid in the air filter snorkel was all it took.

After two days of fighting it I took it in to Ford.  They replaced two glow plugs and the control module. Which they said usually goes bad with the glow plugs. Most of Fords Powerstroke engines have a 5 year - 100,000 mile warranty on the engine. Glow Plugs are included.

My 2003 6.0L went 80,000 with no glow plug problems.

My 2000 7.3L engine had 225 hp. I added a 60 hp Superchip and exhaust. The maths suggest I should have had 285 hp.  The 6.0L engines have 325hp for comparison. Both trucks easily pulled my trailers.  My 7.3L was noisier. Especially when cold.  Got a little better fuel mileage than my 6.0L. Had better low end torque. (i.e. backing over a curb with a heavy load). The old 4 speed  auto pales in comparison to the new 5 speed Torque shift.

I bought a 99 F250 4WD Super Duty, diesel, longbed, extended cab 9 months ago.  It only had 27,000 miles on it.  I moved up from a 1/2 ton Chev Silvarado 2WD.  I wanted to feel absolutely safe towing my 2 horse tag-along anywhere in the Cascades (Oregon).  My first camping trip we took a short-cut and ended up on a one land rough dirt and gravel road with turnouts.  No problem - this truck doesn't even know it's back there.  My trailer is a 2200 pound Morgan Built and I haul Arabians, so I was only about at 5-6000 pounds.  Would not have attempted that with the 1/2 ton. 

I love my Ford and am now driving it as my daily drive - I get about 16-17 MPG.  That's a combo of in town, freeway, pulling and not pulling.

The only thing I would recommend is protect your rig if you are going to do a lot of gravel and dirt driving.  I got some paint damage while on that camping trip that needs to be touched up because I didn't have mud flaps on the truck.  I hate to drive a dinged truck, so that will cost me.

I can only speak for a 97 F250 but the Wait to Start light is on its own timer and the light going out has no relationship to how ready the truck is for starting.

I typically count to 10 after the light is out before starting on cold mornings. This works for trucks with good glow plugs and relay.

The engine is great however in the older automatic transmissions you do have to beware of. The main thing is to change the fluid every 30000 miles.