1993 Ford F250 Diesle

[Ben's Landscape]

OK I am a Dodge guy through and through. I really like the quality of dodge trucks and My dad has always had good luck with the.

But just yesterday I found a nice looking F 250 with a diesle. The truck runs good. It didn't even smoke when it was started or when I put the pedal to the floor to see how responsive it was.

The truck has 150K on it and has been in this guys family for 12 years. The only problem is it is NON TURBO!!:cry::cry:

What are some problems that I could check for in these 7.3 liter diesles?? Is there an easy way of testing the injector pump??

O did i mention I can get it for 2k?? This will be the first diesle that me or my dad has ever worked on and or had.

[Mowingman]

Those are great engines. It is just getting broken in good. With proper maintenance, you can easily get 500,000 miles out of that truck, probably more. Sounds like a great price if it has not been trashed out. I would buy it.
I have owned over a dozen of those ford diesels pickups, both with and without turbo. The weak part of the truck is the automatic transmission. Seems like they need a rebuild about every 150,000 miles if you do a lot of towing.

[tnmtn]

the idi non turbo is a great engine. not as powerful as the later year powerstrokes but will still do the job. just not as fast. on the upside fuel milage is better than the newer engines, you should be around 18-19mpg. i get 17 in a double cab dually. the biggest issue with these engines is called cavitation. you can find more info in the idi section of www.oilburners.net at the price you mentioned i would jump on it if it is on good shape. by the way my 7.3 idi has 260,000 miles and runs like a top. you will also be impressed with the price and availability of parts through a napa.
good luck,

[Ben's Landscape]

Thanks for the replys. The tranie seems fine. It just shifts hard from first to second. I looked at the fluid and it needs to be changed. Maybe the shifting problem will go away once the fluid and filter is changed.

[Mowingman]

When a that auto trans. develops a problem, it goes into "default mode", which causes it to shift very hard. However, it usually will shift hard between all gears. A service like you suggested might be the answer. That would be the first thing to try.

[J&R Landscaping]

Before servicing the tranny, I would change the vaccum modulator. Under $20 and 2 bolts. It may help the hard shift issue.

[Ben's Landscape]

Thanks for the tips. I bought it last night. Now I have a list of what I have to do. New fuel filter,oil,oil filter, trans fluid and filter and a belt. The truck is getting registered today. I can't wait to have it runing.

Thanks for the tips for the trans. I think that i will just do the fluid first because the guy can't tell me when any of the fluids have been done or the filters. So i am just going to do it.

[tnmtn]

congrats and post some pics

[Gravel Rat]

You will want to buy some fuel additive (Lube) the old Stanadyne pumps don't like this low sulphur fuel.

If your working under the hood one thing you DO NOT want to touch is the fuel line return system. It is the hoses that go between the fuel injectors. If those have grey paint on them don't bump them or touch them.

The old IDIs are bad for getting air through the return lines if they are not leaking leave them be. Once you disturb the system then you need to replace all the hoses and rubber O rings and possibly the caps.

Another thing the IDIs have problems with is glow plugs if one is gone do them all plus change out the controller.

I had a IDI it was a good truck it wasn't a speed wagon my old F-450 had 5:13 gears but it climbed hills loaded or empty at the same speed.

Don't get any ideas about turboing it your wasting your time the old IDIs have such high compression you can't put any boost into them.

A original owner truck is hard to find I think you will have it for a long time aslong as you don't live in the rust belt :laugh:

[STIHL GUY]

seems to be a good buy if its in good shape. you will get a lot of miles out of that truck

[Ben's Landscape]

Yeah I am figuring at least 300k if i take care of it. Which i will. I did the oil change last night and it was extremely black. I don't think it was changed for a while. It was blacker than black construction paper!!

[badbart]

Yeah I am figuring at least 300k if i take care of it. Which i will. I did the oil change last night and it was extremely black. I don't think it was changed for a while. It was blacker than black construction paper!!

That is typical for an IDI 7.3 engine. You can change the oil and drive it 100 miles and it will look almost as dirty as when you changed it!

[Ben's Landscape]

O Ok thanks for the tip. Keep them coming this is the first diesle that I have worked on.

[TXNSLighting]

Welcome to the diesel club. Now, you gotta spell it right if you wanna be apart of us. DIESEL. Alright, youve got a great truck with a great engine. Keep your oil changed as well as all your filters. Always check your air filter every 2 fill ups. Remember you can always add a Turbo to that truck and have a really good runnin truck! Good luck with it, and i know it will serve you well.

[Hanau]

Shell Rotella is the oil you want to use.

[Gravel Rat]

With a IDI you need a oil that handles soot because the engine is naturally aspirated they burn a little dirty.

People have tried everything to get more power out of the 7.3 IDI your stuck with 185hp and leave it there. Turning up the injection pump helps a little bit but you get lots of black smoke.

A rebuilt injection pump helps with the power and replace the injectors with the EE version I think its EE.

[12Valve]

Those are good motors, My mom used to have a 92 7.3 N/A ran great never had any proplems, Dad used to have a 92 7.3 NA that the previus owner put a banks sidewinder turbo on, It was faster than his 97 powerstoke he had at the time. I rode with him quite a few time with loaded goosenecks full of calfs to the market. 15K # plus loads with trailer.

[Imow4u2]

Shell Rotella is the oil you want to use.

That's the last oil to use,, I've got the lab tests to prove Shell Rotella is the first to lose TBN and Is the most consumed oil in an engine...

Mobil Delvac or Delo 400 if you want to keep the truck..

[Hanau]

This is me waiting on scientific evidence proving the oil that has taken one of my engines over 480K miles is junk.

[Gravel Rat]

I tried all kinds of oil in my 7.3 IDI mine didn't like Rotella or Delo.

The oil that I found worked the best was Petro canada Duron 15w40 but you guys in the USA can't find it in the states.

I was told stay away from Rotella I know it didn't do well in Powerstrokes.

As I said earlier you need a oil that can handle the soot.

[badbart]

Rotella did have a problem with foaming in the Powerstrokes. I use Motorcraft in mine, because it was designed for the 7.3 Powerstroke.

[TXNSLighting]

Rotella did have a problem with foaming in the Powerstrokes. I use Motorcraft in mine, because it was designed for the 7.3 Powerstroke.

I have been Using Rotella for 9 years and have never once seen or heard of this problem..

[TXNSLighting]

That's the last oil to use,, I've got the lab tests to prove Shell Rotella is the first to lose TBN and Is the most consumed oil in an engine...

Mobil Delvac or Delo 400 if you want to keep the truck..

I tried Delo for two oil changes. Didnt like it one bit. The truck didnt run well during those times.. Never have used it sense, nor will i ever try it again.

[DieselDennis]

Good buy on the truck. Everything should be just fine. Take your pick on the oil. Any 15W40 diesel oil should do just fine.

I wanted to point you to a very informative website named www.thedieselstop.com . There's a subforum there dedicated to 7.3L IDI engines. Well traveled site that will no doubt help you with any issue you have with that truck be it engine or not.

[zabmasonry]

also make sure to use the coolant additive, if not you will eventually get pitting into the combustion chamber

[badbart]

I have been Using Rotella for 9 years and have never once seen or heard of this problem..

My understanding is that they have since changed the formulation of Rotello so that it's compatible now. As you know the Powerstroke uses extremely high oil pressure to drive the fuel injection system. This is where the isssue was apparent. Foaming caused a power loss, especially when the oil had over 3000 miles on it. Ford tells you to change oil between 3-5K miles. Even the Motorcraft oil loses it's anti-foaming properties after 5K miles.

[olyman]

I have been Using Rotella for 9 years and have never once seen or heard of this problem..

it was common, in guys that pulled a lot--engine ran warmer, and started to foam certain oils,,then the injectors wouldnt work so well---hence the motorcraft 15w40----

[Ben's Landscape]

That is what i used was the motor craft 15w40. Can I ask you guys how to clean or replace the water seperater?? Tips for the fuel filter?? Thanks

[81Bronk36]

also make sure to use the coolant additive, if not you will eventually get pitting into the combustion chamber
Yes, a fresh batch of coolant, some distilled water and a few bottles of SCA's would be the next step in your maintenance. Cost me about $100... kinda weird to spend that much a week after paying $700 for my truck...