7.3 Powerstroke truck opinions??

Im looking for opinions on 1999-2003 Ford F-250 7.3 Powerstroke trucks. Good and bad!

We used them on the Railroad in F 350's-good engine.No trouble under extreme use winter and summer.We got the first ones in 95 I believe.

'99 7.3



About 30k ago.
Injectors 1x, auto trans 2x,

My '05 6.0 made it about 1/2 that before started having issues

2000 f350 with near 300000 bout as near a bullet proof motor as you'll get

You won't find much bad. Definitely the most reliable diesel pickup motor ever built. I have had four of them and wish they still made them!

The 7.3 is by which all others are compared.
Lasts forever.
Great power.

Since the 7.3, Ford tried other engines.
The others sometimes had issues.

I skipped forward to the 6.7 in a new 2019 F-350.
It seems to be the best update upgrade to the 7.3.
More horsepower and torque.
I love mine.

Were 7.3s made after 2000? I thought 2000 was the last year. I could be wrong.

You are, lol.

Early 2003 was end of run, start of 6.0

Probably the best Powerstroke engine made.

I had one that started eating glow plugs, Ford replaced everything except the wiring harness and it still ate them every time you started it and drove it. After about $2000 at Ford with no fix, I told them it was going to make a good snow fence and parked it for the winter. Drove it in and sold it at an auto auction. That was the last ford I owned. If the dealewr can't fix their own stuff, why own it?

Loved mine. Best diesel motor ever. Wish I had never sold mine. Like Willy am now in a 21 6.7 seems like a good truck but have not yet put 3000 miles on it. Had over 300000 on my 7.3. Eric

Had 2 of them a 92 and a 95. 95 had a turbo but much preferred the non turbo model. Both mine were standard tranny as well.

Had a '93 F350, crew cab, 4X4, 8' bed.
Normally aspirated ( non turbo) 7.3.

Was slow, but towed 7k everyday and never knew it was back there, ONCE I got her up on plane!

Slow, loud, underpowered, reliable. They were great trucks but are getting old, watch for rust and stay away from anything that has been sitting for a long time.

2000 Excursion 3/4 ton 7.3 turbo. Took this pic on our way to Louisiana last summer. Got around 315,000 on her now. Not as much power as any of the ones that came after, but very reliable. Couple alternators and fuel lines replaced is it with the motor so far. Have redone the whole front end once and probably getting close to doing it again. Other than that, vac leaks on auto 4x4 and she chews through rear brakes and calipers every few years. Love this truck.

A friend of mine has a small fleet of them for his crew to drive he loves them .

I have an early 99 7.3. I love it, paid for a long time ago and will tow anything. Only get 16 or 17 mpg. 485,000 miles.
THey do have some issues but what truck doesnt? Ford had a goofy year in 99, they made 2 different trucks. Early 99 and late 99, the early has some different parts on it, front brake rotors, wheel bearings and a smaller turbo and they are more $ than the late 99. Late 99 to 04 have mostly the same parts. If I bough another i would stay away from early 99, I cant remember the dates from early to late but you can google it.

And if you need injectors dont buy from full force diesel, they do not stand behind their products when they sell you a junk injector!!!!!!!

They quit making the 7.3 in 03 when they used up existing inventory, then went to 6.0 still in 03. You can get both 7.3 and 6.0 in 03 so ya gotta be careful when buying in that year.

Beardy - my 19 now has a whopping 15,640 miles. After 10,000 the mileage improved. I don’t really care about mileage numbers, but noticed that the tank of fuel lasted considerably longer. I regularly tow loads 15,000 pounds. Pulling, controlling, and stopping is effortless.

I have an 01 excursions. It has around 400k on it. Had a spell with bad alternators they were bad from the parts store. Changed on in the store's parking lot didn't make it 3 block before I eas dead in the middle d le of the road again. I we did the whole front end around 280k, treated breaks and rotors as needed. Powered steering is having some issues and now the 4x4 stoped working.

It pulls anything I hook to it and has been a great vehicle.

I have been told I should replace the wiring harness for the injectors because they get brittle from the heat and break without warning on rigs that old. Anyone had that happen?

Keep in mind that motor is heavy and you'll be working on the front end more often than you would with a gas motor. I think I put around 700,000 miles on the four I owned and seriously they are incredible.

Trapset the 95 I had had to replace the valve cover gaskets as the wires to the glow plugs are made into them. They are right proud of them when you have to buy them.

That’s great to know Willy. I have only towed my boat with it a couple times and some loads of feed. I have been real impressed so far. Eric