Used Truck Decision

[SpringerPop]

Originally Posted by timberframe

I bought a truck today. I picked up a 2001 Ford f350 diesel 7.3. It has 152,000 miles. It goes down the road good and I guess time will tell how nice of a truck it is. This will be my first diesel in a truck, (Had a perkins diesel) in a farm tractor once. Have to have a fifth wheel installed yet. I kind of wish I would have taken the idea of purchasing a southern truck, but perhaps next time. Thanks for all the advice in purchasing the truck.

Do yourself a BIG favor!

First, get onto the 7.3 diesel forum at Ford-Trucks.com.

Your first question should be about augmenting your transmission's cooling system.

Second, DO something about augmenting your transmission's cooling system.

If you doubt my credentials to advise you thus, look at my sig file.

Pop

[Scarab0088]

Originally Posted by SpringerPop

Do yourself a BIG favor!

First, get onto the 7.3 diesel forum at Ford-Trucks.com.

Your first question should be about augmenting your transmission's cooling system.

Second, DO something about augmenting your transmission's cooling system.

If you doubt my credentials to advise you thus, look at my sig file.

Pop

To the OP, Ditto on the extra cooling for the tranny. I had a F350/7.3 for years and the only problem I ever had towing was tranny heat.

[SpringerPop]

Investigate installing one of these:

transmissioncoolers.us: Tru-Cool MAX transmission cooler *No external cold weather thermal bypass

I am not endorsing this company in particular, nor this vendor, but this is the largest one that I know of, and larger is better.

The spacing on the mounting holes also correspond to the two vertical pieces behind your grille, and that's where you put it.

You could also swap your whole OEM transmission cooler for one from a 6.0-liter Ford. They bolt right in, and only require a tubing-size adapter.

Pop

[timberframe]

Sounds like a Cha-ching thing, this extra tranny cooler. But I better check into it.

[TXiceman]

Most trucks need an external auxiliary tranny cooler. Heat will kill a tranny in short order. A few $$ for a good cooler beats a few thousand $$$$$$ for a new tranny.

Also, tranny fluid needs to be change based on the manufacturers extreme or HD service schedule.

Ken

[Scarab0088]

I can be inexpensive...like $50.



or More Expensive...like $350.


Lots of options can be seen here:
http://www.xtremediesel.com/index.aspx

Either cheap or not, it's MUCH CHEAPER THAN A TRANSMISSION REBUILD

[CD]

I didn't see where OP said if he had an auto or man tranny. A man won't need a cooler.

[SpringerPop]

Originally Posted by CD

I didn't see where OP said if he had an auto or man tranny. A man won't need a cooler.

ZF-6's have an external cooler....

... and a pump to get it there.

Not all manual transmissions are the same.

Pop

[caissiel]

Get a scangauge II at $170 and buy the last 3 or 4 month issues of Diesel Power and join the powerstroke forums and invest in a cheap well serviced 6.0L that can tow 15K and has the best of transmissions, and the last diesel that can be maintained by any knoledgeble mechanic without specialized tools.

The 6.0's are better then the reputation that Ford left us to believe. We are many that follow these valuable trucks and do lots of work with them. They are the last good Ford diesel engine and as a complete truck they are well worth the price.
Since out of warranty, we find them to give better service then the first 5 years now that we have found out that Ford ruined the 6.0L reputation for their own gain.
I have one and so does my friends and we are very satisfied with the performance, its the pour maintenance done by Ford we do not like. We follow the International maintenance system refused by Ford years ago.

I went trough the same story with well maintained by myself 6.5 GM that towed overloaded by 5k for 9 years without any problems.

[ralphie]

Originally Posted by caissiel

Get a scangauge II at $170 and buy the last 3 or 4 month issues of Diesel Power and join the powerstroke forums and invest in a cheap well serviced 6.0L that can tow 15K and has the best of transmissions, and the last diesel that can be maintained by any knoledgeble mechanic without specialized tools.

The 6.0's are better then the reputation that Ford left us to believe.......................

Wow. I can count on one hand, probably two fingers, good stories about the 6.0 motor. I'm not trying to discredit what you're saying because I don't have any facts. All I can say is the 6.0 motors get a lot of bad raps from 6.0 owners which is nothing, IMHO, to do with a Ford conspiracy (if I may use that word).

But, you appear to have other info that I and the OP might want to know about. Why, because there's probably some folks who would be willing to take a chance with a 6.0 because of price. My brother sells Ford, and he tells me the mechs he works with have nothing good to say about the 6.0, and his dealership would rather take in a 7.3 on trade because the 6.0s are hard to get rid of. So, if there's some hope, where does it lie?

[SpringerPop]

It lies in aftermarket parts.

This link covers it pretty well:
6.0L Power Stroke Fixes

After you get done with all that you should have a relatively trouble-free engine that can "do the job" very nicely.

If you skimp on the above, you can have a money-pit on your hands.

Better to do it right the first time.

Yes, the transmissions (and the rest of the truck) are worth having!

Pop

[caissiel]

Mine is all stock, with a new oil cooler, STC fitting, and coolant replaced with EC1 Cat coolant as International uses in the real 365. The secret is in the coolant flush, when done properly all is required to have a dependable 6.0L.
I run programed till the clutch slipes and it never heated in any hills with 15K triler in tow. Payed $20K 5 years ago and would never find a replacement in as good condition for $13K. not bad with lost of $1.4K per year and $1K in maintenance.

[TexasPSDX]

On my 2000 PSD Excursion I installed a Tru-Cool tranny cooler in line with the small stock cooler from Ford. Did a good job, had no problems with it.

When I sold the X and bought a 2000 PSD F250, I pulled the stock Ford cooler off. It was an 8 row cooler. I installed in it's place a stock 31 row cooler from a 6.0 PSD. Massive difference between the 2 coolers. Ford got it right with the 6.0 tranny cooler.

My tranny temps run cooler now with the 6.0 cooler than with 2 cooler in series.

Originally Posted by SpringerPop

Investigate installing one of these:

transmissioncoolers.us: Tru-Cool MAX transmission cooler *No external cold weather thermal bypass

I am not endorsing this company in particular, nor this vendor, but this is the largest one that I know of, and larger is better.

The spacing on the mounting holes also correspond to the two vertical pieces behind your grille, and that's where you put it.

You could also swap your whole OEM transmission cooler for one from a 6.0-liter Ford. They bolt right in, and only require a tubing-size adapter.

Pop

[TexasPSDX]

Comment on buying a used truck. I bought my 2000 PSD Excursion new and drove it 150,000 miles, most of it towing. Great vehicle and towed great.

I wanted a pickup. Looked at new and got sticker shock. Watched craigslist for used trucks and ran across my now 2000 PSD F250 CC LWB pickup. It only had 70,000 miles on it and had never towed a trailer. Best part I sold the X for more than I gave for the F250.

While looking, I saw a 2002 F350 PSD CC SWB with only 20,000 miles on it. I would have bought is, but needed the long bed. Great used trucks are out there, you have to look and not get into a hurry.