Diesel owners and experts... HELP! please.

[little kid]

Picked up an old Ford F350 (1997) with the 7.3 diesel. I have never owned a diesel engine and need some advice on routine maintenance and what precautions to take in the wintertime...

Thanks in advance for anything you could offer!

[JOHNBIGDOG]

Use only ford approved fuel additives cetane booster will help Use good fuel, NO GASOLINE (although it will run on it, not recommended), Change fuel and oil changes according to the SEVERE DUTY service schedule. Watch the oil level carefully you shouldn't gain oil, means you have a leaky injector. Follow ford's maint. it should last a long time. Drive it hard. Seriously

[Scott K]

If everything is in working order (glow plugs, GP relay, etc..) you really shouldnt need to do much different then any other vehicle. Maybe on cold days, let it warm up for 5 minutes. Perform routing maintenance as you would with any other truck.

[BobT]

My old '85 6.9L was treated like any other vehicle. As long as the glow plugs were in good condition and I maintained the truck it was very dependable. I did have to watch where I bought fuel, especially during the winter. Bio-diesel didn't work well for me. I had a lot of trouble with it plugging up my fuel filter even if I used anti-gel additives. Maybe they've made some changes since '85 though. I also found that fuel from Holiday didn't run very well in my '85. I don't know why but every time I used Holiday fuel my truck ran rough and started hard.

I also found that arctic diesel wasn't very good for that old engine. Not sure why but I learned to stay away from it. I watched the long range forecasts and blended my own #1 and #2 ratio accordingly and that worked best for me and yes you can still get #2 and #1 at some places although it is getting more difficult. Here again, they may have made some changes since '85.

Just my experience.

[Ufatz]

BobT's information is useful only for THAT generation of engines. They are nothing like the 7.3 which is a durable powerhouse engine. Treat it right and it will run until the body falls off the truck!! Get the engine manual (you can find it) and follow it. Use Shell Rotella T engine oil ONLY. Keep all filters, including fuel filter, clean and current. Use the anti-foaming agent Ford recommends for the cooling system.

You can pile up a lotta miles on those good old Powerstroke engines!!

I'm sure Bob's info is accurate. Everybody I knew who had one of those old 6.9's wanted to take 'em up and but a bullet in their head!! LOL

[BobT]

It certainly had its quirks but I learned what they were and it gave me 238,000 miles before I sold it to somebody else. To my knowledge he still uses that old truck, assuming the body hasn't rusted completely off the frame yet.

[dougger222]

I ran Rotella T in the three 7.3's for several years but have upgraded to much higher grade oil. Two of the three run on Amsoil and when the third is ready will dump out the Rotella full Syn in favor of Amsoil.

Each gets about 20,000 miles between oil changes with Amsoil. When they ran on Rotella non syn would go about 10,000 miles.

One thing not to do is run cheap fuel filters. I learned the hard way on two of the work trucks. One had a major intermitted fuel leak which was finaly found to be caused by the autozone cheap fuel filter. The other work truck was also sluggish on take off and would even die at times. One day found fuel in my coolant which meant the injectors were letting fuel through. Had my diesel mechanic fix it and after that the truck was still sluggish. Yanked out the fuel filter and put in a Napa Gold (said to be higher quality than Motorcraft) and it now runs perfect, 299,300 miles.

[ChuckN]

On my 7.3 I switched to Rotella T6 full synthetic 5W-40. Since it seems most of MN weather is cold, I wanted better protection and starting in the cold. It made a substantial improvement in cold starts. I extend my oil changes on full synthetic, to about 10K miles...some guys go a lot more, but I choose not too.

I personally use Power Service diesel fuel additive, especially since the fuel has changed (for the worse) in recent years. Diesel mechanics I know recommend using additives at every fill to prevent injector and fuel pump issues, it's worked for me.

[Scott K]

Diesel fuel has actually gotten much cleaner, and has much more strict guidlines now, then just a few years ago. Now the new ULS fuel doesnt have the same lubricity as the old diesel, the Power strokes (94.5-present) dont use the fuel to lubricate the pumps, as they did back in the earlier years (83-94). Now the injectors was initially the big concern with the new fuel, but as it turns out, it really hasnt been much of a factor. Cetane levels have been very closely monitored in the last 5 years. So to say the fuel quality has dropped, isnt correct, it has gotten better. Fuel additives do add extra lubricity for the injectors, but so far it hasnt proven its been needed. Needed, I dont think so, but use it as a piece of mind. I know people who still add a can of sea foam to every tank of gas, needed? Well, the other 20 million cars on the road aint using it, so to me, they are just burning their money, but, it is their money, not mine.

As for synthetics in diesels, I am also not a fan, even more so, not a fan of extended service intervals with synthetics, but when customers ask for it, they get it. Its their truck, they are welcome to do as they wish with it.

[DRH1175]

Congrats that is one of the very best diesel engines out there. In the winter run 10w30 Rotella or similar. 15w40 the rest of the year. On cold mornings plug it in. My father in law parks his outside and it has never not started. sometimes on the real cold morning you may want to cycle your glow plugs a couple times.

[Gissert]

Welcome to the world of oil burners!

All good advice above. Definately plug it in when its cold out, and its a lot easier on the old girl when it starts.

I also vouch for Power Service in every thank of fuel. I run an 01 Dodge with the Cummins. They VP44 injector pump is not known for its longevity. Somehow, knock on wood, I am pushing 350k on the original pump and injectors.

[Valv]

I run an 01 Dodge with the Cummins. They VP44 injector pump is not known for its longevity. Somehow, knock on wood, I am pushing 350k on the original pump and injectors.

Atta Boy Gissert, VP44 are not as bad as some say, just need a little more attention.

[little kid]

Wow! Great information from great guys - thank you, very much.

The cetane boost sounds like a cheap insurance plan for the injectors, I will start using this.

There truck has every manual except the service manual, so this was good advice too - need to find a copy.

Regular oil changes and high-quality filter changes - makes good sense.

Plug it in on cold days, cycle glow plugs.

Anything else I missed? And thanks for sharing your knowledge!