FORD F 350

[donny hochstetler]

Hi guys I am looking at a ford f 350 dually, This truck is a 1994 model, crew cab, has the 7.3 liter diesel,with turbo,auto transmission, it is not four wheel drive, long bed it has 77,000 miles which seems pretty low for a truck of that age.The truck basicly looks like new, as far as the body is concerned, overall condition is excellent, the guy that had it pulled his race car with it, other than that it pretty much set in the garage. I guess I"m looking for any info.that I might not know about, also what kind of fuel milage might I expect out of it .,  thanks.

[Brad_S.]

Check for oil leaking from the oil pan. 7.3's are notorious for that, usually at 120K miles but given the age of that truck, it would be due. Engine has to be pulled to change the pan, count on a $2000 give or take bill to do that.

[DouginUtah]

I couldn't find fuel mileage for the 7.3 l. on www.fueleconomy.gov but the 6.5 l. 2500 GMC diesel is rated at 14 city, 17 highway.

[jesse]

alot of work to change the oil pan when you have to pull the engine the second time to change the dipstick holder in the oil pan.  put new oil pan on and should have got the dipstick holder and put in. oil pan changed due to rust.

[fishpharmer]

My 2002 F350 (7.3L)  4x4 (Single rear wheels) got 17.5 mpg on the highway (over 700 miles) this past weekend.  160,000 miles  on the truck.

No major problems at all.

[DanG]

I wouldn't be scared of that truck if the price is right.  Pulling the engine to replace the pan, if needed, is no big trick.  A weekend and a couple cases of beer will get it done for a whole lot less than 2 grand. ;)

[Larry]

My '97 F350 gets 15-17 mpg.  It has single rear wheels with a 5 speed.  Bought it new and the only engine problems have been a cam sensor and leaky plug in the oil rail...but it's still low miles....135k.

[pappy19]

I had a 1997 7.3 and sold it at 120k to buy a 2002 7.3, which I sold at 182k. Both had auto trannys. I never had any troubles with oil pan rusting through. I did hear of that being an issue. On the www.dieselstop.com it was discussed and the best fix was a marine black paint that took care of the problem.

I consistantly got 16-19mpg with my 1997 and 15-17mpg with my 2002. Biggest improvement on the 1994-1997 7.3 engines is to change out the down pipe from the exhaust to the turbo. Also, add guages that watch the tranny temp, exhaust egt's, and turbo boast, otherwise you will be driving blind.

[mike_van]

My '94 F350 has 75000 miles on it,  gasser 460, 5 speed.  Except for the rusting, it's been a good truck. 3 years  back I pulled the flatbed off & POR 15 'd it and   everything under it. The spring shackel mounts had rusted off!  I need to do under the cab too, I'm really thinking of pulling it [the cab] right off the frame. At 58, I have no desire to go into the poor-house for a new one.  :D

[Ironwood]

Good truck, tranny may need rebuilt at 150,000, at least all the newer autos needed that.  Here is my old truck, this bed/ crane went on the 550

       Ironwood

[IMERC]

alot of work to change the oil pan when you have to pull the engine the second time to change the dipstick holder in the oil pan.  put new oil pan on and should have got the dipstick holder and put in. oil pan changed due to rust.

no need to pull the engine for that....

www.dieselstop.com

[IMERC]

go to www.dieselstop.com for anything you ever wanted to know or didn't want to know about that truck engine...

[Ironwood]

I had a 96' w/ a 460 and 5 speed. Good truck. I now have a 00' 550 w/ a 7.3 5 speed. I am hoping to find an 96' superduty (essentially an F-450), 2 wheel drive w/ a looong frame to put a four door cab on (3 little boys and a wifey) to cart all our bodies around in. I will likely still keep the 550, and sell a 00' F-150 extended cab that I cart the family around in.

I WOULD not buy anything Ford w/a 6.0 OR 6.4 PSD in it, as they have been a real black eye on Ford's reputation. I also have had an 85' F-250 w/a  351, extended cab 4x4 that was a great truck.  The guy I sold it to is STILL banging around in it.

           Ironwood

[rebocardo]

15 (mixed city/hi) -18 mpg (hi).

Best thing to do for that truck is probably an after market transmission cooler.

You being a tree guy, I would look at getting a 4x4 if you plan on driving the wheels off it.