Excursion 6.0 or 7.3 Which to buy? - Diesel Forum

camryman · 10-27-2008, 12:15 AM

Excursion 6.0 or 7.3 I'm looking to buy one, Which one do you think is better and why? The 6.0 has a head gasket issues and the 7.3 Trans issues. What else to look out for? Thanks

caryt · 10-27-2008, 10:03 AM

7.3 is the best way to go..too many problems with a 6.0 and once you loose the headgaskets the chances of it losing them again and possibility of warping the heads increases..unless they added ARP's. IMO!

Cary

Bruce1954 · 10-27-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camryman

Excursion 6.0 or 7.3 I'm looking to buy one, Which one do you think is better and why? The 6.0 has a head gasket issues and the 7.3 Trans issues. What else to look ou for? Thanks

02-03 or 2000 7.3

05 6.0

there are plenty of 03 and 04 6.0s without issues but in general ford had taken care of most of the issues by 05, I have a mid 05 and it has been ok.
Just had a few codes and a trans TC problem I think all the codes were releated to a Glow plug problem that may have existed since day one.

The trans with the 7.3 is fine just DO NOT back a trailer up hill much with it as they get very hot very fast due to the flow of the oil in reverse. Use gages and you would be fine. They may be not as strong as the newer TorqueShift but I had the earlier version E4OD go over 200K in a van with just a Torque Converter at 104 and they just put a TC in my X at 99k so right now they are about even.

My 02 X went to 110K when I sold it without any trans issues just the usual turbo leaks and other minor issues.

I use LubeGard Red and have for years (since the TC was put in the Van) in all my automatics.

Xs are like any decent vehicle take care of it and it will be fine.
Do I believe in lemons? not sure never had one.
I do think that there are users and abusers that can make a lemon out of about anything.

Look for a fairly clean Oasis without any for few repetes for any vehicle and check your carfax.

I think most repetes are just the tech not finding the real proplem like having to plug in my left bank glow plugs this weekend because the connector was loose from the factory or the tech had it loose to check last month but never put it back and locked properly.

Bruce

rock_doctor · 10-27-2008, 05:55 PM

get the 7.3. The trans problems with the 4R100 are very minor and if you know about them you can work around any potential problems. We do not regret buying our 6.0 but to be honest it is now dripping oil on the driveway and we are just waiting for a major failure. It may not happen (hopefully not) but it likely will... The 7.3 is the old horse and if you can find one with low mileage jump at it.

...plus our gone 02 got better mileage then our 05 X with the 6.0

camryman · 10-28-2008, 11:16 PM

Thanks everyone... I'm gonna look for a 7.3 My 05 6.0 leaks oil and pukes coolant, but it tows my 39ft 5th wheel with ease. When my head blows I'm gonna get the arp's done and then delete the egr and cooler.

mike650 · 10-29-2008, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camryman

Thanks everyone... I'm gonna look for a 7.3 My 05 6.0 leaks oil and pukes coolant, but it tows my 39ft 5th wheel with ease. When my head blows I'm gonna get the arp's done and then delete the egr and cooler.

Cool, the 7.3's a proven motor, I think you'll be very happy with it.

Take Bruce's advise and put in gauges if you haven't already, pyro, boost, and trans temp (especially if your going to pull that 39 footer)

The 4r100 tranny is the weak link in the 7.3 PSD drivetrain but if you watch the temps it should be fine. I upgraded transmission pan and installed a temp gauge, so far no issues. I'm changing over to synthetic tranny fluid at the 60k checkup to be on the safe side.

rock_doctor · 10-29-2008, 02:24 PM

The only thing to remember, the 4r100 does not do well backing up under load (i.e. backing a trailer up hill, though sand/mud and so on). They tend to over heat quickly. Keep that in mind and you should be good to go.

If your 05 is puking then it is time for new head gaskets. Once you do the head studs, the 6.0 is a much more dependable engine and if you plan to undo the EGR then you may actually want to stay with the 6.0. You have basically dealt with the majority of the common major issues...

MotionMan · 10-29-2008, 06:06 PM

I backed a 7.3 up a drive with 10,000lbs and the surge brake on 100 times, never a single problem. My 7.3 has 190k and does not drip a single drop. 7.3 rules, the rest drule.

Racer-X · 10-30-2008, 10:42 PM

The 6.0 is a 4 valve head with only 4 studs per cylinder to keep it in place. The original stretch bolts were the weak link. I think when people modded their trucks, the bolts couldn't handle the strain, never mind in stock form.
The ARP stud system uses actual studs with nuts torqued to a whopping 248 lb/ft to keep the heads in place!
Plus any repairs on a 6.0 are expensive when compared to a 7.3. There is a lot more labour involved. Depends on how long you want to keep the truck.

The 7.3 is a 2 valve with 6 studs per cylinder I believe. It's also not highly tuned by any stretch, and responds well to mods.

The weak link for heavy towing in the 4R100 is the single plate torque converter. A double plate billet unit is required for heavy towing. Also consider a larger 6.0 cooling rad for the 7.3 truck, but once again for serious towing.
Add an inline filter and you are good to go.

At the end of the day, it depends on what you truly want.... each have their pluses and minuses.....

Also watch these if you have some spare time!

POWERSTROKEHELP.COM - The Information Source for Ford Power Stroke Diesel Owners

MotionMan · 11-01-2008, 01:10 AM

You said it.... the 7.3 is way de-tuned and has a bunch of room for mods. In the end there is no replacement for displacement. I tow heavy nealry every weekend and with 190k I have only changed the tranny fluid once. It has always been red and smelled clean. I did it at 130 just to see and felt sorry for the tranny, when we dropped the pan there was no "hair" on the magnet and just a tiny bit of alum specs in the pan. It was most likely from the break in time 190k ago.....I know not all are this way but if you take care of the motor and tranny by driving nice it make all the difference. I never ever shut the truck off after a tow or even a run on the hwy, once the motor is off the cooling stops and thats what cooks trannys and motors.....and turbos.

boertje · 11-01-2008, 06:24 PM

I have 120K miles on my '02 X with no problems on the tranny or any other component. Runs, performs and handles great.

camryman · 11-02-2008, 01:49 AM

Just want to thank everyone again for posting and the powerstroke help video was awsome info.

Thanks

socalgn · 11-02-2008, 02:33 AM

7.3 all the way......160k and going strong!

whjco · 11-02-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camryman

Thanks everyone... I'm gonna look for a 7.3 My 05 6.0 leaks oil and pukes coolant, but it tows my 39ft 5th wheel with ease. When my head blows I'm gonna get the arp's done and then delete the egr and cooler.

Camryman,

I'd recommend addressing this problem ASAP. If your head gaskets are failing, they could be leaking coolant into the oil and you could be flirting with major bearing failure. Better to address it now when you might only be looking at replacing studs, gaskets and possibly planing heads.

whjco · 11-02-2008, 11:19 AM

I've made this post before, but when I was having my truck transmission serviced at the local Ford truck dealer, they had a number of Powerstrokes torn down with the heads removed. All of them were 6.0's - not a one was a 7.3. None of the mechanics or service managers have anything good to say about the 6.0 and these folks work on them every day.