Making a Decision on what truck to get - Diesel Forum

biobenz · 12-18-2005, 01:48 PM

I know something about the older Benz, I know not much about Fords [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]. That said however I will be in the market for one, a pick up truck in the late Spring and wondereed what I should be looking for in a used truck.
I make my own biodiesel and will want to run it B100 in the truck as soon as possible. From what I gather a 7.3 IDI engine in either an F250 or F350 is a good buy. I am not yet certain if I want to run SVO in it as I do in the BEnz due to some issues I have read about and frankly I've had enough trouble with it in the Benz to be a little gun shy, although I will probably set up a heating system for winter use. Most of these trucks comes with two tanks right?
Can I "T" the one tank into the other creating one large tank and use the selector switch for a seperate heated system, say in the back of the driver's seat in an extended cab version ?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Luc

dssamp · 12-18-2005, 06:33 PM

What a can of worms. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] Did you notice this board is for Ford owners. IF you buy anything else but a Ford we will all gang up and send you all our junk mail. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/vomit.gif[/img] Just kiddin.

I'be been running biod for over a year on my 2001. Runs super, quieter, smokes less and entertains a lot of people with the smell. There are a ton of people with newer 7.3's and some 6.0 running biod. Also read a few posts from the "other" guys....Chevy and that big bad Cummings who are successfully running biod. Just Go for it. I don't think the make or model cares much....it's the quality of the biodiesel that makes the difference.....

biobenz · 12-18-2005, 07:26 PM

Actually that is why I asked here, I am pretty near convinced that a Ford is the best option for me. I just want as much collected info as I can get before puttin' out the $$ on one. Biodiesel is nad will be my prime fuel, with dino as a necessary evil as little as possible (I want it down to less than tank full per year).
What I guess I am looking for is; is a 7.3 IDI a better choice than say a 6.whatever powerstroke for my need/want ?

waterdude · 12-18-2005, 09:06 PM

I love my 91' F-250, 7.3L (non turbo) single cab pickup. I have a very stock truck that hauls better than any gasser that I ever owned. My truck has no computer on board and that is a blessing for repairing it myself.

IMO: 7.3L IDI Diesels (Not Power Strokes)
is the best forum on TDS. Do yourself a favor and get one with the 5-speed manual. The automatic trans is full of problems and needs rebuilding more than a few times.

All Ford diesel trucks that I've seen have dual tanks. Gas trucks have an option for one large or dual tanks.

--Hugh

frobozz · 12-19-2005, 08:16 AM

[ QUOTE ]
All Ford diesel trucks that I've seen have dual tanks. Gas trucks have an option for one large or dual tanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

The dual-tanks design stopped with the redesign to the Superduty style in 1999. If you want the dual tanks as part of a WVO design, you need to get a 1997 or before. (There were no Model Year 1998 3/4-ton and up trucks, a bit of arcane trivia that is covered in more detail in other forums...)

Duncan

biobenz · 12-19-2005, 10:45 AM

Thanks for the comeback. So a 1992-1997 7.3 IDI 5 speed extended or club cab would be the cat's miow right? I would tend more towards the later years as much as $$ permits.
With a two tank system thet selector switch is already installed, so what I am wondering is would it be fairly simple to annex the two tanks into one large one and then use the selector inlet ports for a heated tank that I would put in the back of the driver's seting area.
I would most likely stick to only B100 and not go full vegie on this one, but for the cold install a semi heated tank to keep the biodiesel from geling and the pre-installed selector would make life that much easier.
Thanks again. Any other comments very welcome. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

girlmark · 12-19-2005, 12:21 PM

just to confuse you, I'd suggest either a 6.9 or a Powersmoke (I'm leaning toward Powersmoke these days with my three recent 6.9 experiences).

THe 7.3 IDI does sometimes have problems with the very thin cylinder walls corroding through due to cavitation. I'm really unfamiliar with the details of this, but be sure and get educated about it before you look (There's a specific type of coolant additive peopel use to prevent this corrosion,and it'd be good if the previous owner has used it, etc)

also, I can't say this loudly enough:

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!TURBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(you want a turbo if possible.)

Mark

waterdude · 12-20-2005, 09:40 AM

Getting a 6.9L means that you will be buying an older truck with less creature comforts and a truck built in the 80's (too old for my liking).

A Powerstroke will be way more expensive than a 6.9L and have a turbo to work around. A simple job of replacing the glow plugs could become a big pain requiring removal of the turbo or small hands.

Parts prices: one (1) new injector for a Powerstroke is $284.48 each, while one (1) new injector for my 91' 7.3L truck is only $26.36 each.

And as Girl_Mark mentioned, Cavitation can be a engine killer if the coolant additive is not used by the previous owner. If the previous owner has not heard about using this additive and doesn't use it, then keep looking for one that does use it.

--Hugh

Tankota · 12-20-2005, 06:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Getting a 6.9L means that you will be buying an older truck with less creature comforts and a truck built in the 80's (too old for my liking).

A Powerstroke will be way more expensive than a 6.9L and have a turbo to work around. A simple job of replacing the glow plugs could become a big pain requiring removal of the turbo or small hands.

Parts prices: one (1) new injector for a Powerstroke is $284.48 each, while one (1) new injector for my 91' 7.3L truck is only $26.36 each.

And as Girl_Mark mentioned, Cavitation can be a engine killer if the coolant additive is not used by the previous owner. If the previous owner has not heard about using this additive and doesn't use it, then keep looking for one that does use it.

--Hugh

[/ QUOTE ]

The injector price difference is significant. However, You can have swampdonkey rebuild your stock ones for alot less than that. Bad injectors is not a common problem on the powerstrokes.

The turbo does not interfere with glowplug replacement on the powerstrokes at all.

Tankota · 12-20-2005, 06:36 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Actually that is why I asked here, I am pretty near convinced that a Ford is the best option for me. I just want as much collected info as I can get before puttin' out the $$ on one. Biodiesel is nad will be my prime fuel, with dino as a necessary evil as little as possible (I want it down to less than tank full per year).
What I guess I am looking for is; is a 7.3 IDI a better choice than say a 6.whatever powerstroke for my need/want ?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd recommend staying away from the 6.0 as it does not quite have as good a track record of the PSD quite yet. Of course I am biased in that I own a '97 psd. The only other thing I would buy would be a '97 cummins (notice I didn't say Dodge... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] )
I'm not too familiar with the IDI. However, a friend of mine owned a '94 Direct Injected turbo which kept up with my truck just fine.

ISU1999 · 01-10-2006, 01:37 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the comeback. So a 1992-1997 7.3 IDI 5 speed extended or club cab would be the cat's miow right? I would tend more towards the later years as much as $$ permits.

[/ QUOTE ]

BioBenz, The 7.3 IDI is only 1992 to 1994. 1994.5 is when the Powerstroke was introduced and has the HEUI injectors (lots more electronics and sensors if that concerns you) instead of injector pump and injectors.

fordnut74 · 01-10-2006, 02:49 PM

BioBenz- 7.3 PSD's, when Properly maintained are rock solid reliable, and there is no injector pump to be concerned with. Whether 94-97 or 99+ is nearly a mute point in what you are doing, mostly money to spend and which style you like. The 99+ do have a cavernous interior, and a bit more power though [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]. Anyrate, The 94.5-2003 PSD's are all the same motor, and operate the same. The major differance being that the 94.5-97 are not intercooled, and use a 2 stage mechanical diagphram style fuel pump that has good priming ability. Failure rates between the Mechanical and electrical pumps(99+) seem to be about the same- few, but not unheard of. Big Advantage to the PSD's is that the fuel Rails are cast into the head, and the injectors are under the valve covers, so naturally heating the fuel prior to the injectors is done automatically, so long as the motor is at operating temp. Also, on both the 94.5 and the 99+ the fuel bowl is located in the valley of the motor for excellent heat transfer. However, it is not enough for running SVO through the stock filter.

A big deciding factor as well will be future plans. If you plan to do SVO in the future as you mentioned, The 99+ are a bit easier to do the Dual fuel system on. The factory 2 tank system of the 94-97 is nice initially, but each tank is only around 16 gallons. And that won't get you very far. Hopefully this is some info for you to chew on. I can't recomend one over the other as I like both trucks very much. The biggest reason I have a 99 is I got a stellar price on a very clean truck. Good luck in whatever you choose!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

rcdallas · 01-10-2006, 04:34 PM

One thing I like about the 97 version is it has a deeper grunt (I must admit I crack my windows at red lights to hear the diesels), I came so close to buying the older body style, instead I purchased the 99 new off the lot. Though not intercooled but that can easily be fixed. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

jaded13640 · 01-11-2006, 01:08 AM

Hi all, let me jump in here with a question about this "cooling system additive"

What is it? I've never heard of it. I have a 99 superduty with 7.3 PSD.

I bought the truck with only 60k on it and started running as much biodiesel as temps will allow. It's got about 67k on it now.

I need to know what this coolant additive is, where I can get it, what the exact brand name is etc.

Thanks,

Wayne

PS, Hi girlmark

rcdallas · 01-11-2006, 11:27 AM

It's motorcraft, you get it at the dealer. I think its FW-15 or FM-15 (if it's not 15 then it's 16 they changed part numbers about 3 years ago) something to that effect. Your supposed to add 4 bottles of the stuff every coolant flush, and add 8oz's every 15k miles.