94 7.3L TD for sale: What to check

[warwagon82]

There is a '94 F350 that my employer is looking at. What are some key areas to look at when checking out the motor and related components?

[silobuilder]

first of all, is it a powerstroke or just an idi with turbo?? Early 94 is idi, with factory turbo, and later year is powerstroke, an easy difference in looks of engine. Check for valve cover leaks at rear of passenger side, if idi, other wise just listen to engine for a smooth runner, ask about or have checked out the injectors, powerstroke is easy to check, just unplug them 1 at a time when running and should be a very audible sound difference, it should sound like the engine is going to blow up, if no difference in sound then more than likely injector is bad, but that is an easy fix. Check brakes and tranny, best way by driving. Also check u-joints

[warwagon82]

It's an IDI Turbo. Glow plugs and GP control module replaced recently. Starts good on 32F morning. Runs smooth, drivetrain is in good shape. Does have valve cover leaks, and needs a few U-joints and a carrier bearing. Mostly what I want to know about is 7.3L IDI specific things to check. I have a basic knowlege of these engines and have worked on a few, but I don't know everything about them. Oil pressure guage is slow to come up when started, but comes into the middle after a few seconds and is fine after that. This might be nothing to worry about; I don't know? Also Tach acts strange. It doesn't work at all when first started or at low RPM's. When reved up a bit it will pop up, but it doesn't always read acurate and bounces around. When you let off of the throttle it will fall back to zero for a while and then jump up again when RPM's are increased. I'm sure someone has seen one act like this before.

[zpd307]

it needs a new tach sensor. ford only part that will set you back about $70.00 out the door.