[wncrjb]

Hello...I'm going with friend tomorrow to look at a truck he wants to buy and he is curious about what to really look for in it.

It's a 99 crew cab dually, 4WD, 7.3,XLT, automatic with around 140,000 miles on it.

We know about the basic things to look at but was hoping to find out from you folks about if there are any "tell tale" signs of abuse or neglect that can be spotted.
It is suppose to be a very clean, well-cared-for truck and he is asking about $16,500.00...... does this sound about right?

Thanks in advance

 

[DIRTBIKEZ]

Check the compressor fins on the intake side of the turbo. You'll get an idea of what has been run through it as long as that turbo has been on the truck for many of those 140K.

 

[haul_n_horses2]

Some will say the presence of auxiliary gauges indicates it was flogged but I wouldn't those could be the signs of a conscientious owner. Look at the PCM to see if it was chipped. Check the air cleaner box and pull the air cleaner hoses to inspect for cracks. Look at the turbo blades, are they nice and sharp or rounded, dull with chips out of them. The latter would indicate the engine may have ingested a lot of dirt/dust and not have good compression. Look at the amount of blowby from the oil fill tube while running. Puffing like a chimney suggests there may be a lot of blowby. Look at the exhaust when it is first fired up. Can you see any smoke? How much? What is the color? How long does it last? Pull the dipstick and look at the oil. Pull the dipstick and look at and smell the tranny fluid? Have all the fluids been changed? Hmmm is the seller hiding something. Call me cynical. There are many more things to check in brakes suspension etc. but these will get you started.

 

[redfishman17]

Hauln,

Not to get off topic, but what is blowby?

 

[DIRTBIKEZ]

[ QUOTE ]
Hauln,

Not to get off topic, but what is blowby?

[/ QUOTE ]

Compression gages that "blowby" the piston and rings down into the crankcase. You will notice some at idle with the engine running and the oil cap removed.

 

[dslpowr]

I've heard of guys mentioning the 1999.5 in there signatures. Is there a difference in the pre 99.5? Another thought is the antifreeze is suppose to have an anticavitation additive. It can be checked with a special dipper. Question: How exactly is the F350 different from the F250 in the 1999's?

 

[haul_n_horses2]

When the cylinder compresses the diesel and then ignites the rise in pressure blows combustion gases by the piston rings. As the rings wear and the cylinders lose their cross-hatch, this increases. So the "blowby" gases are an indirect measure of wear. Compression is perhaps a more direct measure of piston/ring/cylinder function. If you look at a normal low mileage truck with the oil cap off you will see very little combustion gas coming out the fill tube. You can actually measure this pressure but it is a little complicated on our trucks due to the CCV system etc. Usually measure in inches or cm of water IIRC. I think 4 inches or 10 cm is normal.

 

[redfishman17]

OOOO O.K I just did a DIY CCV mod and its just routed to just past the cab but when it just idling the is definantly visible smoke the puffs out of the tube but it disappears after it is 2 feet away from the end. I hope this isn't a bad sign.

 

[arisley]

[ QUOTE ]
OOOO O.K I just did a DIY CCV mod and its just routed to just past the cab but when it just idling the is definantly visible smoke the puffs out of the tube but it disappears after it is 2 feet away from the end. I hope this isn't a bad sign.

[/ QUOTE ]

Normal, that is what ccv is supposed to do, stock it is routed back into the intake to make Ralph Nader happy. If you have excess blowby it will puff smoke out the oil fill tube like a train. A lot excess it will not be able to bleed off fast enough and will cause gaskets to start leaking from the positive pressure that they were not designed to withstand.

I have no discernable blowby on my truck at 233K+. Lots of blowby in a low mileage engine is a sign of neglect.

 

[flash1034]

The 1999.5 and early 2000s had all the factory updated parts AND still had forged rods from the factory. They are generally considered bulletproof and a best buy.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif
Flash