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Old 06-23-2019, 01:57 PM   #1
Deeds
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Anyone with a 7.3 could I get some insight?

Hey I'm trying to get a bit of insight here, I know it's bad to lug a diesel and that 7.3s like rpm, but I'm not sure if it's normal to struggle on acceleration like I am...
My TTs 6k lbs and my truck does fine accelerating in 1st and 2nd and I can keep my rpms up but when it shift 3rd with the torque converter being locked my rpms dump to around 1300 to 1400 rpm and being out of my powerband it kinda has to lug back up to the sweet spot but once I'm there its gotta shift to 4th/od and I gotta work on getting my rpms up again... I am constantly getting told to chip it and I really don't want to do that, I just dont know is this normal for these trucks to hate their own gear ratios like mine does or do I gotta look for other issues? Thanks anyone in advance that provides input!
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Old 06-23-2019, 03:00 PM   #2
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All I can say is with my two 7.3s I never had a lugging problems going through the mountain passes in this state with a truck camper and boat or the current TT, it is around 7400 lbs as I recall. I normally would tow only in O/D when on flats, up or down hills it was not in O/D. Normally left it in 4th uphill, on real long grades go into 3rd. Downhill normally 3rd.
You might want to have it checked sounds like your not getting boost. Turbo? issue?
East stuff to check, air and fuel filters. I recall the fuel is to be changed around 15,000. I would change out or clean the air every year which was 5,000 to 8,000 miles. I have a friend who refuses to be proactive and his 7.3 runs like crap. He thinks it's OK since it runs.
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Old 06-23-2019, 03:35 PM   #3
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What year truck? What trans? What rear end?
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Old 06-23-2019, 03:35 PM   #4
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Maybe lugging isn't the right word, I will say that I've done a ton of work to this truck over the last two years...new turbo, sensors and just a ton of maintenance catch ups... fuel filters are new and no noticeable boost leaks normally 7 to 9 lbs while towing at a steady 55, it pulls good I just find once it shifts with the tc locked up my rpms dive to the 1300 to 1400 rpm range and i find it odd that it would bring itself out of its ideal rpm range. Did you ever notice your truck doing anything like this when accelerating from a dead stop? I can definetly power through I just find it to be a short shift
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Old 06-23-2019, 03:37 PM   #5
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It's a 2000 cclb auto, I believe it was 3.73s but not 100 percent sure has 190k on the clock
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Old 06-23-2019, 04:42 PM   #6
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I've got two 7.3s ….. one in an F350, and one in an Excursion. I find the sweet spot is about 1800 RPMs. I like to tow our TT at around 63 MPH... I'm pretty conservative. That has me turning less than 1800. Hitting a decent hill @ 63 will make the truck downshift out of OD if I'm below 1800. Speed up a little to 67 or higher and I'm above 1800 @ the bottom of a hill, and there is no hill (or mountain) I can't accelerate up. My tires are a little taller than stock, so that amplifies things. My TT is 6500 lbs. If we ever get a larger trailer, I would probably re-gear to 4.30 gears. That all being said, the truck has plenty of power for me.
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Old 06-23-2019, 04:45 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Deeds View Post
It's a 2000 cclb auto, I believe it was 3.73s but not 100 percent sure has 190k on the clock

If your truck is SRW, it has 3.73s
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Old 06-23-2019, 05:01 PM   #8
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Yes mine is srw I thought I was right with the 3.73s. I'm in mn so no huge hills and at cruising speeds I rarely ever downshift it pulls very good at hwy speeds, I guess my question was more about accelerating up to hwy speeds. I may be used to my old 6 liter gasser, but that thing would always keep high rpms through every shift until I let off, this 7.3 only will keep 2k to 2500 rpm through first and second than 3rd gear once shifted dumps the rpm to 1300 or so rpm even if I'm deep into the pedal
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Old 06-23-2019, 06:14 PM   #9
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Sounds like bad gear ratio choice in the transmission. I had a 1979 Ford gasser with what they called a four speed overdrive. In between second and third it fell on its face because of the huge gap in ratios.
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Old 06-23-2019, 06:41 PM   #10
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I can't say I manually shifted from dead stops while pulling. D was the gear. I never had problems you list. What is you boost while in higher rpms or whats the highest numbers you see.
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Old 06-23-2019, 07:58 PM   #11
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I put an Edge programmer in my 97 . Even though it was a dually with the 4:11 gears, the four speed automatic seemed to reach a dead spot in third and fourth gears with moderate to heavy loads. The Edge changed the shift points as well as provided more fuel so that was a big help. Something to consider.
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Old 06-24-2019, 04:34 AM   #12
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Quote:
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If your truck is SRW, it has 3.73s

my old 99 was a SRW and it had 3.55's.

Steve
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Old 06-24-2019, 05:25 AM   #13
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Interesting. I know on the 97 & earlier, the 3.55 was an option. This is the first I've heard of a Superduty srw with a 7.3 or 6.0 that didn't come with the 3.73s.
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Old 06-25-2019, 04:27 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IMASAP View Post
Interesting. I know on the 97 & earlier, the 3.55 was an option. This is the first I've heard of a Superduty srw with a 7.3 or 6.0 that didn't come with the 3.73s.
ya it was a 2wd so that might have been the difference.

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Old 06-25-2019, 05:02 AM   #15
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Originally Posted by IMASAP View Post
Interesting. I know on the 97 & earlier, the 3.55 was an option. This is the first I've heard of a Superduty srw with a 7.3 or 6.0 that didn't come with the 3.73s.
The OP didn't identify his year or model, but prior to the 99 model the only Superduty that existed was the F-450. And it has never been offered in a SRW platform. Yes, 3:55 was offered as well as the 4:11 which I had on my 97. At times I wished it had the 3:55's for better mileage but after going up Monteagle Pass a few times towing fifth wheels that weighed between 9K and 12K pounds I was happy to have the lower gears. I could hold 55 mph as long as I didn't have to slow down for any semi's that were in the passing lane. Even so I maintained a 10 mpg average while towing and 17-18 empty. I set the cruise at 55 mph once on the interstate just to see how much mileage I could get and was surprised to see 20.7 mpg! But obviously 55 mph is not a practical interstate speed. My newer truck (6.7) with all the hp/torque and six speed automatic, well, not really any comparison.
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Old 06-26-2019, 04:41 AM   #16
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What size are your tires?
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Old 06-30-2019, 07:42 AM   #17
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I drove a 2000 7.3 for 13 years towing about 8k lbs. I know what you mean. Perhaps some maintenance is needed but I always felt that it wanted to upshift too soon. That would drop the RPM's and lose momentum in the hills. Then it would downshift, rev up to speed, then upshift too soon again.

I solved it with one of these. Setting it to Heavy Tow changes the shift patterns and made a world of difference.
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Old 06-30-2019, 07:43 AM   #18
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Hmm, my 6.7 runs with tow/haul, cruise, auto exhaust brake. It flies up hill and maintains almost perfect speed downhill. It's 14,000 lbs of F450 towing a 16,700 lb fifth wheel. Occasionally if I need to position myself around trucks I will take my foot off the floor to operate the throttle and can easily accelerate going up hill. Maybe my 4.30 rear end has something to do with it? Also I don't try to 'outsmart' the truck, I let the engine computer and tranny computer do the gear selection. Works fine for my truck. I do hear from a lot of guys who do have problems but one thing they all do is try to 'outsmart' the computers. Might be a clue there.
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Old 06-30-2019, 07:45 AM   #19
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Part of the issue is the 4 speed tranny vs the 6 speed in my RAM. The other issue is apparently how it's programmed to shift in the upper gears when in stock mode.
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Old 06-30-2019, 08:24 AM   #20
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Tire size can have an effect on this. Are the tires standard or larger in diameter?
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