7.3 Godzilla owners opinions

[jasin1]

Finally got around to test driving a 7.3….Im impressed although at first i was watching the mpg indicated and at slower speeds and red lights it was showing average 5.4 and i started panicking but when i got out on the road and was doing 55-60 it settled around 12.2 average …now that was only driving around 10 miles rountrip.
This was a loaded lariat and it had a windshield price of around 80k…the 10 speed was impressive

I also test drove a 7.3 1 ton box truck for my buisness and i believe it had the 6 speed…that was night and day difference and the engine may have been detuned for more overall longevity….it had a low battery and barely cranked…when it did fire up it was missing and clanking at high idle for a few seconds before it settled down…maybe the engine management was having a hard time with low voltage?…it wasn’t nearly as impressive as the pickup.

The hardest thing for me is going from diesel with the 50 gallon tank …I don’t have to start looking for fuel til after 400+ miles of traveling…that is a luxury you don’t fully appreciate until it goes away. Also my engine brake and cruise control will hold my truck going downhill at whatever speed i choose.

I’m also thinking about just getting a lower trim level in any of the big three with a diesel engine… the price difference from a xlt to a lariat or a big horn to a laramie …ltz to a high country is about 10k…that covers the cost of the diesel or close to it…….decisions decisions

Crazy how much trucks cost now….Manufacturers find something that we like and just raise the price to see what they can get away with…..Covid raised parts prices supposedly and even though that’s over they kept the prices high for the most part…we are probably just funding the switchover to EV and the costs associated to retool factories... in 1990 my first fully loaded Ford Lariat was only around 17k brand new if i remember correctly …it was 2wd but had the factory aluminum wheels …beautiful truck though…all black with a silver grey accent along the rocker panel

[Camping family]

Originally Posted by jasin1

Finally got around to test driving a 7.3….Im impressed although at first i was watching the mpg indicated and at slower speeds and red lights it was showing average 5.4 and i started panicking but when i got out on the road and was doing 55-60 it settled around 12.2 average …now that was only driving around 10 miles rountrip.
This was a loaded lariat and it had a windshield price of around 80k…the 10 speed was impressive

I also test drove a 7.3 1 ton box truck for my buisness and i believe it had the 6 speed…that was night and day difference and the engine may have been detuned for more overall longevity….it had a low battery and barely cranked…when it did fire up it was missing and clanking at high idle for a few seconds before it settled down…maybe the engine management was having a hard time with low voltage?…it wasn’t nearly as impressive as the pickup.

The hardest thing for me is going from diesel with the 50 gallon tank …I don’t have to start looking for fuel til after 400+ miles of traveling…that is a luxury you don’t fully appreciate until it goes away. Also my engine brake and cruise control will hold my truck going downhill at whatever speed i choose.

I’m also thinking about just getting a lower trim level in any of the big three with a diesel engine… the price difference from a xlt to a lariat or a big horn to a laramie …ltz to a high country is about 10k…that covers the cost of the diesel or close to it…….decisions decisions

Crazy how much trucks cost now….Manufacturers find something that we like and just raise the price to see what they can get away with…..Covid raised parts prices supposedly and even though that’s over they kept the prices high for the most part…we are probably just funding the switchover to EV and the costs associated to retool factories... in 1990 my first fully loaded Ford Lariat was only around 17k brand new if i remember correctly …it was 2wd but had the factory aluminum wheels …beautiful truck though…all black with a silver grey accent along the rocker panel

I have the 7.3 gasser and love it. Had diesel prior both ford n dodge ford mostly. When fuel went sky high I changed to a gasser and got the 7.3. Will never go back. Why cheaper to operate and fuel is a lot cheaper. When I figure up the cost for maintenance on the diesel and on the gasser I’m saving money with the gasser. Just my opinion and pulling power is plenty with the 7.3.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by Camping family

I have the 7.3 gasser and love it. Had diesel prior both ford n dodge ford mostly. When fuel went sky high I changed to a gasser and got the 7.3. Will never go back. Why cheaper to operate and fuel is a lot cheaper. When I figure up the cost for maintenance on the diesel and on the gasser I’m saving money with the gasser. Just my opinion and pulling power is plenty with the 7.3.

yes i only get about 10 mpg towing with the diesel so the fuel mpg isn’t really the factor…but i don’t think you can get transfer tanks for gas?…my only concern is giving up the distance til empty.

It was a nice powerful engine and sounded really nice..not too obnoxious but you know you had power under the hood

[jasin1]

Also for whatever reason it’s really really hard to find a Ford with the factory fifth wheel provision….Ram and Chevy are easy to find in my area with that option.
It may not be easy to add the Ford factory harness to the bed if you try and install yourself.
I purchased a brand new 2023 Ford Transit without the factory tow harness or hitch and the dealer was going to install as an add on….their best tech called me back into the service bay to show me he could not make the computer recognize it so they refunded me the labor money but I’m stuck with three different t Ford OEM harness connectors that won’t work that I purchased myself….my point is I will never buy another Ford without the factory installed tow harmess…had to purchase a aftermarket plug in four way harness

[Camping family]

Originally Posted by jasin1

yes i only get about 10 mpg towing with the diesel so the fuel mpg isn’t really the factor…but i don’t think you can get transfer tanks for gas?…my only concern is giving up the distance til empty.

It was a nice powerful engine and sounded really nice..not too obnoxious but you know you had power under the hood

True you will have to stop less for fuel. I look at it as just taking a break more often. When I travel I’m not in any hurry anymore it takes me as long as it takes. If you’re getting 10 with your diesel I’m doing great then. Average almost the same within a mile or so.

[NH_Bulldog]

We now have close to 7,000 miles towing the 5th wheel and consistently have been averaging 10 mpg. Gas prices are under $3.00/gallon now which is nice. The 34 gallon tank hasn't been much of an issue. Between my wife, 11 year old daughter, and two dogs, we find that rest/fuel stops tend to align very nicely.

[Brantlyj]

Coming in late here but I have the 7.3 gas engine. I just got back from a 12,000 mile trip to Alaska and back.
I did several 6% grades, a few at 10% and going through the Tetons was 12%.

With a 13,000lb actual weight camper the truck had plenty of power to spare on all but the 12% grade but it held its own still.

I do have the 4.30 rear end which I think is a must with gas. I also have a 50 gal tank. I’ve been told it comes that way with the FX4 package.

I also on occasion pulled roughly 22,000 lbs on a flat bed and that was no problem as well.

I do not regret getting the 7.3 gas at all.

[Camping family]

Originally Posted by jasin1

Also for whatever reason it’s really really hard to find a Ford with the factory fifth wheel provision….Ram and Chevy are easy to find in my area with that option.
It may not be easy to add the Ford factory harness to the bed if you try and install yourself.
I purchased a brand new 2023 Ford Transit without the factory tow harness or hitch and the dealer was going to install as an add on….their best tech called me back into the service bay to show me he could not make the computer recognize it so they refunded me the labor money but I’m stuck with three different t Ford OEM harness connectors that won’t work that I purchased myself….my point is I will never buy another Ford without the factory installed tow harmess…had to purchase a aftermarket plug in four way harness

I purchased a f350 king ranch. Came standard with 5th wheel hitch prep included the puck system and power plug in the bed.

[tnkayaker]

I've got a 2022 7.3 f250 with supercab and short bed. The engine drives like a dream, plenty of power, responsive, and matched with the 10 speed transmission I have no complaints.

Now the bad:

At 54000 miles, I started getting misfire codes. I did some research and it turns out this is a common problem that they've claimed to have fixed several times, but keeps happening. Ford replaced my long block, but the replacement engine only has a 12,000 mile warranty, which essentially extends my drivetrain warranty by 1000 miles. But I can't count on it to last my anticipated 200,000+ miles anymore.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by tnkayaker

I've got a 2022 7.3 f250 with supercab and short bed. The engine drives like a dream, plenty of power, responsive, and matched with the 10 speed transmission I have no complaints.

Now the bad:

At 54000 miles, I started getting misfire codes. I did some research and it turns out this is a common problem that they've claimed to have fixed several times, but keeps happening. Ford replaced my long block, but the replacement engine only has a 12,000 mile warranty, which essentially extends my drivetrain warranty by 1000 miles. But I can't count on it to last my anticipated 200,000+ miles anymore.

Welcome to the forum. As for "counting on any vehicle to last 200K+.. I can't say that I "count on that to happen".. I will say, "I hope it happens" (if I ever keep a truck that many years). My current 2015 has 71K on it, so we're looking for about 20 more years for this engine to run ??? The truck will literally "rust away to nothing" before I get 200K on it whether the engine "keeps its cool or not"......

Most people these days look at "low mileage leases" for primary transportation and and trade every 30 months or less. Those of us that do buy a truck to tow "HOPE" for that kind of mileage, but I can say that in 50+ years of buying/owning/towing with trucks, I've never put more than 125K before I traded for a bigger truck with more features that simply weren't available when I bought the previous one... So, seems like many, maybe most people get tired of their truck before they make it to 200K. That said, my BIL just hit 350K on his 2009 F350 diesel, so even Ford's "problem children engines" (6.4 and 6.0) do make it past that magic mark of 200K.....

[tnkayaker]

I put about 40,000 miles a year on my truck, so 2000 miles doesn’t take that long

[Peto]

Have not read entire thread so may be repeating opinions.

I looked at the 7.3 and while it is a great power house of an engine I felt you had to use it too hard to get close to the torq provided by the power stroke.

I went diesel and am happy so far. Maintenance is more expensive but I do most of the work myself and it cuts the cost down to not a factor for me. When I bought the truck I reset trip 2 and never touch it. To date with 36K on it I have averaged 17.2mpg. That is a combined towing , around town, and a few unloaded road trips. I'm buying fuel for 3.18/ gallon so it's about .50 cents cheaper than gas.

Like I said. the 7.3 is a good engine and will perform but imho you just have to work it too hard. I prefer to just sit back on cruise control at 1800rpm...


YMMV

[Bill-2020]

Originally Posted by Peto

Have not read entire thread so may be repeating opinions.

I looked at the 7.3 and while it is a great power house of an engine I felt you had to use it too hard to get close to the torq provided by the power stroke.

I went diesel and am happy so far. Maintenance is more expensive but I do most of the work myself and it cuts the cost down to not a factor for me. When I bought the truck I reset trip 2 and never touch it. To date with 36K on it I have averaged 17.2mpg. That is a combined towing , around town, and a few unloaded road trips. I'm buying fuel for 3.18/ gallon so it's about .50 cents cheaper than gas.

Like I said. the 7.3 is a good engine and will perform but imho you just have to work it too hard. I prefer to just sit back on cruise control at 1800rpm...


YMMV

You’ll never get close to the torque of a diesel out of a gas engine. So it’s useless trying to work the gas engine hard to get close.

[rgrountree]

Happy 7.3 owner here F350 XLT CC Long bed single rear wheel. No issues with power pulling Cougar 290RLS 5th wheel; 10 speed transmission is great especially downshifting down grades. Long bed gets you the bigger gas tank of 48 gallon for better range. Not to mention long bed provides better payload capacity as well - mine is 4,477 pounds.

Gas mileage is around 9 towing, 13 average, with max of 16-17 on highway unloaded. While I do track mileage, I don't worry about it, its a 1 ton truck.