Any 7.3 powerstroke owners?

Rocknrone · Oct 19, 2008

Got 16mpg till I chipped it.

125,000 miles, only problem was the cps sensor. It's been recalled so I get my $100 back. Best truck I've owned yet.

Watson777 · Oct 19, 2008

Well I don't feel so bad then! I get 15.9 every week. I fill up on Monday every week and it is always 15 to 15.9 whether I am empty on the freeway or pulling my work trailer around town. If I put 2 or 3 dirt bikes in the back or pull the 2 place with the sleds on it I still get 15. The only time I get less is with the 7k fully loaded toy hauler.
I bought chip last summer from a guy on Ebay and it supposedly got lost in the mail and I never got it or my $650 back. So I am kinda over the programmer. I am going to do an exhaust and an intake though. I also want to do a leveling kit because I hate how it dives in the front. I just hate putting money in it with 215K on it

polhiker · Oct 19, 2008

I have a 2000 with a 4 stage bullydog turned up to 125 hp extra with 4 inch exhaust,and a afe intake,I have my waste gate puged off also,it has 165000 on it pulling my 27 ft inclosed it gets 17.5-18 and empty it gets 21-22 at 75.I would not trade it for anything,as I have had 6.0 and a 08 6.4 for work trucks they don't even compare to the old 7.3,and at least you can still work on it you'r self.Keep it as the new one I have gets 12 empty 6.6 loaded.

pano-dude · Oct 19, 2008

'96 f250 4x4 supercab, 5spd with 4.10 gears. I get 17mpg on the hiway loaded or not until I travel over 110km/h then it goes down pretty quick.

RMKcowboy · Oct 19, 2008

polhiker said:
I have a 2000 with a 4 stage bullydog turned up to 125 hp extra with 4 inch exhaust,and a afe intake,I have my waste gate puged off also,it has 165000 on it pulling my 27 ft inclosed it gets 17.5-18 and empty it gets 21-22 at 75.I would not trade it for anything,as I have had 6.0 and a 08 6.4 for work trucks they don't even compare to the old 7.3,and at least you can still work on it you'r self.Keep it as the new one I have gets 12 empty 6.6 loaded.

You'll never get 125hp from the chip without some fuel/injector upgrades.
The 94.5-97's trucks do a bit better on fuel because (1) they are lighter and (2) they use smaller injectors.

PJ-Hunter · Oct 20, 2008

Keep in mind that these are rough calculations and that I'm behaving while driving.

I have a 2003 F250 that I have chipped with a Bully Dog 4 bank unit. I always use the lowest settings. I have also modified the air intake and have installed an Airaid intake system. I installed a 5" exhaust. BEFORE, I installed a 4" lift and added 36" tires I was getting between 22-24 mpg. IF, I behaved and kept it at 60-65 mph without a load. (Which I usually don't do)

I have not done any calcs with the bigger tires

RMKcowboy · Oct 20, 2008

PJtheMunchkin said:
Keep in mind that these are rough calculations and that I'm behaving while driving.

I have a 2003 F250 that I have chipped with a Bully Dog 4 bank unit. I always use the lowest settings. I have also modified the air intake and have installed an Airaid intake system. I installed a 5" exhaust. BEFORE, I installed a 4" lift and added 36" tires I was getting between 22-24 mpg. IF, I behaved and kept it at 60-65 mph without a load. (Which I usually don't do) I have not done any calcs with the bigger tires

Must be a handshaker?

vmaxfrank · Oct 20, 2008

I don't know how you guys get those high mileages. Stock I get 13 in town and 14 higway with my 4wd cc srw. DP-Tuner 80 econo I get 16 unloaded. I get about 12 loaded no matter what. Not sure if it's the altitude I drive at (5000 to 12000 ft) or the fact my highway speeds are either 75 or over mountain passes, but I can't seem to get decent mileage.

I run stock tires, stock intake (drop in K&N), stock exhaust, DP-Tuner chip (stock, 20 High Altitude tow, 40 tow, 80 econo, 100 performance). I just put in a BTS transmission. When I'm due for a new exhaust, what size should I get? I don't want it to be extra loud or anything, just the best mix of economy and performance I can get.

Rixster · Oct 20, 2008

vmaxfrank said:
I don't know how you guys get those high mileages. Stock I get 13 in town and 14 higway with my 4wd cc srw. DP-Tuner 80 econo I get 16 unloaded. I get about 12 loaded no matter what. Not sure if it's the altitude I drive at (5000 to 12000 ft) or the fact my highway speeds are either 75 or over mountain passes, but I can't seem to get decent mileage.

I run stock tires, stock intake (drop in K&N), stock exhaust, DP-Tuner chip (stock, 20 High Altitude tow, 40 tow, 80 econo, 100 performance). I just put in a BTS transmission. When I'm due for a new exhaust, what size should I get? I don't want it to be extra loud or anything, just the best mix of economy and performance I can get.

you should defenatly look at the MBRP 4 inch stainless. I got mine off ebay brand new shipped to my door for 580. It took me longer to get the stock down pipe off then it did to get the entire new exhaust in. It fits great !!! looks great!! And on the inside of the truck you would never know it wasnt the stock exhaust. i do hear the turbo a little more but thats about it in the cab. On the outside it has a GREAT sound. Overall I give it a 10 out of 10. The price was good, the fit was EXCELENT!! and the finish is very good.

PS. I get better milage on my HIGHEST power setting then I do on the "economy" setting.

Blk88GT · Oct 20, 2008

Get yourself a 4" MBRP setup from Nate @ http://www.performancetruckproducts.com

I was worried about the sound as well, but it's actually very quiet inside the cab no matter what you're doing. The whistle is awesome too

Ditch that K+N and get yourself the Ford AIS from http://www.powerstrokeshop.com The K+Ns are notorious for poor fit/filtration on the 7.3 PSDs because of the airbox.

kbeefy · Oct 20, 2008

vmaxfrank said:
I don't know how you guys get those high mileages. Stock I get 13 in town and 14 higway with my 4wd cc srw. DP-Tuner 80 econo I get 16 unloaded. I get about 12 loaded no matter what. Not sure if it's the altitude I drive at (5000 to 12000 ft) or the fact my highway speeds are either 75 or over mountain passes, but I can't seem to get decent mileage.

I run stock tires, stock intake (drop in K&N), stock exhaust, DP-Tuner chip (stock, 20 High Altitude tow, 40 tow, 80 econo, 100 performance). I just put in a BTS transmission. When I'm due for a new exhaust, what size should I get? I don't want it to be extra loud or anything, just the best mix of economy and performance I can get.

I'd guess Altitude, speed and stock exhaust are the main contributing factors there. To get 19 I had the cruise set to 55mph, but I was totally stock as well. Since I got my DP tuner I cant keep my foot out of it. I can still get 17 though, even druising 70 ish and passing people, swithing between 80 econ and 120 to pass.

I don't think you'll see any benifit out of an exhaust bigger than 4", thats about the size of the turbo outlet. Just make sure it has a downtube. I like having a muffler, keeps it from being to obnoxious.

Theres alot of bad talk about k&n's on these trucks, seems paper filters clean better. You might try the 6637 filter, it works pretty well.

RMKcowboy · Oct 20, 2008

vmaxfrank said:
I don't know how you guys get those high mileages. Stock I get 13 in town and 14 higway with my 4wd cc srw. DP-Tuner 80 econo I get 16 unloaded. I get about 12 loaded no matter what. Not sure if it's the altitude I drive at (5000 to 12000 ft) or the fact my highway speeds are either 75 or over mountain passes, but I can't seem to get decent mileage.

I run stock tires, stock intake (drop in K&N), stock exhaust, DP-Tuner chip (stock, 20 High Altitude tow, 40 tow, 80 econo, 100 performance). I just put in a BTS transmission. When I'm due for a new exhaust, what size should I get? I don't want it to be extra loud or anything, just the best mix of economy and performance I can get.

Another vote for a 4" turbo back and GET RID of the K&N filter! The stock airbox on its own is a leaky bastage, the K&N is notorious for not filtering well also. If you drive in dusty conditions at all I'd pull the intake off and inspect your turbo for dusting. I can send you pics of my stock airbox lid with the K&N installed from when I bought the truck... ugly.
The Ford AIS is a great filter setup but spendy. I bought a 6637 air filter from fleetfilter.com (big azz open element filter) and cut a piece of 4" exhaust from my exhaust install leftovers to adapt it to the stock intake tube. The filter cost about $25 and filters great- I can post pics of that later as well if you want.

kbeefy · Oct 20, 2008

heres a not real great pic of the 6637

Climbit · Oct 20, 2008

I have a '95 with a 7.3 for sale if anyone is interested.

drmiller100 · Oct 20, 2008

the 6637 is a great filter, and you can use a 3.5 inch abs coupler for 2 bucks from any hardware store to hook it up.

a Big Truck Muffler (BTM) for 60 bucks plus 40 bucks to install it combined with factory stainless pipes is as much exhaust as these trucks need unless you swap injectors and turbo.

Jody Tipton's DP Tuner is the best programmer out there. he really knows his stuff.

One interesting thing on these trucks. If you use the Super chips programmer in race mode, or DP tuners 40 horse mode, you get about the same gains, 82 horsepower on the dyno.
80 horse dp tuner is 120 horsepower gain. 120 horsepower race tune is 135 horsepwoer, and LOTS of smoke.

DP tuner in 40 horse mode is about 10 percent better mileage then stock. Dp Tuner in 80 mode is 20 percent better mileage on the open road.

Towing an 8 foot wide, 8 foot tall 6,000 pound gooseneck i cannot get below 10 mpg no matter what i do. Heck, i don't think i have EVER gotten lower then 10 mpg no matter what i did.

OTOH, I don't think i have ever gotten over 18 empty no matter what.

Empty i fully expect 17 mpg in 80 mode.

I will say this is the toughest truck i have ever owned. one clutch, one water pump, 4 ball joints, brake pads and windshield wipers in 175,000 miles.

Oh, and i have worn out 2 different gooseneck in bed hitches. After 40,000 miles they get to wobbling and become annoying.

badass1000 · Oct 20, 2008

Alot of guys just go off of what the factory gauge says for fuel economy. If you ask them if that was hand calculated they look at you like you are speaking a foreign language.
The bigger the tune you run the more fuel it puts through the injectors. so the stock gas calculator is giving you mpg readings thinking is it still putting in the same amount of fuel it does stock when in reality it is putting in alot more fuel.
If I am just cruising freeway at 65 in my 05 dmax it can get up to 27mpg on the display, but hand calculated I am getting about 21.5mpg. correcting for the 285 tires also. I have a intake and full 4" exhaust with a preditor programer. Keeping the fuel filter clean is very important. I change mine every 5-6,000 miles or when I notice the gas mileage droping off. I will be putting a large cat fuel filter inline before the stock fuel filter soon. they are almost 3 times the size of the stock filter and cost less then $10.
Gas mileage goes down considerably with stop and go trafic. I get about 15mpg usually with my mix of around town and short freeway drives locally. As bad as 12.5mpg with all around town driving. Freeway cruising 2,000rpm and below is best gas mileage. I usually do 75 on long trips and get just below 20mpg. I ran the 65hp economy tune for a long time and then ran the 85hp tune for a long time. I was told the 85hp tune gave better gas mileage because it had more advanced timing. I did a trip with my street bike in the back and was only got high 18mpg on first tank. I put it back on the 65hp tune and it went back to 20mpg.
I got 9mpg once pulling a 30' toy hauler with 5 street bikes in it doing 100-110mph from elko to las vegas because I was late for a race.
I here some people ***** that they can't get better then 15mpg with their power stroke no matter what and I have heard one guy claim his gets 24mpg empty and 20mpg doing 75 pulling his large camper trailor.

kbeefy · Oct 20, 2008

drmiller100 said:
Oh, and i have worn out 2 different gooseneck in bed hitches. After 40,000 miles they get to wobbling and become annoying.

I have a turnover goose, I forgot the brand. B&M maybe? Was that one of the ones you had trouble with? I'd say I tow less than 5000 miles a year so I'm probably ok for a while.

Towing, mine VERY reliably got 10 mpg with the stock turbo and all my other mods. Details in post above. With the new turbo my observed mileage has dropped, but performance is way up. I'm sure if I drove it like I did with the stock turbo my mileage would be at least 10mpg still. Having said that, I only dropped to about 9.5mpg, but can now pull many hills at 55-60 that would slow me to 45 and second gear before. And the 300 mile trip I usually make takes about 30 minutes less now.

RMKcowboy · Oct 20, 2008

Climbit said:
I have a '95 with a 7.3 for sale if anyone is interested.

I might be for the right price.
Here's a better pic of the 6637 (no offense kbeefy) with a snazzy prefilter I bought for it:

This is what the inside of your airbox lid (the clean side!) will look like with a stock box and K&N filter:

a 3" ABS coupler works for an adapter for the 6637 (that's what I'm using now) but 4" exhaust tubing is better (thinner walled, more air flow).
Jody's tunes (DP Tuner) are definitely the way to go. Not to mention, Jody's one of the nicest, most helpful people you'll ever come across. Send him an email about anything 7.3 related and he'll give you an honest answer.

SNOW JW · Oct 20, 2008

Another vote for the Ford AIS filter almost like a small chip

TBWdracula2003 · Oct 20, 2008

i dont like the power chokes, if your going to get a 7.3 you might as well get a a real motor and grab your self a 93 or 94 factory turbo non PSD with a ZF-6 transplanted into it. and crank that puppy, you wont pull as much psi as a PSD but youll have just as much power with out the electronics BS

Any 7.3 powerstroke owners?

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