Diesel truck emissions

Seems like every one I’ve had runs into issues earlier and earlier. 2019 F350 w80k miles had check engine light come on 5 miles into trip to lease last week. Got call from dealer it needs def particulate filter burned out, $450. Emissions warranty only for 50k miles now. I don’t pull anything that big anymore, thinking about trading in on 7.3 gas truck. My diesel engine warranty expires in April, won’t hit the 100k mark.
Any experience with 7.3 gas engines? I had a ‘95 F250 w/460, it would pass everything but a gas station.

no help here, only been running Cummins since 1991 (10x across my immediate family) ... I'll continue to stick with them until they prove me wrong. Fortunately, I have never had one that required the DEF fluid, that might change my mind.

Delete that crap and you'll have a brand new truck, like night and day difference. If you want to trade it in later just throw the filter in the bed and they'll take it, that's what lots of folks around here do.

All I am hearing on the gas trucks the mpg is not good, 2023’s and up.

That gas for a 7. 3 could wind up being cheaper than diesel emission repair. Lots of emission problem's being reported with many diesels.

My current diesel gets 7- 17 mpg depending on load, wind and grade. Fuel is $1 a gallon more, engine costs $8200 more than the 7.3 gas engine initially. If you don’t pull everyday it’s not worth having the diesel in my opinion. And been driving them since the late 80’s. I’ve gone from 50k miles a year to 15k. Not knocking anyone that drives one, just looking for experience with the Ford 7.3 gas engine. And has some miles on it.

That’s my thinking also.

Hard to beat a gas motor right now, unless you’re towing enough to need the diesel. Between the fuel systems and the emission systems, it’s not hard to rack up a hefty repair bill.

Well that makes 100 percent sense. Yes go with the gas, cannot help on the experience been using diesels since 1999.

Post pics of the new one when you get it.

Put the diesel on a diet and don’t look back, gas motors are for sissy’s anyway so don’t do it.

Ouch

friend has a 7.3 liter gas 3/4 ton, he loves it. Of course, he has never driven a diesel, just gas 1/2 tons his entire life.


he gets around 15mpg on the highway in stock form.


resale on a gas 3/4 and 1 ton isn't nearly as good.


When I bought my Tremor I drove a 7.3 liter in a tremor and while I thought the power was adaquate, it wasn’t anywhere close to a diesel. It would be great if you towed lighter loads down flat stretches or short distances. It’s not gonna be great for hooking up heavier weights and doing 75 up and down hills.

Gracias

I've had my 2023 F-350 Lariat Ultimate 7.3/4.30 CCLB since July and I love it so far. I'm a few clicks under 17k now with a lot of that towing with nary a hiccup. Personally, unless you're a fleet guy, and outside of a cursory glance to ensure all is running right, being too concerned with fuel mileage is a waste of time, IMHO. At least for me, I don't buy these trucks for fuel mileage... they're gonna get what they're gonna get. I understand that Ford made a few improvements to the 7.3 for the 23MY, and I think there was a VERY modest bump in power too.

Empty (Line-X bedliner and Leer canopy), I get about 13 and change on the highway, and about 8 mpg towing my 10k travel trailer. It will tow my trailer at whatever speed I want it to, and it won't be screaming while it's doing it. The 10-speed was a little clunky at first, but has settled in nicely.

Yeah, the diesel will get better mileage and not work as hard, but you can buy a lot of 87 unleaded for the up front outlay of $10-12k for the diesel, and not have to worry so much about where you fill-up either. I've played the diesel game, and until they make one impervious to emissions issues or injection pump blow-ups, I'm staying with gas.

Let me know if you have any other questions. HTH.

The newer the diesel, the lower the MPG and the lower chance of an emissions issue. Added emissions equipment lowers the MPG. When the crap was added over ten years ago, it was a nightmare. Not nearly as bad from a reliability standpoint but after warranty, people are gonna suffer with high costs. Not only is it a Federal offense to delete the emissions, but it expensive too. To do so on a L5P Duramx costs about $10K. Diesel oil changes cost way more, the air filters cost way more, they require frequent fuel filter changes, and you must factor not only the cost of the fuel, but the DEF too. The only guy I know that owns a diesel truck AND needs a diesel truck, doesn't drive his more than a couple times a month ... when needed.

Why not go to a half ton Eco boost if you're not towing much anymore? I had a 2.7 that got 20 everyday and could still pull a flatbed with a jeep/UTV or a travel trailer. I have a 3.5 now that gets 18 all day and pulls a heavier load than the 2.7 (just less pep in the giddy-up during everyday driving). I have two buds that got the 7.3 gas...they're satisfied with the towing capabilities and the relief from the diesel emissions stuff/overall cost/maintenance of the diesel but they are getting pretty rough gas mileage...

...good luck finding the solution that works best for you!

This is great real world info.


I think most would agree that with todays motors, power is not lacking. The big blocks of yesteryear won't come close to matching what a modern mid size gas engine will do in terms of power.


There are some differences that a person has to factor into when choosing a gas vs. diesel option. What you pull, how far you pull it, where you pull it , all factor in. Gas engines will get hot, diesels don't. If I'm pulling a mid size load thru the hills in July, a diesel is going to perform better at posted speed limits. If you live in an area where you pull a trailer short distances on 60 mph farm to market roads, a diesel is probably gonna be overkill. I was blown away when i went to the Keys and saw people towing huge boats with Jeeps and Midsize trucks.....but they don't every drive over 45 mph and they only go short distances. All that factors in. That said, I don't think many of us will ever hook up to a load that a diesel will pull but a gas truck equivalent won't. At least I know I won't. I have to look at other factors like resale, ease of towing, etc.

Agreed. In fact, I had a 2019 F-250 with the 6.2/4.30 combo, and both it and my current 7.3 tow(ed) the same trailer way better than my 5.9 Cummins did. And the Cummins with 4.10 gears only got 10 mpg with the trailer. I've rented both Ford's and Ram's 6.7s to pull the exact same trailer, and they obviously did it effortlessly, but still not that much better to make me get back into the diesel full time. To be sure, there are needs and situations where a diesel just makes better sense, but the EPA has taken the fun out of all the advantages of owning a diesel. The advantages are still there per se, but cost a lot more and they also include inherently more risk now too.

I also think that if a fella is going to tow much with a gasser, they need to ensure it's appropriately equipped (gears, etc.). Towing with a poorly equipped gasser is a miserable experience and it just wears you out.

I won't say I'll never get back into a diesel, but for my current situation with work and family, it's just not for us right now.

21 7.3 Gasser with 80K and not a single problem. I get around 15-16 on the highway. drops to 13-14 in town. Pulls everything I have ever put behind it. Worst mileage I saw was when I hooked up toe the 32 ft float with a Case back hoe on it. Pulled as fast as I wanted to but fuel mileage was 5-6 mpg. Made for a long trip to the lease but did what it was supposed to do.

What size tires are on it? Those were the same MPG numbers i was getting with the diesel. Except towing i would get 10-11 mpg and 13 mpg with the boat

What rear end gear ratio?

I have a 2016 Duramax with 540,000 km on it (about 335k) on it. Bone stock never had to do anything to it other than regular maintenance, still running on the factory injectors, transmission etc.. Emissions have just started acting up. Unless my mechanic can fix for less than 2k gonna ditch it. Use it to regularly tow 18k. With all the added costs of running a diesel in today's world seriously considering gas for the next truck.

Factory tires and a 3.73 rear end I believe. towing the 20ft gooseneck cattle trailer to livestock shows I get around 10 mpg with 5-6 grown cows in it. Nothing but good things to say about it so far. Granted its not a diesel and doesnt have the power the diesel has. Buuuuutttttt I get to smile every time I fill up.

I love a diesel, but a gasser is much cheaper to own.

I have a 2022 F350 4X4 CC LB with the 7.3 with 45,000 miles. I love the truck. It has the 4.30 axles. 285/75/18 all terrains on it. I have owned several diesels & don't miss them one bit. I don't pull heavy very often. If I did MIGHT still own a diesel. The truck runs like a spotted azz ape if you want to. I get around 14 -14.5 on hwy running 65-70. Around town 12. Pulling a ranger or 18 ft boat around 9-10.

Is yours a Tremor or did you upgrade to the 285s? If stock was 275, how much of a change did you notice with the 285s? I'm only at 17k, but I'm already thinking about the next set of tires and torn between OEM size 275 or bumping to the 285s.

I bought the tremor wheels & tires along withe running boards from a guy with a tremor. I can't really tell you on stock size. I changed as soon as I got it home. Had the tires & wheels already. I am just guessing from the trip home from the dealer ,but probably lost a mile to 2 per gallon on bigger tires. Couldn't tell any difference in performance..

Gotcha, thanks.