Looking at 2000 Excursion 7.3L

[rowekmr]

I am considering a stock Excursion 7.3l for a daily driver occasional trailer puller and wanted to hear people's experience with the drive train. I have had 2 previous Excursions a V10 and a 6.0L modded.

From what I heard these engines are really durable but weak by today's standards. I have been told the stock trans is weak but some say they will hold up behind a slightly modded one.

I was planning on doing some upgrades with it later both the drive train and suspension.


From my prior Excursions I experienced weak suspension springs, expensive 4wd hubs that tend to go out and on one of them the wheel hub assembly needed to be replaced because of vacuum leak. Anything else I should know or consider?

[carringb]

I like the 7.3L, but they're old now. Expect age-related PM issues, especially with the fuel system, and assorted gaskets on the engine. I'd still pick one over a 2005 6.0 (which was the only year in the Ex).

[cummins2014]

Dadoffourgirls wrote:
Compared to diesels of today, the 7.3 is loud and smelly.

Unfortunately, my most recent GM vehicles allow my nose to tell me when there is a 7.3 ahead of me, even multiple vehicles ahead.

No argument there, they are loud ,and they are smelly. Sure don't miss that part

I still have the soot particles on my garage wall where I started it, finally got all the soot off the front of my fifth wheel . 🙂

[Wills6_4_Hemi]

Dadoffourgirls wrote:
Compared to diesels of today, the 7.3 is loud and smelly.

Unfortunately, my most recent GM vehicles allow my nose to tell me when there is a 7.3 ahead of me, even multiple vehicles ahead.

yea, but the 7.3 is ahead of your gm lol. Sorry couldn't resist ??

[Dadoffourgirls]

Compared to diesels of today, the 7.3 is loud and smelly.

Unfortunately, my most recent GM vehicles allow my nose to tell me when there is a 7.3 ahead of me, even multiple vehicles ahead.

[cummins2014]

whjco wrote:
I had a 2000 Excursion with a 7.3 for almost 9 years. It had about 182k on it when I sold it and I never had any transmission issues with it. I pulled a 24' enclosed car trailer that weighed about 9500# when loaded and a 27' travel trailer. I didn't find the suspension weak at all and although I had a programmer on the engine, I never towed with it over the bottom two settings. The only weakness is that if the Cam Position Sensor fails, the engine will shut down so it's a good idea to keep a spare one in the glove compartment.

I towed with it in overdrive and never had problems with excessive shifting and felt that it had plenty of power. It didn't have as much pulling power as my 2015 Ram with the Cummins but I also never felt like it was inadequate.

We did have a close call with it when I was pulling a loaded car trailer approaching an intersection when a car cut in front of me and I had to jam on the brakes. The flex section of brake line between the master cylinder and the anti-lock unit blew out and I had an almost total loss of brakes. Thankfully I was able to whip around the minivan that had cut me off and the folks at the intersection saw that I was in trouble and didn't pull out in front of me (the light had turned red). That was the worst experience I ever had with it.

Bill J.
Lexington, KY

As said stay under 10K with the 7.3 ,and it does pretty good towing. Transmission problems were very common with the 4R100 , they would overheat, and that of course would kill them . Towing in the mountains here in the west were pretty hard on that transmission, they just didn't have an adequate cooler on them for towing heavy, I was lucky, I got the 6.0 cooler on it before I used it much for my heavier fifth wheels .

[blofgren]

Wills6.4 Hemi wrote:

Hank85713 wrote:
The 7.3 is a fairly reliable engine but it does have weak spots. I have driven 1 or 2 but never owned one. I have a 6.0 F350 as does my BIL who said he would never go back to the 7.3! You will most likely need to consider investing some $$ to get the thing reliable such as new exhaust bellows and a better intake from what I have read. Some tuners can help quite a bit. Go view some of the ford diesel sites and read up is the best advice to get. BUT you said you were familiar so you should already be prepared for whatever comes about.

7.3 fairly reliable lmao, 6.0 over a 7.3 lmao. The only thing more reliable on a 6.0 vs a 7.3 is the transmission behind it!!!! And yes I've owned both.

x2.....this is downright misleading. The 7.3L is worlds ahead of the 6.0L with respect to reliability....and I have owned both as well. There is a good reason why the 7.3L trucks still fetch a very good dollar, well above 6.0L trucks.

[whjco]

I had a 2000 Excursion with a 7.3 for almost 9 years. It had about 182k on it when I sold it and I never had any transmission issues with it. I pulled a 24' enclosed car trailer that weighed about 9500# when loaded and a 27' travel trailer. I didn't find the suspension weak at all and although I had a programmer on the engine, I never towed with it over the bottom two settings. The only weakness is that if the Cam Position Sensor fails, the engine will shut down so it's a good idea to keep a spare one in the glove compartment.

I towed with it in overdrive and never had problems with excessive shifting and felt that it had plenty of power. It didn't have as much pulling power as my 2015 Ram with the Cummins but I also never felt like it was inadequate.

We did have a close call with it when I was pulling a loaded car trailer approaching an intersection when a car cut in front of me and I had to jam on the brakes. The flex section of brake line between the master cylinder and the anti-lock unit blew out and I had an almost total loss of brakes. Thankfully I was able to whip around the minivan that had cut me off and the folks at the intersection saw that I was in trouble and didn't pull out in front of me (the light had turned red). That was the worst experience I ever had with it.

Bill J.
Lexington, KY

[theoldwizard1]

jfkmk wrote:
As with any 18 year old vehicle, you’re going to have constant repairs.

If the vehicle is from the midwest or the northest, under carriage rust will be a major issue ! Expect to replace THE ENTIRE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM ! Even things like fuel lines rust out.

If the bottom of the doors and the rocker panels have not started rusting out, they will soon. Same with the areas around the wheel arches.

I have a friend who loves his, but cries every time he has to fuel up !

[SidecarFlip]

Hank85713 wrote:
The 7.3 is a fairly reliable engine but it does have weak spots. I have driven 1 or 2 but never owned one. I have a 6.0 F350 as does my BIL who said he would never go back to the 7.3! You will most likely need to consider investing some $$ to get the thing reliable such as new exhaust bellows and a better intake from what I have read. Some tuners can help quite a bit. Go view some of the ford diesel sites and read up is the best advice to get. BUT you said you were familiar so you should already be prepared for whatever comes about.

Exhaust bellows... Think you mean the up pipe's. Not an issue if maintained correctly. Same with the turbo pedestal and the cold start assembly. Easy replacement on both. Trick to the up pipes is keeping road spray off them. Mine are protected by rubber splash shields, never had an issue. Turbo pedestal has been replaced with a Garrett delete pedestal long time ago.

All in how they are maintained. I know how mine is maintained, I bought it new in 1997.

6.0's have head bolt issues and EGR issues and the cab must be removed to access the head bolts on the passangers side bank.

With any older motor, expect to replace stuff. I had to install a new injection harness this year. Things get old and fail.

[Grit_dog]

^Id be trying to talk myself out of a 20 year old diesel SUV too unless I absolutely needed 3 rows of seats AND a diesel.
Even the old 7.3 may need a little work. What engine wouldn't? The rest is just a 20 year old vehicle that I hope wasn't driven around the Chicgo area for much of its life.

[rowekmr]

Many of the post on the diesel only powerstroke forums are for no starts, repair questions or big mods. I like this forum because there tend to be more that use their trucks daily or leisurely and mild mods like I plan. It won't be a work horse, race/show truck just my main loud DD lol

I am asking FIRST to see IF I am prepared for it. I have owned a few money pits and trying not to get another one. I am still recovering from my Ram 2500 (another story)

Hank85713 wrote:
The 7.3 is a fairly reliable engine but it does have weak spots. I have driven 1 or 2 but never owned one. I have a 6.0 F350 as does my BIL who said he would never go back to the 7.3! You will most likely need to consider investing some $$ to get the thing reliable such as new exhaust bellows and a better intake from what I have read. Some tuners can help quite a bit. Go view some of the ford diesel sites and read up is the best advice to get. BUT you said you were familiar so you should already be prepared for whatever comes about.

[rowekmr]

I have owned a few 6.0L's and always used the fuel additive. Now that you mention coolant additive I think I recall that without it (or proper ooolant) you can get destructive cavitation.

patperry2766 wrote:
Diesel fuel additive

This is something else I suggested to him to research.Though this article is dated, there are several others out there. Since I don't own a diesel, I can't validate the opinions expressed, but it does seem to make sense in the fact that the 7.3 was designed to run on a different fuel blend than the ULSD that is only available today.

Maybe someone who has direct knowledge and experience can elaborate more.

[Wills6_4_Hemi]

Hank85713 wrote:
The 7.3 is a fairly reliable engine but it does have weak spots. I have driven 1 or 2 but never owned one. I have a 6.0 F350 as does my BIL who said he would never go back to the 7.3! You will most likely need to consider investing some $$ to get the thing reliable such as new exhaust bellows and a better intake from what I have read. Some tuners can help quite a bit. Go view some of the ford diesel sites and read up is the best advice to get. BUT you said you were familiar so you should already be prepared for whatever comes about.

7.3 fairly reliable lmao, 6.0 over a 7.3 lmao. The only thing more reliable on a 6.0 vs a 7.3 is the transmission behind it!!!! And yes I've owned both.

[cummins2014]

SidecarFlip wrote:

patperry2766 wrote:
Diesel fuel additive

This is something else I suggested to him to research.Though this article is dated, there are several others out there. Since I don't own a diesel, I can't validate the opinions expressed, but it does seem to make sense in the fact that the 7.3 was designed to run on a different fuel blend than the ULSD that is only available today.

Maybe someone who has direct knowledge and experience can elaborate more.

I have a 1997 Ford F350 pickup with a 7.3 and an E4OD and it's been a great vehicle (I still have it and use it all the time. The 7.3 may be 'down on power' compared to a new diesel but longevity wise, they will outlast about anything. and the trans is fine so long as you keep it cool.

I'll take my no emissions 7.3 anyday over a new motor. Don't want one.

Never had vacuum hubs, mine are manual. Solid front end on leaf springs too. Very basic and very durable.

I've always used Arch Oil in mine, the oil additive and the fuel additive. Not cheap but sure seems to work fine.

Mine snoozes all winter in a heated garage along with my RV. I think this one (pickup) will outlast me.

IMO, a 7.3 is the best engine (diesel) ever built.

Its hard to argue some of your points on the 7.3. I bought new the early 99 F350 short bed crew cab,. Great truck, except that 4R100 transmission , not one of fords finer moments.

In the 16 years I owned it , the only problems I had with the transmission was shifting, there was times it wouldn't shift from second to third, it was intermittent . Early on I changed the transmission cooler to the 6.0 cooler, that solved the overheating that the 4R100 was prone to.

Biggest reason I still don't have it , POWER, just didn't get the job done on towing the bigger fifth wheel I went to . Under 10K not a problem, once I got the transmission cooled down, over 10K just wasn't there for power.

7.3 best engine ever built, well thats a stretch, the 5.9, and the 6.7 Cummins make a good case .I now tow with the 6.7 Cummins, can't be beat as far as towing goes, yes the emissions are an issue, just the fact of having to add DEF is just one .

As far as the OP , and buying that Excursion, if its stock, and planing to tow with it, first get that 6.0 transmission cooler installed, and limit the weight of trailer, you will have a great towing vehicle .

The hubs will be automatic, I has an issue with one of mine,, and fairly easy to fix, replaced with manual hubs, and plugged the vacuum lines. It was actually better, could use 4 low to back the fifth wheel.

As far as mods go, I ran a tuner or chip for nearly the 16 years I owned the truck, first it was the Superchip, then went to the DP tuner. DP tuner was by far the best. I had 4" turbo back exhaust, AIS air intake, and as said the 6.0 transmission cooler, its a bolt in conversion, with hose fitting conversion. Most importantly gauges . I had the three , EGT, transmission, and boost.

The truck ran great ,and was when I sold it to get a new one. I will repeat, keep that transmission cool ,and the best way is the 6.0 cooler, and gauges to monitor if towing.