Ford 7.3L Gas Engine

[robertm]

Tractor guy, you’d better do some research in the new 5.0L. It’s far from reliable, and only getting worse. It’ll never make the 2021 redesign.

 

[TractorGuy]

Tractor guy, you’d better do some research in the new 5.0L. It’s far from reliable, and only getting worse. It’ll never make the 2021 redesign.

Hadn't heard anything bad about the 5.0 but I haven't researched that engine for problems. I had a Mustang GT with that engine that had no problems. I've seen quite a few of the F150s advertised with 200k on them.

 

[goeduck]

Sure are a lot of people that get spooked by an Internet posting of a few problems with an engine. All engines will have a lemon here or there.

 

[dodge man]

I have posted before where the 2018 and newer 5.0 are having oil consumption problems. There is quite a bit of it on the F150 forums. Like most cases most people are fine but reading between the lines, I think it is an issue. They are aluminum blocks and in the past they had cylinder liners but in 2018 changed to something like a plasma welded liner(not the exact term).

 

[ruffdog]

I have posted before where the 2018 and newer 5.0 are having oil consumption problems. There is quite a bit of it on the F150 forums. Like most cases most people are fine but reading between the lines, I think it is an issue. They are aluminum blocks and in the past they had cylinder liners but in 2018 changed to something like a plasma welded liner(not the exact term).

Here is a article about the plasma wire sprayed liners in the 5.0 engines.

Ford Finishes F-15 Powertrain Makeover | WardsAuto

I'm glad the 7.3 has push rods as that makes for a very short timing chain. The overhead cam engines need super long timing chains that may have issues with tensioners.

 

[Grumpycat]

I have posted before where the 2018 and newer 5.0 are having oil consumption problems. There is quite a bit of it on the F150 forums. Like most cases most people are fine but reading between the lines, I think it is an issue. They are aluminum blocks and in the past they had cylinder liners but in 2018 changed to something like a plasma welded liner(not the exact term).

Motorcycles, Porsche, Mercedes, and others have been using hypereutectic aluminum and plated aluminum since the 1970's.

Chevy Vega tried to use hypereutectic aluminum too, but didn't properly heat treat the cylinders. And then bolted a huge cast iron cylinder head on top to ensure the block warped. Could see the distortion in wear on cylinder walls as the block twisted between hot and cold.

Silicon in aluminum can be made to crystalize above the eutectic point. By placing heaters in the cylinder bores while the cast block cools one can force this crystallization to create a very hard silicon surface. GM thought they could get away without the heaters.

Plating cylinders is a means of avoiding the expense of having to slowly cool the casting.

There are several companies in the USA who re-plate aluminum cylinders. 2-stroke dirtbikers know them well.

 

[nikerret]

Earlier in this thread I expressed my feeling that a pushrod engine was going backwards in design. I didn't know much of anything about the 6.2 offering. The 5.0 Coyote engine has been pretty reliable in both the mustang and truck configuration.

A while back I saw a F250 with a 6.2 for cheap and the dealer said it had a knocking noise in the engine. Doing some research online I found numerous complaints of 6.2 gassers with engine failures and noises so I decided not to go down a repair path. Seems like the same issues Ford had with the 6.0 diesel engine. It's hard to understand how Ford has remained the top selling truck with their recent history of engine problems.

I知 not sure where you get the 6.2L in the Super Duty being a bad engine. Yes, some have had issues, but no moreso than any other engine. In fact, my research showed just the opposite. The 6.2L has a very good record. The 2011-2016痴 are **** near indestructible, if used as intended. I have seen a few issues with the ?7+, but no more than any other engine.

The only engine in this range that has a better record is the GM 6.0 L, which ran for twenty years and they got all the kinks worked out. The issue with the 6.0L is much less capability than the competing engines from Ford or Ram. Irrelevant as the 6.0L is no more, GM has a brand new 6.6L gas.

What痴 really interesting is there have been a lot of engines that were more reliable in their earlier versions. See the Ram and Dodge 5.7L, Ford 5.0L (post 2011MY), Ford 6.2L (as discussed).

When checking the 6.2L durability, make sure you are comparing the Super Duty version, not the one in the Raptor/F-150. The Super Duty is slightly 途etuned for longevity over brash performance. The F-150 version did have more issues, mostly because people modified an already high outputting engine.

 

[robertm]

I have posted before where the 2018 and newer 5.0 are having oil consumption problems. There is quite a bit of it on the F150 forums. Like most cases most people are fine but reading between the lines, I think it is an issue. They are aluminum blocks and in the past they had cylinder liners but in 2018 changed to something like a plasma welded liner(not the exact term).

Plasma coated.
I lived it. Factory 2018 5.0L engine burned 1-1/2 quarts in 3,000 miles. Had many consumption tests up to 23,000 miles IIRC before first TSB was finally issued. THEN, did the PCV change and consumption test per TSB. Failed. I had done one privately before, and knew it would fail under Fords observation, too. So, engine burned over the 1 quart in 3,000 miles again, and new long block was installed.
Second engine, same thing. At 48,000, I wasn’t willing to go another long block. I had only had the truck a year since new. Off it went and I got the 3.0L Stroke.
A few weeks after trading, Ford said oil consumption on the 5.0L is due to PCM programming. That has since been shown to be a joke. So then, new dipsticks are being offered with TWO quarts between full and add oil. No thanks. In close to 3 million miles driving, I’ve never had an engine burn oil anywhere close to my 2018. You watch. The 5.0L won’t see 2021. Shame too. I loved the truck, and loved my Corsa Extreme on the truck, but as long as they keep moving the goal line on the standards to keep the 5.0L in service, I’ll pass. I didn’t know when I bought it the 5.0L was a redesign. I can’t imagine the 7.3L is not a cast iron sleeves mill. THAT would be a mistake in my book.

 

[sd455dan]

Ford has a bit to do to catch up on excessive oil consumption if they want to compete with some previous worst offenders...


Bought a new 1977 VW Rabbit back in the day...


Volkswagen had the nerve to actually Print in the owners manual that 500 miles to a quart of oil was to be considered normal use for the purchasers new car.


in 1979 they printed 2.4 quarts per 1000 miles is OK

Then government forced VW to pay to have new upgraded valve guides and seals installed on All the offending models /years.

 

[RickB]

Researching maximum allowable oil consumption tolerances for any engine will be maddening. Kawasaki twins are allowed 1 pint in 50 hours. 25% of crankcase capacity.

 

[deerefan]

We had a 2013 Expedition, 5.4 3v. As it got closer to 100k miles, it would be 2qts low at 5k mile oil changes running synthetic oil. Traded it at 97k miles for an Armada. Never smoked or leaked, just 2qts low at oil changes *

 

[Tomtint]

I had a new 2012 6.2 F350 4x4 regular cab. It was a real nice motor, plenty for that truck and my needs. Also had a 15 F350 4x4 Platinum with the 6.2. It was also trouble free and power was adequate for around town and as a casual highway truck. ..I found it a bit underpowered pulling 8k+. It would do it but you knew the load was back there. Neither one had any oil consumption issues.
...I also have a 1999 F 150 now that is my run around beater truck..it's got 180k on it... for some reason I like it and keep throwing money at it to keep it going..it's a 5.4 4x4 extra cab and it burns between 1.5 and 2 quarts between 3k mile oil changes.

 

[straps57]

I believe he's referring to the new GM 6.6 gas engine that's just been introduced. Would be interested to see how it compares to the new Ford 7.3.

You are correct about the gas 6.6. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[TractorGuy]

I had a new 2012 6.2 F350 4x4 regular cab. It was a real nice motor, plenty for that truck and my needs. Also had a 15 F350 4x4 Platinum with the 6.2. It was also trouble free and power was adequate for around town and as a casual highway truck. ..I found it a bit underpowered pulling 8k+. It would do it but you knew the load was back there. Neither one had any oil consumption issues.
...I also have a 1999 F 150 now that is my run around beater truck..it's got 180k on it... for some reason I like it and keep throwing money at it to keep it going..it's a 5.4 4x4 extra cab and it burns between 1.5 and 2 quarts between 3k mile oil changes.

Good to know the 6.2s weren't all bad. Kind of wish I would have looked further into the F250 I saw advertised but it wasn't that great of a deal to have engine issues.

I have to keep talking myself out of buying things I don't need since I retired.

My truck is a 2003 F150 extended cab with the 4.6 2V engine. It has the tow package and a 3:55 limited slip rear axle but only 2WD. It has pulled my 99 Mustang GT with the same engine all over the southeast. At 180K it still does not use a drop of oil between 5,000 mile oil change intervals. I run Motorcraft 5W20 synthetic blend and Motorcraft oil filters in both vehicles. The Mustang only has 115K on it but they are like dog miles since a good many of them are from track days.

 

[goeduck]

^^^ those 4.6 engines are very reliable from what I understand. Nice.

 

[Tractorable]

Here’s a video of an engine tear down of Ford’s new 7.3L gas motor. Pretty beefy bottom end....

Skip to 2:10 in the video to get to the good part:




7.3L Godzilla Ford V8 Bottom End Teardown ? How Big Can this Engine GO? Crank, Rods, Piston, Block - YouTube

 

[ruffdog]

Here’s a video of an engine tear down of Ford’s new 7.3L gas motor. Pretty beefy bottom end....

Skip to 2:10 in the video to get to the good part:




7.3L Godzilla Ford V8 Bottom End Teardown ? How Big Can this Engine GO? Crank, Rods, Piston, Block - YouTube

Two things....what is going on with that weird saw cut between the cylinders at the deck? Right at the place the cylinder pressures are greatest (TDC), the cylinder thickness is quite thin. It just looks like a after-thought.:2cents: I'm not impressed with the timing chain either. Not what I would expect in a high mileage truck engine. (Rods and pistons too)

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm not impressed with Siamesed cylinders at all...

SR

 

[Motorboatin]

Two things....what is going on with that weird saw cut between the cylinders at the deck? Right at the place the cylinder pressures are greatest (TDC), the cylinder thickness is quite thin.

The guy said it's for cooling and that it helped with reliability. Siamesed cylinders don't have cooling jackets between them so that area gets hot but that cylinder design also has it's advantages so Ford tried to get the best of both worlds by adding a cooling channel

 

[ruffdog]

The guy said it's for cooling and that it helped with reliability. Siamesed cylinders don't have cooling jackets between them so that area gets hot but that cylinder design also has it's advantages so Ford tried to get the best of both worlds by adding a cooling channel

About all that saw cut will provide is a way to bleed off a air bubble in that location. There is not much area now for the head gasket to seal where the saw cut is.