The 7.3 Power Stroke engine was the first in the Power Stroke diesel engines family. It was produced for Ford truck vehicles; you’d find the 7.3 Power Stroke engine option in the F-Series, E-Series, Ford Excursion, and Ford LCF commercial truck models.
Although the 7.3L Power Stroke engine is widely renowned for lasting up to 500,000 miles if properly maintained, some models made in certain years are not so reliable.
This article lists and explains the worst 7.3 Power Stroke years to avoid. However, all 7.3 Power Stroke engine outputs a decent amount of horsepower and torque!
7.3 Power Stroke Years To Avoid
1. 2001 7.3 Power Stroke Engine
The 2001 7.3 Power Stroke was the first redesigned model from the 1998 – 1999 models, so there were pretty many issues reported for this Power Stroke year. Majorly, the complaints were about unpleasant noise -the engine makes a hell of noise you can’t deal with.
Reports show that the noise was caused by the split-shot injectors used in the then engines. Also, the turbochargers used at that time were pretty unreliable and received a lot of complaints.
2. 2002 7.3 Power Stroke Engine
Also, the 2002 7.3L Power Stroke engine has multiple reported issues, which include CPS and EBPV problems.
The major turn off – and reason to avoid the 2002 Power Stroke engine is because of the connecting rods; Ford had changed from using forged connecting rods to Powdered metal rods (PMR) on the 2002 Power Stroke engine; this led to a significant decrease in the performance of the engine.
See Also: Harley Road King Years to Avoid and Why
3. 2003 7.3 Power Stroke Engine
The 2001 and 2002 Power Stroke engines failed to pass California noise standards and low emissions tests, so Ford had to halt the 7.3 line and introduce a new 6.0L Power Stork engine.
2003 7.3 Power Stroke underperforms the 6.0L models; hence, it is much better to choose the 6.0L models over the 7.3L versions made in 2003.
Common Problems With 7.3 Powerstroke Engines
1. Serious Leaks in the Fuel Filter Housing
One common problem with the 2001 – 2003 7.3L Power Stroke engines was the fuel filter housing that cracks pretty often, causing fuel to leak out. Also, some people reported that the heating element used in the filter house could shut out completely and cause the truck not to start.
2. Camshaft Position Sensor (CPS) Failure
The CPS failure was another common issue with the 7.3L Power Stroke engine. This sensor monitors the crankshaft’s position in a diesel engine to control the ignition system timing.
Failure of the CPS can cause a diesel engine not to start up, which means your truck won’t start either.
3. EBPV Failure
The 2001-2003 Powerstroke 7.3L commonly experienced EBPV (Exhaust Back-Pressure Valve) failure problems. The EBPV is designed to stabilize the engine’s operating temperature; its failure can lead to engine overheating.
4. Turbocharger Problems
Furthermore, the 7.3L Power Stroke produced between 2001 – 2003 had turbocharger problems; majorly, the problem is a leak in the up-pipes, which causes the engine to lose power – and not produce enough horsepower/torque as designed.
7.3 Power Stroke Specs
These are the factory specifications of the Ford 7.3 Power Stroke diesel engine; some models were modified for seemingly better performance.
- Displacement: 444 ci
- Bore: 4.11 inches
- Stroke: 4.18 inches
- Valvetrain: Overhead valve, 2 valves per cylinder
- Compression Ratio: 17.5:1
- Factory Horsepower: 210 hp (1994.5) to 275 hp (2003)
- Factory torque: 425 lb-ft (1994.5) to 525 lb-ft (2003)
>>Read more about 7.3 Powerstroke problems here.
Related Questions
What Are The Best 7.3 Power Stroke To Buy?
The 7.3L Power Stroke engines were short-lived; the models before 2001 seem to be more reliable, and as such, they are the best to buy if you really want to have a 7.3L Power Stroke engine in your truck.
How Many Miles is a 7.3 Power Stroke Good For?
The 7.3 Power Stroke is remarkable for lasting up to half a million miles (500,000 miles); that’s incredible. However, a 7.3L Power Stroke engine has to be properly maintained to reach that incredible number of miles.
What More?
Explained in the article are the 7.3 Power Stroke engines to avoid. It is advisable to avoid these Power Stroke engines because they give a lot of issues, even when you haven’t driven many miles.