7.3 L diesel engine maintenance and performance thread.

[225]

Since I am boat captain, I love diesel engines. Which is the reason I wanted a 7.3L van. Now that I actually own one, now I have to do a bunch of maintenance and stuff before my road trip next month.

Stuff that needs to get done is a oil, transmission fluid, and fuel filter change.

I also bought a spare cam position sensor, new vacuum pump ( pulley squeaks ), and a flywheel turning tool for the torque converter.

After this trip, I want to do a few things, like a tune, full exhaust, custom intake, and gauge pods.

After much research, I can't find pillar gauge pods. So I am buying 4 of these:

For the glow shift 4 gauge diesel package:
Like this but without the pillar:

the 4 gauges included are:

60psi boost
1500 pyometer EGT gauge
trans temp
and fuel pressure

I will have to put them on the pillar and some kind of way make it look good.

Any suggestions?

 

[225]

I did find this: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/atm-17316

So I am taking a chance and picking it up. So I won't have the fuel pressure gauge.

 

[d67u57]

pretty cool.
remind us what the van looks like, and how about the boat?

still. maintenance on a van should be peanuts compared to the boat

 

[blupaddler]

Since I am boat captain, I love diesel engines. Which is the reason I wanted a 7.3L van. Now that I actually own one, now I have to do a bunch of maintenance and stuff before my road trip next month.

I also bought a spare cam position sensor, new vacuum pump ( pulley squeaks ), and a flywheel turning tool for the torque converter.

I am a diesel newbie. And although my 7.3 is a 1995. Could you expand why a spare cam position sensor and the flywheel turning tool?



Why not get a scan gauge instead of all those gauges? I think they let you monitor most items, its a great deal cheaper and easier to install since it just plugs into the OBDII port.

http://www.scangauge.com/

 

[225]

The 7.3L is known for the cam position sensor going out when you least expect it (ask me how I know). It takes literally 10 minutes to change and costs about $25. So a spare won't hurt.

Also, I keep a spare belt, both radiator hoses and a extra fuel filter. If I am 500 miles away from home, I don't wanna be stranded.

As far as the gauges go, when you put a decent tune EGT's is very important to watch. Plus the gauges look cool. And that matters right?

Here's my boat:

Engine room, 2,000 hp per engine. 12 cylinder cummins that as big as a van.:

My office:

And my van:

 

[d67u57]

nice,nice river tuggie.

that engine room shot talks. whats gph?

good looking beater van as well. besides maintenance on the engine, will you also

give it more clearance, something else rubber wise?

 

[225]

They average around 50gph. But we hold 30,000 gallons of fuel.

I am doing a full ujor kit soon. Probably at the end of the summer. I am traveling all summer.

 

[dinobody]

The Edge Tuner has all the guages and great performance. That was a very nice up grade on my 2003 7.3 I leave the tuner in number two tune. I also used the Diamond Eye exhast. Great kit and super easy to install 100% complete from the turbo back pretty cheap also. I just used two K&N filters in the stock location. The van hauls butt now and gets 18mpg with 33inch tires and 3.55 gears I wish I could keep my foot out of it.

 

[nely]

What year is gour van?

Alot of performance options depend on the year of your van. The break i have found coexists with the diesel trucks.

1997 and below, fewer options. For example, no diamond eye 4" exhaust.
1999 and up, more options and thats what the diamond eye exhaust kit is for.

I run the autometer 3gauge pillar. Its a very nice piece and fits well. I bought the sport comp silver gauges, but found them to be difficult to read at night, so im swapping to autometer factory match gauges. They closely match ford factory gauges and are back lit. Alot nicer imo.

The vans have a 3" downpope from the factory. Hypermax has exhaust for our vans, but no downpipe. I asked them why and they said the stock downpipe is good enough for the vans.

Maybe somone could chime in on there experience with the edge tuners on the 7.3 because i havent actually played with one. But the edge tuners on the 6.0 need to be flashed onto the ecu everytime you wanna change settings. Personally i went with a DP tuner. Theres alot of options, 16 possible tunes on the chip, a variety of tunes to load, and it has a controller that allows you to switch on the fly. Ill go from my 80hp street tune to 60hp econo tune with a touch of a button as i get onto the freeway. Its very handy.

Maintenance wise you seem to have things covered. Some issues again, depend on the year. E4od yransmission like eating torque convertors. Those are 1997 and below.

I have a build thread on this forum. Just been years since an update so havent bumped it up. But i got pictures of the gauges and dp tuner.

 

[225]

Mine is a 99. How hard is it to install the boost gauge?

I was looking at a SCT tuner too.

 

[dinobody]

The Edge takes about 4min to flash. I dont really ever change the settings. It has a boost guage.

 

[225]

What model Edge tuner do you have? And where did you get it at?

I already ordered the gauge pillar. And probably going with GlowShift gauges. I bookmarked the the exhaust on Summracing.com for $269.99. And I am going to buy the dual KN filters that go in the stock airbox I guess....

Or I might move the battery under the frame, and make a custom intake.

 

[dinobody]

It is the Evolution CS I got it from Edge. They will take it back if you dont like it.

 

[blupaddler]

I had K&N filters on my 1995 until I read one of the Powerstroke forums that they allow too much sand, etc into the intake and engine. Thereby eating your engine.
So now I just use the paper filters from the factory.


I wish mine was newer so I could run a tuner. Help improve mpgs.

If I bought another van, I would purposely stay away from one with the E40D. Or take it to John Wood to have it rebuilt...

 

[225]

My VIN code makes me think I have a E4OD, but all the dealers say I have a 4R100. I haven't looked at it yet. I am a boat captain and I'm at work. I hope it's a 4R100.