Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives 7.3 Gas - How they holding up?

I noticed a few months back a few guys bought the Ford 7.3 gas. Been a good outfit?

There is a 7.3 thread a couple pages back you might check out. Mb

27,000 miles on my 2022 Lariat, running strong and not a single issue yet. First Ford so figured something would have gone wrong by now. But so far, so good.

15k on my 2022 Lariat and flawless thus far.

Thanks for replies. I would like to find a decent used one. Not an easy task.

I know they're HD pickups meant for towing, not MPG, but I've still got to ask:

Mileage running empty on the highway and @ what speed if you don't mind?

As high as 17 at 70. Hills and headwinds affect. Daily driving 13 with 50-50 California freeway driving.

I had to have a catalytic converter replaced at 20,000 miles, otherwise it has not been in the shop.
22 F250 XLT premium package, 28,000 miles.

22 f250 70-75 11 mpg......around town 10-11.......I was hoping for 15-16 on the open road. 16,000 miles.

had to have evap can filter cleaned because of intake location....sucking up dirt....bob

Interested to hear how the 6.2 and 6.8 do in the same vehicle config. mileage-wise. I don't pull that often but am thinking I may want to move up from an half ton for the mountains, and we have lots of them!

I have a neighbor who had a 2020 with the 7.3. He said 14 mpg for daily driving. If he ever had it on a road trip I'm not aware.

Just did first trip empty over to KS and back in a while. Had a 5-7 mph tailwind on way out. Doing 72-73 mph got 15.1 mpg. On return trip, calm winds, doing 77 mph the whole way, got 13.8 mpg.

Ordered mine with the 3.55 rear end as I don't tow huge amounts. Just upgraded to Bilstein 5100 shocks and ride quality is easily 2x better. Huge improvement for not a ton of money.

Still loving the 7.3 in my Tremor. Just a fun truck to drive!

Which gear ratios if you don't mind please.

4:30.....but it has a 10 speed so you would think that it would make up for it.....bob

Mine has 4:30 gears and I average around 12.5 MPG empty at 70-75.

I've got 33k on mine, has 4:30 gears and 37" tires. Lifetime towing MPG is right at 10, split about evey between a 4 place snowmobile trailer, and our 10k 5th wheel. Maybe 1/4 of those miles with the SxS trailer on the back of the 5th wheel (additional 3k).

The engine is very impressive, just this past week went and hauled a dump trailer with gravel (13k), the truck doesn't even care it's back there.

Now, the 10 speed transmission, that's a whole nother story.

So...whats the story? Some of us would like to know of any issues.

I went to several dealers looking at F250 , with the 7.3 used vehicles, from mid trucks all the way to most expensive, none had over 30-k, looked on steering wheel at current mileage from last owner, everyone ha 12 to 14 mpg recorded, don’t know what rear end or transmission they had, but decided I would keep my Ram that gets 18.5 mpg , not much difference between premium and diesel fuel prices.

Didn't some of the early 7.3 gas engines have some piston or rod issues?

Mine doesn’t require or get premium. Manual calls for 87.

At higher elevations (over about 2000'), 85 will work fine. Elevation affects octane that way. We're at about 3500 and all the stations here sell 85 as regular.

were it makes sense is when buying new. the extra cost of the diesel engine, the regular Maintenace costs, fuel etc all add up.....bob

why do you need premium?

I put everything from 85 to 91 in mine and like to run non ethanol when I can find it. I can't tell too much difference. Last long run with a load of locust in the bed, I got 15.6 at 72 mph. Its a very capable truck for me and all I wanted was basically a heavy half ton. I still like mine.

Premium? I never thought that any output motor today would run on anything but mid grade on emergency, but premium required, this cubic inch motor and horse power should run its best on Ethel and best mileage, my 6.4 is premium, why would Foed not be, sounds to me like yall don’t want to spend the money. I’m going to Ford site and find out what factory says, not trying to be smart ass, just doesn’t sound right for any high output motor.

Well, I have read several Ford sites and can’t get a definitive answer on octane on 7.3, but it is only a 430 HP motor, my 6.4 is 473 HP, which may be why it’s 91 to 93 octane, I know when I test drove the Fords they had plenty of pep. My Dodge 6.4 gets 17 mpg , but it only weighs 63 hundred pounds in a Grand Wagoneer, decided I had enough trucks.

In today’s world of variable timing and constantly self tuning engines why wouldn’t a manufacturer design the engine they’re pushing as a work truck engine to run on cheap gas? It’s a big block designed for HD pickups, freight vans, and small dump trucks, jobs and people who might not have premium available at every corner store.

Googling the 7.3 octane requirements, I didn't find any that require more than 87. At higher altitudes, over about 2500', 85 works just as well. Octane is a chemical they add to prevent pre-ignition, or knocking. At higher altitudes, the air pressure is lower and that results in less knocking. Using higher grades is just a waste of money. The gas is the same. The only difference is the amount of the ignition retardant they put in it. Many stations have 2 storage tanks. One holds the lowest octane gas, the other holds the highest. The pump mixes them to get the in between grades. The high octane prices are just a big money maker for the stations. Many drivers use it when it's not needed thinking it's better gas. It hits the wallet hard.
Alcohol is a pre-ignition retardant, too. It has some less than beneficial properties as most of you know.

I like my 7.3, all the power I need in a gas motor. MPG isn’t the greatest, but I didn’t buy it for that. Zero complaints.

Mine has the standard 3.55. First gear is lower than the older 6 speed trans with 4.30s.

Mine is 10 speed with 4:30

2022 with the tremor package. 4:30 with 35” off-road tires. About 11.5 around town. 14.5 Hwy.
Between 8.5-9.5 towing a bumper pull trailer with a 10,000 gvw. Probably only weighs 8,500-9,000
No issues so far with 28,000 on it.