Bingo. No DEF or DEF related issues and no Diesel fuel additives needed which (at least here in Colorado) you absolutely need during the winter months on every single fill up with modern diesels.
@@Kenneth_R Why does it seem as if everyone but me has issues with the DPF system? I've never had a problem with that on my Power Stroke and I'm over 100k. Yes, more parts to fail and the cost of buying DEF, but if you're not modding the engine, the DPF system should not be a problem at this point in truck tech.
I was a diesel tech for a decade and whenever anyone asks me what engine they should get in a truck I always came back with the same question: how much are you going to put it to work? If the answer was anything less than weekly I told them to get the gas engine. Modern gas engines are that good, especially the Godzilla. Diesels just aren't worth it unless you're hauling over 7000 LBS daily. And that acceleration was more than adequate considering this was a gasser with 14k behind her. I'd take that all day long.
That is exactly what my Dad's Diesel Mechanic told me when I asked him which engine type I should chose for my next truck. Plus I am in Gulfport, MS right off the Gulf of Mexico so that naturally aspirated gas engine will work well down here. I would love to get a Powerstroke or Cummins, but with the decreased reliability of new diesel engines due to emission requirements and the increase Cost of Ownership it is not logical for me to select a Diesel engine if I am towing less than 5 times a year.
When you say "put it to work", does that include things like a camper that weighs between 1k-3k lbs? I have seen lately lots of diesels with campers. My usual train of thought is if you are pulling/hauling something heavy and often, diesel is the answer. Anything less than that would make sense to own a diesel given costs of maintenance?
For those who complain about 400 HP from a gas V8 engine, I remember the old 460 (7.5L) V8 was rated in the mid 200 HP range in the 80s and 90s when they were completely smogged out. With like 8-9 MPG. So it's amazing how far we've come.
Exactly, and this engine is using probably the same tech as that old 460: OHV with 2 valves per cylinder, port injection, cast iron block, naturally aspirated. No direct injection, DOHC, aluminum, turbos, no nothing. The only difference is modern design and manufacturing methods. It's incredibly how optimization almost nets us +100% power AND uses less fuel while doing it.
I’m running a 460 right now in a 1972 F250 with a Holley 650. Getting about 14.7 with a 14,000 load. Besides intake, engine and exhaust are original. Just gotta find that perfect CFM and jet combination for your engine! Long live carburetors!!!!
I purchased the 2020 F350 Lariat with a 7.3 L Godzilla engine just over a year ago. I put 30,000 Miles on it so far and I pull a trailer weekly with a tractor and implements. Roughly 13,000 lb. It has no problem with this weight whatsoever. You can move some serious weight with this truck. The engine is very reliable it is not over complicated and produces insane power. The 10-speed transmission really helps
I chose the 7.3 for towing the travel trailer. My buddy who is a welder had several diesel trucks and warned me of the potential cost of repairs. When you factor in the fact that the diesels are way more expensive to purchase, the huge fuel consumption of the 7.3l isn't that bad in comparison. I love my truck for towing especially compared to the Ecoboost. Yes, it has power but the stability I feel with the 350 vs 150....there is no comparison. Everytime I pull the trailer its much more of a relaxed drive and I never have to worry about payload if I want to throw in extra water, generator, and fuel jugs. I have had the 7.3l for 2 years now and have no complaints. Edit: I also drive very short distances daily and i was told that is terrible for diesel engines.
Great choice JC, that last comment about driving short distances is 100% accurate. a modern diesel with emissions would cause you nothing but issues driving short distances every day. I also highly agree with you about the 3500 vs 1500's. people often just compare HP for towing but there is so much more involves. when you move up to a 3500 platform you get larger brakes, stiffer frame, heavier axles, stiffer suspension, bigger driveline. I own a power wagon and it has a abysmal tow rating for like 10,800lbs. where as the 1500 ram rebel can tow north of 11k. but the 2500 power wagon will mop the floor with the 1500 rebel all day when it comes to towing because the larger brakes, stiffer frame, stronger 2.5 inch receiver. and when I was towing with my 2500 power wagon I was like wow this thing is solid compared to a 1500.
I have a 2020 F350 with the 7.3 & ordered the 4.30 gears. It took 6 months but was worth it. I have 85,000 miles towing a 14,000 lb. 5th wheel. Only problem plug wires. Truck has idled a LOT. Towed all over the US Rockies, Smokies you name it. Plenty of power. I have the Tremor package and it works great in the snow. LOVE the 10 speed it grade shifts very well. I had a power wagon but it would not tow a 5th wheel so got the Tremor. I put a 50 gallon transfer tank in the bed and I do not have to pull the rig into a gas station. I stop each evening unhook at camp then fuel up. This has been the best and most reliable truck I have owned of the 5 (all brands) I have had. Got all the trailering goodies and been very happy so far. Met MANY owners with Diesels that continuously have issues. To me reliability is KING. This made me move away from a Diesel. I am out in the middle of nowhere often and there is nothing around. Power is nothing without reliability. I hate to say it but the government has made modern Diesels much less reliable. The perfect setup would be for Ford to supercharge or turbocharge the 7.3 so it would be better at high altitude.
Not only is today's diesels unreliable, they're ridiculous over-priced and always have been. I wouldn't buy a diesel, with today's gas engines you got plenty of power to do anything you need within the capacities of the truck. Diesel prices are higher than gas most of the time, break downs, and maintenance are outrageous for a diesel engine....and the one time you accidently fill your diesel tank with unleaded gas, or put DEF in it....yep that happens...a lot....its a pretty nice $15k-20k repair bill out of your pocket, it ain't covered under warranty.
@@djsmith4789Apparently you never read my comment. Specifically the part where I said I don't own a diesel nor would I own one. I have no use for one. A gas engine will pull just the same.
@wildbill23c We'll sorry there Mr Bill, but you never said you don't own one! And that's besides the point I was making. Or apparently attempting to make, in your case! You obviously don't see the humor in my comment, as dry as it was. I figured the little 😉 would make it apparent, but hey... my bad I guess
No big surprise but at a huge cost savings up front plus lower maintenance costs, the gas engine makes sense for many people. Many owners won't ever pull 14,000lbs. The 10 speed really makes the most of the gas engine power. If I knew I was towing 14,000 lbs regularly, I would opt. for the 4.30 gears for sure. Great review - thanks!
Without a doubt the gas engine is a great option for most people. If you are pulling heavier weight like 14k the 4.30 gears would give a nice advantage! Either way I think its a greay option for folks looking at 10-15k of towing weight
@@GettysGarage We ordered a F350 Dually with the 7.3 and 4.30 gears. We tow a bumper pull camper thats about 10K pounds, but its 37ft long, 8ft wide, and 12ft tall. Our 1500 did the job, but a little sketchy, got a F250 SRW with the 6.7. The 6.7 is nice, but its so expensive, and even then the camper sometimes wags the F250. MPG is great, but everything else is too much money. So we decided to trade the 6.7 and go back to a gas V8. We do have 2 anti sway bars and a WD setup. We dont drive much, have another vehicle for around town, but when we tow, we drive from TX to IA/NC/TN/FL/IN, etc. Got notice it was being shipped out to dealer yesterday. So excited!
@@thejuiceisloose8703 with the 6.7 it is about 9-12mpg. I’m still waiting on our 7.3. It’s been shipped to the dealer but they haven’t got it yet. I’m hoping within 2 weeks.
2022 F-250 6.7 owner here. I've been watching you for a while and I like your style. This was a great comparison for those who are on the fence of gas vs diesel. They really are apples to oranges, but you show the detailed differences between the two. I also love the fact that you seem to be unbiased across manufacturers. Keep doing what you do. We appreciate it.
I have a 2022 F350 XLT with the 7.3L gas engine and love it. I tow a 9,000 lb travel trailer and get about 7.8-8.2 mpg towing depending on speed and wind. I get 17 mpg riding empty on the highway at about 65 mph with 20,000 miles on the truck.
I laughed a little when you said how it’s struggling getting up to speed. I remember when gas powered trucks couldn’t get a load that heavy pass 40 mph. The 7.3 Godzilla can tow the same load as the 7.3 Power Stroke. Godzilla is an amazing engine.
That's very fair. We are a little spoiled this day and age. Especially since I was just driving the powerstroke that puts out a modest 1,050 pound feet of torque so maybe that's why it felt slow lol
Much more then the stock 7.3 diesel. They have almost the same stock rear wheel torque numbers, but the 7.3 gas always has the capability of dropping an extra gear. Colton Brown has a video of a 7.3 gas pulling 24,000lbs up a 7+% grade at 55 miles per hour. It was over 32000lbs gross weight. He did the same with a 2013 Ram 4500 6.7 diesel, at just about 60, with the same trailer. It was not many years back that no diesel could do that kind of speed with that kind of weight. If they made the 7.3 gas in 2006-2010, many people would have bought them, because they would have performed very similar, if not better then some diesels, with only a few hundred higher RPMs, on only the heaviest loads.
@@renurenovationsllc7780 I was looking at specs from an 05 F350 crew cab short bed diesel and this load is over what it's tow rating was. You are spot on with the comparison.
I switched in 20 to the 7.3. I tow all the same 16k front end loaders and heavy boats daily as all my previous diesels. No issues, strong and I will have 95k on the odometer in 2025 when I will get another. Less costs to own upfront by 10k, fuel is cheaper and none of the diesel emission BS. Every diesel I had from all 3 had issues at or around 110-125k. I can do everything a diesel can just slower and yes the engine does scream up a hill pulling 16-17k. All in all I am pleased and I have done a few mods that have really helped. Dual exhaust and a 5 Star tune in which I leave it in the 87 octane heavy tow tune.
I have a 21 F250 with the 7.3 and 4.30 gears. Also have 37" tires. I tow a mid size 5th wheel, plus a 12' single axle behind that with a SxS on it, this setup is 12k loaded with camping gear. Pulls much harder than my 99 7.3 Powerstroke did, I bet it would outpull a stock 6.0 PS also. No problems maintaining speed limit pretty much anywhere I take it, including lots of mountain passes here in Utah. My Dad has a 2016 with the 6.7, he has a similar trailer setup as mine, and get 1.5-2 mpg better than I do, pulling the same route.
You mentioned this being aimed at people who don't want the expensive diesel and its maintenance. That is true, more specifically it's aimed at business and fleet owners where those costs add up significantly faster than for non-commercial users.
Layman guess here: The Power Stroke truck probably squatted less because more of its weight is at the front so the rear is essentially "lifted" off the ground more than the Godzilla truck is in the back, thus there's a compensation difference even if the trailer weight is identical.
Yes agreed. You never mentioned tracking or steering difference, but I’m dying to know if there’s a noticeable feel or effort because of the weight on the front axle??
@spiceyfrenchtoast9421 if both trucks are F350 its the same. There are only two SRW spring packs. 250 has the same 3 spring packs(sometimes an over load) all f350s have a thicker mainspring, in a 3 spring pack always with the overload(the HCTTP on the F250 is the F350 pack with the DanaM275).
The 4:30 rear end would cut the shifting and cut the 60 to 110 time difference of the 6.7 in half. The 6.7 always wins the power contest hands down. But the 7.3 is more than most people need let alone the 6.7.
I have a tuned and built 68 6.7 Cummins but I only tow like 10k ...this Godzilla motor would serve me well for sure with less emissions issues but I really like how the diesel delivers the power.
For the people who think that this engine is not powerful enough - I owned a 99 7.3 PSD. It was rated for 250 HP and 500 TQ. Yes, I know the torque curve was different, but it only had a 5 speed transmission, and it pulled heavy things very well.
I would like to see the same run with a 4.30 gear. You kept saying the diesel accelerated way quicker but it really was not that far behind. For pulling 14k pounds, the truck performed really well. I was surprised to see the engine brake work as good as it did.
I would like to do it with 4.30 gears! The diesel just pulled harder, speed tests are always tricky for towing but sitting in the driver seat the diesel was head and shoulder above the 7.3l. and there is nothing wrong with that, if you are paying 12k for the diesel you would hope to see that.
@@GettysGarage I know you are kinda limited on the trucks you can get but it would be good if you can get a 4.30 truck soon so you can compare it while it’s fresh on your mind. Wouldn’t mind seeing the 6.8 comparison as well.
@The Getty Adventures its a Heavy Duty truck built for Towing its not a race car. I have the 2023 7.3 with 4.30 gears and ita been flawless. Haven't owned a Diesel Pickup since they put all the emissions crap on them, they're junk. If I need a Diesel I have a Real Diesel Semi sitting in Driveway
I ordered my 2022 F350 with the 4.30 rear and I’m impressed. We tow a ~8500lb TT and it really seems to help on takeoff and going up grade. I’m sure the 3.73 or even 3.55 would be more than fine, but I’m glad I did that 4.30.
@@FiliSuperDuty I opted for the 3.73 for my 22 F-350. It really was a no brainer for me. It's my daily driver, and we tow an 8K travel trailer in the summer and fall camping season. I felt the 4:30 would have been overkill, and the 3.73 was the sweet spot.
just as a comparison... I ordered my 2021 F350 with a 7.3l Godzilla , 3.73 rear gear, to tow our 8400# tt. I debated over the diesel, but just too many problems with emissions. The lifter was not a publicized issue at time of order, but I still would have gone the gas route. VERY few numbers of lifter failures; VERY large numbers of emission problems. Expensive repairs + $10k extra up front. Rarely do I foot to the floor to get to 60mph. I travel at 62-64 and on a 4200 mile trip up & down 3 major passes & mtns and numerous other. I averaged 10.3mpg's. Friend with like tt with a 2020 Duramax got ~1.5 mpg better. He also had to pay ~$1 more per gal + DEF. Yes he has way more torque, but I had no issues keeping up. NEVER foot to the floor. 3rd gear a couple of times. With the 10 spd tranny & tow/ haul I rarely used my brakes going down any major hill. In fact a Class A motor home behind me told me that my brake lights must be out after going down a very long steep hill. Unless there is a major change in the diesel engine emission controls; I will not own a diesel.
@@seattleprowash5464 I guess it depends on your definition of “proven”. It’s been out for several years and was tested by ford before it hit the market. Armchair quarterbacks poo-pooed the the twin turbo eco’s. I had one and so did two other friends. We all loved them and had only normal issues. I have had zero issues with my Godzilla and would buy it again today
@@seattleprowash5464 The design of the 7.3 engine has been around for decades....push rod V8's have been around a heck of a lot longer than diesel engines...and with all the emissions and electronics on a diesel they're far from reliable anymore sadly....not to mention the $10-12k immediate upcharge for the diesel engine, it makes no sense for most pickup truck buyers.
@@johnclayton6946 short wheel base; 36gal tank. I carry a 5gal gas can for the generator , doubles as an emergency for the truck . Haven’t had to use it for that yet, but just in case. I fuel when I’m down to 1/4 tank. Need to get out and walk a bit.
It’s a great engine. I have a 2022 Tremor with 25K mi and have no complaints whatsoever. The diesel/gas cost difference offsets the loss in fuel economy and I don’t have all the diesel expenses/headaches. Great video, however, pulling concrete blocks does not emulate the wind drag of a big fifth wheel RV.
I agree with your analysis Why? I own five f 250 crew cabs with the 7.3 litre engine 4:10 rear ended ratios They work all over the USA They haul trailers with an average of 14,000 pounds On a 2500 mile trip from Port Huron, Michigan to California going across the mountains on I 80 The average gas mileage was around 8.6 per gallon. I\at that speed speed we can keep them locked up in the 10th gear on level ground If you do an analysis of the cost with diesel about 25% more expensive in the USA it is almost the same cost as running a diesel and with no DEF ISSUES The highest mileage truck has around 75,000 miles and so far there has been zero issues The speed was around 65 to 70 miles an hour depending on wind conditions.
The only 3.5l ecoboost engine that has 500 + hp is the one in the ford gt. It has 400hp and 500ftlb in the standard f150 and 450hp and 510ftlb in the higher end limited and raptor trucks.
@Wolffz Talks Knives I think so too, but the power figures are wrong. The power figures are also wrong for the 7.3l. He's quoting the figures from the earlier generation. The truck he was driving was a 2023. You can tell because it has the bed steps behind the cab. That also has 445hp and 485ftlbs.
I have 2020 F250 SP super cab 7.3L Godzilla. Bought used with 38K miles and pull a 8K pound travel trailer. It has no problem pulling up the mountain and it works great on the downhill. I hardly use the brakes as the transmission does it all. I do have to say that I’m worried about engine failure. Got used to the fuel burn 😊and at least I don’t have to buy another SCR for a diesel engine $3500.00 plus labor. I also change the oil every 3K miles and use full synthetic oil.
I find on my F350 dually with a 4:30 rear get significantly better fuel economy when kept under 100kms/hr. With my 4000lb Truckcamper travelling from Calgary to the Sunshine Coast I got just under 21l/100kms. Love the engine for my application.
Should mention driving from Calgary to Salmon Arm without a camper I get just under 16l/100kms. Again I don’t go over 100kms/hr and take it easy accelerating and going up big hills. 7.3 is a good engine for people who are no longer in a rush.
Enjoying the series, but I have to disagree with you on the compression ratio giving a diesel better engine braking. A Powerstroke gets its engine braking from the vanes in the turbo closing down, causing the engine to have to force the exhaust through the turbo. If you've ever driven a diesel with no exhaust brake (or compression brake), they have almost no engine braking, since the compression ratio just acts like a spring where most of the energy of compression is returned when the piston goes back down. A gas engine gets similar (but much weaker) braking by drawing a vacuum against the throttle plate.
Appreciate the comment! I was intrigued by what you said and you are 100% correct, I'll have to mention this in my next diesel video because It's very interesting how the "compression" has little effect on engine braking.
Great review man, but you can stop stressing about the mpg numbers. At the cost difference between Gas and Diesel it is still cheaper to fuel the gas truck, towing or not. I did the math. My 7.3 gets 15mpg on the interstate here in TN and about 8mpg towing a bumper pull camper that's 8000 lb and 35 ft long. I pulled a gooseneck loaded with a big truck hitting the scale at 22150 lb combined weight and still got 7.5 - 8 mpg. For a diesel truck to be cheaper on fuel the price difference can not be more than 30 cents per gallon. Haven't seen that ever, usually about $1 here. Also personal opinion maintaining speed up a hill at 3500 - 4000 rpm is not struggling. Oh and this 7.3 gasser has more power and torque than the holy grail 7.3 Powerstroke Good job Ford ! Love my 7.3 Godzilla
The 7.3 Godzilla was never intended to compete with any diesel. Since 2010, Ford has not offered an “optional” gasoline upgrade. Back with the OBS, you had a 5.8L gas, 7.5L gas, and a diesel option. When they went to the Super Duty in ‘99, they offered a 5.4L gas, 6.8L gas (V10), and a diesel option. In 2011 when they had a new engine line up, there was no “mid grade” engine option. You had a 6.2L SOHC and the Power Stroke. They were long past due for a replacement for the V10.
Gap between the blocks significantly increases aerodynamic drag. Longitudinal gaps in your load configuration likely have a much greater influence than do transverse gaps.
Watched both videos back to back. I like your test setup. But I have to say you can’t compare a diesel to a gas. Consumers know that and your video actually shows just how strong the 7.3 is. For a gas engine it’s just downright impressive. And the lifter failure worry is almost not worth mentioning. I stay on the forums and the majority of chatter is people worrying about it and not actually experiencing issues. Good video but biased as a diesel guy. Looking forward to a 6.6 GM and a 6.4 Hemi. If you think the 7.3 “worked hard”, I’d like to hear your comments in comparison. New subscriber btw and a former 6.7 PSD owner and now a 7.3 Tremor.
8.4 mpg is seriously not bad mileage for a gas engine towing that much weight. For reference the old IDI diesels were worse than that at this kind of weight. The 6.8L V10 is also surprisingly good on fuel for a gas engine of its size, and even it will dip down into the 7 mpg range while towing this much weight at highway speeds. I'm impressed honestly.
@@24k_purplelove52my 2011 f350 6.7 will get 13.3 towing a skid steer and attachments around 15.5 lbs. many people I know have these trucks and easily get 18mpg on the highway.
@jaysmith3546 maybe it is possible, but i have seen Ina tfl video that the 6.7 got like 6 mpg while towing its max which isn't isn't bad. That's abt what a semi truck uses
@@24k_purplelove52the Ike towing test is at over 11,000 feet of elevation and a 7% grade ! That’s an extreme torture test and in no way a reasonable example for real world use.
As for the oil pump question, I would guess that they just used an existing oil pump as opposed to designing something just for that engine. Not saying it's right because I totally agree with you about using an old style oil pump. Keep it simple and reliable as well as effective.
Galling of the lifters is most likely a vendor manufacturing problem. I would hope Ford has addressed this. Also, the type of oil and service interval is important. It would be wise to have the oil analyzed periodically.
I've heard that aftermarket cam manufacturers for performance applications have been having the same problems with wiping lobes. It's like the '70s all over again. I remember in my economics class reading about a guy who bought a brand new LTD off the lot in the late '70s. It quit running before he got it home. Wiped cam lobes. He was so mad he had the car towed to Ford HQ in Dearborn and lit it on fire in their front lawn.
The lifter failure is attributed to not putting enough oil in your engine cause most people disregard that a 7.3 liter Godzilla holds a lot of oil and are filling it up with about 6 quarts instead of 9-10 quarts. I know this cause I did my research and I own a Godzilla myself so I do my own maintenance. (For those that are reading this make sure ya do proper inspection of your oil level and you will be fine.💪🏽💪🏽😤
For a gas truck it's pretty impressive to be honest. For the average Joe that's tows a travel trailer or makes a heavy dump run a couple times a year, I think gas trucks are the better choice for a guy. The expense of maintenance on a diesel alone, before emissions troubles, is way more than a gas truck. If you tow very frequently and heavy then a diesel makes sense. Me personally, for my needs I'm looking to get into a power wagon. The 6.4 is plenty for my needs and gives me the goodies I want. I sure do love a cummins truck though.
My question is, for professionals who tow or carry heavy loads In town , like landscapers, should they go diesel or gas? I have between 5-10k on my truck daily
@seattleprowash5464 in my unprofessional opinion, being that it is all a tax write off, go diesel. Better longevity and overall performance for that type of thing. But it's not like a gas truck couldn't easily do what you need.
@@seattleprowash5464 Short drives keep with a gas truck....regardless of your load weight...a gas truck in many cases can actually haul/tow slightly more than a diesel because the weight of a diesel engine, and additional weight from the diesel particulate filters, DEF tank and fluid, etc. reduce the payload/towing capacity of most diesel equipped pickups. With the emissions and electronics now found on all diesel equipped trucks, you want to avoid them unless you absolutely need it for long haul type towing needs, and when I say long haul, I mean across state lines, thousands of hours a week type duties. 5-10k ain't nothing for a gas truck especially today's gas engines with all the torque and power they have, you will find that even the 6.8L V8 will do the job when equipped properly.
@@wildbill23c I agree, but why do so many junk removal and landscape companies use diesel trucks? They do 100% short trips but many seem to prefer diesel !
@@seattleprowash5464 They do so for show off reasons...it has nothing to do with capability, its 100% gotta show off to everyone around...or rather think they're showing off...diesel trucks don't impress me at all...the vehicles I've driven would crush them and you'd think you just drove over a speed bump.
Thank you for providing such excellent TH-cam content! After 10 years I sold my 2013 2500HD Duramax (3.73 rear-end) and replaced it with a 23 F250 with the 7.3L/10 spd/3.73. After the 1k mile break-in I took the truck on a 400 mile round-trip towing an 11'6" tall, 8k lb travel trailer that is 27' long. This was a trip up and down the rolling hills of the Ozarks. Over the last two years I've completed this same trip twice pulling the same trailer with the Duramax. On all trips I used tow/haul mode with cruise control set at 65mph. Fuel mileage for the Chevy on both trips averaged 10.9 mpg. The Ford averaged 8.2 mpg. Diesel is 30 cents per gallon more than regular gas in this part of the country. On these trips the Chevy rarely shifted down to 5th gear (6 spd transmission). The Ford was busy, regularly shifting down as low as 6th or 7th gear and on one hill 5th. The Allison transmission ran between 130 and 150 degrees. The Ford's transmission would slowly warm to 220 degrees, stay there for a couple of miles, then slowly decrease in temp to 208 before returning to 220. Ambient temp was as high as 78 degrees and as low as 60 degrees. The driving experience with the diesel was much better than the driving experience with the 7.3. But I bought the Ford to avoid emissions related problems that I was just beginning to experience with the Duramax. A significant difference between the trucks that I need to find a solution for was the constant feeling of trailer sway with the Ford vs the Chevy. I used the same equalizer hitch and shank for both trucks, but with one additional washer for the Ford compared to the Chevy due to a greater amount of rear-end "squat" on the Ford. My set up puts the trailer in a .5" nose down attitude with 1k lbs of tongue weight. Both trucks have 20" tires, but the placard on the Chevy called for 60 psi of tire pressure in the front and 75 psi for the rear. The Ford is 60/65. For the return trip I adjusted the Ford's tire psi to match the Chevy's, which improved the Ford's stability and tracking, but not to the same confident feeling the Chevy produced. Did you adjust your truck's tire pressure(s) for your test? Did your truck "feel" like it was moving around while towing? Thank you again!
So my trailer and load felt wonderfully solid behind the ford but granted there is next to no wind resistance so that might factor in to the stability. but I mean buying the 7.3 to avoid emission is a smart move. yes it will not pull as hard as the diesel but you will save so much headache with not having the emission system to worry about. but I have heard a couple people mention the fords not being that stable when towing in compassion the ram and Chevy trucks. not really sure why that would be but for me at least the ford seems to be stable with 14k behind it and actually a pretty comfortable tow.
I had the same slightly unstable feeling when I changed trucks a couple years ago. I put a set of timbrens on the rear and that reduced the squat, firmed up roll/sway considerably.
Reading your experience here is what I've been looking for. I use my truck to pull a travel trailer similar to yours. I just traded a '17 Ram Cummins for the F250 with the 7.3 Never had an issue with the Cummins. I loved that truck and how it tows. It was really hard to drive the new truck off the lot, leaving it behind. But I was at the point of starting to consider future repairs of the diesel if necessary, so I bailed on the diesel. I haven't towed my camper yet with the new 7.3, as I haven't got it broken in yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I made the wise choice 🤞 I did manage to find one with the 4.3 ratio. That was a challenge, since 95% of what's on dealers lots are the 3.73's. After reading comments here, in now wondering if that effort was worth it 🙂
@@jodyspencer433 it’s easy to get caught up in worry over diesel emissions problems while reviewing forums. I actually had six emissions related problems with my Duramax, thus my decision to try gas. Two of the problems I had resulted in speed limiting. The first was while I was in town, the second was 1k miles from home. When I asked the service manager at the Chevy dealership in Colorado what I could do to keep this from happening again he said “sell it and buy a gas powered truck!” I thought he was kidding, but he went on to explain that they generate most of their service revenue working on diesel emission systems and that I should sell it. By the way, the problem they’d just addressed was due to a “poor quality DEF” message. The solution was simply to do a forced regeneration at a cost of $500. No new parts, no new DEF, just a regeneration. And this was after I’d been on the road for three weeks and had just pulled up some of the big Wyoming mountains and had half a tank of DEF with a manufacturers date of two months prior to use. The service manager told me that I may never have a problem again, or I could drive 200 miles and have the same problem. When we got home I ordered the Ford, which I did not want to do, but felt it prudent given the uncertainty of the Duramax emissions. A couple of months later, while waiting for the Ford to be built and delivered we took the Chevy on another long trip. As if confirming we’d made the right decision to go with gas we had two check engine lights for two different EGR codes. The first check engine light was 100 miles into our trip and the second was 2k miles later. Fortunately I was able to clear both codes with my Blue Driver code reader, but my Chevy service manager told me that with 2015 and later trucks I would not have been able to clear those codes. I really appreciate the simplicity of the Ford and that I don’t have to worry about the type of problems I was having with the Chevy. Regarding towing, that is getting better as well. I’ve been experimenting with my weight distribution hitch and have discovered through trial and error that a setup returning 100% of lost front end weight (vs the 50% Ford recommends) makes the truck feel and tow much better. It will never pull as well as the Duramax, but it’s now dialed in well enough that it’s safe, easy to operate and ready to take on long trip. Good luck with your new truck!
@@jerryspencer1448 I agree. I realized long ago not to read too much into all the noise on the Internet 😁. It's still a great tool though. The scenario you described 1000 miles from home is what bothered me the most. Fortunately I've not had to deal with any of that. I do agree with most that say it's not if (with these trucks emissions equipment), but when. It's just a shame that they've restricted them so much. My CTD truck was low miles and in all stock trim and great condition. Market is still good on these, so I decided it was time for a change. I'll need to play with the hitch on my TT I'm sure, as the new truck sits quite a bit higher. Appreciate the insight experience. See you on the road👍 If you see a black Ford SD w/Tremor pkg toting a 25' Lance TT in the campground or on the road, stop in and say "hi"... Just watch out for my Heeler dog 😁
Appreciate you for making another video on the 7.3 Godzilla. I have one in order (Dually) and I am obsessed with your in-depth reviews! Thank you lots! You really bring me peace of mind knowing that I made the right decision. I do not tow anything at all but the plan is to add a bed camper. The extra payload compared to the diesel dually definitely is key. Keep up the great content 👍🏼
Thank you sir! I really think ford did a good job on these engines. and you get the avoid all the headaches for the emission systems which are just a pain.
I have a 2002 7.3l power stroke. Did injectors. Then did them again. Then replaced the motor with a ford rebuilt. Then, after 10000km, did the injectors again. They say those 7.3 will go forever. They fail to mention you have to dump 3-4K into them every second year to do so.
It just requires a change in mindset. It’s a highly capable and very reliable powertrain. When you come to grips with the fact that it doesn’t have turbos and accept it for what it is you will be very happy. I just took delivery of my 2023 F350 Lariat 7.3. It’s not a race car and it doesn’t have turbo but it does the job really well. I pulled my 9k TT in for some service and couldn’t even tell I had a trailer hooked up. Yes it revs up when you want to pass someone or pull a grade. Guess what: that’s how it’s engineered. I came from a 2019 3.5 F150 and it’s got lots of get up and go with the turbo. I ride and drive with a good friend who has 6 diesels for his HVAC business. I like the feel of the turbo diesel. It’s fun to drive but as long as I don’t expect my 7.3 to mimic it I’m very happy with my 2023. Side note: my friend ordered a new 2023 to add to his fleet…guess what he ordered: 7.3 Godzilla. It makes the most sense for a service truck that will tow intermittently. His reasoning (he’s a hard core diesel fan): low upfront cost, cheaper maintenance, long term trouble free issues resulting in less down time for his service technician. He will always have a diesel because he does pull 20-40k loads frequently but he sees the value of the 7.3 in his lineup.
The reason he's comparing the two is cuz there's people like me that owned diesels their whole life but now have to consider a gasoline powered truck because the EPA completely destroyed the diesel. They turn the diesel truck into a completely unreliable DEF exhaust nightmare. That no longer has reliability or longevity.
Exactly! How many chevy 6.0s out there just keep going with no maintenance. Know a couple people that traded in their 2 year old diesels when emissions went out and parts were out 6+ months
And that’s me. I haven’t pulled up to a gas pump since February of 1997. In May I purchased an F350 CCLB 7.3 4.30 gears. I have a farm & tow 14k 8-12 times a year, 12k about 6 times per year, & 1k-7k several times per year. I am not in flat land and have zero regrets. Normal driving I’m getting 13-14 mpg and gas is 60-90 cents cheaper than diesel. I never had a diesel get over 16 mpg everyday driving. I’m loving the 7.3, it’s quiet, not smelly, much cheaper oil changes, & tows just fine. My last truck was a 2015 6.7 deleted and tuned.
@@SmithsAngusFarm Thanks for your info. I am driving a 2016 6.7 power stroke and I appreciate the engine braking and the power when towing a trailer and want to pass the slow pokes on a mountain road. I tried the 6 liter GMC in a 2019 4x4 van and it was gutless and loud. I'm due for a new Ford and my main concern is the cabin noise if I switch to gas. How do they compare?
I've been driving my 2002 f250 with a 7.3 diesel for 21 years and almost 400,000 miles. The Godzilla has the same torque and 150 hp more than my stock motor (mines not lol). I did own a 2016 with the 6.7 for 3 years and loved it. When i finally order a new Ford i will be getting the 7.3 gasser. Great power, easy to get more if i feel the need, far lower purchase and maintenance cost, less likely to have issues, and much cheaper fuel cost. I pull upwards of 20k several times a year, but far from regularly. It'll do just fine on those occasions
Sorry. Thats a hell of a lot of money to spend out on a non commercial vehicle with blown lifters. I'm looking into little toyotas that will get good mileage and run for 300k on the odometer
@itsallminor6133 every vehicle has its purpose, it's all about having the right tool for the job and it sounds like you don't need a f350 if you're looking into little Toyotas
@@PersononYT56 no. I mostly despise pickups. Used to drive internationals short haul. And volvo. Definitely preferred the nat, freightliner nice ride but nat was my thing. I even despised my own pickup, sold it for a volvo car. Much better.
I own a 2016 F 350 SD 6.7 l. I have not had DEF issues, this truck has 120k km who is relatively low mileage. I am in the market of a new truck in the next 2 years and dreading the decision between the 6.7 and going gas. This series is great and no less exactly what I am looking at a F 250 7.3 Godzilla. This new truck will be a daily driver and reliability, fuel costs and purchase price factors into the decision. Right now I was paying 22 cents a litre more for diesel above gas this week and towing a 10,000 lb Travel Trailer having sold the the 16,000 lb fifth wheel the question of do I need a diesel or just want one. DPF issues is major as well as purchase price. Frontal area on the TT is much less than the fifth wheel so that takes load off the truck too. A good series, Thank You for doing this Getty Adventures.
Funny story. I work at a repair shop. We are putting and engine in right now in a 2020 F550 7.3 truck with 68k miles. When I called Ford to order the engine the parts guy said they have multiple commercial companies that have fleets of these trucks and NONE of these engines have made it to 100k miles yet. They all have failed well before the 100k mark. But yes everyone said they tow fantastic and are a very good diesel alternative.
It could also be perfect for people like me who are sick of their 6.0, have a truck camper and would benefit from the payload of a gas engine in a 1-ton truck. I appreciate the info.
We found out that white is brighter than black. Yes, with half the torque, the 7.3 is a bit slower than the 6.7. Still, it's not half as slow with just half the torque. Simply: if you're regularly towing super-heavy loads, go diesel, if it's occasional, or just light loads, go gas and save thousands of dollars on the cost of the engine.
My father in law bought one of these trucks with the 7.3 Godzilla and he loves it. He works around semi’s and diesel’s all day and didn’t want anything to do with diesel trucks. He tows pretty heavy regularly and the truck handles it good. I have a diesel and the one thing I will say is it lacks that bottom end torque the diesels have so when it’s loaded down it takes a bit to get up to speed from a stop. Otherwise, great truck and engine.
I have a 2021 F250 7.3 with 3.55 gears and average 9 mpg with my 11k travel trailer. My 2017 F250 6.7 with 3.73 gears pulled the same trailer at 11.5 mpg. Rarely get over 3k on the tach with the godzilla -- when I do I'm rewarded with an amazing V8 sound. Even with 3.55 gears the 10-speed finds the right spot. Empty I get the same mileage as my 2008 6.4 PSD.
I feel like a 11k travel trailer is a great weight for the 7.3 probably handles it very nice. Do you like the towing experience better then powerstroke ?
@@GettysGarage My wife swears it just "feels better" with the slightly beefier FX4 package but for me it's very comparable. Took me 1 tow to make the adjustment but the upshifting doesn't bother me at all as it turns out -- I was worried I'd be hanging out in high revs which just isn't the case. The Godzilla range can get annoying at times so I'm going to install the 58 gallon transfer flow tank at some point soon (kinda spendy though!). Great channel!!
Hi, I have a 2023 F250 Crew Cab and chose the 7.3 with 3;73 E rear . I am very pleased with the truck towing a 24' enclosed car trailer (4,400) pds. and a (3,500) pds. Wayne , Millsboro, De.
Good review. One thing I will mention is, compression ratio has nothing to do with engine braking. In a healthy engine, all your compression is transferred to the down stroke and very little energy is lost. A compression brake (Jake brake) functions by relieving that compression just before top dead center, creating a giant air compressor.
One thing to consider on gas vs diesel for towing: fueling infrastructure. As someone who tows a small (6000 lb) camper with a 1/2 ton truck, i can tell u that even with that relatively small setup, it is sometimes a pain navigating gas pump islands. I cant imagine going even larger with a gas setup. Whereas diesel fueling stations many times will have a setup geared to big rigs which allows easier in/out.
Not every gas station has diesel pumps....gas is much easier to find than diesel pumps....and I've never ran into any issues getting into or out of gas stations with 20+ foot trailers...
It's hard to compare a gas engine to a diesel. With that being said i think that truck did great with that weight and not having 4:30 gears. Put that trailer behind that hemi and you will appreciate the power that 7.3 has. After watching this video i want to sell my ram and buy a Ford.
For a gas engine, the 7.3 was perfect. And ya I knew the diesel would crush this engine but I wanted to see if the performance was at least close and I think the 7.3 is a good option for those mid range towing weights. The 6.4 and the 8 speed probably would not make out as well as this engine if im being honest
tbh I don't think the comparison is hard- diesel pulls and feels much better but gas is more reliable, less maintenance and repairs, and much less money up front. the problem is that the gasser can still adequately do the same 99% of jobs as the diesel while the diesel can't emulate the strong positives of the gas engine. diesel is an emotional, not logical decision for most people... there's nothing wrong with that- sportscars are an emotional decision as well and they're fun as hell. objectively though, diesel is the wrong choice with current tech.
I believe if your towing with the gas motor it’s better to go with 4.30 ratio. It might make acceleration easier and better mileage due to not having to kick down that much. I own the 6.7l powerstroke in a 2020 f350 single rear wheel. It has all the power I need for sure. I also have 3.73 rearend in mine. Still has all the after treatment crap but I do only highway driving. When it’s unloaded I average 22mpg, I have no idea what that is in km since I’m in America. My next truck will be the 7.3 Godzilla but I am currently happy with what I got. Prices and availability are extremely low for the 7.3 though. Most people want the diesel so most dealers around me only carry the 6.7 diesel. You have to special order one for the gas engine. Bad thing is diesel’s burn cleaner with or without the emissions crap.
7.3 can be tough to find in a spec you want but you can get it shipped halfway across the country for a grand or less- which isn't a big deal given all the shopping options that opens up for you and is a drop in the bucket for the vehicle's pricepoint anyway
The 7.3 accelerating from 60-110 was amazingly fast for a gasser towing 14k lbs! I remember towing enclosed sled trailers in the 2000's with a 8.1L 1998 3500 gmc, and it was pretty awful
The 8.1 wasn't available until 2001. The 455 ft lbs they put out was more than adequate towing 10k. You would have had a vortec 7.4 in a 98 model truck.
Wife drives a diesel as a daily driver. Gets 16-20 mpg between in town and highway. The gas truck we thought would work got 11 most of the time. 17 if conditions were just right.
I have the 7.3 with 430 gears and I pull a 13,000 lb 5th wheel it pulls great, going up hill I get 8 miles a gallon going down hill I get 8 miles a gallon that being said my friend has the same truck but diesel and pulls the same 5th wheel and he gets 8 miles a gallon
I tend to get the best mileage on secondary roads, running 55 - 60 miles per hour. 11:50 I've gotten is 23 mpg on my 3.5 Ecoboost. I do pull a trailer to Florida for the winters (900 miles). With roughly 3000 lbs, I get 13.5 mph. Obviously, I'm running 70 miles per hour. Driving that route without a trailer, I get around 20 mpg. 3000 lbs isn't a heavy load, but you can not tell there's a trailer behind the truck. Someone suggested a 5.0 ecoboost. I'd buy that in a heartbeat. I just love that low-end torque. When I put more aggressive off-road tires and a winch on the front, I lost about 1 mpg.
Great video all valid points. I only tow 6-7klbs personally which makes my 250 an animal for me. I agree that a 12-13k plus lb camper is diesel territory in most cases. Especially out west.
I have a GODZILLA engine in my F250 with 4:30 gears and it seams to pull harder than that truck. If you get the camper package it has one ton springs with a helper spring and a sway bar helps a lot in anti squat and anti roll.
The 4.30 gears will definitely do much better for heavier towing. Doesn't matter how many gears the transmission has, the axle ratio makes or breaks heavy towing duties.
My company recently replaced my F550 psd with a new 7.3L gas. Both service trucks weigh over 16K. I run in the mountains of Arizona, up to 10%. I must admit, the 7.3 is a beast pulling grades, only it does it around 3500 to 4000 rpm. Down grade the 6.7 gets the nod. Grades I could go down without braking takes the 7.3 to 4000 rpm with some peddle. Passing is impressive with the 7.3. The 6.7 got 9.9 mpg, the 7.3 is doing 7.9. Gas is $1 cheaper, so cost per mile is similar. If the engine stays together at 4k, I would consider one. If you tow all the time, you may want the 6.7. Otherwise the 7.3 might be fun.
Thanks for the informative video and all the comments it has generated. We are looking for our first truck to pull a 8500 lb ORV trailer. A large number of comments reflect the thoughts of towing frequency and distance. Our plan is from the Vancouver area through Alaska, across the Yukon, Canada and cris crossing the US before returning home. Life will continue on from there. In my inexperienced mind, we have a lighter load but with significant volumes of towing. Based on that and the video plus comments it seems the 6.7l would be a better choice. Also reliability requires consideration so the 7.3l seems appealing as well. I realize the gas vs diesel conversation has and continues to consume chat groups everywhere but our lower weight, high mileage towing doesn't seem to get to much attention. The research continues.
I have a 2018 Ram 2500 with the 6.7L Cummins for towing my boat which is 7500lbs. I pulled it with my 2010 Tundra 5.7L before, but the Tundra has soft suspension and is much lighter than the Ram 2500. I went with the overkill of the heavy duty truck to be able to control the trailer and not having the trailer controlling the truck. The 7.3L F250 would actually be a bet fit for what I need. My diesel engine no longer has the burden of the after treatment issues mentioned in this video and this makes a huge difference.
"I went with the overkill of the heavy duty truck to be able to control the trailer and not having the trailer controlling the truck.", this right here is what so many people are doing wrong....they buy a pickup truck but they get the lowest equipped truck to do the job and wonder why they have a terrible ride. Buy more truck than you need, its cheaper in the long run. I had an 08 Tundra, and yep the suspension in it was terrible for towing....had a great engine/transmission and 4.30 gearing, but the car soft suspension made it pretty worthless for towing...and their trucks are garbage now with their turbo 6 cylinder engines.
I owned a 2021 6.7 for two years. i ordered a 2023 XLT 7.3 gas long bed with a 3.73 rear end. Received it in June of this year. I pull a 40' Montana fifth wheel. The camper (gross) loaded and weighed on the CAT scale is 14,440 lbs. I was a little apprehensive going from the diesel to the gas but I figured I'd give it shot. I currently have 6000 miles on the truck and have towed the Montana 3500 miles of that 6000. My maiden voyage was through New England and upstate New York and into Canada and back and I was extremely impressed. Tons of mountains in New Hampshire, Vermont and the Adirondacks in New York. It's not a diesel but it didn't struggle. Hell of a lot better than my 6.2 I owned before the diesel. Averaged 7.9 mpg on that trip. My diesel would get 10.3 for similar trips like that. The cost of fuel was about the same for a comparative trip. I do not miss the diesel. My payload on the 7.3 is 4488 lbs. It's a single rear wheel. 1000 lbs more than my diesel was. I'm not towing full time but we pull approximately 9,000 miles a year on average. I just think the simplicity of it works well for me. It can handle anything that is thrown at it. It's also my daily driver. That's why I did not go with the 4.30 rear end. As I said I gave it a shot and happy I did.
I don’t think I ever stated that mine was an F350. Every truck I’ve had has been an F350 and so far the 7.3 is the best. Heading to the Daytona 500 in a week with it and the Fifth wheel.
Ive been driving a 2021 XL Xcab 250 with the 7.3 and 10 speed. I have significant tool weight on the truck which does make it squat some but doesn’t exceed the trucks capacity. When I hook up my medium duty dump trailer or big utility, which is mostly a car hauler which comes close to 10k with load, it starts to get a little squirrelly on the rear. Ive just moved into a 2023 250 4 door with the 7.3 set up. I notice the springs are more burley but with the same tool weight its still squatting. I havent pulled with it yet. Pretty sure I’ll be bagging this one. Annoying. I pulled the same trailers with same weight in my 6.0 2015 GMC with the same tool load on the bed and it pulled with very little squat whatsoever. I love the trucks and I spent money on the STX package because I wanted the engine. The rear springs are a real design issue IMHO
plus another reason for switching to diesel instead of gas was a straight 6 diesel was a low maintenance solution during a time when Diesel was cheaper to buy per gallon than regular unleaded gas, so I guess we're in an agreeance, even though I didn't wait for you to say it before I stated my opinion, so yeah basically we both agree.
this engine seems just like the 7.3 powerstroke tons of potential in the engine if you wanted to build it out but leaving it stock it will do everything youll ever need it to and last a really long time if taken care of
Always wondered that myself. Caring about fuel Mileage is ultimately caring about money saved. A quick comparison with local fuel prices shows some interesting results even when comparing these towing. Gas: 300 mi.@ 7.5 mpg= 40gX$3.45=$138 Diesel: 300 mi.@ 14 mpg= 21.4gX4.55= $97 I personally have rarely seen a diesel pickup average 14 mpg when towing over 12,000 lbs. so dropping that down to 11 (which is what I generally saw) turns out a cost of $124. Long story short, it’s simply cheaper to tow with a diesel ONLY when strictly factoring in fuel. Add an additional $12k for the diesel, additional def costs, emissions problems and maintenance. It becomes a big gray area
The gas motor may not have the same performance as the diesel, but consider the difference in pice and maintenance that savings would buy a lot of gas. If you tow recreationally gas would make sense
Most buyers need the gas engine, but most buyers have the I gotta show off to the neighbors and family and friends mentality and go out and spend a bunch of money on a fancy fully loaded truck with the diesel engine, then whine, bitch, and moan about the fuel and maintenance costs because they drive a short distance, shut the truck off, get back in and drive a short distance, and repeat...and wonder why they have all sorts of additional problems....the diesels are meant for heavy duty work towing/hauling heavy loads all day long every day...not the occasional take the travel trailer and/or toys up to the hills to go camping a couple times a year. Most people driving diesel pickups actually just should have bought a 4 door car or crossover SUV.
the gap in performance and ability is relatively small while the gap in reliability, maintenance, repairs, and overall cost is significant. America has really fucked diesel and that sucks
Old 7.2 desel on a trailer I put a tractor weight 15,000 lbs 4 speed f250 about 1980 4 wheel drive got going About 45miles a hr black smoke highway n gravel rds had enough
Your front end having the gas engine will be lighter therefore your extra half in a squat comes from the engine weight reduction with the gas engine being in place of the diesel
I will get my 7.3 gas tremor next week. Hope it can tow my 6by16’ enclosed aluminum trailer 5000lbs smoothly. I am on the fence to buy 6.8 gas, 7.3 gas or 6.7 diesel. For the reliability, durability, low maintenance cost, I choose 7.3 gas. Thank you for all the information. Great videos.
This guy hits it right on the spot… Personally I’d go with the F-350 HO DRW Regular Cab smoother ride due to softer tyres but won’t last as long Personally I went with F-350 XL SRW regular cab pulll pull a regular 30 ft SeaRay boat and full size truck camper with 13.5 city and 17.5 mpg highway my cost out the door tax and license 69,000 in California hope that helps
The variable displacement oil pump could be the cause. But another factor could be the lift. I saw a spec. which listed the valve lift was over a half inch. That used to be a number reserved for high performance engines, where one traded longevity to gain more power. Add to that the high compression ratio and its long rocker arms means the loads on the cam are going to be high. Also, the rocker arms look long and spindly. This could create some resonance based loading at certain RPMs.
I just sold my 2006 Dodge Ram 2500, with the 5.7 Hemi and ordered a new F-250, with the 7.3 gas motor. With my old truck, I would occasionally tow, 16k and I thought it did fairly well. Your comparison to a diesel, really is like comparing apples to oranges. I'm sure this 7.3 would be light years ahead of my old Hemi, which is a better comparison. I opted for the 3.73 gears instead of the 4.30, as I don't tow heavy often. As far fuel economy, people need to do a cost per mile and not worry about MPG. Diesel economy needs to factor in the additional cost of diesel fuel AND the DEF. When I calculated this out for my scenario, it was just about a wash, but I saved over $10k for the diesel option.
Kool vid, Ty for making it happen! truth be told I live in northeast US and this gas with snow plow is the perfect truck I'd like to get my hands on for winter ... now if they can only figure out how to make this beast drink less and come with factory proper under coating it be the perfect truck ... for me anyways ...
Thumbs up for the review. What brought me here is my 2017 F-350 Powerstroke (SRW) developing a DPF error at only 53,000 km despite meticulous maintenance, very light towing, and conservative driving habits. Replacing just the DPF sensor will be ~$1200, and there's a chance they'll state that the DPF filter also needs replacement. That would raise the bill to ~$4500 or more. This is simply unacceptable. The cost, and unreliability of new Diesels prompts me to consider the 7.3 gasser. However, your mention about lifter failures makes it sound like I'd just be trading one set of problems for another. To readers with the Godzilla.... care to comment?
I think you are bang on with your diagnosis of the variable output oil pump. Should bebsolenoid activated and maybe some way they can be forced to full output all the time? Compression is negligible when it comes to engine braking. I expect the power stroke has a 'throttle flap' in the air intake and that is being used? In Europe we don't have these motors but plenty of experience of diesel and the emissions crap on them now. The EGR valve requires the intake flap to create vacuum allowing exhaust gases to be drawn in! It is actually intake manifold pressure that causes an engine to have braking. It's complex but fascinating to read up on.
If you dont want a new 7.3, I drive a 6.8 V10 2V dont sleep on it if you dont want a 6.2. Mine's a total beast and that old 99 gets about the same mpg as my 2020 6.2 F250 did. About 10 either way. That 6.2 was gutless too.
problem with the electro plating on the 7.3 parts comes from the building of the latus structured crystallization process during electro plating because the plating voltage is to high to it created to many hydrogen bubbles on the surface, they need to install a higher powered vibratory oscillator in the tank during electro plating including reversing the plating current path to actually burn off the high points not just applying straight DC power, pulse width modulated AC similar to welding aluminum. waste of platinum
I just bought an F250 Crew Cab FX4 with the 7.3 V8 Godzilla and 10R140 transmission to replace my old F250 V10 with a 6 speed manual. The Godzilla, on paper, seems to beat the V10 in everything with one exception. The V10 reaches peak torque of 475 lb/ft at 3,000 RPM while the Godzilla reaches peak torque of 485 at 4,000 RPM. The V8 gets nearly 70 more HP than the V10 (430HP vs 362HP) and the fuel economy is something that I'm still working out. I generally pull about 10,000 pounds
Nice thing about being in Canada is you can delete diesels still, only problem is when they’re on warranty. Off warranty, delete and they’ll run with no problems
I believe we will see a plug in hybrid gasoline engine in an HD truck soon. I believe there will be 3-4 modes. (1) battery only up to 30-40 miles (2) battery to increase power when under heavier than normal load as supplemental power and (3) highest mileage where the batteries help get the v-8 to speed, when going uphill, and when at idle. I believe such a hybrid could improve mileage 20%.
Compression is not a braking force on either engine. On the gasoline engine the braking force is the intake manifold vacuum created on the intake stroke and on the diesel it uses the exhaust brake for the braking force.
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This engine is perfect for people who don't want expense of a diesel or emissions problems
Bingo. No DEF or DEF related issues and no Diesel fuel additives needed which (at least here in Colorado) you absolutely need during the winter months on every single fill up with modern diesels.
@Kenneth_R I'd be concerned how a naturally aspirated engine would handle towing in a place with high elevation like Colorado
@@vanwinkledan74 Very true, specially on i70 up to Idaho Springs and then the climb from Georgetown to the tunnel its very very taxing on NA engines.
Exactly right! It won't pull as hard as the diesel but will come with alot less headaches!
@@Kenneth_R Why does it seem as if everyone but me has issues with the DPF system? I've never had a problem with that on my Power Stroke and I'm over 100k. Yes, more parts to fail and the cost of buying DEF, but if you're not modding the engine, the DPF system should not be a problem at this point in truck tech.
I was a diesel tech for a decade and whenever anyone asks me what engine they should get in a truck I always came back with the same question: how much are you going to put it to work? If the answer was anything less than weekly I told them to get the gas engine. Modern gas engines are that good, especially the Godzilla. Diesels just aren't worth it unless you're hauling over 7000 LBS daily.
And that acceleration was more than adequate considering this was a gasser with 14k behind her. I'd take that all day long.
That is exactly what my Dad's Diesel Mechanic told me when I asked him which engine type I should chose for my next truck. Plus I am in Gulfport, MS right off the Gulf of Mexico so that naturally aspirated gas engine will work well down here. I would love to get a Powerstroke or Cummins, but with the decreased reliability of new diesel engines due to emission requirements and the increase Cost of Ownership it is not logical for me to select a Diesel engine if I am towing less than 5 times a year.
Facts!! Honestly, there wasn't much difference... he was definitely exaggerating about the diesel...😂
When you say "put it to work", does that include things like a camper that weighs between 1k-3k lbs? I have seen lately lots of diesels with campers. My usual train of thought is if you are pulling/hauling something heavy and often, diesel is the answer. Anything less than that would make sense to own a diesel given costs of maintenance?
Very good point.
@@efeaster3680yep
For those who complain about 400 HP from a gas V8 engine, I remember the old 460 (7.5L) V8 was rated in the mid 200 HP range in the 80s and 90s when they were completely smogged out. With like 8-9 MPG. So it's amazing how far we've come.
Exactly, and this engine is using probably the same tech as that old 460: OHV with 2 valves per cylinder, port injection, cast iron block, naturally aspirated. No direct injection, DOHC, aluminum, turbos, no nothing. The only difference is modern design and manufacturing methods. It's incredibly how optimization almost nets us +100% power AND uses less fuel while doing it.
I’m running a 460 right now in a 1972 F250 with a Holley 650. Getting about 14.7 with a 14,000 load. Besides intake, engine and exhaust are original. Just gotta find that perfect CFM and jet combination for your engine!
Long live carburetors!!!!
@@WilliamPhillips-og4be14.7?????? Is that downhill with the engine off?
@@kylehayes7944 flat land. Literally 0 elevation changes where I live!
@@kylehayes7944 flat land here in weatherford Texas 😎
I purchased the 2020 F350 Lariat with a 7.3 L Godzilla engine just over a year ago. I put 30,000 Miles on it so far and I pull a trailer weekly with a tractor and implements. Roughly 13,000 lb. It has no problem with this weight whatsoever. You can move some serious weight with this truck. The engine is very reliable it is not over complicated and produces insane power. The 10-speed transmission really helps
I chose the 7.3 for towing the travel trailer. My buddy who is a welder had several diesel trucks and warned me of the potential cost of repairs. When you factor in the fact that the diesels are way more expensive to purchase, the huge fuel consumption of the 7.3l isn't that bad in comparison.
I love my truck for towing especially compared to the Ecoboost. Yes, it has power but the stability I feel with the 350 vs 150....there is no comparison. Everytime I pull the trailer its much more of a relaxed drive and I never have to worry about payload if I want to throw in extra water, generator, and fuel jugs.
I have had the 7.3l for 2 years now and have no complaints.
Edit: I also drive very short distances daily and i was told that is terrible for diesel engines.
Great choice JC, that last comment about driving short distances is 100% accurate. a modern diesel with emissions would cause you nothing but issues driving short distances every day.
I also highly agree with you about the 3500 vs 1500's. people often just compare HP for towing but there is so much more involves. when you move up to a 3500 platform you get larger brakes, stiffer frame, heavier axles, stiffer suspension, bigger driveline. I own a power wagon and it has a abysmal tow rating for like 10,800lbs. where as the 1500 ram rebel can tow north of 11k. but the 2500 power wagon will mop the floor with the 1500 rebel all day when it comes to towing because the larger brakes, stiffer frame, stronger 2.5 inch receiver. and when I was towing with my 2500 power wagon I was like wow this thing is solid compared to a 1500.
J C did you go with 3.73?
@@JKoolina yes.
Same same same. Love my 22 7.3
Yes, short trips gunk up injectors. Turbo bearings take abuse with start stops. It will cost you in unnecessary repairs.
I have a 2020 F350 with the 7.3 & ordered the 4.30 gears. It took 6 months but was worth it. I have 85,000 miles towing a 14,000 lb. 5th wheel. Only problem plug wires. Truck has idled a LOT. Towed all over the US Rockies, Smokies you name it. Plenty of power. I have the Tremor package and it works great in the snow. LOVE the 10 speed it grade shifts very well. I had a power wagon but it would not tow a 5th wheel so got the Tremor. I put a 50 gallon transfer tank in the bed and I do not have to pull the rig into a gas station. I stop each evening unhook at camp then fuel up. This has been the best and most reliable truck I have owned of the 5 (all brands) I have had. Got all the trailering goodies and been very happy so far. Met MANY owners with Diesels that continuously have issues. To me reliability is KING. This made me move away from a Diesel. I am out in the middle of nowhere often and there is nothing around. Power is nothing without reliability. I hate to say it but the government has made modern Diesels much less reliable. The perfect setup would be for Ford to supercharge or turbocharge the 7.3 so it would be better at high altitude.
Not only is today's diesels unreliable, they're ridiculous over-priced and always have been. I wouldn't buy a diesel, with today's gas engines you got plenty of power to do anything you need within the capacities of the truck. Diesel prices are higher than gas most of the time, break downs, and maintenance are outrageous for a diesel engine....and the one time you accidently fill your diesel tank with unleaded gas, or put DEF in it....yep that happens...a lot....its a pretty nice $15k-20k repair bill out of your pocket, it ain't covered under warranty.
what RPM is the engine turning at 60 mph in 10th gear with the 430 rear end? Considering trading in 6.7
Thanks in advance.
@@wildbill23cSo you put DEF into your diesel tank, huh!?! 😉
@@djsmith4789Apparently you never read my comment. Specifically the part where I said I don't own a diesel nor would I own one. I have no use for one. A gas engine will pull just the same.
@wildbill23c We'll sorry there Mr Bill, but you never said you don't own one! And that's besides the point I was making. Or apparently attempting to make, in your case! You obviously don't see the humor in my comment, as dry as it was. I figured the little 😉 would make it apparent, but hey... my bad I guess
No big surprise but at a huge cost savings up front plus lower maintenance costs, the gas engine makes sense for many people. Many owners won't ever pull 14,000lbs. The 10 speed really makes the most of the gas engine power. If I knew I was towing 14,000 lbs regularly, I would opt. for the 4.30 gears for sure. Great review - thanks!
Without a doubt the gas engine is a great option for most people. If you are pulling heavier weight like 14k the 4.30 gears would give a nice advantage! Either way I think its a greay option for folks looking at 10-15k of towing weight
@@GettysGarage We ordered a F350 Dually with the 7.3 and 4.30 gears. We tow a bumper pull camper thats about 10K pounds, but its 37ft long, 8ft wide, and 12ft tall. Our 1500 did the job, but a little sketchy, got a F250 SRW with the 6.7. The 6.7 is nice, but its so expensive, and even then the camper sometimes wags the F250. MPG is great, but everything else is too much money. So we decided to trade the 6.7 and go back to a gas V8. We do have 2 anti sway bars and a WD setup. We dont drive much, have another vehicle for around town, but when we tow, we drive from TX to IA/NC/TN/FL/IN, etc. Got notice it was being shipped out to dealer yesterday. So excited!
@@Sentras2011what kind of fuel mileage are you seeing with your setup towing the camper?
@@thejuiceisloose8703 with the 6.7 it is about 9-12mpg. I’m still waiting on our 7.3. It’s been shipped to the dealer but they haven’t got it yet. I’m hoping within 2 weeks.
@@Sentras2011you need a propride! Bigger hammer isn’t always the answer but you picked a great truck.
2022 F-250 6.7 owner here. I've been watching you for a while and I like your style. This was a great comparison for those who are on the fence of gas vs diesel. They really are apples to oranges, but you show the detailed differences between the two. I also love the fact that you seem to be unbiased across manufacturers. Keep doing what you do. We appreciate it.
I have a 2022 F350 XLT with the 7.3L gas engine and love it. I tow a 9,000 lb travel trailer and get about 7.8-8.2 mpg towing depending on speed and wind. I get 17 mpg riding empty on the highway at about 65 mph with 20,000 miles on the truck.
I laughed a little when you said how it’s struggling getting up to speed. I remember when gas powered trucks couldn’t get a load that heavy pass 40 mph. The 7.3 Godzilla can tow the same load as the 7.3 Power Stroke. Godzilla is an amazing engine.
That's very fair. We are a little spoiled this day and age. Especially since I was just driving the powerstroke that puts out a modest 1,050 pound feet of torque so maybe that's why it felt slow lol
Much more then the stock 7.3 diesel. They have almost the same stock rear wheel torque numbers, but the 7.3 gas always has the capability of dropping an extra gear. Colton Brown has a video of a 7.3 gas pulling 24,000lbs up a 7+% grade at 55 miles per hour. It was over 32000lbs gross weight. He did the same with a 2013 Ram 4500 6.7 diesel, at just about 60, with the same trailer. It was not many years back that no diesel could do that kind of speed with that kind of weight. If they made the 7.3 gas in 2006-2010, many people would have bought them, because they would have performed very similar, if not better then some diesels, with only a few hundred higher RPMs, on only the heaviest loads.
@@renurenovationsllc7780 I was looking at specs from an 05 F350 crew cab short bed diesel and this load is over what it's tow rating was. You are spot on with the comparison.
They don't struggle to get up to speed this guy don't know how to drive 🤣
@@renurenovationsllc7780 they really don't though. Thats the thing, they break. At the least you'll blow the tranny seal
I switched in 20 to the 7.3. I tow all the same 16k front end loaders and heavy boats daily as all my previous diesels. No issues, strong and I will have 95k on the odometer in 2025 when I will get another. Less costs to own upfront by 10k, fuel is cheaper and none of the diesel emission BS. Every diesel I had from all 3 had issues at or around 110-125k. I can do everything a diesel can just slower and yes the engine does scream up a hill pulling 16-17k. All in all I am pleased and I have done a few mods that have really helped. Dual exhaust and a 5 Star tune in which I leave it in the 87 octane heavy tow tune.
I have a 21 F250 with the 7.3 and 4.30 gears. Also have 37" tires. I tow a mid size 5th wheel, plus a 12' single axle behind that with a SxS on it, this setup is 12k loaded with camping gear. Pulls much harder than my 99 7.3 Powerstroke did, I bet it would outpull a stock 6.0 PS also. No problems maintaining speed limit pretty much anywhere I take it, including lots of mountain passes here in Utah.
My Dad has a 2016 with the 6.7, he has a similar trailer setup as mine, and get 1.5-2 mpg better than I do, pulling the same route.
You mentioned this being aimed at people who don't want the expensive diesel and its maintenance. That is true, more specifically it's aimed at business and fleet owners where those costs add up significantly faster than for non-commercial users.
Layman guess here:
The Power Stroke truck probably squatted less because more of its weight is at the front so the rear is essentially "lifted" off the ground more than the Godzilla truck is in the back, thus there's a compensation difference even if the trailer weight is identical.
I think you are probably bang on. I didnt think about the difference in engine weight at the time but probably exactly why this truck squated more
Yes agreed. You never mentioned tracking or steering difference, but I’m dying to know if there’s a noticeable feel or effort because of the weight on the front axle??
Different leaf spring packages, diesel is rated to tow more, thus needs more leaf springs in the spring stack.
@spiceyfrenchtoast9421 if both trucks are F350 its the same. There are only two SRW spring packs. 250 has the same 3 spring packs(sometimes an over load) all f350s have a thicker mainspring, in a 3 spring pack always with the overload(the HCTTP on the F250 is the F350 pack with the DanaM275).
@spiceyfrenchtoast9421 @jnk26 is absolutely correct💯 The suspension is the same in both diesel and gas versions
This test is an excellent approximation of my use case. 14-16k of shingles and construction debris. Thank you for your work, sir.
If you are okay with some slower acceleration and more fuel use the 7.3 Godzilla engine is great engine
@@GettysGarage Here’s the true test, sell an underutilized diesel in favor of it?
@@mikelangford1835depends on the diesel 😊
The 4:30 rear end would cut the shifting and cut the 60 to 110 time difference of the 6.7 in half. The 6.7 always wins the power contest hands down. But the 7.3 is more than most people need let alone the 6.7.
I have a tuned and built 68 6.7 Cummins but I only tow like 10k ...this Godzilla motor would serve me well for sure with less emissions issues but I really like how the diesel delivers the power.
That's fair. the 6.7 cummins is probably a much easier towing experience. But I would imagine the godzilla would tow 10k pretty easily!
For the people who think that this engine is not powerful enough - I owned a 99 7.3 PSD. It was rated for 250 HP and 500 TQ. Yes, I know the torque curve was different, but it only had a 5 speed transmission, and it pulled heavy things very well.
I own a 2023 7.3 and the 10,000 mile oil change sounds crazy
I am going to do mine every 6,000
After seven months how are you like ur truck ? Looking into getting one
Drop it to 5K!
I’ve been doing mine still at the 5k or so regardless of what the dealership has told me
5k max no matter what oils cheap engines aren't
I would like to see the same run with a 4.30 gear. You kept saying the diesel accelerated way quicker but it really was not that far behind. For pulling 14k pounds, the truck performed really well. I was surprised to see the engine brake work as good as it did.
I would like to do it with 4.30 gears! The diesel just pulled harder, speed tests are always tricky for towing but sitting in the driver seat the diesel was head and shoulder above the 7.3l. and there is nothing wrong with that, if you are paying 12k for the diesel you would hope to see that.
@@GettysGarage I know you are kinda limited on the trucks you can get but it would be good if you can get a 4.30 truck soon so you can compare it while it’s fresh on your mind. Wouldn’t mind seeing the 6.8 comparison as well.
@The Getty Adventures its a Heavy Duty truck built for Towing its not a race car. I have the 2023 7.3 with 4.30 gears and ita been flawless. Haven't owned a Diesel Pickup since they put all the emissions crap on them, they're junk. If I need a Diesel I have a Real Diesel Semi sitting in Driveway
I ordered my 2022 F350 with the 4.30 rear and I’m impressed. We tow a ~8500lb TT and it really seems to help on takeoff and going up grade. I’m sure the 3.73 or even 3.55 would be more than fine, but I’m glad I did that 4.30.
@@FiliSuperDuty I opted for the 3.73 for my 22 F-350. It really was a no brainer for me. It's my daily driver, and we tow an 8K travel trailer in the summer and fall camping season. I felt the 4:30 would have been overkill, and the 3.73 was the sweet spot.
just as a comparison... I ordered my 2021 F350 with a 7.3l Godzilla , 3.73 rear gear, to tow our 8400# tt. I debated over the diesel, but just too many problems with emissions. The lifter was not a publicized issue at time of order, but I still would have gone the gas route. VERY few numbers of lifter failures; VERY large numbers of emission problems. Expensive repairs + $10k extra up front. Rarely do I foot to the floor to get to 60mph. I travel at 62-64 and on a 4200 mile trip up & down 3 major passes & mtns and numerous other. I averaged 10.3mpg's. Friend with like tt with a 2020 Duramax got ~1.5 mpg better. He also had to pay ~$1 more per gal + DEF. Yes he has way more torque, but I had no issues keeping up. NEVER foot to the floor. 3rd gear a couple of times. With the 10 spd tranny & tow/ haul I rarely used my brakes going down any major hill. In fact a Class A motor home behind me told me that my brake lights must be out after going down a very long steep hill. Unless there is a major change in the diesel engine emission controls; I will not own a diesel.
But the 6.7 is proven, the 7.3 gas is not
@@seattleprowash5464 I guess it depends on your definition of “proven”. It’s been out for several years and was tested by ford before it hit the market. Armchair quarterbacks poo-pooed the the twin turbo eco’s. I had one and so did two other friends. We all loved them and had only normal issues. I have had zero issues with my Godzilla and would buy it again today
@@seattleprowash5464 The design of the 7.3 engine has been around for decades....push rod V8's have been around a heck of a lot longer than diesel engines...and with all the emissions and electronics on a diesel they're far from reliable anymore sadly....not to mention the $10-12k immediate upcharge for the diesel engine, it makes no sense for most pickup truck buyers.
What kind of range did you get towing your tt? Long wheel base or short configuration?
@@johnclayton6946 short wheel base; 36gal tank. I carry a 5gal gas can for the generator , doubles as an emergency for the truck . Haven’t had to use it for that yet, but just in case. I fuel when I’m down to 1/4 tank. Need to get out and walk a bit.
It’s a great engine. I have a 2022 Tremor with 25K mi and have no complaints whatsoever. The diesel/gas cost difference offsets the loss in fuel economy and I don’t have all the diesel expenses/headaches. Great video, however, pulling concrete blocks does not emulate the wind drag of a big fifth wheel RV.
I agree with your analysis
Why?
I own five f 250 crew cabs with the 7.3 litre engine 4:10 rear ended ratios
They work all over the USA
They haul trailers with an average of 14,000 pounds
On a 2500 mile trip from Port Huron, Michigan to California going across the mountains on I 80
The average gas mileage was around 8.6 per gallon.
I\at that speed speed we can keep them locked up in the 10th gear on level ground
If you do an analysis of the cost with diesel about 25% more expensive in the USA
it is almost the same cost as running a diesel and with no DEF ISSUES
The highest mileage truck has around 75,000 miles and so far there has been zero issues
The speed was around 65 to 70 miles an hour depending on wind conditions.
That’s awesome real-world data. Sounds like you made a solid choice for your use case.
The only 3.5l ecoboost engine that has 500 + hp is the one in the ford gt. It has 400hp and 500ftlb in the standard f150 and 450hp and 510ftlb in the higher end limited and raptor trucks.
I think he only mentioned the 3.5EB bc it’s the engine with 13k pounds for max tow in their 1500 line up as a comparison.
@Wolffz Talks Knives I think so too, but the power figures are wrong. The power figures are also wrong for the 7.3l. He's quoting the figures from the earlier generation. The truck he was driving was a 2023. You can tell because it has the bed steps behind the cab. That also has 445hp and 485ftlbs.
I have 2020 F250 SP super cab 7.3L Godzilla. Bought used with 38K miles and pull a 8K pound travel trailer. It has no problem pulling up the mountain and it works great on the downhill. I hardly use the brakes as the transmission does it all. I do have to say that I’m worried about engine failure. Got used to the fuel burn 😊and at least I don’t have to buy another SCR for a diesel engine $3500.00 plus labor. I also change the oil every 3K miles and use full synthetic oil.
I find on my F350 dually with a 4:30 rear get significantly better fuel economy when kept under 100kms/hr. With my 4000lb Truckcamper travelling from Calgary to the Sunshine Coast I got just under 21l/100kms. Love the engine for my application.
Should mention driving from Calgary to Salmon Arm without a camper I get just under 16l/100kms. Again I don’t go over 100kms/hr and take it easy accelerating and going up big hills. 7.3 is a good engine for people who are no longer in a rush.
Enjoying the series, but I have to disagree with you on the compression ratio giving a diesel better engine braking. A Powerstroke gets its engine braking from the vanes in the turbo closing down, causing the engine to have to force the exhaust through the turbo. If you've ever driven a diesel with no exhaust brake (or compression brake), they have almost no engine braking, since the compression ratio just acts like a spring where most of the energy of compression is returned when the piston goes back down.
A gas engine gets similar (but much weaker) braking by drawing a vacuum against the throttle plate.
Appreciate the comment! I was intrigued by what you said and you are 100% correct, I'll have to mention this in my next diesel video because It's very interesting how the "compression" has little effect on engine braking.
Great review man, but you can stop stressing about the mpg numbers. At the cost difference between Gas and Diesel it is still cheaper to fuel the gas truck, towing or not. I did the math. My 7.3 gets 15mpg on the interstate here in TN and about 8mpg towing a bumper pull camper that's 8000 lb and 35 ft long. I pulled a gooseneck loaded with a big truck hitting the scale at 22150 lb combined weight and still got 7.5 - 8 mpg. For a diesel truck to be cheaper on fuel the price difference can not be more than 30 cents per gallon. Haven't seen that ever, usually about $1 here.
Also personal opinion maintaining speed up a hill at 3500 - 4000 rpm is not struggling.
Oh and this 7.3 gasser has more power and torque than the holy grail 7.3 Powerstroke
Good job Ford ! Love my 7.3 Godzilla
The 7.3 Godzilla was never intended to compete with any diesel. Since 2010, Ford has not offered an “optional” gasoline upgrade. Back with the OBS, you had a 5.8L gas, 7.5L gas, and a diesel option. When they went to the Super Duty in ‘99, they offered a 5.4L gas, 6.8L gas (V10), and a diesel option. In 2011 when they had a new engine line up, there was no “mid grade” engine option. You had a 6.2L SOHC and the Power Stroke. They were long past due for a replacement for the V10.
We had the 6.7 got tired of of emissions problems every time we left town , the check engine light came on in 7 states some twice, we now have the 7.3
Gap between the blocks significantly increases aerodynamic drag. Longitudinal gaps in your load configuration likely have a much greater influence than do transverse gaps.
Watched both videos back to back. I like your test setup. But I have to say you can’t compare a diesel to a gas. Consumers know that and your video actually shows just how strong the 7.3 is. For a gas engine it’s just downright impressive. And the lifter failure worry is almost not worth mentioning. I stay on the forums and the majority of chatter is people worrying about it and not actually experiencing issues. Good video but biased as a diesel guy. Looking forward to a 6.6 GM and a 6.4 Hemi. If you think the 7.3 “worked hard”, I’d like to hear your comments in comparison. New subscriber btw and a former 6.7 PSD owner and now a 7.3 Tremor.
8.4 mpg is seriously not bad mileage for a gas engine towing that much weight. For reference the old IDI diesels were worse than that at this kind of weight. The 6.8L V10 is also surprisingly good on fuel for a gas engine of its size, and even it will dip down into the 7 mpg range while towing this much weight at highway speeds. I'm impressed honestly.
Yeah and there's no way that powerstroke is getting 18mpg.. at max 14 towing that
@@24k_purplelove52my 2011 f350 6.7 will get 13.3 towing a skid steer and attachments around 15.5 lbs. many people I know have these trucks and easily get 18mpg on the highway.
@jaysmith3546 maybe it is possible, but i have seen Ina tfl video that the 6.7 got like 6 mpg while towing its max which isn't isn't bad. That's abt what a semi truck uses
@@24k_purplelove52the Ike towing test is at over 11,000 feet of elevation and a 7% grade ! That’s an extreme torture test and in no way a reasonable example for real world use.
As for the oil pump question, I would guess that they just used an existing oil pump as opposed to designing something just for that engine. Not saying it's right because I totally agree with you about using an old style oil pump. Keep it simple and reliable as well as effective.
Galling of the lifters is most likely a vendor manufacturing problem. I would hope Ford has addressed this. Also, the type of oil and service interval is important. It would be wise to have the oil analyzed periodically.
I've heard that aftermarket cam manufacturers for performance applications have been having the same problems with wiping lobes. It's like the '70s all over again. I remember in my economics class reading about a guy who bought a brand new LTD off the lot in the late '70s. It quit running before he got it home. Wiped cam lobes. He was so mad he had the car towed to Ford HQ in Dearborn and lit it on fire in their front lawn.
The lifter failure is attributed to not putting enough oil in your engine cause most people disregard that a 7.3 liter Godzilla holds a lot of oil and are filling it up with about 6 quarts instead of 9-10 quarts. I know this cause I did my research and I own a Godzilla myself so I do my own maintenance. (For those that are reading this make sure ya do proper inspection of your oil level and you will be fine.💪🏽💪🏽😤
For a gas truck it's pretty impressive to be honest. For the average Joe that's tows a travel trailer or makes a heavy dump run a couple times a year, I think gas trucks are the better choice for a guy. The expense of maintenance on a diesel alone, before emissions troubles, is way more than a gas truck. If you tow very frequently and heavy then a diesel makes sense. Me personally, for my needs I'm looking to get into a power wagon. The 6.4 is plenty for my needs and gives me the goodies I want. I sure do love a cummins truck though.
My question is, for professionals who tow or carry heavy loads
In town , like landscapers, should they go diesel or gas? I have between 5-10k on my truck daily
@seattleprowash5464 in my unprofessional opinion, being that it is all a tax write off, go diesel. Better longevity and overall performance for that type of thing. But it's not like a gas truck couldn't easily do what you need.
@@seattleprowash5464 Short drives keep with a gas truck....regardless of your load weight...a gas truck in many cases can actually haul/tow slightly more than a diesel because the weight of a diesel engine, and additional weight from the diesel particulate filters, DEF tank and fluid, etc. reduce the payload/towing capacity of most diesel equipped pickups.
With the emissions and electronics now found on all diesel equipped trucks, you want to avoid them unless you absolutely need it for long haul type towing needs, and when I say long haul, I mean across state lines, thousands of hours a week type duties.
5-10k ain't nothing for a gas truck especially today's gas engines with all the torque and power they have, you will find that even the 6.8L V8 will do the job when equipped properly.
@@wildbill23c I agree, but why do so many junk removal and landscape companies use diesel trucks? They do 100% short trips but many seem to prefer diesel !
@@seattleprowash5464 They do so for show off reasons...it has nothing to do with capability, its 100% gotta show off to everyone around...or rather think they're showing off...diesel trucks don't impress me at all...the vehicles I've driven would crush them and you'd think you just drove over a speed bump.
Thank you for providing such excellent TH-cam content! After 10 years I sold my 2013 2500HD Duramax (3.73 rear-end) and replaced it with a 23 F250 with the 7.3L/10 spd/3.73. After the 1k mile break-in I took the truck on a 400 mile round-trip towing an 11'6" tall, 8k lb travel trailer that is 27' long. This was a trip up and down the rolling hills of the Ozarks. Over the last two years I've completed this same trip twice pulling the same trailer with the Duramax. On all trips I used tow/haul mode with cruise control set at 65mph. Fuel mileage for the Chevy on both trips averaged 10.9 mpg. The Ford averaged 8.2 mpg. Diesel is 30 cents per gallon more than regular gas in this part of the country. On these trips the Chevy rarely shifted down to 5th gear (6 spd transmission). The Ford was busy, regularly shifting down as low as 6th or 7th gear and on one hill 5th. The Allison transmission ran between 130 and 150 degrees. The Ford's transmission would slowly warm to 220 degrees, stay there for a couple of miles, then slowly decrease in temp to 208 before returning to 220. Ambient temp was as high as 78 degrees and as low as 60 degrees. The driving experience with the diesel was much better than the driving experience with the 7.3. But I bought the Ford to avoid emissions related problems that I was just beginning to experience with the Duramax. A significant difference between the trucks that I need to find a solution for was the constant feeling of trailer sway with the Ford vs the Chevy. I used the same equalizer hitch and shank for both trucks, but with one additional washer for the Ford compared to the Chevy due to a greater amount of rear-end "squat" on the Ford. My set up puts the trailer in a .5" nose down attitude with 1k lbs of tongue weight. Both trucks have 20" tires, but the placard on the Chevy called for 60 psi of tire pressure in the front and 75 psi for the rear. The Ford is 60/65. For the return trip I adjusted the Ford's tire psi to match the Chevy's, which improved the Ford's stability and tracking, but not to the same confident feeling the Chevy produced. Did you adjust your truck's tire pressure(s) for your test? Did your truck "feel" like it was moving around while towing? Thank you again!
So my trailer and load felt wonderfully solid behind the ford but granted there is next to no wind resistance so that might factor in to the stability. but I mean buying the 7.3 to avoid emission is a smart move. yes it will not pull as hard as the diesel but you will save so much headache with not having the emission system to worry about. but I have heard a couple people mention the fords not being that stable when towing in compassion the ram and Chevy trucks. not really sure why that would be but for me at least the ford seems to be stable with 14k behind it and actually a pretty comfortable tow.
I had the same slightly unstable feeling when I changed trucks a couple years ago. I put a set of timbrens on the rear and that reduced the squat, firmed up roll/sway considerably.
Reading your experience here is what I've been looking for. I use my truck to pull a travel trailer similar to yours.
I just traded a '17 Ram Cummins for the F250 with the 7.3
Never had an issue with the Cummins. I loved that truck and how it tows. It was really hard to drive the new truck off the lot, leaving it behind.
But I was at the point of starting to consider future repairs of the diesel if necessary, so I bailed on the diesel.
I haven't towed my camper yet with the new 7.3, as I haven't got it broken in yet. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I made the wise choice 🤞
I did manage to find one with the 4.3 ratio. That was a challenge, since 95% of what's on dealers lots are the 3.73's. After reading comments here, in now wondering if that effort was worth it 🙂
@@jodyspencer433 it’s easy to get caught up in worry over diesel emissions problems while reviewing forums. I actually had six emissions related problems with my Duramax, thus my decision to try gas. Two of the problems I had resulted in speed limiting. The first was while I was in town, the second was 1k miles from home. When I asked the service manager at the Chevy dealership in Colorado what I could do to keep this from happening again he said “sell it and buy a gas powered truck!” I thought he was kidding, but he went on to explain that they generate most of their service revenue working on diesel emission systems and that I should sell it. By the way, the problem they’d just addressed was due to a “poor quality DEF” message. The solution was simply to do a forced regeneration at a cost of $500. No new parts, no new DEF, just a regeneration. And this was after I’d been on the road for three weeks and had just pulled up some of the big Wyoming mountains and had half a tank of DEF with a manufacturers date of two months prior to use. The service manager told me that I may never have a problem again, or I could drive 200 miles and have the same problem. When we got home I ordered the Ford, which I did not want to do, but felt it prudent given the uncertainty of the Duramax emissions. A couple of months later, while waiting for the Ford to be built and delivered we took the Chevy on another long trip. As if confirming we’d made the right decision to go with gas we had two check engine lights for two different EGR codes. The first check engine light was 100 miles into our trip and the second was 2k miles later. Fortunately I was able to clear both codes with my Blue Driver code reader, but my Chevy service manager told me that with 2015 and later trucks I would not have been able to clear those codes. I really appreciate the simplicity of the Ford and that I don’t have to worry about the type of problems I was having with the Chevy. Regarding towing, that is getting better as well. I’ve been experimenting with my weight distribution hitch and have discovered through trial and error that a setup returning 100% of lost front end weight (vs the 50% Ford recommends) makes the truck feel and tow much better. It will never pull as well as the Duramax, but it’s now dialed in well enough that it’s safe, easy to operate and ready to take on long trip. Good luck with your new truck!
@@jerryspencer1448 I agree. I realized long ago not to read too much into all the noise on the Internet 😁. It's still a great tool though.
The scenario you described 1000 miles from home is what bothered me the most. Fortunately I've not had to deal with any of that.
I do agree with most that say it's not if (with these trucks emissions equipment), but when. It's just a shame that they've restricted them so much.
My CTD truck was low miles and in all stock trim and great condition. Market is still good on these, so I decided it was time for a change.
I'll need to play with the hitch on my TT I'm sure, as the new truck sits quite a bit higher.
Appreciate the insight experience. See you on the road👍 If you see a black Ford SD w/Tremor pkg toting a 25' Lance TT in the campground or on the road, stop in and say "hi"... Just watch out for my Heeler dog 😁
Appreciate you for making another video on the 7.3 Godzilla. I have one in order (Dually) and I am obsessed with your in-depth reviews! Thank you lots! You really bring me peace of mind knowing that I made the right decision. I do not tow anything at all but the plan is to add a bed camper. The extra payload compared to the diesel dually definitely is key. Keep up the great content 👍🏼
Thank you sir! I really think ford did a good job on these engines. and you get the avoid all the headaches for the emission systems which are just a pain.
I have a 2002 7.3l power stroke. Did injectors. Then did them again. Then replaced the motor with a ford rebuilt. Then, after 10000km, did the injectors again.
They say those 7.3 will go forever. They fail to mention you have to dump 3-4K into them every second year to do so.
It just requires a change in mindset. It’s a highly capable and very reliable powertrain. When you come to grips with the fact that it doesn’t have turbos and accept it for what it is you will be very happy. I just took delivery of my 2023 F350 Lariat 7.3. It’s not a race car and it doesn’t have turbo but it does the job really well. I pulled my 9k TT in for some service and couldn’t even tell I had a trailer hooked up. Yes it revs up when you want to pass someone or pull a grade. Guess what: that’s how it’s engineered. I came from a 2019 3.5 F150 and it’s got lots of get up and go with the turbo. I ride and drive with a good friend who has 6 diesels for his HVAC business. I like the feel of the turbo diesel. It’s fun to drive but as long as I don’t expect my 7.3 to mimic it I’m very happy with my 2023. Side note: my friend ordered a new 2023 to add to his fleet…guess what he ordered: 7.3 Godzilla. It makes the most sense for a service truck that will tow intermittently. His reasoning (he’s a hard core diesel fan): low upfront cost, cheaper maintenance, long term trouble free issues resulting in less down time for his service technician. He will always have a diesel because he does pull 20-40k loads frequently but he sees the value of the 7.3 in his lineup.
The reason he's comparing the two is cuz there's people like me that owned diesels their whole life but now have to consider a gasoline powered truck because the EPA completely destroyed the diesel. They turn the diesel truck into a completely unreliable DEF exhaust nightmare. That no longer has reliability or longevity.
This! This right here. The government has made these diesels pieces of shit.
Exactly! How many chevy 6.0s out there just keep going with no maintenance. Know a couple people that traded in their 2 year old diesels when emissions went out and parts were out 6+ months
And that’s me. I haven’t pulled up to a gas pump since February of 1997. In May I purchased an F350 CCLB 7.3 4.30 gears. I have a farm & tow 14k 8-12 times a year, 12k about 6 times per year, & 1k-7k several times per year. I am not in flat land and have zero regrets. Normal driving I’m getting 13-14 mpg and gas is 60-90 cents cheaper than diesel. I never had a diesel get over 16 mpg everyday driving. I’m loving the 7.3, it’s quiet, not smelly, much cheaper oil changes, & tows just fine. My last truck was a 2015 6.7 deleted and tuned.
@@SmithsAngusFarm Thanks for your info. I am driving a 2016 6.7 power stroke and I appreciate the engine braking and the power when towing a trailer and want to pass the slow pokes on a mountain road. I tried the 6 liter GMC in a 2019 4x4 van and it was gutless and loud. I'm due for a new Ford and my main concern is the cabin noise if I switch to gas. How do they compare?
Unless you live in a state that doesnt care about the AQI.
I've been driving my 2002 f250 with a 7.3 diesel for 21 years and almost 400,000 miles. The Godzilla has the same torque and 150 hp more than my stock motor (mines not lol). I did own a 2016 with the 6.7 for 3 years and loved it. When i finally order a new Ford i will be getting the 7.3 gasser. Great power, easy to get more if i feel the need, far lower purchase and maintenance cost, less likely to have issues, and much cheaper fuel cost. I pull upwards of 20k several times a year, but far from regularly. It'll do just fine on those occasions
I own a 2022 f350 with the 7.3 and a 2022 f450 with the 6.7 and I will say that the 7.3 really holds its own, I love that truck
Sorry. Thats a hell of a lot of money to spend out on a non commercial vehicle with blown lifters.
I'm looking into little toyotas that will get good mileage and run for 300k on the odometer
@itsallminor6133 every vehicle has its purpose, it's all about having the right tool for the job and it sounds like you don't need a f350 if you're looking into little Toyotas
@@PersononYT56 no. I mostly despise pickups. Used to drive internationals short haul. And volvo. Definitely preferred the nat, freightliner nice ride but nat was my thing.
I even despised my own pickup, sold it for a volvo car. Much better.
@@PersononYT56 these trucks. Especially the gassers, or the post emissions diesels. Are all junk.
@@itsallminor6133 lol, okay bro, whatever you say
I own a 2016 F 350 SD 6.7 l. I have not had DEF issues, this truck has 120k km who is relatively low mileage. I am in the market of a new truck in the next 2 years and dreading the decision between the 6.7 and going gas. This series is great and no less exactly what I am looking at a F 250 7.3 Godzilla. This new truck will be a daily driver and reliability, fuel costs and purchase price factors into the decision. Right now I was paying 22 cents a litre more for diesel above gas this week and towing a 10,000 lb Travel Trailer having sold the the 16,000 lb fifth wheel the question of do I need a diesel or just want one. DPF issues is major as well as purchase price. Frontal area on the TT is much less than the fifth wheel so that takes load off the truck too. A good series, Thank You for doing this Getty Adventures.
Funny story. I work at a repair shop. We are putting and engine in right now in a 2020 F550 7.3 truck with 68k miles. When I called Ford to order the engine the parts guy said they have multiple commercial companies that have fleets of these trucks and NONE of these engines have made it to 100k miles yet. They all have failed well before the 100k mark. But yes everyone said they tow fantastic and are a very good diesel alternative.
Concerning - what’s the failure? I’m looking at buying one currently
I’m convinced modern emissions controls are solely meant to handicap the transportation industry; not improve the environment.
One thing is forsure, they are certainly handicaping the transportation industry
The emissions engines are WORSE for the environment and they are killing small businesses.
California did a study and found burning def is worse than just letting carbon soot fall to the ground.
Please do the Chevy 6.6 gas with the new 10 speed transmission next.
Im pretty excited about the 6.6 with the 10 speed!
It could also be perfect for people like me who are sick of their 6.0, have a truck camper and would benefit from the payload of a gas engine in a 1-ton truck. I appreciate the info.
We found out that white is brighter than black. Yes, with half the torque, the 7.3 is a bit slower than the 6.7. Still, it's not half as slow with just half the torque.
Simply: if you're regularly towing super-heavy loads, go diesel, if it's occasional, or just light loads, go gas and save thousands of dollars on the cost of the engine.
exactly, couldn't agree more with you
Remember when that GM magazine made like 1200hp on a stock 4.8 LS with just a couple whirly snails?
1600 with the 7.3 is wild
Boy, everything you said is exactly why they offer two engine choices. Amazing!
3... 6.7, 7.3, 6.8... all bad asses!!
My father in law bought one of these trucks with the 7.3 Godzilla and he loves it. He works around semi’s and diesel’s all day and didn’t want anything to do with diesel trucks. He tows pretty heavy regularly and the truck handles it good. I have a diesel and the one thing I will say is it lacks that bottom end torque the diesels have so when it’s loaded down it takes a bit to get up to speed from a stop. Otherwise, great truck and engine.
I have a 2021 F250 7.3 with 3.55 gears and average 9 mpg with my 11k travel trailer. My 2017 F250 6.7 with 3.73 gears pulled the same trailer at 11.5 mpg. Rarely get over 3k on the tach with the godzilla -- when I do I'm rewarded with an amazing V8 sound. Even with 3.55 gears the 10-speed finds the right spot. Empty I get the same mileage as my 2008 6.4 PSD.
I feel like a 11k travel trailer is a great weight for the 7.3 probably handles it very nice. Do you like the towing experience better then powerstroke ?
@@GettysGarage My wife swears it just "feels better" with the slightly beefier FX4 package but for me it's very comparable. Took me 1 tow to make the adjustment but the upshifting doesn't bother me at all as it turns out -- I was worried I'd be hanging out in high revs which just isn't the case. The Godzilla range can get annoying at times so I'm going to install the 58 gallon transfer flow tank at some point soon (kinda spendy though!). Great channel!!
What kind of mpg are you getting with out a load on the highway?
Hi, I have a 2023 F250 Crew Cab and chose the 7.3 with 3;73 E rear . I am very pleased with the truck towing a 24' enclosed car trailer (4,400) pds. and a (3,500) pds. Wayne , Millsboro, De.
Good review. One thing I will mention is, compression ratio has nothing to do with engine braking. In a healthy engine, all your compression is transferred to the down stroke and very little energy is lost. A compression brake (Jake brake) functions by relieving that compression just before top dead center, creating a giant air compressor.
One thing to consider on gas vs diesel for towing: fueling infrastructure. As someone who tows a small (6000 lb) camper with a 1/2 ton truck, i can tell u that even with that relatively small setup, it is sometimes a pain navigating gas pump islands. I cant imagine going even larger with a gas setup. Whereas diesel fueling stations many times will have a setup geared to big rigs which allows easier in/out.
Very true, and usually diesel pumps are always on the outside if you need to use a normal "automotive" gas pump
Not every gas station has diesel pumps....gas is much easier to find than diesel pumps....and I've never ran into any issues getting into or out of gas stations with 20+ foot trailers...
It's hard to compare a gas engine to a diesel. With that being said i think that truck did great with that weight and not having 4:30 gears.
Put that trailer behind that hemi and you will appreciate the power that 7.3 has. After watching this video i want to sell my ram and buy a Ford.
For a gas engine, the 7.3 was perfect. And ya I knew the diesel would crush this engine but I wanted to see if the performance was at least close and I think the 7.3 is a good option for those mid range towing weights. The 6.4 and the 8 speed probably would not make out as well as this engine if im being honest
@@GettysGarage Thanks for doing the test. Can't wait to see more of them.
tbh I don't think the comparison is hard- diesel pulls and feels much better but gas is more reliable, less maintenance and repairs, and much less money up front. the problem is that the gasser can still adequately do the same 99% of jobs as the diesel while the diesel can't emulate the strong positives of the gas engine. diesel is an emotional, not logical decision for most people... there's nothing wrong with that- sportscars are an emotional decision as well and they're fun as hell. objectively though, diesel is the wrong choice with current tech.
I have the F350 7.3L and it's good on gas and amazing on the highway. I have not towed with it yet but after seeing videos I am not worried
Nor should you be worried! She tows just fine, you won't have an issue
LOL, yep it'll tow just fine for sure.
Oil system is definitely a concern especially with a growing issue with lifter failure.
Excellent test, for the price , maintenance hassles , no comparison gas all the way for the majority of people
Thats kind of what I'm thinking, the gas engine is probably a great choice for alot of people
I believe if your towing with the gas motor it’s better to go with 4.30 ratio. It might make acceleration easier and better mileage due to not having to kick down that much. I own the 6.7l powerstroke in a 2020 f350 single rear wheel. It has all the power I need for sure. I also have 3.73 rearend in mine. Still has all the after treatment crap but I do only highway driving. When it’s unloaded I average 22mpg, I have no idea what that is in km since I’m in America. My next truck will be the 7.3 Godzilla but I am currently happy with what I got. Prices and availability are extremely low for the 7.3 though. Most people want the diesel so most dealers around me only carry the 6.7 diesel. You have to special order one for the gas engine. Bad thing is diesel’s burn cleaner with or without the emissions crap.
7.3 can be tough to find in a spec you want but you can get it shipped halfway across the country for a grand or less- which isn't a big deal given all the shopping options that opens up for you and is a drop in the bucket for the vehicle's pricepoint anyway
The 7.3 accelerating from 60-110 was amazingly fast for a gasser towing 14k lbs!
I remember towing enclosed sled trailers in the 2000's with a 8.1L 1998 3500 gmc, and it was pretty awful
The 8.1 wasn't available until 2001. The 455 ft lbs they put out was more than adequate towing 10k. You would have had a vortec 7.4 in a 98 model truck.
Good gawd I hope this is kph.
110 mph with 14,000 lbs is a death missle
Wife drives a diesel as a daily driver. Gets 16-20 mpg between in town and highway. The gas truck we thought would work got 11 most of the time. 17 if conditions were just right.
I have the 7.3 with 430 gears and I pull a 13,000 lb 5th wheel it pulls great, going up hill I get 8 miles a gallon going down hill I get 8 miles a gallon that being said my friend has the same truck but diesel and pulls the same 5th wheel and he gets 8 miles a gallon
I tend to get the best mileage on secondary roads, running 55 - 60 miles per hour. 11:50 I've gotten is 23 mpg on my 3.5 Ecoboost. I do pull a trailer to Florida for the winters (900 miles). With roughly 3000 lbs, I get 13.5 mph. Obviously, I'm running 70 miles per hour. Driving that route without a trailer, I get around 20 mpg. 3000 lbs isn't a heavy load, but you can not tell there's a trailer behind the truck. Someone suggested a 5.0 ecoboost. I'd buy that in a heartbeat. I just love that low-end torque. When I put more aggressive off-road tires and a winch on the front, I lost about 1 mpg.
Seems to work beautifully for a V8 gas engine.
She did seem to pull pretty steady!
Great video all valid points. I only tow 6-7klbs personally which makes my 250 an animal for me. I agree that a 12-13k plus lb camper is diesel territory in most cases. Especially out west.
I have a GODZILLA engine in my F250 with 4:30 gears and it seams to pull harder than that truck. If you get the camper package it has one ton springs with a helper spring and a sway bar helps a lot in anti squat and anti roll.
The 4.30 gears will definitely do much better for heavier towing. Doesn't matter how many gears the transmission has, the axle ratio makes or breaks heavy towing duties.
My company recently replaced my F550 psd with a new 7.3L gas. Both service trucks weigh over 16K. I run in the mountains of Arizona, up to 10%. I must admit, the 7.3 is a beast pulling grades, only it does it around 3500 to 4000 rpm. Down grade the 6.7 gets the nod. Grades I could go down without braking takes the 7.3 to 4000 rpm with some peddle. Passing is impressive with the 7.3. The 6.7 got 9.9 mpg, the 7.3 is doing 7.9. Gas is $1 cheaper, so cost per mile is similar. If the engine stays together at 4k, I would consider one. If you tow all the time, you may want the 6.7. Otherwise the 7.3 might be fun.
Thanks for the informative video and all the comments it has generated. We are looking for our first truck to pull a 8500 lb ORV trailer. A large number of comments reflect the thoughts of towing frequency and distance. Our plan is from the Vancouver area through Alaska, across the Yukon, Canada and cris crossing the US before returning home. Life will continue on from there. In my inexperienced mind, we have a lighter load but with significant volumes of towing. Based on that and the video plus comments it seems the 6.7l would be a better choice. Also reliability requires consideration so the 7.3l seems appealing as well. I realize the gas vs diesel conversation has and continues to consume chat groups everywhere but our lower weight, high mileage towing doesn't seem to get to much attention. The research continues.
I have a 2018 Ram 2500 with the 6.7L Cummins for towing my boat which is 7500lbs. I pulled it with my 2010 Tundra 5.7L before, but the Tundra has soft suspension and is much lighter than the Ram 2500. I went with the overkill of the heavy duty truck to be able to control the trailer and not having the trailer controlling the truck. The 7.3L F250 would actually be a bet fit for what I need. My diesel engine no longer has the burden of the after treatment issues mentioned in this video and this makes a huge difference.
Lol having "lost" your aftertreatment system you will be avoiding the modern diesel headaches thankfully 😅
@@GettysGarage : Agreed. In many ways, it was better than getting a new truck.
"I went with the overkill of the heavy duty truck to be able to control the trailer and not having the trailer controlling the truck.", this right here is what so many people are doing wrong....they buy a pickup truck but they get the lowest equipped truck to do the job and wonder why they have a terrible ride. Buy more truck than you need, its cheaper in the long run.
I had an 08 Tundra, and yep the suspension in it was terrible for towing....had a great engine/transmission and 4.30 gearing, but the car soft suspension made it pretty worthless for towing...and their trucks are garbage now with their turbo 6 cylinder engines.
I owned a 2021 6.7 for two years. i ordered a 2023 XLT 7.3 gas long bed with a 3.73 rear end. Received it in June of this year. I pull a 40' Montana fifth wheel. The camper (gross) loaded and weighed on the CAT scale is 14,440 lbs. I was a little apprehensive going from the diesel to the gas but I figured I'd give it shot. I currently have 6000 miles on the truck and have towed the Montana 3500 miles of that 6000. My maiden voyage was through New England and upstate New York and into Canada and back and I was extremely impressed. Tons of mountains in New Hampshire, Vermont and the Adirondacks in New York. It's not a diesel but it didn't struggle. Hell of a lot better than my 6.2 I owned before the diesel. Averaged 7.9 mpg on that trip. My diesel would get 10.3 for similar trips like that. The cost of fuel was about the same for a comparative trip. I do not miss the diesel. My payload on the 7.3 is 4488 lbs. It's a single rear wheel. 1000 lbs more than my diesel was. I'm not towing full time but we pull approximately 9,000 miles a year on average. I just think the simplicity of it works well for me. It can handle anything that is thrown at it. It's also my daily driver. That's why I did not go with the 4.30 rear end. As I said I gave it a shot and happy I did.
Good review. What mileage do you get empty hwy?
When I am empty, I get between 15 and 16 on the highway when it’s in normal mode. When I’m in Eco mode will get just a little bit north of 16
When I am empty, I get between 15 and 16 on the highway when it’s in normal mode. When I’m in Eco mode I will get just a little bit north of 16
I don’t think I ever stated that mine was an F350. Every truck I’ve had has been an F350 and so far the 7.3 is the best. Heading to the Daytona 500 in a week with it and the Fifth wheel.
Ive been driving a 2021 XL Xcab 250 with the 7.3 and 10 speed. I have significant tool weight on the truck which does make it squat some but doesn’t exceed the trucks capacity. When I hook up my medium duty dump trailer or big utility, which is mostly a car hauler which comes close to 10k with load, it starts to get a little squirrelly on the rear. Ive just moved into a 2023 250 4 door with the 7.3 set up. I notice the springs are more burley but with the same tool weight its still squatting. I havent pulled with it yet. Pretty sure I’ll be bagging this one. Annoying. I pulled the same trailers with same weight in my 6.0 2015 GMC with the same tool load on the bed and it pulled with very little squat whatsoever. I love the trucks and I spent money on the STX package because I wanted the engine. The rear springs are a real design issue IMHO
plus another reason for switching to diesel instead of gas was a straight 6 diesel was a low maintenance solution during a time when Diesel was cheaper to buy per gallon than regular unleaded gas, so I guess we're in an agreeance, even though I didn't wait for you to say it before I stated my opinion, so yeah basically we both agree.
this engine seems just like the 7.3 powerstroke tons of potential in the engine if you wanted to build it out but leaving it stock it will do everything youll ever need it to and last a really long time if taken care of
WHY doesnt ANYBODY state that diesel is atleast $1 more per gallon?????
Always wondered that myself. Caring about fuel Mileage is ultimately caring about money saved.
A quick comparison with local fuel prices shows some interesting results even when comparing these towing.
Gas: 300 mi.@ 7.5 mpg= 40gX$3.45=$138
Diesel: 300 mi.@ 14 mpg= 21.4gX4.55= $97
I personally have rarely seen a diesel pickup average 14 mpg when towing over 12,000 lbs. so dropping that down to 11 (which is what I generally saw) turns out a cost of $124.
Long story short, it’s simply cheaper to tow with a diesel ONLY when strictly factoring in fuel. Add an additional $12k for the diesel, additional def costs, emissions problems and maintenance. It becomes a big gray area
Not anymore. They are about the same now days
It depends on the area. Gas is $1 more here in Chicago currently
@@PlaneButcher always wondering where the hell these people live where diesel is more expensive lol
Diesle option @ $ 9000 more , and noisier
The gas motor may not have the same performance as the diesel, but consider the difference in pice and maintenance that savings would buy a lot of gas. If you tow recreationally gas would make sense
Most buyers need the gas engine, but most buyers have the I gotta show off to the neighbors and family and friends mentality and go out and spend a bunch of money on a fancy fully loaded truck with the diesel engine, then whine, bitch, and moan about the fuel and maintenance costs because they drive a short distance, shut the truck off, get back in and drive a short distance, and repeat...and wonder why they have all sorts of additional problems....the diesels are meant for heavy duty work towing/hauling heavy loads all day long every day...not the occasional take the travel trailer and/or toys up to the hills to go camping a couple times a year. Most people driving diesel pickups actually just should have bought a 4 door car or crossover SUV.
the gap in performance and ability is relatively small while the gap in reliability, maintenance, repairs, and overall cost is significant. America has really fucked diesel and that sucks
It tows better than my 7.3 diesel. 10 speed is where it’s at.
The 10 speed certainly makes a huge difference.
Old 7.2 desel on a trailer I put a tractor weight 15,000 lbs 4 speed f250 about 1980 4 wheel drive got going About 45miles a hr black smoke highway n gravel rds had enough
I switched from a powerstroke to the godzilla because of the cost of operating the diesel. Love the new truck, and will never go back. 🤟🏻
Your front end having the gas engine will be lighter therefore your extra half in a squat comes from the engine weight reduction with the gas engine being in place of the diesel
I will get my 7.3 gas tremor next week. Hope it can tow my 6by16’ enclosed aluminum trailer 5000lbs smoothly. I am on the fence to buy 6.8 gas, 7.3 gas or 6.7 diesel. For the reliability, durability, low maintenance cost, I choose 7.3 gas. Thank you for all the information. Great videos.
This guy hits it right on the spot… Personally I’d go with the F-350 HO DRW Regular Cab smoother ride due to softer tyres but won’t last as long
Personally I went with F-350 XL SRW regular cab pulll pull a regular 30 ft SeaRay boat and full size truck camper with 13.5 city and 17.5 mpg highway my cost out the door tax and license 69,000 in California hope that helps
The variable displacement oil pump could be the cause. But another factor could be the lift. I saw a spec. which listed the valve lift was over a half inch. That used to be a number reserved for high performance engines, where one traded longevity to gain more power. Add to that the high compression ratio and its long rocker arms means the loads on the cam are going to be high. Also, the rocker arms look long and spindly. This could create some resonance based loading at certain RPMs.
I just sold my 2006 Dodge Ram 2500, with the 5.7 Hemi and ordered a new F-250, with the 7.3 gas motor. With my old truck, I would occasionally tow, 16k and I thought it did fairly well. Your comparison to a diesel, really is like comparing apples to oranges. I'm sure this 7.3 would be light years ahead of my old Hemi, which is a better comparison.
I opted for the 3.73 gears instead of the 4.30, as I don't tow heavy often.
As far fuel economy, people need to do a cost per mile and not worry about MPG. Diesel economy needs to factor in the additional cost of diesel fuel AND the DEF. When I calculated this out for my scenario, it was just about a wash, but I saved over $10k for the diesel option.
Kool vid, Ty for making it happen!
truth be told I live in northeast US and this gas with snow plow is the perfect truck I'd like to get my hands on for winter ... now if they can only figure out how to make this beast drink less and come with factory proper under coating it be the perfect truck ... for me anyways ...
Thumbs up for the review. What brought me here is my 2017 F-350 Powerstroke (SRW) developing a DPF error at only 53,000 km despite meticulous maintenance, very light towing, and conservative driving habits. Replacing just the DPF sensor will be ~$1200, and there's a chance they'll state that the DPF filter also needs replacement. That would raise the bill to ~$4500 or more. This is simply unacceptable. The cost, and unreliability of new Diesels prompts me to consider the 7.3 gasser. However, your mention about lifter failures makes it sound like I'd just be trading one set of problems for another. To readers with the Godzilla.... care to comment?
Yes I do, the Godzilla was a pig on fuel 5-6 mpg towing and the transmission failed at 16,000 miles
Powerstroke is a $10-12k option plus the extra $1 per gallon, DEF, fuel filters and emissions system cost to repair.
Great Review! Needed to see this for sure. Now Ford needs to update their oil pumps in the 7.3L Gas Engine, and I’d buy one tomorrow
It's not the end of world but a fixed displacement oil pump woukd of been nice to see
I think you are bang on with your diagnosis of the variable output oil pump. Should bebsolenoid activated and maybe some way they can be forced to full output all the time?
Compression is negligible when it comes to engine braking. I expect the power stroke has a 'throttle flap' in the air intake and that is being used? In Europe we don't have these motors but plenty of experience of diesel and the emissions crap on them now. The EGR valve requires the intake flap to create vacuum allowing exhaust gases to be drawn in! It is actually intake manifold pressure that causes an engine to have braking. It's complex but fascinating to read up on.
If you dont want a new 7.3, I drive a 6.8 V10 2V dont sleep on it if you dont want a 6.2. Mine's a total beast and that old 99 gets about the same mpg as my 2020 6.2 F250 did. About 10 either way. That 6.2 was gutless too.
problem with the electro plating on the 7.3 parts comes from the building of the latus structured crystallization process during electro plating because the plating voltage is to high to it created to many hydrogen bubbles on the surface, they need to install a higher powered vibratory oscillator in the tank during electro plating including reversing the plating current path to actually burn off the high points not just applying straight DC power, pulse width modulated AC similar to welding aluminum. waste of platinum
Y’a…., what he said 👍
Driving while it’s in manual shift mode (auto trans), you can hold the gears longer without the torque converter unlocking.
I just bought an F250 Crew Cab FX4 with the 7.3 V8 Godzilla and 10R140 transmission to replace my old F250 V10 with a 6 speed manual. The Godzilla, on paper, seems to beat the V10 in everything with one exception. The V10 reaches peak torque of 475 lb/ft at 3,000 RPM while the Godzilla reaches peak torque of 485 at 4,000 RPM. The V8 gets nearly 70 more HP than the V10 (430HP vs 362HP) and the fuel economy is something that I'm still working out. I generally pull about 10,000 pounds
I like the comparisons. Good video.
Nice thing about being in Canada is you can delete diesels still, only problem is when they’re on warranty. Off warranty, delete and they’ll run with no problems
I believe we will see a plug in hybrid gasoline engine in an HD truck soon. I believe there will be 3-4 modes. (1) battery only up to 30-40 miles (2) battery to increase power when under heavier than normal load as supplemental power and (3) highest mileage where the batteries help get the v-8 to speed, when going uphill, and when at idle. I believe such a hybrid could improve mileage 20%.
Squat isn't what you should be worried about. The rise at front axle that cuts braking is where you get in trouble. Measure front fender height
Compression is not a braking force on either engine. On the gasoline engine the braking force is the intake manifold vacuum created on the intake stroke and on the diesel it uses the exhaust brake for the braking force.