I’m upgrading from an F-150 to an F-250, and I’m stuck deciding between the 7.3 gas and the 6.7 diesel. I’m familiar with both engines—used to work as a Ford tech and also worked with the 7.3 Godzilla in Blue Bird school buses. Both are great, but here’s my situation:
I commute 3.4 miles to work daily, so short trips are the norm.
I don’t want to put the diesel’s aftertreatment system through the pain of short trips.
My camper is 6,800 lbs, so the 7.3 can handle it fine.
MPG on the 7.3 gas makes me nervous, though.
Currently towing with a 2.7 EcoBoost and giving it a workout.
What do you all think? Would the 7.3 be the better fit for my use case? Or should I consider the diesel despite the short trips?
When I bought my F-350, I went with the 7.3 for the same reasons you mentioned. Short trips kill diesel emissions systems, and the Godzilla handles everything I need. Plus, you can always throw a supercharger on it later.
I tow a 7,000–7,500 lb camper with my 6.7. If I were to buy again, I’d get an F-350 with 3.73 gears. The 10-speed makes it efficient, and you save a bit of fuel compared to the 4.30 gears.
@Mackenzie
The problem is the 6.7 probably wouldn’t even last that long! They’re picky about fuel quality, and I’ve seen too many issues working at a dealership.
@Mackenzie
I think your math is a little off. Diesel maintenance costs are closer to $200 more every 10,000 miles, not $500. And resale value for diesel trucks is much higher. After 50,000 miles, you’d already save thousands in fuel and depreciation with a 6.7.
I’ve owned both a 7.3 OBS and a 6.7, and I’d go with the 6.7 every time. You’ll find something to tow with it, and DEF really isn’t as bad as people make it out to be.
For your situation, it sounds like the 7.3 is the better fit. I have a 6.7 and love it, but it’s expensive—between the $10k upfront cost, DEF, and higher fuel prices. You can buy a lot of gas for the price difference.
Harper said:
I picked the 7.3 gas because I drive just 2 miles to work daily, and that’s awful for a diesel. It’s perfect for shorter trips and light towing.
How does it handle heavy loads? I’m thinking of switching to the 7.3 gas because my diesel’s aftertreatment system keeps giving me problems.