Is my 2001 F250 Powerstroke 7.3 done for?

I’ve been having some issues with my 2001 F250 Powerstroke 7.3, and I’m worried it might be on its last leg. Anyone here have experience with these engines? Any advice on what to check or fix?

It’s likely the oil cooler O-rings that have failed, not the injector cups. Get under the driver’s side and take a look near the oil filter. You’ll see a long tube bolted to the engine. Pull it and replace the O-rings using a kit from Diesel O Rings, or if it’s in bad shape, replace the whole thing. The 7.3L is a tough engine, not much takes them out.

You might as well replace the whole oil cooler. It’s a tough job, and you don’t want to do it again for another 20 years.

I remember using a ratchet strap to pull it back together since I didn’t have a press. Good times!

Same here. Working with coolant is never fun though.

My ratchet strap wasn’t doing the trick, so I hit it with a mallet and cracked the cast part. Ended up buying a new side for the oil filter housing on eBay.

For anyone reading this, don’t do what he did! Using a hammer can break things, just like it did here. One of my biggest fears doing this kind of job is cracking the timing cover, but glad that didn’t happen to you.

Yeah, thank goodness I didn’t crack the timing cover! I did drop a gasket scraper into the crankcase once though while changing the oil pan. Had to flip the motor over to get it out. Let’s just say I had a few beers after that!

That sounds like pretty much every time I try to do my own mechanic work. I always start thinking, ‘I’ve got this, no need for a pro,’ but after a close call, I’m like, ‘Why didn’t I just take it to a shop?!’ Luckily, it’s worked out for me so far!

It’s definitely more fun doing it our way!

A bottle jack and your rear hitch can act as a press for this job. If the truck starts lifting, you didn’t lube the rings enough.

I went through this too. Super stressful until I figured out it was just the oil cooler O-rings. Cheap and easy fix once you know what the problem is.

That’s where I’d start, OP.

Be ready to get really dirty for this job.

You’re probably looking at replacing the injector cups and freshening up the injectors with new O-rings. It’s not that hard, but don’t drive it until you fix it.

I looked up how to replace the injector cups. Do I need to pull the whole engine, or is it just the valve covers?

You just need to pull the valve covers. It’s a bit of a pain but not as bad as pulling the engine.

I’m not sure how to post this right, but here’s a pic of my overflow coolant tank. It looks like there are two liquids with a dark layer in between. Is this a blown head gasket?

It’s probably not a blown head gasket. Like others said, it’s more likely the oil cooler O-rings or injector cups causing the issue. RiffRaff Diesel should have all the parts and tools you need for the job.

If your injector cups are cracked or damaged, the degas bottle will pressurize, and you’ll see coolant spraying out like a fountain. There are a ton of YouTube videos showing how to replace the cups. It’s not too bad a job, just take your time. Diesel O Rings.com has the parts you need. You should also check out their upgraded glow plug relay while you’re at it. Good luck!

Thanks for the tip. What if I told you it’s already spraying coolant everywhere?