Oil on Driveway

[7.3Ford]

Went out to get news paper this morning and found a puddle of oil under the the truck. Was all down the side of the oil filter and everywhere else. I check oil filter, it wasn't the source, looking under the hood, I see oil all over the place... Something broke loose somewhere, but I couldn't find it, so dropped it off at Ford dealer, and they will look at it tomorrow.

I hope it is just a broke or lose hose somewhere.

[okierver]

i had a 2003 7.3 i had a oil problem a little puddle and running down. i took it in and i think it was the high pressure line on the fuel oil housing. hopefully it just blew off and the can reinstall it.

[1retired06]

Those 7.3 engines last forever; hope it is something easy to fix

[lasater]

X3. I had the high pressure oil line break loose on my '02 7.3. Luckily, I had AAA, so they towed it to the dealer for repairs.

I have also had the oil cooler itself break, allowing oil to get into the cooling system.(Another tow!) That time they had to flush the engine 5 or 6 times with soapy water, then flush all that out, then put in regular coolant. Of course, that was after we had to wait 4 days for a new oil cooler to be shipped into central Wyoming.

The 7.3 was still the best engine Ford has ever put in a truck. Too bad Navistar and Ford could not do business together.

[RickW]

I agree that the high pressure oil pump is the first place I would look. Loved both my 7.3L. Only then 2nd one had the high pressure oil pump and and it had to repaired a few times. Synthetic oil will find the smallest of openings and get out.

[DonandJudy_12]

The difficult to find oil leak on our 7.3 was the oil cooler the first time and the oil dip stick tube was the second and last leak we had in more than 276k miles- The 7.3 engine was discontinued because it was too costly to meet emission standards- It sure was hard for me to trade her off but our GMC Duramax/Allison has finally replaced the old girl in my heart- JMHO- Don

[Art-n-Marge]

So far I have received two legal documents to sign onto a list of lawyer companies who are trying to (or did) set up lawsuits to Ford about their 6.0 engines. So far, with 93,250 miles and 7 years of ownership I have not had ANY major issues out of pocket. Under warranty I have had a rear engine seal problem and was repaired under warranty. The only other things were a broken rim which they replaced free (took a days days but used the spare in the meantime), and some dead batteries and a failed alternator, and I don't consider any of these things part of the 6.0 motor.

From many MOCers who have posted there have been several problems - fuel injectors, turbo, hoses - and these are categorized as part of the 6.0 problems in the lawyer letters, but so far (and I keep many body parts crossed) I have been okay. My warranty ends at 120,000 and then the worry really starts.

Has anyone else gotten these letters? Just curious. I certainly don't really want to start anything, but I fear I may have. Good luck in either case.

[7.3Ford]

Ford Dealer called, it was the Oil Pump seals, $350-400 as long as the pump hosing is not cracked (not likely he said). Since the truck is 12 years old, I told them to replace all the hoses and belt, one brake pad is getting low, and one ball join. I also wanted the rubber hose on the fuel tank replaced. Told him to fix it all (will be around 2,000), since all are original I can't complain. Only thing I have had to do is change oil, tires, and fuel filter. Granted truck only has 74,000 miles on it, but it is 12 years old.

[RickW]

It will be well worth the money. My father still has my '93 F250. Runs as good as the day I bought it 20 years ago. Even had a buddy of mine call last week to see if we would sell him the truck.

[RJI47]

Might be the oil pan. The 7.3, as excellent an engine that it is, is notorious for rusting oil pans. When I had mine, the dealer wanted $4k to replace it because the engine has to come out. I found out later that there are some that will replace it by just lifting it up some, and the cost is somewhat less. Good luck with yours.

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by Art-n-Marge

So far I have received two legal documents to sign onto a list of lawyer companies who are trying to (or did) set up lawsuits to Ford about their 6.0 engines. So far, with 93,250 miles and 7 years of ownership I have not had ANY major issues out of pocket. Under warranty I have had a rear engine seal problem and was repaired under warranty. The only other things were a broken rim which they replaced free (took a days days but used the spare in the meantime), and some dead batteries and a failed alternator, and I don't consider any of these things part of the 6.0 motor.

From many MOCers who have posted there have been several problems - fuel injectors, turbo, hoses - and these are categorized as part of the 6.0 problems in the lawyer letters, but so far (and I keep many body parts crossed) I have been okay. My warranty ends at 120,000 and then the worry really starts.

Has anyone else gotten these letters? Just curious. I certainly don't really want to start anything, but I fear I may have. Good luck in either case.

Have received no such letters. Put 140K (almost all tow) on my 6.0 before trading, without any issues or problems, other than a couple of reflashes. I thought mine was a great engine.

[Slufoot733]

RJI47, you right about those oil pans. Mine rusted and leaked on my '99 F250 at only five years old. I ended up fixing it myself with JB Weld (love that stuff). Best estimate I got was $1300 IF they could do it without pulling the engine. I drained the oil, scraped the pan and 'polished' it with a stiff wire wheel. I found three holes under all that rust. I dimpled the holes in with a ball peen hammer and cleaned them very well. I then applied JB Weld in layers (about 4 total) until I had the entire bottom of the pan covered. I then sanded it smooth and painted everything. Had the truck three more years and no more leaks. But I had a nasty chat with Ford about the cheap, lousy metal they used for the oil pans.

[Tom S.]

quote:Originally posted by 7.3Ford

Ford Dealer called, it was the Oil Pump seals, $350-400 as long as the pump hosing is not cracked (not likely he said). Since the truck is 12 years old, I told them to replace all the hoses and belt, one brake pad is getting low, and one ball join. I also wanted the rubber hose on the fuel tank replaced. Told him to fix it all (will be around 2,000), since all are original I can't complain. Only thing I have had to do is change oil, tires, and fuel filter. Granted truck only has 74,000 miles on it, but it is 12 years old.

Some people - not you, obviously - think once they buy a car, they never have to anything else to it except add gas and replace tires and brakes. A salesman once told me he put 50,000 on a car each year and never changed the oil! While these people may get away with it for a while, lack of maintenance will eventually catch up to them. Good call on replacing that stuff!

[7.3Ford]

Ford dealer call, my truck is ready to pickup. Was to late tonight, so DW will drive me over in the morning. Fixed High Pressure Oil Pump, replaced all hoses and belts, replaced rubber hose on filler neck (was leaking in winter, fine in summer), front brakes, and one ball join was showing play (so I had it replaced). I had them really go over the truck, and that was all they came up with. Total cost $1,860.28

I don't have any rust on my oil pan btw, I try to stay away from salted roads when I can, and rise off under belly as soon as I can when encountered.

[Champ_49]

quote:Originally posted by 7.3Ford

Ford dealer call, my truck is ready to pickup. Was to late tonight, so DW will drive me over in the morning. Fixed High Pressure Oil Pump, replaced all hoses and belts, replaced rubber hose on filler neck (was leaking in winter, fine in summer), front brakes, and one ball join was showing play (so I had it replaced). I had them really go over the truck, and that was all they came up with. Total cost $1,860.28

I don't have any rust on my oil pan btw, I try to stay away from salted roads when I can, and rise off under belly as soon as I can when encountered.

Good call on your part John. I would do the same thing. I took my truck to the garage to have some things done on it and they found a ball joint that was getting rather loose and they called to let me know. I told them to change all four as if one was bad the others are getting close. While doing the ball joints they had to unhook the tie rods of course and when he took off one nut realized that was way to easy and looked at it and found the stud of the tie rod broken 90% thru and rust. That stud was broken for a very long time and was only being held by a piece no bigger than a pin head. Truck had 80,000 miles on it and we come to the conclusion that it was probably like that from the day it was built because no one had ever touched it before. It was seated real well in the tapered hole but dang scary!!

Maintenence is the life of any vehicle, neglect will find you aalong side the road somewhere on a friday night and no where to go!!

Dave

[gkidsdlite]

You have convinced me!!! I am going to keep my 01 w/7.3 instead of buying a new 6.7 as was suggested by a ford trained mechanic when I started checking into the new engine! He asked me what I had and I told him he said "I would keep the 7.3" I'm sure if he was working for a dealer his advice would have been different. He has his own shop with noone to answer to but his customers.

[Champ_49]

For me the 6.7 needs more run time. It looks very promising way more so than the 6.0 and the 6.4, but it's still relatively new and not many miles on it. 7.3 Has always been the good one for Ford.

Dave

[7.3Ford]

Picked up truck today. Looks like they replaced the rubber fuel line from transfer tank, not the fuel filler neck hose I requested, but other than that, everything seems to be good.

Engine idles better than when I dropped it off. I believe the HP Oil Pump work with the injectors, so that would make since. Before I drop it off the Edge Monitor showed the idle RPM all over the place +/- 50 RPM, now it is +/- 5.