Maybe you can explain something to me because I truly don't understand. I have been doing my own research, reading forums, watching videos, etc...and there is one thing I just can't get my head around.
As I said in my first post my 2000 F250 is the first diesel I bought and it's the only 7.3 I have owned. However, we had them on the farm growing up so I've been driving them for years and they always worked. We never had any problems with any of them and we USED them. I've never had a problem with my 2000. The body has literally started falling off around the motor but the motor still runs GREAT. I know several people who have or have had the 6.0 and they all had nothing but problems with them.
In my research I always hear the same thing over and over and over again. "The 6.0 can be a great reliable motor IF you do XYZ." "The 6.0 will last and be reliable if you baby it." And/Or, "Sure the 7.3 is a good reliable motor but it's a dinosaur and it's past it's time." Why would anyone "want" a motor that doesn't just work right out of the box? Or a motor that you have to baby. When I say we USED the trucks on the farm I mean it. We worked those things HARD and yet they still always worked.
I also hear that the 6.0 is more powerful than the 7.3 but that's not been my experience. Both of mine are stock and the 7.3 will pull circles around the 6.0. I will admit that the 6.0 has the 7.3 off the line every time but by 20 mph that 7.3 walks away from the 6.0. What good is more horse power on paper if it doesn't translate to more pulling power on the street?
When I say this keep in mind we are only talking 7.3 vs 6.0. I had the owner of a Ford dealership (who still turns wrench for the dealership) tell me that he wouldn't give me a nickel for an entire truck load of 6.0's and would gladly take the 7.3 back any day. That says something! I mean if the Ford guy who got his start as a wrench turner right out of high school, worked his way up through, and is now the owner of the dealership thinks the 6.0 is junk. Doesn't that scream stay away from this thing?
Of the stuff I read and see online, plus my experiences, it really sounds/looks to me like people are trying to sell (to themselves and everyone else) something that just isn't that good. I just don't understand.
Sorry, i dont go off what others say about them, i go by personal experience. We ran them in fleet applications (still do) and by far they get the best mileage and we have very very few issues with them. Of course, farmers typically have a slightly different idea of "good maintenance" than corporations that keep their trucks running down the road...
If your 7.3 is faster than your six oh, your six oh has issues. Babying a six liter is about the worst thing you can do to it.
Think back in time, around 03 is when diesel tech really took off. We had the transition on many different platforms from mechanical to electronic. Along with that came a learning curve for the techs. most of the 6.0's bad rep came from misdiagnosed issues and parts being thrown at them because most guys didnt have a clue how to fix them.
The other thing to remember is the introduction of emissions equipment. That was unproven and a learning curve for manufacturers. Be assured, if someone slapped EGR on a 7.3, can you imagine how gutless they would be and how gummed up the engines would get???
Instead of blaming the engine, attempt to understand the slightly larger picture.
That being said, im not blind to the fact there are seemingly inherent issues that should be less common with them, and are non existent on other platforms. I still dont see these engines as turds and wouldnt hesitate to run one personally at any point.