7.3 failures and oil discussion

[superbooty]

Yes agreed. This has made me worried about letting the truck idle at all since that is assumed to be one of the contributors to these early failures.

I don’t let my old trucks idle much anyway but I'm extra paranoid on the 2025.

Do what you want with it. Does not seem to be any issues on the 24 and up models for the most part. A lifter de laminating is a metallurgy issue and would happen no matter how you treat the engine. There are hundreds of thousands of these trucks and engine out there, if there was a real issue we would know instead of reading a forum post every now and then about it.

 

[MVI]

Hoping the crew that toured the KY truck plant today asked about the 7.3 lifter/cam and oil pressure issues. I’m willing to bet they’re nowhere near as common as it seems on the internet.

- There are three variants of the current 7.3L engine.

• Super Duty Pickup Variant: The high-output version is offered in the F-250 and F-350 pickups.
  • 2020–2022: 430 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque.
  • 2023–Present: 430 horsepower and 485 lb-ft of torque.
• Commercial/Chassis Cab Variants: A de-tuned version is used in larger commercial vehicles for improved longevity and low-end torque.
  • Premium: Found in models like the F-450, F-550, and E-Series vans, it produces 350 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque.
  • Economy: Another variant for E-Series vans, it is rated at 300 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque for maximum fuel efficiency.
• Aftermarket "Megazilla" Crate Engine: For enthusiasts, Ford Performance offers a higher-performance crate engine version.
  • Megazilla: The naturally aspirated Megazilla boasts 615 horsepower and 638 lb-ft of torque.

As I understand it from my limited research before ordering the 2024 F350.... The lifter issue is primarily associated with the Commercial/Chassis engines that are de-tuned ( 350hp and 300hp ) and idle a lot. For example, Box trucks or Rental trucks used for Deliveries etc....

The 7.3L Godzilla's stock oil pressure specification is low, especially at idle, with the factory setting being around 8 psi at hot idle, might be higher on the +2023's.
This is due to its variable oil pump, designed for fuel economy and longer oil change intervals. Not Fords best idea.

As for Lifter Failures, The low hot-idle oil pressure has been linked to lifter failures in early 2020-2021 Godzilla engines, though Ford claims later models have resolved this issue. Oil pressure set at idle to 10-20 psi could help prevent these issues.
I have yet to look at my service manual, but I bet there is a port one could add a real oil psi gauge it, or one of the guys with a tuner could tell us what the real oil psi readings are

Summary IMO ---> The 2023+ 430 hp Super Duty engines should not be as susceptible to lifter issues.
Especially when Driven with authority,
YMMV

 

[ccradier]

I have never seen lower than 20 psi hot idle oil pressure, 12 of 2019 build date.

 

[MVI]

I have never seen lower than 20 psi hot idle oil pressure, 12 of 2019 build date.

I wonder if your whipple ecu flash up'd the oil pressure from stock.

Pls advise if you know.

 

[ccradier]

I wonder if you whipple ecu flash up'd the oil pressure from stock.

Pls advise if you know.

That I don't know, they are pretty tight lipped about changes they make.

 

[viven44]

Do what you want with it. Does not seem to be any issues on the 24 and up models for the most part. A lifter de laminating is a metallurgy issue and would happen no matter how you treat the engine. There are hundreds of thousands of these trucks and engine out there, if there was a real issue we would know instead of reading a forum post every now and then about it.

I had heard it had to do with the oil pump design and low oil pressure at idle.... did they change anything in that regard in 2024 ? Or was the metallurgy improved ?

Edit: just saw the reply from MVI that answers my questions

 

[superbooty]

- There are three variants of the current 7.3L engine.

• Super Duty Pickup Variant: The high-output version is offered in the F-250 and F-350 pickups.
  • 2020–2022: 430 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque.
  • 2023–Present: 430 horsepower and 485 lb-ft of torque.
• Commercial/Chassis Cab Variants: A de-tuned version is used in larger commercial vehicles for improved longevity and low-end torque.
  • Premium: Found in models like the F-450, F-550, and E-Series vans, it produces 350 horsepower and 468 lb-ft of torque.
  • Economy: Another variant for E-Series vans, it is rated at 300 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque for maximum fuel efficiency.
• Aftermarket "Megazilla" Crate Engine: For enthusiasts, Ford Performance offers a higher-performance crate engine version.
  • Megazilla: The naturally aspirated Megazilla boasts 615 horsepower and 638 lb-ft of torque.

As I understand it from my limited research before ordering the 2024 F350.... The lifter issue is primarily associated with the Commercial/Chassis engines that are de-tuned ( 350hp and 300hp ) and idle a lot. For example, Box trucks or Rental trucks used for Deliveries etc....

The 7.3L Godzilla's stock oil pressure specification is low, especially at idle, with the factory setting being around 8 psi at hot idle.
This is due to its variable oil pump, designed for fuel economy and longer oil change intervals. Not Fords best idea.

As for Lifter Failures, The low hot-idle oil pressure has been linked to lifter failures in early 2020-2021 Godzilla engines, though Ford claims later models have resolved this issue. Oil pressure set at idle to 10-20 psi could help prevent these issues.
I have yet to look at my service manual, but I bet there is a port one could add a real oil psi gauge it, or one of the guys with a tuner could tell us what the real oil psi readings are

Summary IMO ---> The 2023+ 430 hp Super Duty engines should not be as susceptible to lifter issues.
Especially when Driven with authority,
YMMV

Only thing that here to note is that the MINIMUM oil pressure for the engine is 8 PSI. Any lower and an engine light will come on. There seems to be debate about what normal oil pressure is at idle (and how Ford conveniently doesn't let us see the number on the dash). Just important to note that the minimum does not necessarily mean that is what it idles at.

Agreed that most failures were in the early Godzillas and in box trucks. Later model pickups seem to be solid.

 

[Tex_Hunter]

Later model pickups seem to be solid.

Except for there's like 6 that have popped up in the last couple of months just on here, including some that are newer.

 

[superbooty]

Except for there's like 6 that have popped up in the last couple of months just on here, including some that are newer.

Got links? I have not seen any of those.