7.3 Godzilla reliability

X5Pilot said:
I have a Whipple on mine, and I debated adding an oil pressure sender on the spot where the oil pressure switch is now. Someone makes an adapter where you can add the sender there, and also have the OEM switch there too. I elected to forgo that as I already have an oil pressure set up that goes on the oil filter housing. It's called an oil filter sandwich, and it was easy to install and can get to the sender easily if it fails. The oil filter screws onto the sandwich. My 2024 shows 18 psi at idle when the oil is 195 degrees.
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Can you send a link to this as I would like to add a digital sender to connect to my Banks and attaching at the OF housing sounds great!
 
This appears to be the correct one.....

www.glowshiftdirect.com

22mm 1.5 Oil Filter Sandwich Sensor Thread Adapter

GlowShift Oil Filter Sandwich Adapters with a 22mm 1.5 Thread Make It Easy to Install Oil Pressure or Temp Sensors Using the Oil Filter Mounting Location.
www.glowshiftdirect.com www.glowshiftdirect.com
 
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Thats kinda the best way to do it
 
830Tremor said:
I am making this post to help others who might be on the fence with the 7.3 Godzilla. If you want something reliable consider other options! Pay the extra for the 6.7 and at minimum take advantage of the additional (included) warranty. At time of my purchase warranty was 60k on the 7.3 and the 6.7 was 100k. If I recall the 6.7 was $7k increase in price over the 7.3.

I took delivery of my 2022 F250 7.3L Tremor August 2021. Since then I put 91,500 miles on it daily driving.
Occasionally towing my utility trailer (2-3x monthly) and small 20’ travel trailer several times per year. The truck/motor was honestly great until it wasn’t. I had hoped to get 200k on it as I have in past trucks! But at 91,500 miles I had lifter failure on cylinder 2.

Ford motorcraft synthetic blend every 5k miles. Switched to Shell platinum full synthetic high mileage at 75k still 5k intervals. I’ll have to check idle and running hours when I get it back. But it’s been driven from point A to B most days. Little traffic… averaging 55mph 60 miles daily (my guess).

I had the option to repair for $8800 with 2 year parts warranty or replace for $12500 with 3 yr unlimited mileage warranty. Elected for the new motor thinking that would at least buy me up to 3 years to decide what’s next. Again I really enjoyed the truck and motor up until it failed! Maybe I’ll roll the dice for 3 more years… at least with a warranty.

The reliability of the 7.3 compared to other Ford gas ancestors is not comparable. Not from what I’ve personally experienced. While my 2022 sits in the shop I grabbed the 2003 F250 5.4 gas from the ranch with 222k original miles. Still running strong. My dad’s 2018 F250 6.2 gasser also nearing 200k original miles. I know I am not alone on experiencing 7.3 litter failure. Doesn’t take long to find other post and forums. Amazon trucks and numerous other service trucks have this common failure. I know someone who has replaced three of their F450 7.3 motors outside of warranty. Thus based on my experience and current knowledge… I would NOT consider another 7.3 gas option. Really sucks cause I had high hopes for the Godzilla back in 2021. Now I find myself browsing diesel replacement options 4 short years later and $12,500 in additional expenditures. For my situation would have been cheaper to have got the 6.7 originally… and at minimum extra 40k warranty.

Or maybe I’m thinking wrong and should trade up every 36-60k miles instead of pushing trucks 200k.

For me I will be considering the 6.7 next time…Or something else. Definitely not the 7.3 beyond warranty…

Hopes this helps others looking and weighing options. I’m sure some will oppose my thoughts but I’ve spoken on personal experience and felt it’s worth sharing.
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Some 7.3L Godzilla engines produced between 2020 and 2022 experienced cam failures.

Root cause was a metallurgical failure of the cam shaft. Ford claims this was resolved starting with 2023 model years.

Key Life Expectancy Factors:
  • Design & Reliability: The engine is built for durability over high horsepower per liter, utilizing a simple pushrod design that reduces potential failure points.
  • Commercial Use: The 7.3L is used in Class A motorhomes, medium-duty trucks, and ambulances,, frequently reaching high mileage, as noted in this YouTube video and this Reddit discussion.
  • Common Issues: While generally reliable, some early models (2020–2022) experienced issues with spark plug wires, and rare cases of cam/lifter failure.
  • Maintenance: Proper maintenance is crucial, and with regular care, it is considered a very reliable long-term engine.
    Reddit
    Reddit +5
Disclaimer: Based on early reports and design, not 20+ years of road data.
YouTube
YouTube
 
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ccradier said:
I have never seen my pressure that low. I am running a autometer full sweep gauge and sending unit.
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Maverick11 said:
Thanks for sharing. I have a 2021 with 85k. Daily driver and tow 8k travel trailer a couple thousand miles a year. So far I’ve only had to replace the plug wires. I would also love to get another 100k or more but hearing these stories always makes me wonder (anxiously)if I should trade up and hopefully avoid a catastrophic failure. Knowing my luck, it would happen on an rv trip in the middle of no where :) Most times I feel more confident about the engine than I do the transmission but this lifter issue seems to strike without warning and be fatal even with good maintenance practices. I guess only time will tell.
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2021 year model - I would be worried also.


J_Man
 
JimmyJames said:
Just had the same Thing With my 2021 7.3 Tremor 99,742 miles. At 94k I had the 100 mile service and they told me my trucked was in perfect shape. Took it in for an Oil change and thought there was a small exhaust leak. Nope, it was the lifter. Metal everywhere. I had the Extended warranty 150k miles 5 year. They are replacing the motor. However, now I think I want a new truck. Not sure what I am going to do. 6.7. Defiantly getting the Extended warranty.
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2020 to 2022… cam failures due to metallurgical / hardening failure.
 
Add me to the list of 7.3L lifter tick issues. 2022 with 58,500 miles (whew!) and sitting at the dealership now with her skirt up...... Hoping parts are not too far out.
 
Brian.Jacobson said:
Add me to the list of 7.3L lifter tick issues. 2022 with 58,500 miles (whew!) and sitting at the dealership now with her skirt up...... Hoping parts are not too far out.
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When this maintenace episode is over, your baby will have a new lease on life!

It's going without your truck that sucks.

Here's hoping it is repaired well and soon. Cheers.
 
Brian.Jacobson said:
Add me to the list of 7.3L lifter tick issues. 2022 with 58,500 miles (whew!) and sitting at the dealership now with her skirt up...... Hoping parts are not too far out.
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Our truck is making a noise. Local repair said t-chain/cam/lifter probable cause and take to Ford because of warranty but they thought the warranty went to 100 miles. Sounds like I'm hearing only 60? We have a 2021. :-(. Was going to call some Ford dealers this week (we got this truck 2 years ago from Carmax) but sounds like we'll be out of luck! Guess I should let our shop just fix it?! Any advice welcome please! We have 73k on the truck.
 
Modman said:
This is correct. Powertrain warranty is 5yr/60k mi for gas, 5yr/100k mi for diesel.
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Since it's not broken yet, should I be hopeful that our local shop should be able to fix the timing chain before it breaks?
 
AinaMar said:
Since it's not broken yet, should I be hopeful that our local shop should be able to fix the timing chain before it breaks?
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I would be shocked if it was the timing chain at 73k unless oil changes were completely neglected. Even then I'd lean toward cam/lifters more than timing chain. I’d start by localizing the noise with a stethoscope or big screwdriver. You could also inspect under the valve covers for obvious rocker/pushrod issues if you have a good inspection camera, but you won’t see the cam/lifters directly on a pushrod motor. Cutting open the oil filter can also give you some clues.

Shops are less likely to yank your chain if you go into it with a reasonable understanding of the possible issue. On the flip side, shops LOVE it when you just tell them it's making a noise 😂
 
McE said:
I would be shocked if it was the timing chain at 73k unless oil changes were completely neglected. Even then I'd lean toward cam/lifters more than timing chain. I’d start by localizing the noise with a stethoscope or big screwdriver. You could also inspect under the valve covers for obvious rocker/pushrod issues if you have a good inspection camera, but you won’t see the cam/lifters directly on a pushrod motor. Cutting open the oil filter can also give you some clues.

Shops are less likely to yank your chain if you go into it with a reasonable understanding of the possible issue. On the flip side, shops LOVE it when you just tell them it's making a noise 😂
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Yes, local Shop did suggest pulling covers and looking at rocker/lifter. I called local Ford dealer. Because it's out of warranty, he said to check with Carmax who we bought it from that. He also works with and verify that our warranty is valid or not valid. If it's valid he'll work with us. If not, I guess I let the local shop tear in and find out what they can do. 🤞🏻
 
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With the frequency of cam/lifter issues in that era (mine included), I would start there in your investigation. With the heads off, you can see the cams decently and the wear is fairly obvious. You can also pull the lifters from that point.

It may be hard to do if you haven't seen the issue before, but you can use a camera through the spark plugs to check the cylinders for vertical scratches on the cylinder walls. If they are present, its fairly likely to be caused by the cam/lifter issue. The issue with this method is the cylinder wall damage only happens after a fair bit of wear, so you will miss the early stages of failure.

I shared these on another thread, but here is a view of the bad cam seen with the heads off.
1777490520789.webp


And here are the vertical scratches on the cylinder wall that you may be able to see through the spark plug hole with a camera.

1777490556785.webp
 
Brian.Jacobson said:
With the frequency of cam/lifter issues in that era (mine included), I would start there in your investigation. With the heads off, you can see the cams decently and the wear is fairly obvious. You can also pull the lifters from that point.

It may be hard to do if you haven't seen the issue before, but you can use a camera through the spark plugs to check the cylinders for vertical scratches on the cylinder walls. If they are present, its fairly likely to be caused by the cam/lifter issue. The issue with this method is the cylinder wall damage only happens after a fair bit of wear, so you will miss the early stages of failure.

I shared these on another thread, but here is a view of the bad cam seen with the heads off.
View attachment 255323

And here are the vertical scratches on the cylinder wall that you may be able to see through the spark plug hole with a camera.

View attachment 255324
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Thank you! I just got off the phone with Carmax and it turns out we did buy the Maxcare extended warranty! We are covered until 2029 or 100 K miles! So our local Ford dealer said they would be able to help us out! Whew!😥
 
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