Posted 2014-11-29 4:28 PM (#161843) Subject: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391 Location: Columbia, KY
We're thinking about upgrading trucks. Currently I have a 2000 F350 duelly w/ the 7.3 L. It's been very dependable, hauls great, and has low miles. It's got a standard transmission which I kinda like but my husband hates. We're thinking about getting a 2010 F350 4x4 with the 6.4 L engine. Several of my friends have said to keep the old truck and stay away from the 6.4 L. Are they really that bad? Also our mechanic said they get horrible fuel milage. I've heard the new trucks w/ the 6.7 L are pretty good, but hate to spend that much $$.Just looking for more opinions please. pros? cons? thanks!
Posted 2014-11-29 9:08 PM (#161846 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
I have an 08 F350 crew cab 4x4 with the 6.4 and get roughly 8.5 with it. I also have a 11 F350 crew 4x4 and have started to get roughly 13 mpg with it empty. The only issue the 08 has had for me is radiators replaced multiple times.
Posted 2014-11-30 5:49 PM (#161854 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Idaho
A truck that is very dependable, hauls great, and has low miles and a standard transmission. I would keep it, in my opinion the 7.3L was the best motor Ford ever made, nothing since even comes close. I would keep the truck and offer to drive so hubby doesn't have to.
Posted 2014-11-30 7:11 PM (#161856 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Member
Posts: 11
Location: Tucson, AZ
I have an 2002 7.3. OFTEN I am approached and asked if I would sell it. . . . . NEVER! Best truck/engine I have ever owned. Friend of mine sold her 7.3, purchased an 04, HATED it. She traded the 04 in for a 2011, HATES it! Wishes she never got rid of her 7.31! KEEP THE 7.3!
Posted 2014-11-30 9:19 PM (#161857 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Member
Posts: 19
If you delete the dpf and the egr the 6.4 have been proven very dependable. Plus they have twice the power of a old 7.3. We got a delete kit and progammer from Spartan diesel and the power is awesome and it now gets about 4 miles to a gallon better now that I am running a spartan tune.
Posted 2014-12-01 2:25 AM (#161858 - in reply to #161857) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by high fire_22 on 2014-11-30 9:19 PM
If you delete the dpf and the egr the 6.4 have been proven very dependable. Plus they have twice the power of a old 7.3. We got a delete kit and progammer from Spartan diesel and the power is awesome and it now gets about 4 miles to a gallon better now that I am running a spartan tune.
If you fiddle with emissions...DO NOT HAUL COMMERCIAL...you will be caught at a DOT checkpoint...they're starting to check
Posted 2014-12-01 5:19 AM (#161859 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 391 Location: Columbia, KY
Thanks for all your responses! OK I know this is a really stupid question but if the general concencis (sp?) is that the 7.3 was the best engine Ford makes wonder why they don't offer them anymore? My 2000 has plenty of power once it gets going, but unless I get a good runway up a long hill it takes quite a while to get up to speed. Other than that, I absolutely love it. Plus it's PAID for.
Posted 2014-12-01 7:33 AM (#161861 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 399 Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
I believe Govt. emission standards made Ford change engines in 03. I drive a 2001 Ford F350 that has 367,000 miles on it; and has never had the engine OR the automatic transmission touched. If you have low miles on your truck.............by all means keep driving it!!
If your bent on trading, I can put you in touch with a young man that is excellent on Ford diesels, and can make sick 6.0's; 6.4's run flawlessly.
Posted 2014-12-01 1:31 PM (#161870 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
It's quite easy to upgrade the 7.3 with torque and HP improvements, with "chips"/programers available from many sources. The addition of a larger diameter exhaust system also increases both. These additions are far less expensive than purchasing a new truck and will not affect reliability if used in their "towing" modes. Most also offer fuel savings as well.
Posted 2014-12-01 1:49 PM (#161871 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by acy on 2014-11-29 4:28 PM
We're thinking about upgrading trucks. Currently I have a 2000 F350 duelly w/ the 7.3 L. It's been very dependable, hauls great, and has low miles. It's got a standard transmission which I kinda like but my husband hates. We're thinking about getting a 2010 F350 4x4 with the 6.4 L engine. Several of my friends have said to keep the old truck and stay away from the 6.4 L. Are they really that bad? Also our mechanic said they get horrible fuel milage. I've heard the new trucks w/ the 6.7 L are pretty good, but hate to spend that much $$.Just looking for more opinions please. pros? cons? thanks!
First off DO NOT get rid of your 7.3!Second, The 6.4's are actually pretty good engines (after you delete the erg mess from them!) But the fuel mileage is still bad no matter what you do to them. I have upgraded them to tow which they do super at and also tried to adjust them strictly for fuel mileage and the best I have ever done with a 2009 regular cab 2 wheel drive, 6.4L, automatic truck driving easy was 17mpg and that is truck only NOT towing anything! Which in my opinion was not worth the money spent trying for better mileage.
Posted 2014-12-01 5:15 PM (#161873 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Member
Posts: 30 Location: Eminence KY
Drive a single wheel 350 08 at the best not pulling in town 11.5 mpg.
MY f350 04 6.0 4wd dully @ 16 . Only than a oil cooler did a egr kit .
while doing the oil cooler . it has done well.
Posted 2014-12-01 5:35 PM (#161877 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I owned a 2000 7.3L, a 2003 and 2006 6.0L and now a 2011 6.7L.My current 2011 truck has 140,000 miles on it and I think it is much better than any of my previous trucks.I 18 mpg empty on the highway at 80 mph, I've gotten as high as 22 mpg at 65 mph.I get 11-11.5 towing my 13,000 lbs of GN horse trailer.It always starts no matter how cold and has had no engine work other than oil and filter changes.
Posted 2014-12-02 6:08 AM (#161880 - in reply to #161843) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
Irrespective of the engine, a truck is the sum of its parts, not just the engine. And trucks have come a long way in 15 years. Better brakes, suspensions, and more. The debate over a 7.3 vs. a 6.4 touches on only a small part.
Now, I had a 6.4 and couldn't pass a fuel pump. But, the new 6.7s I've driven are another story. I loved my 99, 00, and 01 7.3 duallys, but they weren't near the truck these 15s are.
Posted 2014-12-13 8:32 PM (#162051 - in reply to #161859) Subject: RE: 6.4 L - should we buy it?
Veteran
Posts: 264 Location: Sumas Washington
Originally written by acy on 2014-12-01 3:19 AM
Thanks for all your responses! OK I know this is a really stupid question but if the general concencis (sp?) is that the 7.3 was the best engine Ford makes wonder why they don't offer them anymore? My 2000 has plenty of power once it gets going, but unless I get a good runway up a long hill it takes quite a while to get up to speed. Other than that, I absolutely love it. Plus it's PAID for.
Ford never made any of the Diesel P/U engines untell the 6.7 came out. They had International trucks build the 6.9s 7.3s 6.0s and the 6.4s. The relationship ended with several lawsuits over who (Ford or International) would pay the excessive warranty claims on engine failures with the 6.0s and the 6.4s. Just as a point of reference GOOGLE Ford ambulance class action suit.
6.4 L - should we buy it?
