Honest opinions on the powerstroke - Puhleezze???

[E7mack96]

I am looking at 2 box trucks.



They both have powerstrokes in them. One is a 2000 f 550 ($28,000) and the other is a 2001 e450 ($23,000) . They both have about 50,000 miles. They both have an auto trans.



How do these powerstorkes really hold up.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

All things being equal, they hold up just fine - probably slightly better than the dodges in the auto transmission department - they're good trucks, you'll likely be very happy with either of them - I know I would!



Well, at least if I didn't already have my '02 Dodge...

 

[rob10858]

well after initial problems with both of our 2001 550's , one auto and one manual, they have proven to be good trucks. look at the rear end ratio, we went the wrong way with both trucks, they might be good for hauling an airplane into a hanger, but on the highway, they perform like school buses, too slow, not the best on fuel, but deliver the goods.

 

[E7mack96]

gears

the F-550 has 4. 88:1 gears.



The E-450 has 4. 30:1 gears



Is a 488 too much. I was concerned about this fact from the get-go. Our Ram gets 22mpgs delivering the goods, I want a bigger truck that gets close to the same. Not one that performs like a gasser.

 

[R.E. Miller]

Contrary to what many say on this site, the Powerstroke is a good engine. It, like many other things out there will last a long time if you take care of it. Figure this: By and large, what engine sound do you associate with these important vehicles> Ambulance and Tow truck



Russell

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"what engine sound do you associate with these important vehicles> Ambulance and Tow truck "



Careful there - the last Ford 550 tow truck *I* saw, had a Cummins B 5. 9 in it!



Dunno about ambulances last time I was in one of those, I had other things on my mind...

 

[Deezul1]

The big thing that pushed me from being a Ford guy to to driving a Dodge was that the Powerstroke engine requires an additive in the radiator to keep cavitation from eating a hole in the cylinder wall. As I also was buying used it looked like a risky thing. I am way happier with the Dodge than I thought I would be and love the Cummins.

 

[Motorhead]

E7mack96, WE have three 28 footer internationals at UPS that have the 444E (powerstroke). Two of them have about 360,000 miles without a head or pan off. They are both sticks and believe me, they aren't shown any mercy. They both top speed govern at 68 mph. They are not tached out at that speed but I think the computer is set at that. They all use some oil. Ours have a filter/annode on the water pump for the cavitation thing. It looks like a spin-on filter. They are getting a little slower than when they were new but they have held up good! Chris

 

[drees1]

E7Mack96,



4. 88 is not too much if you run heavy or do stop and go. We maxed out F-550 at 18,000 (service mechanics truck) and then towed a 10,000 trailer. They will run out at 80 with auto overdrive, and 19. 5 tires. I think they pull much better with the 4. 88. These trucks are local use and you always see high rpm on the highway. If you want an interstate cruiser, maybe lower gearing, 4. 10, but I would not do it unless light weight. The powerstroke needs more rpm to get into the meat of the powerband, so let it rev.



We ran a fleet of about 10 or so out of our store and they are good for the most part. Auto is better for reliability. We had the 2 PIECE FLYWHEEL blow on one of the manual trans and it took out the trans and bell housing (all 1 piece of pot metal by the way). Also had an alternator go out and a few injectors. Overall, a good truck in fleet use. We run them hard and keep them 7 - 10 years. Really, no one can compete above 10500 gvw. They are the only choice as far as chassis for 12,500 to 19,500 now. Thats truck GVW, not combined.



When you buy cab and chassis, you realize no one else makes anything in that range.

 

[COBRAJET]

The cavitation is really not that big of a problem on a PSD, it was an issue on the old 6. 9 and 7. 3. Most PSD owners change the antifreeze every 30K with antifreeze purchased from INTL which already has the additive in it... about $6. 00 a gallon.



Who put the 5. 9 in an F550? It is not available from Ford that way. A 650/750 is, but no way in a F550 which has the same body style as an F350.



I have had 3 PSD's and another one on order. They have all been very good trucks. This is my second Cummins. In general I have had less problems with the Cummins powerplant than the PSD... but only minor stuff on the PSD's... relays and some glowplugs. I have had more issues non engine related on the Dodge's... but nothing major just annoying.



My father had the 93 Cummins up to about 6 months ago. It had a little over 300K on it. My 96 PSD still belongs to my brother. It has 290K on it. It has a new auto and no major engine problems. It still gets 18-19mpg on the freeway and uses little oil.

My old 99. 5 belongs to a local contractor who works it like it should be. It has around 100k and runs like a top. It was modified quite a bit with a BTS auto in it. The transmission has around 40K on it without any problems. The truck grosses at around 22k most of the time.



I am not really loyal to either brand. My biggest stumbling block has been the lack and CONTINUED lack of a four door version from Dodge... . CJ

 

[R.E. Miller]

Cavitation Woes.

Cavitation in the PSD is not a weakness at all, it is more like the reality that surrounds all heavy duty diesels. Using DCA test strips and adjusting the DCA takes not time at all, and should not be a deciding factor on purchasing a PSD. Getting oil all over your hands and driveway/shop floor/gravel/dirt/grass when changing the oil filter without using a bag might be Just kidding fellas.



Russell

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

CJ - the 550/Cummins I saw wasn't a new Ford - looked to be maybe 5-7 years old or so? As I walked by, the guy was loading a Ford 250 on it to take it to the shop for a differential seal replacement, I could hear that the engine was NOT an international, and asked the driver what it was, and he told me it was a Cummins B 5. 9 - since I knew Ford DOES use the Cummins 5. 9 in their heavier trucks, I never thought any more about it - the 550 emblem was quite obvious on the fender of the truck...



As far as the anti-cavitation coolent additive, even Cummins uses that in their larger engines...

 

[rkressg]

I use to work for an auto wrecking company that did both private calls and those for AAA. We had a fleet of all variety of trucks, we has about 15 f550 with the 7. 3l Powerstroke. We never shut these trucks off, they were all right vehicals. They got the living snot beat out of them and failures were very rare. I am not saying they never broke; but they ran more than they were in the shop. They were driven over 150,000 miles a year. All of the ford trucks had the 6-speed manual. If you just keep up with the maintance, they should last for a long time.



The only trucks we had any problems with were the Chevy 3500HD. The 6. 5l diesel is much better for abuse than the new Duralax. The main problem was the front end did not weigh enough and when you would go to pick up a heavy vehical on the wheel lift, it would pick up the front end of the truck.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I chose Dodge over Ford because I bought used. I feel the Cummins is a little more forgiving then the PSD if not maintained or driven somewhat correctly. I don't like the A piller on the Dodge, and I don't like the lack of manual lockout hubs. I have given up trying to keep the carpet dry on the drivers side.



Realistically, I don't think I will ever make it to a Freightliner Sportchassis or something similar. But I would like more truck and really need the 4x4 anyway. If I can keep growing my horse business, I will be looking real hard at an F550. Only thing sweeter would be a tilt hood.



I have a friend with a 92 7. 3 with around 180k. He had some pump issues early on because of fuel formulation changes and burns glow plugs out now and then but other than that it runs well.

 

[drees1]

The F550 cab and chassis goes up to 19,500 gvw now. For only a few thou more, you can get a Sterling (Ford) Acterra starting at 20,000 gvw. It has tilt hood, CAT 3126, 6 speed available. It has low pro rubber, and sits down like those GM and International Low pros. With the Acterra, you do not have a big jump up in cost or GVW from the F550. Put a pick up bed on it!



I bought a F550 for our fleet, and by the time it came in the Acterra was available. Since we are a CAT dealer, it was depressing that I did not wait for the chassis with the CAT engine.

 

[Ncostello]

I've seen more than a few ambulances with worn out PSD's. I haven't seen one with more than 100K that didn't develop some serious problems... like blown cyl heads, holes in block from connecting rods... etc. After 100K in emergency applications, their history in my experience. Of course they get the holy crap ran out of them by people who only know how to put fuel in the tank and thats about it... . and I'm speaking only of our local ambulance crews.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Originally posted by drees1

The F550 cab and chassis goes up to 19,500 gvw now. For only a few thou more, you can get a Sterling (Ford) Acterra starting at 20,000 gvw. It has tilt hood, CAT 3126, 6 speed available. It has low pro rubber, and sits down like those GM and International Low pros. With the Acterra, you do not have a big jump up in cost or GVW from the F550. Put a pick up bed on it!



I bought a F550 for our fleet, and by the time it came in the Acterra was available. Since we are a CAT dealer, it was depressing that I did not wait for the chassis with the CAT engine.

No doubt that the trucks in that range make for a nice rig. But going back to my comment, I really do need the 4x4 just to get up my driveway. If I get to the point where I don't need a day job and get rid of my commute, the F550 would fill most of my needs.



No pick up beds for me. Present truck has an aluminum flat. The next one will be set up to dump as well with dual cylinders so I can still have room for a gooseneck ball.