The 7.3 is a real good engine it is easy on oil and trouble free if they are NOT chipped or modified. they are fairley easy on oil and any of the major HDEOs are all you need and the premiun oils will also work though most likly not needed. My wife has a 2002 F250 Powerstroke since new and I have probably driven it 200 miles in all that time it is a nice enough engine and a really nice truck all things considered.
Help me choose an oil for 7.3 PSD
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Originally Posted By: mobilaltima
id recommend, the rotella 15W40, all my buddies run them in there 7.3's with no problems at all, either that or the ford motorcraft oil. they get the rotella free off the tugboats they work on.
Off topic but I worked at a forklift dealership for 17.5 years and we had commercial boat clients and they all used HDEOs of their choice and we all have our preferences but IMO they [HDEOS]are so close in quality they can't be beat .. Anyway there are people posting that feel a special marine type oil is used on marine engines The engines in the tug boats are expensive so what oil do they use in the expensive engines!!! HDEOs. You proved a point.
id recommend, the rotella 15W40, all my buddies run them in there 7.3's with no problems at all, either that or the ford motorcraft oil. they get the rotella free off the tugboats they work on.
Off topic but I worked at a forklift dealership for 17.5 years and we had commercial boat clients and they all used HDEOs of their choice and we all have our preferences but IMO they [HDEOS]are so close in quality they can't be beat .. Anyway there are people posting that feel a special marine type oil is used on marine engines The engines in the tug boats are expensive so what oil do they use in the expensive engines!!! HDEOs. You proved a point.
I'm running Mobil 1 TDT 5W-40 in my 2002 7.3L.
I also run a Donaldson ELF7405 filter intended for a Caterpillar 3406. It holds 3 quarts of oil, and has the best ratings for any full-flow oil filter I've ever seen.
15 microns absolute (98.7%)
7 microns nominal (50%)
And the price of the ELF7405 isn't too bad. A good filter will run you $18 at the store. Ryder Fleet Products has it for under $24. Order three and get them delivered to your door for less than $27 each, and no sales tax.
I also have an Amsoil bypass using a EaBP100 filter. My last OCI was 12,500 miles. Had a UOA done at 10,000 by Blackstone Labs, and the oil looked great.
Here's some pics comparing ELF7405 to a Purolator PL44872:
I also run a Donaldson ELF7405 filter intended for a Caterpillar 3406. It holds 3 quarts of oil, and has the best ratings for any full-flow oil filter I've ever seen.
15 microns absolute (98.7%)
7 microns nominal (50%)
And the price of the ELF7405 isn't too bad. A good filter will run you $18 at the store. Ryder Fleet Products has it for under $24. Order three and get them delivered to your door for less than $27 each, and no sales tax.
I also have an Amsoil bypass using a EaBP100 filter. My last OCI was 12,500 miles. Had a UOA done at 10,000 by Blackstone Labs, and the oil looked great.
Here's some pics comparing ELF7405 to a Purolator PL44872:
Originally Posted By: txgp17
I'm running Mobil 1 TDT 5W-40 in my 2002 7.3L.
I also run a Donaldson ELF7405 filter intended for a Caterpillar 3406. It holds 3 quarts of oil, and has the best ratings for any full-flow oil filter I've ever seen.
15 microns absolute (98.7%)
7 microns nominal (50%)
And the price of the ELF7405 isn't too bad. A good filter will run you $18 at the store. Ryder Fleet Products has it for under $24. Order three and get them delivered to your door for less than $27 each, and no sales tax.
I just picked up that oil filter for my 02. The thing is HUGE, best part is it will bring my total oil capacity up to 16 quarts...no more gallon jugs with one gallon cluttering up my shed.
I'm running Mobil 1 TDT 5W-40 in my 2002 7.3L.
I also run a Donaldson ELF7405 filter intended for a Caterpillar 3406. It holds 3 quarts of oil, and has the best ratings for any full-flow oil filter I've ever seen.
15 microns absolute (98.7%)
7 microns nominal (50%)
And the price of the ELF7405 isn't too bad. A good filter will run you $18 at the store. Ryder Fleet Products has it for under $24. Order three and get them delivered to your door for less than $27 each, and no sales tax.
I just picked up that oil filter for my 02. The thing is HUGE, best part is it will bring my total oil capacity up to 16 quarts...no more gallon jugs with one gallon cluttering up my shed.
Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Looks like somebody has been at a quick lube? The blue paint/wax marker is pretty common - they use them as a seal of sorts to show evidence of tampering... Tell us it's not true!
I wouldn't know that as I've never taken a vehicle to one. But I can't say with certainty that the previous owner did or didn't. The truck had 258,000 miles on it when I bought it.
Thanx for pointing that out.
Looks like somebody has been at a quick lube? The blue paint/wax marker is pretty common - they use them as a seal of sorts to show evidence of tampering... Tell us it's not true!
I wouldn't know that as I've never taken a vehicle to one. But I can't say with certainty that the previous owner did or didn't. The truck had 258,000 miles on it when I bought it.
Thanx for pointing that out.
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Originally Posted By: txgp17
Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Looks like somebody has been at a quick lube? The blue paint/wax marker is pretty common - they use them as a seal of sorts to show evidence of tampering... Tell us it's not true!
I wouldn't know that as I've never taken a vehicle to one. But I can't say with certainty that the previous owner did or didn't. The truck had 258,000 miles on it when I bought it.
Thanx for pointing that out.
We'll let you off this time....
edit: I don't go to them either, but working in a shop, you see this a fair amount.
Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Looks like somebody has been at a quick lube? The blue paint/wax marker is pretty common - they use them as a seal of sorts to show evidence of tampering... Tell us it's not true!
I wouldn't know that as I've never taken a vehicle to one. But I can't say with certainty that the previous owner did or didn't. The truck had 258,000 miles on it when I bought it.
Thanx for pointing that out.
We'll let you off this time....
edit: I don't go to them either, but working in a shop, you see this a fair amount.
Last edited:
I ran Mobil TDT 5W-40 when I first bought the truck, but 4X $23.00 is too much for me. So now I buy whatever properly rated 15W-40 is on sale. I have 4 gallons of 10W-30 for the upcoming winter change. It was hard to start with 15W-40 this last winter.
Most of the truck forums strongly advise against extending OCI's in the 7.3 because the injection system uses the engine oil as a working fluid. Since that may be correct, synthetics can't be a good idea @ $90+ per 5K miles.
I have a Pure Power cleanable oil filter. It keeps the oil so clean that you can see through it even a month later. Taking is apart is a snap, clean it with Simple Green, blow dry, reassemble and install.
I expect to have the truck until I quit driving, because by all accounts the engine could go 500-700K miles. So, be vigilant with your fluids, and don't get too wound up with goosing the power. Then you will have a truck for about as long as you want.
Most of the truck forums strongly advise against extending OCI's in the 7.3 because the injection system uses the engine oil as a working fluid. Since that may be correct, synthetics can't be a good idea @ $90+ per 5K miles.
I have a Pure Power cleanable oil filter. It keeps the oil so clean that you can see through it even a month later. Taking is apart is a snap, clean it with Simple Green, blow dry, reassemble and install.
I expect to have the truck until I quit driving, because by all accounts the engine could go 500-700K miles. So, be vigilant with your fluids, and don't get too wound up with goosing the power. Then you will have a truck for about as long as you want.
Seems like this engine is calling for Rotella T6 5W-40
Originally Posted By: 2cool
I ran Mobil TDT 5W-40 when I first bought the truck, but 4X $23.00 is too much for me. So now I buy whatever properly rated 15W-40 is on sale. I have 4 gallons of 10W-30 for the upcoming winter change. It was hard to start with 15W-40 this last winter.
Most of the truck forums strongly advise against extending OCI's in the 7.3 because the injection system uses the engine oil as a working fluid. Since that may be correct, synthetics can't be a good idea @ $90+ per 5K miles.
I have a Pure Power cleanable oil filter. It keeps the oil so clean that you can see through it even a month later. Taking is apart is a snap, clean it with Simple Green, blow dry, reassemble and install.
I expect to have the truck until I quit driving, because by all accounts the engine could go 500-700K miles. So, be vigilant with your fluids, and don't get too wound up with goosing the power. Then you will have a truck for about as long as you want.
what kind of filter media is that? 240$... ouch
I ran Mobil TDT 5W-40 when I first bought the truck, but 4X $23.00 is too much for me. So now I buy whatever properly rated 15W-40 is on sale. I have 4 gallons of 10W-30 for the upcoming winter change. It was hard to start with 15W-40 this last winter.
Most of the truck forums strongly advise against extending OCI's in the 7.3 because the injection system uses the engine oil as a working fluid. Since that may be correct, synthetics can't be a good idea @ $90+ per 5K miles.
I have a Pure Power cleanable oil filter. It keeps the oil so clean that you can see through it even a month later. Taking is apart is a snap, clean it with Simple Green, blow dry, reassemble and install.
I expect to have the truck until I quit driving, because by all accounts the engine could go 500-700K miles. So, be vigilant with your fluids, and don't get too wound up with goosing the power. Then you will have a truck for about as long as you want.
what kind of filter media is that? 240$... ouch
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