'93-'94.5 ford turbo diesel

[mookie]

can anyone tell me about the direct injection 7.3 turbo diesel that ford sold in '93 and '94? reliability, and comparison to the later powerstroke 7.3?

[82F100SWB]

It's not a direct injection engine... It's a 7.3 IDI with an ATS kit on it....

[texascadillac42]

I ran one, a 94 IDI turbo. Stock it sucked, BAD. After putting on a 3" downpipe from ATS, 5" exhaust, and turning up the fuel screw a few turns she ran pretty well. The wastegate is set from the factory to about 5psi, basically useless. The stock headgasket will take 13 all day long, so some wastegate adjustements go along way to improving performance. A bigger intake and a BHAF type filter will help as well. The motors are ridiculously simple to work on, and the only real problem with them is cavitation if the SCA levels arent maintained correctly in the cooling system. Most guys look over these trucks cause they arent a Powerstroke. But with a few mods, this motor will pull VERY well. There are even a few companies selling badass injection pumps and injectors for them.

[82F100SWB]

I will definatley vouch for an IDI being EXTREMELY simple, you open the hood, and instead of bundles of wirtes going everywhere(like a Stroker) there's an engine... The most complicated electrical part on the engine is the glow plug controller, and it's hardly a complicated piece of equipment... LOL
I have no experience with running a turbo on an IDI, I know that my 6.9 is no rocket, but, it is very respictable for a N/A engine.

[Jrod-13]

My buddies grandpa has one in a 93' F-250, it's still going strong at 310K, and has no problems pulling a 16K skidder on a triaxle gooseneck.. before that it was used for hauling hay between ND and MN

[FF3PM]

Very good reliable engines. If you tow with them get gages. They are all mechanical so no chips or programmers. They do make respectable power, about the same as a stock 94.5 PSD. The E4OD trans does have overdrive so highway mileage is good, but the trans needs some beefing up. The manual is a 5spd and it is a strong unit.

[mookie]

any idea what fuel mileage would be with this engine and a 5 speed tranny?

[texascadillac42]

From the one week that I ran my truck stock (no lift, no big tires....) I think it got around 18mpg on the highway at 75. This was with 3.55 gears. Around town I have no idea and after the lift and tires it obviously dropped, but I think I was still gettin 16 out of it at 70mph on the highway with 41s.

[u2slow]

My buddy's shop truck is a '93 IDI turbo, and I have a '95 PSD. The '93 turbo comes on late and isn't nearly as prominent as my '95. Certainly better than a basic NA, but not the zip of the PSD.

[nosliw]

I had an 89 IDI with a Hypermax Turbo kit on it. They're stupid simple to work on, much easier than my cummins, and the parts are CRAZY cheap. I think injectors were around $30 each, glowplugs aroun $8?

if you're looking to buy, i'd run a compression check on all 8 cyls. if they're good numbers, roll with it.

the pumps are easy to fool with, and if it's a 93-94, it's already got the much wanted pump with the larger diameter plunger. i think 93-94 was 32mm and earlier was 28mm?

[MDDimmick]

A friend of mine has had one for a couple years now. With some adjusting of the fuel screw it pulls pretty good. Has so far been mostly reliable with a quarter million miles on it. I'd buy one.
~matt

[reklund5]

I've got one with an ATS turbo and a 4"exhaust. It pulls my junk fine. It's no new Cummins, but gets the job done fine. Own it.

[White Shark]

I just picked up a 94 IDI turbo diesel F350 crewcab / dually with a heavy aftermarket intercooler setup. It also has a nice coolant filter, updated gauges, and is pretty clean throughout. I happily passed by a few newer PSD's to go with this setup for many of the reasons mentioned above. My brother has a new '06 F350 PSD with all of the bells and whistles and looking under the hook brings up the fact that you need a degree in rocket science to work on it compared to the 7.3 IDI.

[texascadillac42]

Good score, especially with the intercooler.......that should really help you make more USEABLE power when towing.