what gas engine? 2020 F350: 6.2 Gas or 7.3 L Gas?

[LosAngeles]

what gas engine? 2020 F350: 6.2 Gas or 7.3 L Gas?

Hi all

Any guesses as to the increase in price from the 6.2 L gasser to the 7.3 L gasser?

If it was you (and you didn’t want diesel) what engine would you buy? the 6.2 L gasser or the 7.3 L gasser?

Our plan is to custom order a gasser 2020 F350 with just the options we want, and none that we don’t…. and put a 9.5’ Hallmark pop on it full time. No, we will almost never tow anything. We hate towing.

Diesel doesn’t make sense for us, as it adds a ton to the cost, plus weights a *lot* more than the gas engine, so it effectively reduces our max payload.
We also like to go far, far off the beaten path, and those places often don’t have diesel to sell. We dont want to worry about range ever.

I am told that our Hallmark, “wet” could be about 3,000 lbs, or maybe a little less (approximately) so I’ll have the F350 built with a lot of carrying capacity.

So the question comes down to: do we get the tried and true 6.2-liter gas V8, probably around 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque (current specs)
or do we spend the extra $ to get the new 7.3-liter pushrod V8.

One unknown variable… the new 10 speed transmission sounds nice… that would be nice to have. I wonder if the 6.2L gasser would even be available with the new 10 speed transmission….. Hmmm…

Thanks…. here is a copy paste of some info, from the internet:

and I quote: …”The base (Super Duty) option is a carryover 6.2-liter gasoline V8, which will likely have output ratings similar to the current model's 385 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque.

Next up is an all-new 7.3-liter pushrod V8, claimed to be the most powerful gas engine in Super Duty history.

Finally, there's a new, third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8. It has a new turbo, new internals and a new 36,000-psi fueling system to deliver power; the outgoing engine was rated for 450 hp and 935 lb-ft.

Those engines now mate to a new 10-speed automatic transmission, which weighs just 3.5 pounds more than and fits into the same physical space as the outgoing six-speed. (The base 6.2-liter engine will still be offered with the six-speed on low-cost trims.)

Ford promises improved efficiency from the new transmission. In addition to the expected Tow/Haul, the 10-speed adds extra driving modes: Slippery, Deep Sand and Snow, and Eco, the last of which feels like a token effort in a heavy-duty pickup truck.”

~~~~~~~

 

[Foy]

Seems likely the hp and torque numbers won't be wildly different and would represent a distinction without a difference. My personal bias steers me to avoid "Version 1.0" of anything, so if the 6.2 is a proven, reliable engine, I'd go that way.

You're of course dead on right about the diesel robbing payload, but I'm curious as to how any single rear wheel F350 can be optioned to carry a 3,000 lb truck camper within its rated payload/GVWR figures. Can you elaborate?

Foy

 

[LosAngeles]

Yes indeed.... without a really specific need, i guess I would be foolish to buy the 1st year of any engine.... I should indeed buy the existing 6.2L, and as much as I would prefer the new transmission, perhaps I should get that as well. :-/

and

if you go to Ford.com you can build just the Ford F350 you want. I dont have specific #'s in front of me .... but with 10 ply E rated tires (and possibly an extra spring) pretty large weight capacities are possible.

Seems likely the hp and torque numbers won't be wildly different and would represent a distinction without a difference. My personal bias steers me to avoid "Version 1.0" of anything, so if the 6.2 is a proven, reliable engine, I'd go that way.

You're of course dead on right about the diesel robbing payload, but I'm curious as to how any single rear wheel F350 can be optioned to carry a 3,000 lb truck camper within its rated payload/GVWR figures. Can you elaborate?

Foy

 

[62C20]

An F-250/350 with single rear wheels can carry a 3k pound camper. It all depends on how you order it. My special ordered regular cab 2017 F-250xl with 4wd and gas engine has stickered payload of 3750 lbs. When I ordered this truck I only selected 5 or 6 options to keep weight and price down. An F-350 would be a good choice if you like lots of options and a bigger cab.

 

[Beach]

I have a 2012 F250 4x4 with a Hawk and am happy with the performance and reliability with the 6.2/6speed setup. I feel like I have all the power I need and the selectable shift 6 speed is excellent. I'm with the others who mentioned avoiding the first year edition of the 7.3,

 

[klahanie]

If it was you (and you didn’t want diesel) what engine would you buy? the 6.2 L gasser or the 7.3 L gasser?

As of today ?... 7.3L.

With a 3K wet camper I don't be surprised if we used most all the payload. Yes, maybe the whole ~4,300 lbs. So the truck would be running almost constant duty at max GWVR for which the 7.3 - that I understand is to be the replacement for the 6.8L in class 4, 5 trucks - would be well suited. Plus the 7.3 would be a new motor, the 6.2L old.

Yep, I get the first year concerns. But expect a lot of changes for 2020MY. Would rather have a new rather than old engine in a new truck.

Would a 6.2 work ? Yep, don't need a 7.3. But I can go one much better - don't need a truck and camper, believe none of us do.

Bought the diesel we have now for one reason...because I wanted to try one. One "concern" I had over the available gasser at that time was how hard the fuel consumption might be (for us) with just adequate power. The diesel has been good in that we have been able to load it right up, put a little larger tire on and the fuel economy and power have both been satisfactory. The 6.2 and 7.3 might have disappointing fuel consumption (for us) but for power, at least, I expect the 7.3 would be better than the 6.2.

 

[slus]

I love both of my diesels (7.3 PSD and 6.7 cummins) but I'm going to be very, very tempted to replace the old 7.3 F350 with a new 7.3 gas Super Duty. Shooting from the hip here obviously, but the 10 speed trans is really going to help out the MPGs on the highway and gearing under heavy loads. I also think the new 7.3 gas is going to be a real winner, because I have a feeling it really wasn't designed to compete with the 6.2... it was probably designed to replace the 6.8 Triton V10, which has been basically the king of heavy duty gas engines for like 18 years now. The sheer amount of 6.8s sold in fleet F450 and F550s and basically every Class C RV for the last decade or two means there is a lot riding on this new engine that will probably be replacing it, I'm betting Ford over engineered this thing hoping for another 18 year run. We'll have to wait for more details to know for sure.

 

[smlobx]

Hi LA-

As we discussed in our PMs our F-350 diesel with our Hallmark weighs an additional 2500 pounds with EVERYTHING loaded.

Your camper, loaded, will probably weigh more but a gas engine will be several hundred pounds less so overall your gross weight may be similar to mine which is about 10,560. This includes people, clothes, food, water etc.

My crew cab, long bed Larriat has a GVWR of 11,000 so I am well within our rating and suspect that you will be too.

As far as which engine I'm of the opinion to go with the tried and proven 6.2 unless there is some fantastic reason to switch. The ten speed tranny has been getting good reviews so I would try to spec. the truck to include that.

What trim level and cab configuration are you thinking about?

 

[LosAngeles]

i just read that the F350 will *all* come with the new 10 speed transmission... i can't even get the older 6 speed. Oh well... that decision is made for me. ;-)

J

 

[klahanie]

In case like me, you missed it... TFL vid on the 7.3L, posted 02/05/19

https://youtu.be/2FtNlfAbc2w

 

[Vic Harder]

what gas engine? 2020 F350: 6.2 Gas or 7.3 L Gas?

Diesel doesn’t make sense for us, as it adds a ton to the cost, plus weights a *lot* more than the gas engine, so it effectively reduces our max payload.
We also like to go far, far off the beaten path, and those places often don’t have diesel to sell. We dont want to worry about range ever.

I'm looking at diesel for the same reason... I "don't want to worry about range ever." I LOVE my 8.1L gasser, and the fuel economy is NOT that much worse than a diesel. BUT, you can't get bigger aftermarket gas tanks, whereas aftermarket diesel tanks are a common thing, up to 62gal in some cases!

I am in the process of planning a trip to Tuktoyaktuk and the range of the truck is a definite factor in choosing routes/stops. Not to mention diesel is very common in the north country.

Is the diesel availability that different in remote areas of the US?

 

[Foy]

Vic,

It's been nearly 4 years since I drove my venerable 2002 F350 diesel west of the Mississippi, but you might say I managed to find some out of the way places to squire the old girl around between 2010 and 2015, in both summer and winter. States traveled largely off-highway included NE, MT, WY, UT, CO, ID, and NV. I can't recall a single instance of finding a fuel stop where diesel fuel was not available. At least back then, practically all ranch, farm, and commercial pickups and medium duty trucks were diesel powered. Even though diesel fuel is widely delivered to remote ranches, farms, and mine sites, diesel was universally available wherever motor fuels were sold last time I Wandered the West.
My truck has a standard 38 gallon fuel tank and at typically low wandering speeds below the threshold at which aerodynamics come strongly into play she'll see 19-20 mpg.

Foy

 

[Vic Harder]

Foy, Funny you call her an old girl... my inclination for my "new" truck is to get either a 1999 F250/350 7.3L or 2006 2500HD LBZ. What is this magical threshold in your case?

 

[Foy]

Selection was more of a process of elimination than anything else as I researched and shopped in March and April 2004. A new truck was out of the question so I was focused on 2 to 5 year old trucks. Eliminated were all half-ton trucks since I'd thrashed several half-ton pickups and Suburbans by then. I very much wanted a diesel for heavy towing (the manner by which I'd thrashed the aforementioned half-ton trucks) and because diesel fuel was then priced well under regular unleaded gasoline prices. I really liked the Cummins but came to believe the late 90s/early 2000s Dodge diesels were a great engine surrounded by a not so great truck. I liked the Chevys and especially the Duramax diesel made by venerable diesel manufacturer Isuzu but used ones were pretty scarce and priced well over Fords and Dodges. I'm an old IH guy and liked the idea of having a Binder powerplant in a pickup. I surfed the Interwebs for F250 7.3s and found my way into a Virginia based independent dealership specializing in late model high mileage diesel pickups which they purchased from TX, OK, and NM dealerships where they'd been traded in. So on the "Handpicked Western Trucks" website there appeared an '02 F350 SRW CC longbed 4WD Lariat with "towing" and "camper" options, and 96,500 miles on the clock. I finagled with the dealership and got a name and hometown of the first and only owner and I phoned him. He was an oilfields service company rep who spent his days driving back and forth across TX and OK from his home base in College Station, TX. He'd put the 96,500 miles on the truck in just 22 months and it was his MO to trade before reaching the 100,000 mile end of the engine/powertrain warranty. He said he'd never hauled anything in the bed that a Tacoma couldn't carry, had never towed anything other than a light utility trailer with it, and he wasn't sure there had ever been anybody sitting in the back seats. I figured that's the rig for my cheap Scots-Irish self and bought it the next day. Today, nearly 15 years later, she's got a shade over 280,000 miles, turns out stellar Blackstone oil analysis numbers, burns no oil whatsoever, and will still turn out 20 mpg if I can keep my foot off of the skinny pedal. I've driven nothing but trucks and Suburbans since my first IH Scout purchased in 1973 and the old diesel is head and shoulders the best overall of the many I've had.

Foy

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I'm looking at diesel for the same reason... I "don't want to worry about range ever." I LOVE my 8.1L gasser, and the fuel economy is NOT that much worse than a diesel. BUT, you can't get bigger aftermarket gas tanks, whereas aftermarket diesel tanks are a common thing, up to 62gal in some cases!

I am in the process of planning a trip to Tuktoyaktuk and the range of the truck is a definite factor in choosing routes/stops. Not to mention diesel is very common in the north country.

Is the diesel availability that different in remote areas of the US?

That's interesting. I would have thought that gas engines would be more popular in the far north, since they would be easier to start in super-cold weather than a diesel would.

If you haven't already seen it, Truck Camper Magazine just published a report on a trip to Tuktoyaktuk:

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/expeditions/canada/road-to-tuktoyaktuk/

 

[smlobx]

That's interesting. I would have thought that gas engines would be more popular in the far north, since they would be easier to start in super-cold weather than a diesel would.

If you haven't already seen it, Truck Camper Magazine just published a report on a trip to Tuktoyaktuk:

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/expeditions/canada/road-to-tuktoyaktuk/

Regarding the range of diesel trucks I have found that it is significantly better than their gas counterparts, particularly when loaded. In our construction company we are averaging 4-5 mpg better in the diesel trucks when their loaded which equates to about 150 additional miles per tank which is great when remote traveling.

Also diesel availability Up North is generally good as most of the vehicles (i.e.) tractor trailers and oil field trucks are diesel so availability should not be an issue. Last time I talked to someone who worked in the oil field up there they said that they left their vehicles running constantly or plugged them in depending on the situation when the temperatures got really cold.
If you look at the pictures of the truck in the article from TCM you can see the dual exhaust found on the Super Duty diesels. Of course they are more expensive to operate but that is a trade off some of us are willing to make given the benefits.

 

[klahanie]

Speaking of range, I've read Ford is aiming for the same mpg for the 7.3 as the current 6.2. The 10 speed should help all engines.

we are averaging 4-5 mpg better in the diesel trucks when their loaded

This was my concern when buying. Back then the gas option was the smaller 5.4, and perhaps the thirsty 6.8 for the 350 C&Cs, I can't recall. I wanted to try diesel anyway and wanted the extended range that the aftermarket second fuel tank has given us - which has been great comfort for long distance and remote travel, but rarely needed. Highway we can get 600+ miles out of the main tank. (that's Strathmore to YVR for you Vic).

Thing is with remote/rural fuel stations, sometimes they're not open, you don't like the price or there's some other issue. In the city you can just go elsewhere.

Seems to me the power and fuel economy is not too bad with modern gas engines. I'm hopeful the 7.3 will be a winner. Coupled with the 48g CCLB fuel tank and 1 jerry can I think range could be acceptable.

 

[Vic Harder]

600 miles on just the main tank? Nice!

I'm not looking at newer trucks, where I agree, the fuel economy of the new gas engines is impressive. Tanks are still awfully small.. and to your point, the F150 short bed has a 23gal tank... really? That's tiny!

P.S. We have a Mazda 3 with the SkyActiv engine... amazing range on that little car!

 

[Ace!]

Interesting to hear people so concerned about range. I also ride a motorcycle, a dual sport, so it's off road and on. It has a range just shy of 200 miles. I haven't had an issue with finding fuel within 150 miles or so, and it also gives me a break to stretch my legs. I can't imagine ever needing a range of 600 miles, wow.

 

[Machinebuilder]

My 2011 F150, extended cab 8’bed has a 36g tank.
With the 5.0 I average 16-16.5mpg unloaded local driving, that would be a 575 mi range.
With my Grandby I get about 14-15mpg so that’s still over 500mi range.

I have to stop much more often than that, I refer to it as a 3P tank.

I’m interested in the 7.3 gas, I am not interested in a diesel. If I can see 14mpg loaded in a F350 I’m really interested, it not until 2022

The good thing is that it’s going in to work trucks, fleets use their trucks hard and fast so an issues will show up quickly.