7.3 Power Stroke Maintenance Tips to Keep You On The Road

superduty

It’s one of the most well-respected motors in diesel history. Unfortunately, respect can’t prevent it from breaking. And in case you are unsure, we’re talking about the 7.3 Power Stroke V8, offered in Ford’s 3/4-ton trucks from 1994 to 2003. These engines are nudging or surpassing the 20-year-old mark, and as you can expect, they are starting to show their age. However, as diesel engines, they have an uncanny ability to keep churning until the blocks crack. Until that happens, that means the supporting components – injectors, sensors, regulators, etc. – will have to be addressed at some point.

Here to help us understand what to look out for and what to replace is Matt Heacox from Alliant Power, a very highly respected and trusted name in replacement diesel products in the market.

HEUI fuel injectors for the 7.3 Power Stroke can be prone to failure after many miles. Alliant Power takes care of replacements for any model year, from 1994 to 2003.

“The most common things we see cause concern are related to components that wear inside the injectors,” said Heacox. “They have an internal control valve that will wear over time, creating problems with engine timing that leads to engine knock and sluggishness. Alliant Power offers brand new units and they are designed to function properly.”

“Another big thing is wiring, especially where the harnesses drape across the engine,” continued Heacox. “The amount of heat cycles the engine goes through over the years can cause issues with the wiring, and where they connect to the valve covers. After time, those wires can arc and short-circuit.” Fortunately, Alliant Power makes an electrical harness connector repair kit for both the 1994-1997 and 1998-2003 model years.

7.3 Power Stroke

For anything relating to valve covers, Alliant Power has you covered. You can take care of the harness connectors, internal injector harnesses, and valve cover gaskets on both the 1994-1997 model years (top) and 1998-2003 model years (bottom).

Meanwhile, diesel fuel itself, pumped from so many hundreds of pumps in different locations over the years, can be subject to moisture inside the fuel tank. Water merging with diesel fuel is a known issue in the world of diesels, so having the right additives and filtration can help a rough running 7.3 Power Stroke gain some efficiency.

ultraguard

Alliant Power’s Ultraguard is a fuel additive designed to remove water from diesel fuel, clean injectors, and restore power to the engine.

“We offer our Ultraguard additive, which will help maintain proper operation of the lift pump, injectors, and so on,” said Heacox. “It helps separate water from diesel fuel, which you don’t want running through the rest of the fuel system.” As far as filtration goes, Alliant Power offers several solutions, ranging from entire housing assemblies to heater elements.

Lastly, the injector drive module (IDM) is one of those pesky electronic items that you’ll never know is on its way out until it finally goes kaputt. “A few things can happen when these go bad,” said Heacox. “You could get a fault code, or you could get rough running because certain injectors aren’t firing.” For whatever reason they decide to expire, they can be replaced with a remanufactured unit by Alliant Power.

7.3 Power Stroke

When an IDM goes bad, it can lead to engine knock and rough running. Alliant Power’s replacement is based on OEM specifications and testing to make sure they can withstand the rigors of real-world driving.

Going with Alliant Power for your 7.3 Power Stroke issue is a wise decision. “We pride ourselves on our reputation for high-quality products that we offer,” concluded Heacox. “We offer top-notch expertise to any customer that needs it, too.” In that spirit, your best bet is to take a look at Alliant Power‘s contact information below and find out what the next step to taking care of your Power Stroke should be.

Article Sources

About the author

David Chick

David Chick comes to us ready for adventure. With passions that span clean and fast Corvettes all the way to down and dirty off-road vehicles (just ask him about his dream Jurassic Park Explorer), David's eclectic tastes lend well to his multiple automotive writing passions.
Read My Articles

Enlist in the Diesel Army newsletter.

Receive the latest newsletter with the content you love from Diesel Army, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Diesel Army NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Diesel Army

DieselArmy

We'll send you the most exciting Diesel articles, news, truck features, and videos every week.

Diesel Army

Diesel Army NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Diesel Army

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


ORX
Off road, Jeeps, 4x4s
enginelabs
Engine Tech
dragzine
Drag Racing

Diesel Army

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • ORX Off road, Jeeps, 4x4s
  • EngineLabs Engine Tech
  • Dragzine Drag Racing

Diesel Army

DieselArmy

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Diesel Army

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading