6.9 liter diesel

[4x4forlife]

are these engines any good? because I just picked up a 1985 F-250 with one in it. it needs headgaskets though. just wondering what people thought about these engines. problems?

[junk90xj]

ran one in my old tow truck for 250k never much to replace other than injectors,glowplugs and one a pump rebuild.

[Bones]

yup, run forever, except for the head gaskets usually are replaced every 180K or so. Injection pumps usually go bad at about the same time. Don't EVER use starting fluid on that motor though, it will cause head gasket failure. Just put in a block heater if it doesn't already have one (pretty cheap), keep the glow plugs and relays in good shape and it should start easily even in the coldest weather....

[4x4forlife]

so how are these for torque and pulling things?

[ScOoTeR]

Originally Posted by 4x4forlife

so how are these for torque and pulling things?

170hp/318lbft They're pretty good for pulling things at low altitude.

[busyfixin]

mine towed real well, only problem i had was the glow plug relay. they have good response from a stop too. i think they have more power than a 7.3 before turbo

[smasheromalley]

Originally Posted by busyfixin

mine towed real well, only problem i had was the glow plug relay. they have good response from a stop too. i think they have more power than a 7.3 before turbo

not even close, '89 7.3L IDI 180hp/360tq. They tow fine, jsut dont think theyre gonna steam down the road like a newer diesel.
still they are good old diesels. more prone to head gaskets/less prone to cylinder wall cavitation(than the 7.3). Still they use the crappy stanadyne rotary injection pump.

You may have to go thru the normal old diesel battery issues/leaking fuel system issues/glow plug issues. But once you get them ironed out they'll run trouble free. Mine started fine down to single digits F and colder and I never once plugged it in.

It is an 80s truck and it will tow like an 80s truck powered by an 80s engine. Back then it was a monster, today it is adequate.

go to www.thedieselstop.com for all the info you could want

[busyfixin]

i didnt say it had more power, its not even close. i mean before turbo, as in before the turbo spools, pre-boost, off-boost, when the turbo is not yet forcing air... the 6.9 has far more compression than a 7.3 turbo. this allows better power before the turbo spools. the turbo forces more air, which in turn builds your compression in the 7.3, not mechanically like the N/A 6.9.