I'm also new to the diesel world but i've got the fever bad.. Can't exactly afford a new one. Shopping for something 2nd hand.. My question is on Mileage.. I know most ppl when a gas engine reaches 100,000 its like the vehicle has a desease stay away from it.. what kinda milage is a deisel still good for is 100,000 alot for a diesel.. for the 99 + 7.3 an 6.0 's not the 98 an below???? any info will be greatly appreciated..

We managed to find a used 2003 6.0 in the summer of 2003.  We LOVE it.  Things to keep in mind.  was it broke in properly??  per ford... it shouldnt have pulled anything until it has 12,000 miles on the motor.  there is a 100,000 mile warrenty on the motor... so that is the good part.  Ours is a dually, and in the summer i can get as hi as 19 mpg and in the winter we are closer to 12+, depending on how much idleing we do.  for a 'small' motor, it still takes a while for motor and trannie to warm up when its -20F!  some people say... and i tend to agree, that its really starting to get 'broke in' until 100,000 miles.  I know lots of truck drivers and they will put that on in a year!  it all comes down to taking care of it.  we try to follow the book for scheduled maintenece.  Our oil changes, for example cost us almost $90, but in the summer i put on 5,000 miles in between and 7,500 in the winter.  We run alot of gravel and for now its my primary vehicle.  so ive put lots of miles on it just back and forth to work (40 miles round trip).  I dont know where you live, but it took us a LONG time to find our truck. there werent any used diesels around.  we were lucky to come across this one.  We learn a little about it everyday, just like the guys at the ford garage.  im still at times coming in and telling them what is wrong, and they need to fix it.  oh... by the way, they are a (you know what) to work on.  just no room to get your hands in to work on anything!  the garage gets paid to loose blood... thats why i take it in!  my last truck i had for about 12 years.  it was a gas and had about 150,000 miles and 2 motors.  i expect that i get 2 or 300,000 miles out of this truck.  OH... i pull a horse trailer with 4 horses (one is about 1800#) a boat, and have pulled a couple pickups on the flatbed.  my acceleration isnt like a 'vette, but i love the power!!! hope my  ramblings make sense, ask and ill tell you more about my 6.0!  Its our first diesel, and i couldnt ask for a better truck! Jenny ~~ ne MN

"ask and i might tell

You were not rambleing to me it all sounds good i think i've found one ,, they are hard to find here also .. a good used one. i live in east Tenn by the way, its a 2000 250 4x4 ext. cab , long WB has the 7.3 an 6speed trany he has replaced the clutch before so i won't have to worry bout that for a while it just has bout 140,000 miles on it .. which its just a standerd equip. truck not real fancy bells an whistles . which that don't bother me any for the pay off amount of $16,500 i dont' think that is to bad.. From the shopping i've done any way an thats in the price range i was hopeing for but knew i wouldnt' find so i thought lol he has only pulled a small trailer nothing really big an not on a very reg. basis saide maybe a couple times.. owns a construction company so i'm sure they were familiar w/ deisels an mantained it well.. any other info u can give will be help full i'm not to sharp on deisels at all just know i want one but i do know my way around a gas engine so i'm hopeing to be able to adapt pretty quickly You guys done any preformace up grades to ur truck?? thanks alot

Sounds like you got a god find!  Hope you got it (yes im late here) We dont have any extras on our truck as I think they are still making them.  Banks (and the like) may have them, but I dont really think it will help anyway.  Hope you like you new one, if you got it.  And remember to read that manual.  Ive learned tons from it already! Jenny  ~~ neMN

"ask and i might tell