Im going to check out a 97 f250 powerstroke with 212k miles today
he say's the tranny was replaced with a HD one with a shift kit not to long ago and runs and drives grate.

Im about to move to cali in about a year and this truck will be my DD so i want to give it a good going over before i lay down the 4k to get it.

i will also be pulling my 71 bronco with the truck, it's around 4500 pounds.

also think it's a ok deal?
ksl.com - Car Classifieds for Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming

 

Pretty much check everything you would check on any other vehicle. Look for any signs of neglect or abuse. Look for things you will need to fix.

Check the fluids, make sure nothing smells or looks funny.

Try to get there before he has started it for the day so you have a cold start and you can see what it does.

Ask about a receipt for the trans work. Lots of guys tell you they replaced the trans when they haven't...

 

well, im pretty sure it's a POS.
I got there before he did and felt around and it was still cold.

first off the bed is trashed and the tailgate wont open, need's two front tires (bald) and shocks, he said the inside was gray and in good con, well it's blue and full of cracks.
he fires it up and runs like crap, he said it's been sitting a long time and the fuel has gone bad but once it warms up it runs grate, well i took it for a spin but oh boy was it gutless! once it warmed up it was a little better and could actually move but all other trucks i have been in really put ya in the seat..not this one.
so i get back to the place it was parked at and he was gone? so i open the hood and oh what did i see? a big oil leak from the left valve cover by the turbo and a big part of the air box missing after the filter with ducktape over it but it had sucked a hole through it.

he got back and said he had a bunch of sensors replaced so it was probbaly oil from the shop he took it to? there was nothing by the leak besides the turbo and valve cover?
he also said he replaced the fuel pump and alt and cam sensor and other stuff. (I dont beleave him beside the alt)
and it shifts really hard into 2nd and alittle softer into 3rd down shifts smooth but tranny felt strong, not sure if the shift kit it causing that hard shifting or not tho.

what ya think? worth 4 grand?

 

with out actually seeing the truck in person, ( of course they won't take pictures of the problems.) it's hard to tell. if you know any one that can give you a second opinion. or know a mechanic, i would do that. if you have a bad feeling about it. just let it pass. there are more out there.

 

any ideas on why it could be running like crap?

im thinking with it sitting for a long time it need's injectors,fuel filter,oil change?
i dont think the oil is the problem,with my brother's 7.3 it would die before it got warmed up.

there isnt any other powerstroke's in my price range for sale right now.

 

fuel filter is a good possibility. and the fuel could be kinda bad but not likely. some air could have accumulated in the lines too. the oil leak on the valve cover could just be a few loose bolts. or the UVCH could have shorted out. those gaskets aren't cheap.

 

Could be all of those things... You can check the fuel bowl to see what the filter looks like. You should check the turbo fins to see how much dirt and dust he has blown thru it because of the duct tape air filter. You should check the color of the oil like I stated previously. If it was injectors, there should be some smoke, You never mentioned anything about smoke. Check the valley for any leaks. Stuff like that. Oil does play a big part on these trucks so having fresh oil helps.

 

It didn't smoke that much, seems like it blew smoke when I let off the gas in the upper rpm range. I'll check out the turbo when/if I go to look at it again, he's over a hr away (in a 65 mustang the drive sucks)

 

What color?

 

I am looking at my first powerstroke right now too, a 95 with 230k. I was a 6.5td guy for years I have come to the conclution that any diesel engine needs to be kept clean, lubricated and cooled sufficiently to last. If it is not, they don't see 300k. Check for aftermarket guages, if it has them and they last owner knows how to read them, great! Probably not over heated, clean motors tend to not be leaky motors. but check for spots where he parks. Oil is the key, especially a motor that relies on oilpressure to operate the injectors, cool the turbo and lube the bearings ect. My 6.5 is still going strong at 450,000k, don't pull worth crap but I thank the guages and frequent oil changes for getting me this far. What I would like to know is how to detect a possible head problem(cracks) worn rings or bottom end issues. On my 6.5td I would test for compression at the glowplugs, take a tire off, remove a glow plug or 2 and compare.(30 min job). Are not psd's glows inside the motor and way in there?(4 hour job) What about blowby? Whats a good reading for oil pressure on these hot and cold? I would normally try to drive up a hill and watch the temp guage for any jumps. After years of driving chevy's I learned all these trics, lost now on a direct injection motor. O ya, how a bout the fuel system? does it have a lift pump that doesnt need to run for the motor to start? That causes lots of greif for us 6.5 guys. I hear cummings is bad for that too. I should post my own thread, hopes this helps us both buddy