ok so i may be going to get a 96 250 this week with the 7.3 and 198k on the motor what are some things i should check or watch out for?

 

Things To Look For When Buying A Used Power Stroke Diesel
Turbo:

You might take the air tube off the back of the air filter and look inside of it. If there is dirt build up, that is a very bad sign, so are the turbo fins looking sand blasted or bent. A little oily film is normal since the valve cover breather exits inside the tube.
Airbox:

Check the two bolts holding down the airbox lid. If they are plastic with a square recess, it is a recalled part. The recall is expired, but without the updated lid the risk of dirt infiltration is greater, the lid was updated with more supports and the updated bolts are metal with a straight slot. If it is the old style, you spend around $80 to update it.
Tranny:

If you buy a truck with an auto tranny, finding out if it's been maintained is essential, as the E4OD is an expensive transmission. Also, (if auto) seeing if the truck has an auxiliary transmission cooler would be worthwhile. For sticks, listen for clunking when shutting off or small vibration while operating. It could be an indication of a dual mass flywheel going out. Many have replaced them with single mass units.
Rear Gear Ratio:

4:10 will pull better, get slightly lower mpg’s and run a higher RPM compared to 3:55.
Coolant:

Ask the previous owner about the coolant - have they been adding FW16 or DCA4 to keep a proper SCA level? It is very important for stopping cavitation. You can get test strips to check the SCA level from NAPA, International, or Ford. I would test the current condition while looking over the truck, the SCA level should be between 1.5 and 3.0. Also, see if it has a block heater (it was an option on 97's).
Front end:

Check the front end for wear, or have an alignment shop check out the ball joints and steering linkage (tie rod ends). If they are shot, it is spendy (all four tie rods are around $400 just for parts, ball joint labor is also very spendy)
Oil:

The questions to ask are how often the oil was changed (at least every 5,000) and what kind of oil they used (diesel rated)? An oil analysis could tell you if there might be an engine problem or not.
Aftermarket stuff:

Seeing if the truck has got an aftermarket downpipe would be nice, a chip, or gauges (pyrometer, trans temp, etc.). Ask about any added items and who installed them.
Glow Plugs/Relay:

Find out if the glow plugs are in good working condition as well as the relay. Ask if either has been changed and when. You can check the glow plug resistance through the valve cover connector if needed (http://forums.ford-diesel.com/cgi-bi...&f=21&t=005210), and the relay should have power to both large terminals on top when the key is turned on, and one of the terminals should go out before ~2 minutes.
Injector o-rings:

The injector O-rings have been known to be a problem. The new o-ring sets have a pink middle seal. If the truck has an o-ring problem, one of the signs can be a discoloration of the fuel in the filter bowl. There is a drain on the passenger side front of the filter bowl for draining water (the filter is also the water separator) and you can catch some of the drained fuel in a jar – it should be dingy yellow and not blue or dark.
Leaks and Drips:

You can check the valley between the heads of the V8 for moisture and/or fluid. It should be dry not wet. Most leaks will run through this valley and down the back of the motor dripping off by the tranny/engine coupling.
VIN number:

If you take the VIN to any dealer, they can tell you when it was built, when it went into service, and some of the work that might have been done on it. You can also run prospective VIN's through Carfax.com to see the title history.

 

thanks thats some good info i did also run a carfax on it a lil bit ago and amazingly this truck has never been in an accident it's been maintained rather well being taking to dealerships or a shop to get serviced it's got a K&N cold air on it also has a 4 inch exhaust except for the stupid dp and it has the murff 6 pos chip

 

yeah man i just bought a 96 f350, the first thing i checked if there was a goosneck or 5th wheel in the bed or if theres ever been. i bought mine with 194k miles its runs awesome and there good for 600k orso. mines all stock, id go with one with no chips (unmolested) cause that means they didnt hot rod the hell out of it

 

the guy that's got this one is an older guy and he keeps the chip on 70 hp and said he gets like 20 mpg around town

 

Is it an auto or manual?

 

it's a auto

 

Wonder if the trannies ever been rebuilt? 4R100's don't hold up to a lot of power stock, so a shift kit will go a long way with them.

Carfax is a joke, it's only for stuff that is turned into insurance companies. I've seen people wreck stuff pretty good, just never turn it in and rebuild it themselves.

 

I've never seen a powerstroke anywhere close to 600k

 

It's a 96 meaning it has an E4OD transmission. Auto tranny's don't hold much power over stock in any of these Diesel trucks. Once built though, they can take quite a bit of abuse.

I've never seen a 600k mile truck but i have seen MANY over 300k and still doing work. More than i can say about any dodge trucks ive seen...