summutt2002
Mountains of Utah-7000'
Senior Member
Joined: 02/08/2002
View Profile
 Offline
|
new is '01 Excursion PSD...(old was '99 2500 Burb.)
Bumped the TT to about 8K# for the test, filled all holding tanks to about 3/4 full. 400 miles RT, about 1/2 freeway. Averaged 14.5 mpg (7-8 mpg with Burb) and solid as hard cheese. Two 6-7K' passes on freeway section. Dropped out of OD for each pass, went up at about 60 mph, no problem....tranny high was 190 or so. Except for climbs, OD all the way (Ex is chipped).
On the return trip tackled Bald Mt. pass, topped out at 10,750', dropped OD, no downshift at all and the PSD rolled on at 50 mph, no problems. Tranny got to 210 for about 60 seconds at the very top (7-8% long grade to get there), but cooled right off when over the top.
All in all, quite satisfied with performance. Next trip will be about 3K miles after Labor Day and looking forward to same.
Great wife, 3.1 dogs and no money..LIFE IS GOOD
'01 Excursion Ltd 7.3L PSD pulling a '06 Prowler 260RLS, Equal-i-zer, Prodigy
|
Hornet28BHDS
Parker, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/29/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Good luck with your new Ex!
2006 Hornet 28BHDS-Bunk House, Dual Slides
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 HD
5.7L Hemi, Factory Towing Package
Reese Brake Controller, WD Hitch and Sway Bar
Life is short, why not spend it in an RV!
SPRING HAS SPRUNG!
|
Rvndave
Medina, Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 01/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
The 7.3 is a good engine had one in our last pickup. Drove it over 200k miles, was very happy with it.
2003 Jayco 308fbs eagle 33' tt, towed by a 2003 Ram 3500 slt, quad cab dually, cummins diesel ho, trailer towing package, with 6 speed manual. Hauls better 1/2, 3 kids, myself, and a 2003 ez go clays car.. I have added so far, neon lights, clearance lights, back up lights, black light, lift kit, mud tires, and everything necessary to make the golf cart street legal. It's now ready to spend the winter in the garage for more mods. More neon, strobe lights, alarm, a pa system, maintance, and whatever else that comes along. This golf cart does wheelies and travels thru 7 inches of mud when need be. Two honda eu2000i gens twinned to supply the electrical power. Latest addition an 04 Honda Goldwing. [url]http://www.hometown.aol.com/rvnagain/myhomepage/profile.html[url]
|
Paul B
Daytona Beach, Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 09/10/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
summutt2002 wrote:new is '01 Excursion PSD...(old was '99 2500 Burb.)
Bumped the TT to about 8K# for the test, filled all holding tanks to about 3/4 full. 400 miles RT, about 1/2 freeway. Averaged 14.5 mpg (7-8 mpg with Burb) and solid as hard cheese. Two 6-7K' passes on freeway section. Dropped out of OD for each pass, went up at about 60 mph, no problem....tranny high was 190 or so. Except for climbs, OD all the way (Ex is chipped).
On the return trip tackled Bald Mt. pass, topped out at 10,750', dropped OD, no downshift at all and the PSD rolled on at 50 mph, no problems. Tranny got to 210 for about 60 seconds at the very top (7-8% long grade to get there), but cooled right off when over the top.
All in all, quite satisfied with performance. Next trip will be about 3K miles after Labor Day and looking forward to same.
Now you need to go to Click and check out their X forum and the related forums for the 7.3. You will find a ton of great info and folks that will help with any questions. You don't mention what if any gauges you have but being chipped you need at least tranny temp(you are using temp numbers), boost keep under 25 psi and pyro and keep this under 1250* and you should be good to go. The 01' X came with a weak tranny. I has a mechanical diode deep in the tranny that can and usually does go bad, then a complete new or rebuild is in order. Knock on wood mine is still good at 130k and I am chipped too, and have been for the last 100k plus miles.
It is a towing beast!!!!!!
Good luck with the new toy and enjoy,
Paul B
2001 Excursion-Powerstroke Diesel
2000 Honda CRV
2006 Flagstaff 31' - 7.5k lbs.
2004 Two Honda EU2000i's/parallel cables/extra fuel tank
|
Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Paul B has some good advice. If your X is chipped you must get gauges. They are not optional. I will also strongly recommend getting an auxilary or 6.0 trans cooler. Your trans will run noticeably cooler. Before the cooler I had temps similiar to yours. With the cooler I seldom exceed 180 deg. For the most part I run at 165 in hot weather. Enjoy your PSD X.
PS the grin will fade in time.
Well............... on second thought maybe it won't.
01 PSD X,06 Trailvision 31BHDS Edge Evolution
4"exhaust,AFE,C-Betr,Tornado
Firestone air bags,TomTom,Atwood 3500
Hensley,Prodigy,exhaust brake,Swift Hitch
14'PortaBote9.9hp,6"PVC,Thule,Combi-Cam
Toppoprails,Bodiak,Sherline,Maxx Air
Subaru 4300is w/Gen Box
|
|
|
summutt2002
Mountains of Utah-7000'
Senior Member
Joined: 02/08/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Paul, thanks for the info. Yes, I have joined several of the PSD forums and there is a wealth of info and I am just beginning to understand some of it. Many members are DIY folks and it's very interesting (I am not). I have the Edge Juice w/Attitude...all gauges excepting tranny temp and I added that. Am aware of the tranny shortcomings and keeping fingers crossed. Managed to keep the pyro under 1250 so far and haven't even gotten close to 25 on the boost...too scary. Towing with this monster is like acquiring a whole new skill.
My tranny temps were 180 or lower on all the freeway travel and the passes thereon (ambient was 90-95 degrees). Only time I popped to 200 was at the top of the 10K+ pass after some 15 miles of grade. I do have an aux. cooler, tho not the 6.0. It is the B&M Racing unit and seems to be adequate to the task. I don't intend too many 10K passes. The pass to get out of my back yard is only 9500'....piece of cake.
* This post was
edited 08/27/08 07:55pm by summutt2002 *
|
TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
Senior Member
Joined: 11/17/2000
View Profile
Offline
|
I have found folks with 500K miles and more on the 7.3L. Great engine, not so hot transmission. Keep the oil changed at 20K mile intervals and it will hold up pretty well.
I have the B&M stacked plate cooler on my truck. Temp seldom moves up.
Ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
|
MadMav
Colorado Springs, CO
Senior Member
Joined: 03/12/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Nice rig! Came about that close to getting one myself, but went with a fiver so the X was a no-go. You will be glad you got the 7.3l. I test drove one 7.3l and two 6.0ls and the 7.3l was by far the best feeling quiter motor. They last a long time, take well to mods and have some heritage. Congrats!
Mav
Maverick
'08 Dodge 3500 SLT Mega Cab Dually, 6.7l/6 speed. Oh yeah!
'08 Winners Circle 36SRV-H5
1 wife, 2 kids, 3 dogs, 1 cat
|
AntiqFreq
Sunny South Florida USA
Senior Member
Joined: 03/20/2003
View Profile
|
We bought our 2003 7.3 diesel about 2 1/2 years ago with 82,000 miles on it.
Just turned 102,000 the other day.
Our tranny went out (while on vacation, 1/2 way UP the mountain) and our gauges never went over 190 degrees - just time to go, I guess -
Anyway, we now have a Jasper transmission with 3 year/100,000 mile warranty so we hope the motor AND the transmission will give us good service. As we only put about 10,000 miles a year on our truck anyway, we hope it'll go QUITE a FEW years!
Jo
oh yea, around town the temp for the tranny is 160 degrees and towing our 10,000 fiver up/down mountain is about 190-200 degrees!
2007 Keystone Cougar, 291 RLS
2003 Ford F250, 7.3L, Lariat, CC, SB, 4x4
Isspro Gauges-overhead mount, 14K Pullrite Superglide
Firestone RideRite airbags & pressure gauge
Two Honda eu2000i generators, parallel kit
Bell Morningstar Canoe, bent shaft paddles
|
Rvndave
Medina, Ohio
Senior Member
Joined: 01/23/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
I will only buy a stick shift to tow with, burned up to many automatics.
|
|
|
|
