The reliability of the Ford 7.3L Power stroke diesel engine is high, but since these trucks are almost 20 years old and most of them have 200,000 miles or more, expect some repair bills to stick around. One of the most common repairs for a 7.3L is a turbo replacement. The turbo is not designed for wear, but the compressor wheel spins at high RPMs and heavy loads when using the truck for the type of work it was designed for. All 7.3L Power stroke diesel engines have the Garrett GTP38 Turbo, but there are slight variations between different models. The first step is to find the turbo model you need and then figure out which option works best for you for that model. The main varieties of Power stroke turbos are divided by model and year:

1994-1997 “Old Body Style” Truck

The 7.3L Power stroke diesel in these trucks was offered along with the older 7.3L IDI diesel, but despite having the same displacement, they don’t share any parts, so be sure to keep that in mind when ordering. To tell the difference, Power stroke OBS trucks will have the PowerStroke logo on the fenders below the F-250 or F-350 badges.

1998-Early 1999 Super Duty

These are the first super duty trucks to have a very different design from the standard F-150. Technically, there is no 1998 Super Duty model, but 1999 models were in dealer lots in the spring of 1998, which may have caused some confusion at the time. This turbo is a one year only model; Ford made some modifications in December 1998, and this turbo is for earlier models. Early 1999 trucks can be seen by the Powerstroke badge on the fenders, while later trucks have them mounted on the door.

International / Navistar T444E

This engine is found in medium duty trucks; Those that range in size between an F-350 and a Kenworth or Peterbilt cm, mostly box or flatbed trucks. This is the engine the 7.3L is based on, but that doesn’t mean the parts are interchangeable. In these applications the T444E engine has a range of options for turbo, injector, emissions equipment and programming. Some parts may be interchangeable, but not all are tested and guaranteed to fit and work in the Power stroke. To order parts for this engine or any other heavy equipment, you will need the OEM part number of the item you are replacing to ensure you get the correct item.

Once you have identified the model you need, there are more options out there; Do you want to build new or rebuilt? OEM or aftermarket quality? Want to take the opportunity to replace a stock or make a slight improvement in performance? Depending on your budget and what you plan to do with the truck, you have several options.

Rebuilt turbos can be tempting, but they carry some risks. Anyone can buy a junkyard turbo, clean it out with a little degreaser, put a cheap gasket kit on it, and call it “rebuilt”. A quality rebuilt turbo will have all wear items replaced, anything reused will be inspected for signs of stress, and the bearings will be thoroughly tested to make sure they are without Can spin at 200,000 or more rpm of any resistance. While these are a great alternative to some lesser-known vintage cars, if you have something similar to a diesel Ford, the cost of a rebuilt turbo you can count on will be close to or even higher than the price of a new one. .

If you want a little more performance and need to replace your turbo anyway, companies like Garrett, AFE and Stigan make excellent advanced turbos that will still bolt like OEM, meaning they won’t be hard to install . They cost a bit more, and if you’re only replacing the turbo, you might not notice a big difference. The real benefits of a bigger turbo become more noticeable if you have support modes to make the most of it, such as an intake and intercooler to get more air flowing, new injectors to maintain the fuel system, and tuning. . Make sure everything works reliably. Still, given the nature of diesel engines, these relatively simple bolt-on modifications can produce good results if you’re interested.

Many people prefer an OEM replacement turbo, but it can cost double or more than a quality aftermarket replacement with no real benefit. Quality aftermarket turbos are guaranteed to have the same fit and performance as the OEM ones using the same materials, and are backed by similar or sometimes better warranties. You can use online reviews to find a new aftermarket turbo that you can trust. If you’re still not sure what’s best for your vehicle, don’t hesitate to contact BuyAutoParts for specialized assistance in obtaining the best replacement turbocharger and other parts for your vehicle. We have guaranteed tight fit turbos from well-known brands such as BorgWarner, Garrett, Holset, Stigan and more.