Ford’s 7.3 power stroke engine can take 15 quarts of engine oil which is equivalent to 14.2 liters or 3.75 gallons. The fuel tank capacity of the short box 7.3 is 29 gallons and the capacity of the long box 7.3 is 38gallons.
From 1994 to 2018, Ford produced six different types of power stroke engines. Among them, the 7.3 was the first-ever power stroke diesel engine. This engine was produced between 1994 and 2003.It is labeled as having the most fuel capacity among the power stroke engines.
How Much Oil Does A 7.3 Power Stroke Take? (All Over Liquid Capacity)
This engine has the largest tank among the power stroke engines. As a result, this engine has the longest lifetime as well.
Let’s take a look at the all-over liquid capacity of this engine:
| S.L | Liquid Type | Quarts | Liters | Gallons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Engine Oil | 15 | 14.2 | 3.75 |
| 2. | Oil Coolant | 33 | 31 | 8.2 |
| 3. | Fuel Tank Oil | 115/152 | 109/144 | 29/38 |
| 4. | Transmission Fluid | 6 | 5 | 1.3 |
| 5. | Differential Fluid | 4 | 3.5 liters | 1 |
What Oil Is The Best For The 7.3 Power Stroke Engine?
There are so many oils that can be used in a 7.3 power stroke engine. Among them, the most efficient oils are:
- 15W-40API CJ-4 Motor Oil (Multi Grade Oil)
- Valvoline Premium Blue SAE 10W-30.
- SAE 15W-40 Super Duty Diesel Motor Oil
- T5 Multi Grade Oil
Among these oils, the 15W-40 API CJ-4 motor oil (Multigrade oil) and the SAE 15W-40 Super Duty Diesel Motor Oilhave the best viscosity level compared to the Valvoline Premium Blue SAE 10W-30. The 40 and 30 in the names refer to the viscosity level of the oils.
The more viscosity the thicker the oil. Thicker oils perform better than thinner oils in tough conditions and can bear heavy loads. The 30-viscosity oils cannot operate properly atvery hot temperatures.
On the contrary, the 40 viscosity oils will get a little bit thinner in hot conditions but will operate properly to bear heavy loads.
The T5 Multi Grade Oilhas also a viscosity level of 30 but it can bear more loads than other 30 viscosity oils. It is manufactured to be used in heavy-duty vehicles. If you drive with heavy loads and want to save money then T5 Multi Grade Oil is recommended.
So, the15W-40 API CJ-4 motor oil (Multigrade oil) and the SAE 15W-40 Super Duty Diesel Motor Oil arethe best suited for the 7.3 power stroke diesel engine.
What Happens When You Overfill Your 7.3 Power Stroke Engine?
Overfilling the 7.3 engine will mess up the combustion chamber. This issue is seen especially in diesel engines. Gasoline engines are free from this problem. When you overfill your 7.3 engine, the oil and the diesel can get mixed up.
This will cause severe damage to your engine which might lead to sudden engine breakdown.
The biggest fear of overfilling a diesel engine is that it might create dark and unclear smokes out of the engine which can block the view of the road. When the engine is overfilled and the diesel and oil are mixed up in the combustion chamber, it will create a clicking noise and producesmoke.
This might lead to the question-how can I know what is the proper amount of oil to be put into the engine? The answer is- you can simply find it in the instruction manual to avoid any kind of hazardous overfilling.
Also, by now, after reading the article this far, you must have got a clear idea about the oil capacity of your engine.
Why Is The 7.3 Power Stroke Engine Known For Oil Starving?
There are some problematic issues in the fuel filter and the pressure regulator which result in oil starving for the 7.3 power stroke engine. The problem arises when the fuel filter, fuel pump, and pressure regulator do not work simultaneously.
A clogged filter lessens the oil flow and the engine does not get the oil it needs. Fault in the fuel pump and fuel pipe can also cause this damage. Using poor quality oil for the engine can also make the engine starve before reaching the desired mileage.
How To Properly Change Oil Of A 7.3 Power Stroke?
You have to very carefully put the oil into the engine so that it does not spill out. Here are the steps you need to follow to properly change theoil of the 7.3 engine:
- Firstly, you have to remove the oil fill cap
- Then you have to use an oil drain pan to remove the remained oil from the engine
- After that, you have to clean the oil filter properly to get rid of the debris
- Then you can clean the mating surface at the mouth of the oil filter
- Then you will easily down the torque with a torque wrench to separate the oil filter
- Then you can pour the fuel into the oil filter and rub some oil into the rubber gasket to fit it tightly into the engine
- After that, you can put the oil into the engine
- Last but not the least, you have to carefully seal the cap tightly, because a loosened cap can spill out the fuel causing a severe accident
If you are interested, you can watch a video tutorial on how to oil your 7.3 engine.
frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1. What Is The Mileage Of The 7.3 Power Stroke Diesel Engine?
7.3 power stroke engine has the best mileage among the power stroke engines. On average it will run up to 70000 miles to 90000 miles. The mileage heavily depends on the temperature. In hot weather, you will get completely less mileage than in cold weather.
You can get more information about the mileage of the 7.3 engine here.
2. Which Oil Was Recommended By Ford For Its 7.3 Power Stroke Engine?
Ford recommended in their instruction manual that 15w-15 multi-grade oil is best suited for 7.3 power stroke. This oil had the highest level of viscosity at that time. However, this recommendation does not withhold anymore, because there are higher levelsof viscosity oils that are present in the market now.
3. Why Is the Oil Of The 7.3 Power Stroke Diesel Engine So Expensive?
The main reason behind this issue is thatthe diesel oil used in the 7.3 power stroke engine has a higher level of viscosity. As a result, it costs more than regular Gasoline.
In the USA, a gallon of gasoline will cost you around 18 to 20 cents. On the contrary, a gallon of diesel will cost you around 25 to 30 cents.
Take Away
With that, now you know how much oil does a 7.3 Power Stroketake. Although the fuel tank capacity depends on whether the tank is a long box or short box, the engine oil capacity of the engine is always 15 quarts.
The engine can also take 6 quarts of transmission fluid and 4 quarts of differential fluid as well. Hope this article answers all of your questions in this aspect.
