Ford Excursion 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
The Ford Excursion arrived in 2000 as a response to a specific market demand: families who needed to tow heavy trailers but also wanted enclosed passenger space for the whole clan. Built on the Super Duty F-250/F-350 truck platform, the Excursion was enormous by any standard — at over 19 feet long and weighing up to four tons, it dwarfed even the largest Suburban.
The 7.3-liter Powerstroke turbodiesel V8, manufactured by Navistar International, was the engine that defined the Excursion experience. Producing 235 horsepower and a staggering 525 lb-ft of torque, the 7.3 could tow up to 11,000 pounds without breaking a sweat. More importantly, the engine had earned a bulletproof reputation in the F-Series Super Duty trucks, with many examples exceeding 300,000 miles with proper maintenance.
The Excursion's interior offered seating for up to nine passengers in three rows, with the kind of cavernous space that made even a Suburban feel cramped. The Limited trim added leather seating, wood-grain accents, and a premium audio system, transforming the utilitarian platform into something approaching luxury — at least by early-2000s truck-based SUV standards.
Despite its capabilities, the Excursion faced criticism from the start. Environmental groups targeted it as a symbol of American excess, and fuel economy ratings in the single digits for the gasoline V10 version drew negative press. The diesel was more efficient, managing 12-15 mpg in mixed driving, but that was still thirsty by any measure.
Ford discontinued the Excursion after 2005, citing the changing market and increasing fuel costs. No direct replacement was offered, and the Excursion became the last of the truly massive truck-based SUVs from a major manufacturer. Today, the 7.3L Powerstroke versions command a significant premium in the used market, driven by the engine's legendary reliability and the absence of any modern equivalent. Clean, low-mileage examples have appreciated steadily and show no signs of slowing down.
The 7.3L Powerstroke is the engine to seek — avoid the 6.0L (2003.5-2005) unless you are prepared for significant repair costs. Check for oil leaks at the turbo pedestal and exhaust back-pressure valve. The 4R100 transmission is robust but inspect for harsh shifting. Inspect the frame for rust (critical on northern vehicles). Check for injector buzz test results — failed injectors are common on high-mileage examples. The HPOP (high pressure oil pump) is a known wear item. Interior trim quality is truck-like; expect worn seats and cracked dash panels. Verify the 4WD system works properly including vacuum hubs.
The Excursion was built alongside the Super Duty trucks at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant. The 7.3L Powerstroke was available from 2000-2003; it was replaced by the 6.0L Powerstroke for 2003.5-2005 (which proved far less reliable, making the 7.3 versions more desirable). Total production across all years was approximately 199,000 units across all engine options.