Ford 6.2 vs 7.3: Are Ford 6.2 and 7.3 Good Engines?
Getting over those hills. That is the main concern of many RVers. They need the power to get over those mountains, steep inclines, and other hills. Finding the right engine is key and it can either be gas or diesel. When built right either one will get the job done.
Ford 6.2 and 7.3 are both solid engines that have more than enough power to tow your trailer anywhere you want to go. The main advantage the 7.3 has over the 6.2 is the approx. 40 more HP. In some regions of the country that can make all the difference.
To learn more about each engine and how good they are, just keep reading our article. It has the information you want to know about before you buy. Take a few minutes and compare motors, the information here may convince you to go one way or the other when you are ready to buy.
Ford 6.2 vs 7.3
Is a 6.2 Ford Engine Gas or Diesel?
This is a gas engine and that is not anything to sneer at. Diesel engines may last longer but they can be a little more complicated to repair when something eventually goes wrong.
Most people are familiar with a gas engine and when it comes to minor repairs, they can handle those themselves without any trouble. They know where to get the parts, the tools needed, and so on. The problem with gas engines is that they don't normally last as long as a diesel motor will.
This design also makes it easier to fill up at a gas station as they all have regular gas pumps. You can find gas anywhere you go and that makes traveling a little more relaxing. The only hard part is dealing with the high gas prices that have plagued the nation the last few months.
Is the Ford 6.2 Any Good?
Yes, it is a very solidly built engine that is paired with a 6-speed transmission. It also comes with a 3.73 rear end that helps it pull roughly 12,900 pounds at any given time. The 4 by 4 model can pull only 12,500.
The reviews that we have seen have the owners praising this engine and saying they have not had any trouble with it. That is a good sign and a mark of a good engine. Then along with the above stats, this engine produces 385 HP at 430-foot pounds of torque.
This motor’s construction is also geared towards fuel efficiency. In a head-to-head competition, this engine produced about 2 to 3 more mpg than the 7.3 when unloaded. Then if you are towing less than 10,000 pounds you should not have any trouble getting over those inclines or tough mountain hills.
How Good is the New 7.3 Gas Engine?
The people who have owned this engine have praised it as this motor was designed for towing heavy loads. That gives it an edge over the 6.2. It is also a gas motor and its 10-speed transmission may have you thinking your a trucker driving a big rig to the warehouse.
The rear end ratio is 3.73 which helps pull that extra weight and with 430 HP at 475-foot pounds of torque, you can pull more weight than the 6.2 by a couple of thousand pounds.
The drawback to this engine is its expense. It is costlier than the 6.2 which may hold some people back from purchasing it. Also, the truck’s size may be about 3 inches taller than the truck with the 6.2 in it creating a nose-high towing issue some RVers like to avoid.
It may be the better engine but there are related issues that need to be considered.
Ford 6.2 vs 7.3 Specs
There is no real comparison. The 7.3 V8 is supposed to be an upgraded version of the 6.2 and even though its transmission holds 4 more gears, it only weighs 3 1/2 pounds more than the 6-speed transmission attached to the 6.2.
Also, the 7.3 is supposed to have a forged steel crank, overhead valves and be very compact for its size. The 6.2 will get 385 HP at 5750 RPM and 430-foot pounds of torque at 3800 rpm while the 7.3 will get 430 HP at 5500 rpm and 475-foot pounds of torque at 4000 RPM.
What the 7.3 also has over the 6.2 is that it is designed to run on compressed natural gas. it is said that the 7.3 will get better gas mileage than the 6.2 but that remains to be seen as actual results depend on other factors, not just engine design.
Ford 6.2 vs 7.3 hp
The 6.2 does not produce as much horsepower as the 7.3. That you should have gathered by now as we have stated the two results continuously throughout this article. But just in case you missed it, the 6.2. only gets 385 hp while the 7.3 is made to produce 430.
For some, the 35 extra horses are not enough justification to spend the extra money for the 7.3. They also do not feel the need to upgrade as they are not towing heavier weight than the 6.2 can handle easily.
Those are two factors you have to consider. While the 7.3 produces bigger numbers is it worth paying the extra money? Or if you are towing under 10,000 pounds do you really need to upgrade the power?
Which motor suits your needs will be up to your RV situation and where you like to travel.
Does Ford 6.2 Have Cylinder Deactivation?
Cylinder deactivation is where some cylinders are disabled systematically to provide you with better fuel economy and engine efficiency while lowering the displacement.
It is a technique used by different automakers to help meet federal regulations while giving you better performance. To some, this may seem to be a good technique to use in big engines.
However, Ford doesn't use cylinder deactivation in any of its big motors. The 6.2 does not have this ability but it performs quite well without it. According to our research, Ford has said the best way to get performance from an engine is to go with a long stroke, low rpm pushrod V8.
Whether they are right or not remains to be seen. Those engines with cylinder deactivation may disagree with that thinking. The best way to tell is to test-drive vehicles with both systems and see the difference.
Does Ford 7.3 Have Cylinder Deactivation?
This system is usually found in the larger V6 or V8 engines but not all automakers have jumped on this bandwagon. It is said that Ford does not use this system in its bigger gas engines but has used them in smaller ones.
In the descriptions put out by Ford, the cylinder deactivation system goes unmentioned. That can be a sign that says the 7.3 does not have this technology in it nor does it have the engine start/stop function when at a traffic light.
The problem with this system is that no automaker has been able to make cylinder deactivation work properly. It may be one of those technical issues that are a good idea but hard to put into reality. How your engine performs in your car with this technology may be different from what our research has uncovered.
For now, it is not a well-liked system.
Ford 6.2 vs 7.3 mpg
Part of the problem is how heavy the traffic is. When the roads are clear and the truck is unloaded and not towing anything, you may get around 15 mpg with the 6.2. With traffic the total can go down to 12 mpg and towing may be a little less.
The 7.3 motor gets about 7-10 mpg when towing and maybe a little better fuel efficiency when it is unloaded. It is doubtful that it will get as much mileage as the 6.2 either way.
But mileage reports are subjective as the manufacturer creates their mileage charts under ideal conditions. The driver on the other hand has many other factors to consider like their own driving habits, wind resistance, and so on.
Actual results for both engines will depend on the driving style and conditions you are driving in.
Ford 6.2 vs 7.3 Towing
Towing is another issue altogether as the 7.3 seems to be made to tow and it does handle heavier weights quite well. This engine with the 3.55 rear end can pull up to 15,000 pounds without having any trouble.
The 6.2 with the 3.73 rear end can only tow up to 12,900 pounds and the 4 wheel drive only tows 12,500. The 4 wheel drive for the 7.3 outdoes both of the 6.2 engines by being able to tow 14,700 pounds.
The power is with the 7.3 and its ability to tow more weight gives you more options for gear, supplies, and other recreational equipment. Whether you get the 4 x 4 or the 2 wheel drive doesn’t really matter as they both tow lots of weight making your holiday even better.
How Many Miles Will a Ford 6.2 Last?
This depends on the driver more than the engineering at some points. If the engine is well maintained, given regular maintenance, and looked after like a baby, then there should be no problem having it last 300,000 miles.
On the other hand, if you do not look after the engine and give it regular oil changes, then do not expect to get as many miles out of your engine as that total. 300,000 miles seems to be the standard for most owners.
That may not be as great as a diesel engine but it is still far better than a regular car motor that may not last too far past 100,000. How long yours will last depends on you, where you drive it, how you drive it, and so on.
Ford 6.2 vs 7.3 Reliability
Both motors are very reliable and well built. The question that most people have is the difference between the 6 speed and the 10-speed transmission. The latter option seems to give their owners the most trouble while the former one seems to be more reliable and doesn’t break down as much.
It is possible that the 7.3 has not had much of a chance to prove itself yet. The motor has not been out as long as the 6.2 so the jury may still be out on its reliability. The 6.2 has proven itself over the many years of service it has already put in.
Many owners have very few complaints with this engine and they like the performance they get.
Does the Ford 6.2 Require Premium Fuel?
There is no mandatory rule that states you need to only run premium fuel when your truck has the 6.2 under the hood. Some people say that the benefits you get by using the higher octane fuel are not worth the extra cost.
But some say that using premium is the way to protect the compression and avoid pre-ignition issues. Others have stated that using premium fuel has not increased their fuel mileage one bit and feel that saving a few pennies per gallon is worth the pre-ignition risk.
One advantage of using premium fuel is that it has more detergents in it to help keep your engine cleaner and running better. It is your choice as the differences seem minimal.
Some Final Words
Which engine you should have under your truck’s hood is up to you and your driving preference. There are good and bad points about both engines and if you are not towing heavy loads, it won’t make much difference which engine does the job. The cost of the 7.3 may be the deciding factor.
