L8T Future?

[C/K Man]

Now entering it's 6th model year, the L8T has proven to be a reliable and powerful workhorse.  It is now available in not only Silverado and Sierra 2500 and 3500 HD trucks bot also the Express/Savanna vans and chassis models, many Isuzu/Chevy LCF commercial trucks, and Freightliner chassis models.  As with any engine there have been a few problems, but they seem to be random in nature.  I have seen or heard about high pressure fuel pump failures, dropped/broken valves. and improperly torqued cylinder heads.  Nothing like the common Ford 7.3L valve/cam failures.  Going forward there is word that the L8T will be replaced in 2007 with the L8S which is designed to meet upcoming emissions regulations.  Hopefully reliability, economy, and output will not be compromised.

 

There is one application where you would think the L8T would be a popular option but is not offered is the Silverado Medium Duty trucks, at least the 4500 and 5500 models.  In my area Ford sells a lot of F-450 and F-550 trucks with gasoline engines, they are a lot cheaper and more reliable than the diesel versions and if you don't put a lot of miles on them I think the overall cost-of-ownership is less.  I was told when the L8T came out in 2020 it was not available in the Silverado Medium Duty because the ECM was only compatible with the 6L90 transmission which would have limited the GVW and GCWR.  However, for the last couple of years the L8T has been availabe in the Chevy (Isuzu) LCF 5500XG truck, which not only has a 19,500# GVW but also uses the same Allison 6 speed transmission many of the Silverado Medium Duty trucks use.  Can't see why the L8T is not in the Silverado Medium Duty, I think they are handing Ford some truck sales.

 

Ford is opening the Oakville Ontario plant to produce more Super Duty trucks.  This will give Ford 3 plants producing Super Duty trucks, Louisville, Avon Lake Ohio, and now Oakville.  This presents a problem for Ford has they were having trouble making enough gasoline engines before the new plant opened.  Ford is currently building the 7.3L and 6.8L gasoline engines at Windsor, and they recently announced a new line will open in the Essex engine plant to produce additional gas V-8's for the Super Duty.  GM produces the L8T at the Tonawanda Engine Plant and they don't seem to be having a problem keeping up with demand.

[No F-bdy Bs]

I was VERY close to buying a 7.3 Ford, but never could get solid info if they'd fixed the cam/lifter galling issue. Been pleased with the l8t thus far, and the ifs ride of the 2500 is definitely superior to the f250. 

[C/K Man]

Ford seems to be having a lot of trouble with the 7.3L eating cams and lifters.  Unfortunately the problem often doesn't happen until the engine has around 60,000 miless on it, well out of warranty.