thermostat replacement

Ford 7.3 Thermostat Replacement

It is time for some general maintenance on my 2002 Ford F250 and the 7.3 Powerstroke diesel engine. The 7.3 has developed a coolant leak at the thermostat housing, which is not uncommon for these trucks. We install a new billet thermostat housing, Ford OEM thermostat, as well as an upgraded upper radiator hose for the 7.3 diesel engine. With these maintenance upgrades and changes, we should have a leak free system that lasts a long time. Our video details all the steps necessary to complete this maintenance hassle free.

upgrade tail lights

Upgrade Your Tail Lights

Recently, we decided to upgrade our OEM tail lights on the 2002 Ford F250 to a more modern looking piece. The smoke colored tail lights give the truck a more modern look while adding some style as well. The installation process is very simple, requiring just basic hand tools, and the lights are relatively inexpensive. For details on how to install the lights, check out the video below. Compatible with the Ford trucks listed below.

Direct OEM Vehicle Fitment: (Fits Styleside Models Only / DO NOT Fit Flareside Models)

  • 1997-2003 F-150
  • 2004-2004 F-150 Heritage
  • 1997-1999 F-250 Light Duty
  • 1999-2007 F-250 Super Duty
  • 1999-2007 F-350 Super Duty
  • 1999-2007 F-450 Super Duty
  • 1999-2007 F-550 Super Duty
Boslla LED

Boslla 9007 LED Headlight Install

Are you looking to get rid of the old yellow colored, dingy headlight beam on your car or truck? Well, LED headlights may be the answer you are looking for! LED lights are the modern solution to lighting in virtually every application, and that now includes cars, trucks, and other vehicles. My video below shows you the effectiveness of the Boslla 9007 LED headlight bulb and how it improves night time visibility. The installation is simple and I cover the process on my own 2002 Ford F250 Superduty pickup truck.

How To Replace A Glow Plug Relay

Ford 7.3 glow plug relay replacement process.

The glow plug relay is a common failure point on the 7.3 Powerstroke diesel engine. My 2002 Ford F250 has suffered a GPR failure and in this video, I will show you how to test it AND replace it! The glow plug relay is critical to starting a diesel engine during cold weather, as it sends power to your glow plugs in order to heat up the engine cylinders. Fortunately, the glow plug relay replacement is pretty straightforward and can be completed with basic hand tools. The parts I use when replacing my Ford 7.3 GPR are found below.

Motorcraft DY861 Glow Plug Relay
Digital Voltmeter
Test light

7.3 Oil Change

Performing a regular Ford 7.3 oil change is vital to keeping your diesel engine running in top notch condition.

Diesel engines rely very heavily on good oil in order to run efficiently. The 7.3 Powerstroke diesel engine from Ford is no different. Changing the engine oil at regular intervals will keep the engine running smooth and efficient. However, if oil changes are neglected, the engine could suffer from a number of issues. These include hard starting, sluggish performance, and decreased fuel economy. Our video covers all of the products and procedures you need in order to change your 7.3 Powerstroke oil successfully.

S&B Cold Air Intake

The S&B cold air intake is the best intake you can buy for your Ford 7.3L Powerstroke diesel engine.

The Ford 7.3L Powerstroke diesel engine is pretty fantastic from the factory. But, like any turbo charged vehicle, improving the air flow on the intake and exhaust side always provides improvements. The OEM airbox on the my Ford F250 is a little bit restrictive. In order to improve airflow and efficiency, I upgraded to an S&B cold air intake that is made for the 7.3L diesel engine. The better flowing intake makes the engine much more efficient in moving air. This results in improved gas mileage and drive ability. The intake is simple to install and provides noticeable benefits over the stock unit. Combine the S&B cold air intake with the MBRP exhaust and you have a great combination to improve the power, MPG, and efficiency of your 7.3L diesel engine!

MBRP Exhaust for Ford SuperDuty

Upgrading our stock exhaust to a 4″ MBRP exhaust system for my 7.3L Powerstroke diesel.

The Ford F250 Superduty with the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel engine is great from the factory. However, the intake and exhaust system leave something to be desired when it comes to efficiency. The small exhaust system that comes with the truck is very restrictive and can be detrimental to turbo efficiency when towing or daily driving. When the turbo cannot push air through the exhaust effectively, the truck suffers. In comes the MBRP 4″ exhaust system. This exhaust system is nearly twice the diameter as the OEM exhaust system on the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel engine. The installation is not terribly difficult and the improvements are immediately noticeable. When towing, my truck feels like it can breath and push air very effectively through the turbo and exhaust system. This improves MPG and drive-ability and the truck does not have to downshift when climbing small hills. Check out the video that includes the entire installation process and first drive!

Sony XAV-AX100

Upgrading my 2002 Ford F250 with a Sony XAV-AX100 stereo.

The stock stereo system that is included with older Ford Superduty pickup trucks is nothing to write home about. They lack pretty much every modern convenience that can be found in newer stereo systems. Because of this, I wanted to upgrade to something had features similar to most modern cars on the road. I chose to go with a Sony XAV-AX100 multimedia head-unit that has a number of great features. Including, Bluetooth for phone and audio, Android Auto and Apple Carplay support, touchscreen support, and a number of other nice amenities. Also, the Sony XAV-AX100 is one of the best multimedia head units on the market for the price, as far as I am concerned. Check out the installation process which is pretty straightforward and simple!

Tow Mirror Upgrade

My 7.3L diesel Ford F250 is in need of a tow mirror upgrade!

One of the things I have noticed when towing race car trailers over the years, is that mirrors are very important! Most pickup trucks come with small, inadequate mirrors for towing trailers. Unless, you opt for a truck that has a towing package which often has upgraded mirrors. My 2002 Ford F250 with the 7.3L Powerstroke diesel engine came with telescoping mirrors with a small blindspot mirror. However, I found them to be inadequate as well, and went on the hunt for a tow mirror upgrade. After doing some searching, I found YITAMOTOR towing mirrors which have been a fantastic upgrade over the stock towing mirrors. The mirrors include features not found on my OEM truck mirrors, such as a turn signal and heat mirrors. In addition, they are telescoping and have a huge blindspot mirror which increases visibility in your blind areas. The installation is fairly straightforward and my video below covers all of the details, including the wiring of turn signals and heat!

7.3L Powerstroke Diesel

Upgrading my tow vehicle with the legendary Ford 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel powered F250!

So, my old 2010 Ford F150 was not quite up to the task of towing our new 22ft enclosed race car trailer. It managed only 4mpg and just did not have the power to pull the trailer at a reasonable speed. I got really lucky searching for a replacement and found a nice 2002 Ford F250. This truck is equipped with the legendary 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel engine. This turbocharged diesel engine pumps out 275 horsepower and 525lb.ft of torque! Plenty of power to safely and economically pull our new trailer. I am looking forward to the upcoming modifications for this truck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLcdKsXR8sQ