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2000 FORD F-250

7.3L V8 Power Stroke Diesel•4WD•AUTOMATIC•diesel•turbo
5-Year Cost of Ownership
$46,405 maintenance + known platform issues
~$9,281/yr · 770¢/mile equivalent · $36,440 maintenance + $7,045 expected platform issues
Compare this engine
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6.7L V8 Power Stroke Diesel
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7.3L V8 Godzilla
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2000 F-250 Super Duty represents Ford's first year of the redesigned heavy-duty platform. Major pain points split by engine: the 6.8L V10 suffers catastrophic spark plug ejection and coolant leaks, while the 7.3L Power Stroke is far more durable but has injector and HPOP issues.

Spark Plug Ejection from Cylinder Head (6.8L V10 only)

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: sudden misfire and loud hissing/popping from engine bay, complete loss of power under load, Check Engine light with misfire codes, sometimes catastrophic — plug exits head entirely
Fix: Early 2-valve Triton heads have insufficient thread engagement. Requires HeliCoil or TimeSert thread repair per cylinder, often multiple plugs over vehicle life. If head is damaged badly, pulling head for machine work or replacement. 3-6 hours labor per plug if caught early, 12-20 hours if head removal needed.
Estimated cost: $400-1,200 per plug event; $2,500-4,500 if head work required

Intake Manifold Coolant Crossover Leak (6.8L V10 only)

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: coolant loss with no visible external leak, white smoke from exhaust on cold start, sweet smell from vents, overheating if neglected
Fix: Plastic coolant crossover passages in the intake manifold crack. Requires intake manifold removal and replacement of crossover tubes or entire manifold assembly. 6-8 hours labor. Some techs install Dorman updated metal crossovers.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500

Transmission Torque Converter Shudder and Failure (4R100 Auto)

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: shudder or vibration during light throttle 35-45 mph, slipping between gears, especially 2-3 shift, delayed engagement into gear from park, burnt transmission fluid smell
Fix: 4R100 torque converters wear internally, clutches burn, and internal seals fail. Requires transmission removal, rebuild or replacement. Count on 8-10 hours labor for R&R plus rebuild. External cooler upgrade strongly recommended to prevent repeat failure.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800

Fuel Injector O-Ring Leaks (7.3L Power Stroke only)

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 150,000-250,000 mi
Symptoms: hard starting, especially cold, rough idle with white smoke, fuel odor in oil (check dipstick), oil level rising on dipstick — fuel dilution
Fix: Injector O-rings harden and fail, allowing fuel into crankcase or external leaks. Requires valve cover removal and injector R&R to replace O-rings and copper sealing washers. 6-8 hours labor for all eight injectors. While in there, replace glow plug relay and check UVCH connectors.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000

High-Pressure Oil Pump (HPOP) Failure (7.3L Power Stroke only)

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 180,000-280,000 mi
Symptoms: extended cranking before start, loss of power, won't rev past 2000 rpm, ICP (injection control pressure) codes, no-start condition in extreme cases
Fix: HPOP supplies 3,000+ psi oil pressure to run injectors. Internal wear or seal failure drops pressure below operational threshold. Requires removal from front of engine, often with turbo and intake removal for access. 10-14 hours labor. Always replace IPR valve and screen during HPOP job.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,000

Front Hub Bearing and Unit Bearing Failure

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: grinding or humming noise that increases with speed, wheel wobble or play when jacked up, ABS light in some cases, uneven tire wear on inner or outer edge
Fix: Heavy-duty use and weight accelerate hub wear. Requires hub assembly replacement. 2-3 hours labor per side. If doing one side, inspect the other — they often fail close together. Check ball joints while in there.
Estimated cost: $400-700 per side

Steering Linkage and Ball Joint Wear

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: loose or wandering steering, clunking over bumps, steering wheel off-center, uneven tire wear, failed state inspection for play in tie rods or ball joints
Fix: Tie rod ends, drag link, and ball joints wear in these heavy trucks, especially if used for towing or off-road. Full front-end rebuild (both upper and lower ball joints, tie rods, drag link) is common. 6-10 hours labor depending on rust and whether pitman/idler arms are included. Alignment mandatory after.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,500 for complete front end

Cam Position Sensor (CMP) Failure (both engines)

Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: intermittent stalling, especially when hot, no-start with crank but no fire, rough running and Check Engine light, codes for cam/crank correlation
Fix: CMP sensor in distributor (V10) or front cover (7.3L) fails from heat. On 7.3L it's a quick 0.5-hour job at front of engine. On V10 it may require distributor removal. Cheap part, easy fix, but leaves you stranded.
Estimated cost: $150-350
Owner tips
  • If buying a V10, inspect spark plug condition and ask about previous plug ejections — budget $2k-3k reserve for this issue
  • 7.3L Power Stroke: change oil every 5k miles with quality 15W-40, replace fuel filter every 10k, and flush coolant with proper additive every 2 years — these engines will do 400k+ with care
  • Inspect transmission fluid condition at purchase — if dark or burnt-smelling, plan on a rebuild soon
  • Replace front-end components in sets, not one at a time — labor overlap saves money
  • Budget for a heavy-duty transmission cooler if towing — the stock setup is marginal
Buy the 7.3L Power Stroke with maintenance records and you've got a 300k+ mile truck; avoid high-mileage V10s unless spark plug situation is documented and resolved.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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