As you would know if you have done much reading of this
Forum, the “Lone Ranger” is not a fan of the new style technology of full electronic engine management for diesel engines; when the application of a very remote setting of exploration in the Outback could mean a long towing job to a Dealer… Ha! For that reason, I often advise people to explore the idea of secondhand vehicles, like a couple of years old Toyota 100 Series with the naturally aspirated diesel, non electronic, all manual, and friendly to service by Bush Mechanics….. And then do as I have done and have the Aftermarket Turbo and Intercooler if you want more power… More on this topic if you want, by email to me at
Bushtracker and I will send out the advice. But mind you, the new Toyota Electronic Turbo is still the most common vehicle towing Bushtrackers… Back to the topic:
Anyway, the trend these days is to go with a larger van for Lifestyle. With a larger van over say 20’ or 21’; the huge advantage of the larger tow vehicles for safety of long wheelbase leverage on the van at high speed traffic hazard avoidance situations on the highway, and better fuel economy and power with the larger diesels, you have little practical choice but to go with something like the F-250 or Dodge Cummins, or Chev trucks and their full electronic engine management. And there are not older non electronic diesel ones widely available... Very rare.. So what to do?? Well, I like the Fords the best, not because they are the best as much as the fact that there is wide spread Dealership support and parts and trucks and wreckers all over Australia.. So, in experimenting with mine, and spending considerable time on the American Forums, and talking with the Ford “Techies” they call themselves… I have found out that the F-250 engines run an incredibly long time. They are talking about 300,000 miles with poor care and 600,000 miles (900,000km) with good regular service and frequent oil changes.. One of the Ford Professionals told me that in his shop they have a regularly serviced Ford that is in good running order at 960,000 miles!!! Unbelievable!! But I do believe him as he has been right on the button on a number of things. Anyways, the point is that the 7.3 litre PowerStroke motor goes on much farther than its electronic sensors and controls, of which there are about a dozen pain in the *** to deal with. One of them is the Cam Position Sensor on the front of the engine. According to the Techies it is likely to go out, maybe 50% of the time, somewhere in the 80,000 miles onward, or even earlier. Motor is just erratic to start, or could die all together at any time with a bad CPS.. About $400 here in Oz, or about $90 U.S. by Airmail if you do your research. Or you could have something else go out, accelerator sender, or some other of a dozen widgets that I would have a hard time even finding…! Anyway the point is that a Mechanic with the Manual in Augathella would not have a hope unless he had the Diagnostic Computer to tell him which widget it was!!
So my research discovery, and what to do? Well first, a DVD Shop Manual or better yet possibly the Paper version, would tell you what part to order by airmail to Woop-Woop, and how to put it in….. But how do you tell which electronic widget went off the edge? There are a number of performance enhancing little computers, like the one I have, a SuperChips MicroTuner, that plug right into the Ford on board Computer to reprogram it for better efficiency, more power, etcetera. Mind you, if left on the performance enhanced setting, it could possibly get you into a Warranty mess with Ford, so we are not going there… If you are out of Warranty on an older Ford, setting number one does improve fuel economy when towing according to various reliable Sources.. However, that is not the “Beauty of the Beast”, the beauty is that it will read the Ford Computer Fault Codes, DTC codes, and you get a manual that tells you what they mean!!!! You can have the diagnostic computer for around the $400-$500 (A$) or cheaper… And now I am not telling you that the SuperChips MicroTuner is the best diagnostic computer, it is what I have; but I have been told that there are even better ones available. Go to the PowerStroke Forums, ask the questions, and choose for yourself… But I am telling you that this offers a great deal of comfort and security, when you are 1,500 kms from the nearest Ford Dealer. You could get the little widget mailed out, and with a manual put it in, if you only knew what it was. I believe this is the answer to my dislike of the modern electronic run engines and preference for the manual mechanical ones you can work on yourself.. If you have the Toyota IFS, you might research it to see if something similar is available, I have not had the time to do that bit of R&D yet. I do know that the aftermarket Code readers for Ford work, are affordable, and it is comforting to have one on board… I like the feeling of self-sufficiency and independence… In everything.
Regards from the Ranger, always looking for a better way…
