1997 Ford F250 Super Duty XLT review from North America

Fuel Leak at Fuel Filter, mounted on top of engine. Replaced small electric heater (for warming up the fuel on cold days) that had a bad o-ring on it and leaked.

Replaced fuel pump; not as hard as you might guess! It's right on top of the engine, very few items had to be moved to get to it.

Typical things like starter, batteries, brakes. Some front end repairs too, but with over 100k on Alaska roads what do you expect!!

This is a F250 "Heavy Duty" four door four wheel drive. I purchased it in Anchorage Alaska, where it has lived most of it's life.

I had a couple of problems with the fuel system noted in "What things have gone wrong with the car?" And I had a friend/ford diesel mechanic go through it and take care of a few normal wear and tear items. These include some new o-rings on the fuel injectors (if you have a Ford Diesel and haven't had these replaced in 60k miles DO IT!) and a back pressure tube that clogs up every 40k miles.

This truck has a couple of quirky things, like you have to put a special additive to the coolant yearly otherwise the engine, for lack of better terms, will rot from the water jacket out.

I have done some performance enhancements such as computer chip, K&N filter, gauges that tell Exhaust temp, Trans temp, Turbo Boost. I have a lot of fun working on this truck, and there are a lot of things a cautious back yard mechanic with the aid of a Haynes or Chilton manual can take care of. I haven't had an easier oil change since my '55 chevy!! (Aside from the 2.5 gallons of oil requiring 2 drain pans to empty it!)

In comparison to a small Dodge Dakota I had before (V6 in that one) this truck has at least 5 times the power, AND it is more fuel efficient. I get 16 city, 20 Hwy!

I have pulled a trailers with it, which kills the fuel economy, but I hadn't expected efficiency with 5000 pounds of dead weight being pulled up Alaska Hills. From a power perspective I think it did just fine, I can keep up 65mph on a very steep grade with a trailer, but I go easy on it because there is no cause for hurry when you are out for the scenery anyhow.

In a nutshell, I wouldn't buy a gas powered full size truck again, except diesel fuel prices are becoming so outrageous. I honestly think diesel will be the fuel of the future with bio-diesel technologies coming on-line, but in the mean time we may have to suffer a few more years at the hands of Arab oil.