‘The 300 Will Tow ‘Em All to the Scrapper:’ 7.3. Powerstroke vs. 460. Which Is the ‘Best Engine’?

If you’ve ever spent a weekend chasing a cam sensor through a nest of wiring harnesses, the meme stitched together on a recent viral Facebook Reel really hits home. In it, a 7.3 Power Stroke van full of labeled problems sings joyfully through the chaos of constant repairs, while a lone 460 driver just smiles into the sunshine and shifts into classic rock anthem “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The humor works on two levels. The scene from the jihad-comedy Four Lions—a van full of obliviously cheerful would-be terrorists belting “Dancing in the Moonlight”—becomes a stand-in for 7.3-liter Power Stroke owners: blissfully singing through a storm of mechanical problems. Then the cut to Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood flips the mood entirely: a single, unbothered driver gliding down Los Angeles streets to Creedence Clearwater Revival, embodying the simpler, carefree 460-gas-engine crowd. It’s meme shorthand for diesel drama versus gas serenity.

The Ford truck specialists at OBS Solutions of Albany, New York clearly have some thoughts about the reliability and cost of ownership of the two well-known engine types.

“Is the diesel tax worth it when it comes to the engine in your OBS Ford?” asks the caption on a clip that’s been viewed more than 850,000 times.

The Legend and the Liability

The 7.3-liter Power Stroke is treated like a mechanical deity in Ford diesel circles: massive torque, cast-iron internals, and a reputation for living forever. With proper maintenance, 300,000 to 500,000 miles is expected, and some owners claim to have passed the million-mile mark.

But the 7.3’s halo has always come with grease-stained fine print. The issues listed in the meme—“oil leaks,” “EGTs,” “cam sensor,” “glow plugs,” “injector harnesses,” and “vacuum pump”—are all legitimate pain points. The camshaft-position sensor failure is practically a rite of passage, as are under-valve-cover harness issues and turbo up-pipe leaks. Still, the motor’s simplicity and over-built design make it one of the most trusted diesels ever to live under an OBS hood. ProSource Diesel views the 7.3 as a reliable engine, noting that many repairs are minor if you’re patient and proactive.

Meanwhile, Ford’s 460 cubic-inch V-8 from the 385-series family is old-school American iron: big bore, long stroke, and fewer moving parts. It doesn’t deliver diesel-grade torque, but what it lacks in tech it makes up for in simplicity and sound.

For many owners, the appeal is tangible: no glow-plug relays, no high-pressure oil systems, and fewer mysterious sensors waiting to fail. The 460 can be coaxed into serious power with aftermarket heads and cams, and while its fuel economy is famously brutal, the maintenance costs are predictable and the parts bins are still full.

Call it a 10-mpg vacation from diesel drama.

7.3 Fans Go To War With the 460 Crowd

The Reel’s comment thread reads like a decades-long shop debate condensed into one endless group chat. The IDI diehards are fans of the mechanically injected pre-Power Stroke 7.3 who brag about burning waste motor oil and logging half-million-mile runs. One proudly wrote, “Slow but steady,” while another added, “We mix it with a little ATF first.”

Power Stroke defenders shot back with equal swagger: “7.3 is a great motor and a well-maintained one will still smoke the tires with over 300k miles.” Others cited injector upgrades and tuners like the Hydra Chip as proof that the diesel can still run with the big boys.

Then came the 460 loyalists, mocking the “diesel tax” and the cultish devotion to an engine that leaks more than it idles. “The 7.3 is heavy as hell and anemic as [expletive],” one user wrote. “I could out-pull it with a 351W.”

Even a few Duramax and Cummins owners dropped by to stir the pot, calling the 7.3 “a slow relic with a fan club.” The responses predictably pointed out that no modern diesel is still working after 30 years and half a million miles.

Underneath the memes and trash talk, though, there’s mutual respect. Everyone here loves old trucks; they just disagree on which flavor of suffering counts as “worth it.”

The video caption—“Is the diesel tax worth it?”—lands because it’s true in more ways than one. However, in this context, it isn’t about literal taxes; it serves as shorthand for the added costs (a higher upfront price, more expensive parts, more difficult-to-service components, and premium-grade fluids) of owning a diesel engine instead of a gas engine.

Diesel trucks often require more expensive oil and filter jobs, and parts like injectors and turbo components tend to carry a premium. The 7.3 Power Stroke comes with a higher buy-in, costlier maintenance, and pricier fuel, though it delivers torque and longevity unmatched by most gas engines of its time. The 460, meanwhile, demands little more than fuel money and regular oil changes but punishes owners at the pump.

On enthusiast forums like TheDieselStop.com, owners who’ve driven both often reach the same conclusion: the 7.3’s towing power and longevity are undeniable, but the 460’s simplicity, cheaper parts, and easier upkeep make it a friendlier engine to live with day to day. The real choice comes down to personality: wrench and tune, or fill up and cruise.

Reached via email, OBS Solutions founder Devon Connaghan told Motor1, “We definitely aren't too biased when it comes to powertrains in these OBS Ford Trucks. Each option has its benefits and obvious shortcomings.”

“The 7.3 Power Stroke is what these trucks are known for, they’re a solid platform when maintained properly and the right recipe of power upgrades are done. Of course, the downside is keeping up with the extra parts that are required to maintain their legendary reliability. Whether its the tedious oil leaks, worn engine components due to being a 30-year-old engine/truck or a poor combination of horsepower adders, it can definitely be a challenge in ownership. But, as we all know, when they’re running in top form with the right upgrades, [they] can be one of the best pre-emission light truck diesel engines of their time.”

He also had some kind words for the 460.

“The 460 is also great in its own regard, again when proper maintenance is done. There's far fewer critical components that affect engine operation, tune ups are simple and affordable. The downsides? Obviously poor fuel economy and a much more expensive/difficult path to making more horsepower with the stock EEC-IV engine management system.”

Connaghan says that people trying to choose between them should consider what they’re using the truck for: towing, a daily driver, or a weekend cruiser.

“The extra torque of a 7.3 Power Stroke is hard to beat, but a 460 can definitely hold its own,” he said.

Continuing, Connaghan said they made the video to make fun of common ownership issues.

“Most folks with a 460 are just concerned about when they've gotta fuel up that thirsty monster again,” he said. “Neither engine makes comparable power to newer diesel pickups [...] but nothing looks as good as an OBS Ford Truck.”