The 7.3 Powerstroke is a great engine, but is it as great as it could be? Powerstroke represents a series of engines created in a collaboration between the Ford Motor Company and Navistar during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It became popular with commercial truck enthusiasts and underwent many upgrades in the past few decades.

The 7.3 Powerstroke was installed in various truck models until about 2003 and is now hard to come by. If you can get your hands on one, you’ll enjoy the engine’s great performance. Still, you might want to improve it. How much HP can you get from a 7.3 Powerstroke? On average, a 7.3 Powerstroke engine can deliver about 275 HP, but with modifications, it could reach 300–500 HP! Here’s how you can try to approach that level.

Tune It Up

If you’re not taking care of your vehicle and its engine, it can’t take care of you. Schedule regular checkups with an experienced mechanic. Your diesel engine endures a lot of pressure—literally. It will steadily decline and deliver diminishing performance in due time if you don’t care for it. Regular tune-ups will keep it running at peak performance and may even reveal ways to upgrade it so you can enjoy greater horsepower, torque, and more!

Cool Air

Engines perform well with cool, oxygen-rich air. You can install cold air intake and airflow kits yourself, though a skilled mechanic will do a better job. When you add a cold air intake device under the hood, it draws in and filters cool air with a high oxygen content. Oxygen-rich air increases the engine’s fuel efficiency, which delivers more horsepower. That means more savings at the pump!

Turbocharge It

Keep the good air flowing with a turbocharger. This device brings even more air into the engine, pressurizes it, and boosts the engine’s power. By some accounts, a turbocharger can increase pressure by 30, 40, or even 50 percent! Installation of a turbocharger could be a fun DIY project, but consult a mechanic to determine if this modification will benefit your vehicle.

Watch the Fluids

Still wondering how much HP you can get from a 7.3 Powerstroke? Don’t neglect regular oil changes, or you’ll be shopping for a new engine before long. When you fuel up, consider adding diesel fuel injection cleaners to help your Ford 7.3 Powerstroke crate engine run smoother. Other additives can break down deposits, provide lubrication, improve combustion, resist high temperatures, and remove water. If you have any questions, contact Blessed Performance today!