Ford F-650 Truck Trend road test

[NIsaacs]

I was excited about this test when I received my magazine until I opened it up and it was a V-10 gasser



It also had a 6spd auto with 7:17 gears and weighed 15,400#, it had a dump box on it. Class 6, 4 door, rated 26,000 gvw with only a 10,400 payload and 17,600 tow capacity. Top speed was 75 so they set the cruise at 70 and averaged 5. 7 mpg



Nick

 

[rscurtis]

That option was introduced when the price of gas was markedly less than diesel last summer and fall. Naturally, that price differential didn't last. I don't see the point of the V10 unless you're a really low mileage user as I was when I had my IH 4300. How long do you think that V10 will survive running 70 MPH with 7. 17 gears? That probably comes out to something near 4000 RPM.



It should also have a propane option.

 

[AEdelheit]

wow, dont think ive ever heard of 7. 17 gears before, geezzz

 

[HBarlow]

Curtis is right. That V10 won't make a good boat anchor by 100k miles.

I wonder why Furd doesn't install their fantastic new in-house V8 diesel in those F-650s?

Never mind, I know why I wouldn't option a Furd V8 diesel in anything. I'm just expressing my admiration for Furd V8 diesels.

 

[NIsaacs]

wow, dont think ive ever heard of 7. 17 gears before, geezzz

Lol, I had 10. 17's in my old '65 off highway Kenworth. With one overdrive and 12x24 tires it was 45 mph wot When I bought it in Redlands, CA and drove it back to Whiteriver, AZ it took two days...



Nick

 

[jgillott]

That option was introduced when the price of gas was markedly less than diesel last summer and fall. Naturally, that price differential didn't last. I don't see the point of the V10 unless you're a really low mileage user as I was when I had my IH 4300. How long do you think that V10 will survive running 70 MPH with 7. 17 gears? That probably comes out to something near 4000 RPM.



It should also have a propane option.

Didn't the V10 option in the F650 also happen just after GM dropped their medium duty truck line. There is a limited market somewhere for a Medium duty gas/propane/CNG chassis and if I'm not mistaking, Ford now will be the only player. Our local Schwan's food delivery service runs a fleet of Medium duty propane or CNG powered trucks.

 

[rscurtis]

I remember seeing an article on the Diesel Technology Forum last summer, they made it sound like a new option.



I don't think their "fantastic new V8's" are so fantastic, Harvey. The last gas engine that Ford made that could do any kind of work was the 460, IMO. You should see their latest iteration of what they pass off as spark plugs- they look like a large glow plug, and the bottom half snaps off and stays in the engine upon removal. Then you need a special tool to retrieve the rest of the plug. First, they couldn't keep plugs in the engines, now you can't get them out. A simple 2-valve pushrod engine is all that's needed. It still makes 600+ HP in the latest ZR1 Corvette. If it's good enough for the 'Vette, it's good enough for a truck.



All the F150 owners who tend to hang on to a truck are going to be in for a big surprise when they go for a tune-up, or when the cam phasers go bad- that becomes a major repair. I'll be curious to see how much it costs to revive an Eco-Boost when it has 150-200K miles on it. Time will tell.

 

[TFucili]

I wonder why Furd doesn't install their fantastic new in-house V8 diesel in those F-650s?

Same as it ever was, eh?! Their Powerjoke is super-duper... 'cept when it's time to work!

 

[HBarlow]

I remember seeing an article on the Diesel Technology Forum last summer, they made it sound like a new option.

I don't think their "fantastic new V8's" are so fantastic, Harvey. The last gas engine that Ford made that could do any kind of work was the 460, IMO. You should see their latest iteration of what they pass off as spark plugs- they look like a large glow plug, and the bottom half snaps off and stays in the engine upon removal. Then you need a special tool to retrieve the rest of the plug. First, they couldn't keep plugs in the engines, now you can't get them out. A simple 2-valve pushrod engine is all that's needed. It still makes 600+ HP in the latest ZR1 Corvette. If it's good enough for the 'Vette, it's good enough for a truck.

All the F150 owners who tend to hang on to a truck are going to be in for a big surprise when they go for a tune-up, or when the cam phasers go bad- that becomes a major repair. I'll be curious to see how much it costs to revive an Eco-Boost when it has 150-200K miles on it. Time will tell.

That's a fact about Ferd sparkplugs seizing and breaking off in the heads. An old friend of mine who has been an independent mechanic shop owner since the early '60s was complaining one day or year or so ago when I stopped by his shop. As a favor to a poor cook or waitress in a restaurant where his wife is cashier he agreed to do a tune up on a high mileage Ferd 1/2 ton pickup V8 engine. He prefers Chevy and GM products and was unfamiliar. As you said, when he tried to remove the old seized plugs he twisted two off.

 

[rscurtis]

That supports the old adage, "no good deed goes unpunished".

 

[Wingate]

i was hoping y'all were gonna tell me it was a new 6. 7L Ford diesel and during the test, the engien blew up and the transmisssion jumped into neutral while merging with traffic, causing a wreck!!. . hahaha

 

[TFucili]

i was hoping y'all were gonna tell me it was a new 6. 7L Ford diesel and during the test, the engien blew up and the transmisssion jumped into neutral while merging with traffic, causing a wreck!!. . hahaha

That's your job!!:-laf

 

[HBarlow]

That has probably happened but it has not been reported here yet.

 

[Wingate]

hahahaha... . true true... we are completely out of spare trucks at work... y'all don't ginx me. .

FWIW. . when they were working on my trans. the other day. . the service manager finally admitted the engines are failing. . not just the 2011 models and not just the C&C trucks. . he said they put an engine in a 2012 pickup for a valve failure a couple months ago. .

 

[JUeckert]

I guess thats about right, wait about a year for any issues to surface,buy one, and start hearing about issues. . I went through that same sh** with my 05' dodge. . Shortly after i bought it ,the dropping valve seat's with those started showing. . This one, just like the dodge, will be gone about the time the warranty's up. . The difference between the two so far, the dodge went back for warranty within the first year of owning, and would run much hotter then i would like under a load. . The ford dosent/hasnt. .

 

[Wingate]

I guess thats about right, wait about a year for any issues to surface,buy one, and start hearing about issues. . I went through that same sh** with my 05' dodge. . Shortly after i bought it ,the dropping valve seat's with those started showing. . This one, just like the dodge, will be gone about the time the warranty's up. . The difference between the two so far, the dodge went back for warranty within the first year of owning, and would run much hotter then i would like under a load. . The ford dosent/hasnt. .

That buddy of mine that bought a 2012 3/4 ton 4x4 for pulling his camper... . he is so mad...

Took his camper to San Antonio to stay it in while working in that area, he came in the weekend and told me something was fixing to have to give!.

He and his wife both figured it with pencil and paper, they got 7. 8mpg pulling at 65 MPH to San Antonio!!!. . The lie-o-meter said they were getting about 9. 5 mpg...

He said the truck pulls strong, but is just killing them on fuel consumption. . The camper is a bumper pull that weighs about 8900 completely loaded down with all their junk in it. The decided to check it since they had to fill up three times when we left from Galveston headed back to Marshall a few months back!

 

[JUeckert]

I bet they got those funky highway gears in the rear axle, and the load is working the engine harder. . Last time i fiqured loaded miles on mine, average was in the high eights[hand calc]. . I didnt fiqure that was too shabby for pulling 20 1400lb round bales on a 40ft gooseneck. . General all around mileage with some ideling and light towing seems to be 15mpg. . Open highway and no load, 17/18 is normal. . As for valves failing, gene told me they did their first engine replacement about 2 months ago. . Other then the transmission needlesly down shifting to 1st gear during a slow speed situation[roll through a stop sighn] etc; i'am completly happy with the truck to date. .

 

[Wingate]

yeah. . theirs is getting great mileage when unloaded. . about 18. . but of course thats with 3:31 gears and not what they bought the truck to do... they bought it to replace the gasser version they had for pulling the camper. Funny thing is, the gasser pulled the camper just fine and got about the same fuel mileage without the maintenance costs or higher $$$ per gallon fuel...

I'm trying to talk him into putting the deletes on it, but it appears as though the turbo is succeptable to failure... (he's already lost one in stock form. ) So he is scared to put that kind of money into getting the fuel mileage up and voiding his warranty with a sketchy turbo...

Did gene tell ya about the 12 model pickup engine that they had to replace the cylinder heads on??. Guess that kinda knocks out the idea that it was only early release 11 model C&C engines... . The airflow imbalances in the intake is apparently pretty significant... would love to see someone flow test one of the factory manifolds. . bet the aftermarket develops a replacement piece pretty soon. .

 

[JUeckert]

tell your friend to lock out the 6th gear when loaded, i bet money his mpg's will get better. . Truth be know when empty with those gears, i bet he could lock out 6th at normal highway speeds and get a bit better mileage. . In 6th at 55/ 60mph, i seem to get a bit less mpgs then i do running 65/70. . Particulary when it's hilly. . As for the 12' head replacement, that was likely the one major repair he spoke of, and also one engine replacement on an 11'. . Between phone calls and othe interuptions, we ddint talk long at all...