Info Ford v-10

[Xgunfighter]

Does anyone have any experience with fords v-10. I am looking to replace my truch and can't bring myself to buy a new dodge that I know will have problems and pay an extra 999. 00 for a smog system that isn't even required for another 2 years. Don't want a ford diesel and as no big v-8s left I am considering a V-10 350.



Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[catdsl]

i know that they get offle mpg

 

[BrandonWright]

My dad has an '03 F250 4x4 V10 that he loves. It gets 15 mpg (highway unloaded) and it averages 13 mpg in mixed driving. He bought it new and it cost $6k less than a similar diesel. $6k will buy a lot of fuel... esp. considering diesel is $0. 30 higher that gas.



I think he has about 60k miles with no problems.

 

[JDiepstra]

Why don't you just buy a slightly used 06 or 07 5. 9?

 

[InfernoB]

Don't get the 4. 30 gears. The MPG will not be what is said. Premium fuel even knocked. I had a 2000.

I think that whether one buy's a diesel or gas, cost is a wash. Right up until you sell the diesel. Your "$6K" will be back at once. Now then, if you run it to the ground, you'll be lucky to get $6K.

 

[DCreed]

its still a ford so expect the same shoddy lack of quality they all have. Also my buddy has one in his RV and HATES it, and he's a ford guy! while we were at the dealer with his 6. 0 AGAIN!, they were cutting out the exhaust manifolds on a newish v-10 so I asked the service manager why and he said "'cause they suck!" turns out the bolts had fallen out and the others were seized and both manifolds had cracked. so when we got back to his house I took a peek, and sure enough a couple of his bolts had fallen out too and a minor crack was developing in the pass manifold. not to mention lousy resale.

 

[hammersley]

I was told that changing the sparkplugs on these

are a freaking nightmare... . but not sure if that is true... ... ... ..... they also were "spitting out" some sparkplugs if you check the forumns.....

 

[InfernoB]

The early ones had a spitting problem. Changing for maintenance was no biggie. Let the air out of the tires. Easy to access then.

 

[RHestand]

I bought a 99 f-250 v/10, 4 whl. dr. in 1998 and put over 100K mi. on it with no problems, except dealing with 10-11 mpg empty 7-8 towing my 8000 lb. Airstream.

My friend had a 2000 v/10 that blew out a spark plug (alum. threads and all) after warranty, and it wasn't cheap to fix. ( about $3000) That gave me pause for thought.

My next truck was an 03. 5 f-250 with the 6. 0 diesel POS. That is when the real fun started.

Need I say it? I love my Cummins.

Good luck, Ray

 

[TJarecke]

Brother had one about 4 years ago. He said he didn't like the price of diesel and didn't want to mess with it any more. Owned it for 7 months and went and traded on a 7. 3 powerstroke.
He had a 3/4 ton crew cab auto 4x4. And the mileage was exactly what RHestand had. He never looked back. I finally got him into a 07 5. 9 last year.

 

[SGevers]

I had a v10 before my ram. It had great power and I really didnt mind the gas mileage, the only reason I got rid of it was the lack of 4wd and I really missed the smell of diesel fuel.

 

[Ncostello]

To avoid the 6. 0L problems in 2004, my fire department (per me) got an F550 4x4 V10 5:38 Locking Diff 84" Cab-to-Axle Automatic. 315HP and 425Ft-Lbs.



This truck is very capable... more than capable. Gas MPG is around 12-14 unloaded in most of these under good conditions. Many utility buckets for the power utility use 550's with V10's. They like them as much as the PSD versions. They will go 350K miles with good care... even more. They are HD engines and definately a good choice. The utilities run them 8 hours solid a day and are not easy on them.



Plugs are EASY to change... just takes an hour, socket, extension... a little dusting of neverseize on the threads and 14FT-LBS. Folks who say they are hard are just not used to where they are in the heads. If they are not between the exhaust manifolds... folks say they are hard.



The blowout of plug issue is 99-02. 03's and 04's had more threads in the aluminum heads. Early ones can be kept from this if you torque properly and check torque every other oil change. 2005 and up have 3V heads and the plug issue is also not a problem.



If one does blowout... don't buy new heads. An afternoon and a TimeSert kit made specially for these Triton motors is easy and a permanent fix. Some dealerships use them as well. It works.



I'm totally satisfied with our choice. Runs all day and it WILL get up and move. Just don't be afraid to take it up to its redline. It screams... but thats where its power is. It will run high rpm all day. Although with OD... it will just purr down the highway even with 5:38's. Ours runs 85mph on the highway with way more left. Its electronically governed at 85 which is fine for our needs. I don't need guys running 100.



Easy to maintain, works hard, fuel MPG is same as todays new PSD's, and it was standard engine in the F550... ie: saved us $6000.



All just my opinion... but I'd get a used F450 cab chassis. They are easily available and you'll love the 14,000lb GVW over the 10 or 12,500 of the 350. Our 550 maxes out at near 18. Heck... this thing would haul our old complete F350 2WD squad... tools and all.



My next door neighbor has a 2000 F350 4x4 flatbed and he pulls a HD tandem axle dump trailer all the time with busted up concrete. He used to pull it with a 93 Ram 350 Cummins. His claim is that it handles and pulls much better than his ram. Just at a higher RPM... which is just what the V10 likes. Of course his Ram was about half the horsepower and had equal torque of the V10.

 

[SBeretz]

Uncle has a 2000 F350 with 150K+ and it still runs and drives great. It does burn a quart every 3K or so, but heck at that time he changes it anyhow. It does pull very well, but differently than a diesel. I like the power in the low RPM's whereas, the V10 needs some RPMS to make hill power. I looked at them before I got my truck, but I was pretty stuck on diesel and always have been. I would buy a Ford V10 though, great power and decent mileage if driven normally. Oh, the 4. 30 gears are the heat in the V10, might not get the best mileage, but the mileage towing or pulling will be better since you will be able to maintain OD most of the time. Good luck. Scotty

 

[Skydiver]

A friend of mine had a 2000 f-250 4x4 v-10. Put 290k with only a rear speed sensor replacement. He worked construction and got free gas. The truck idled every day, 5 days a week. 14. 5 mpg avg. He serviced it on schedule using 20w50.

 

[EGroeneveld]

We had a 2000 Ford Excursion 4*4 with the V10 and the 4. 30 gears. Was a great truck. We got 14 on the highway and about 10-12 in town driving. Was very reliable and had no issues with it at all besides maintence. I had lifted it 6'' and had 35'' BFG's was a great truck. We brought it up to about 95k miles. We sold it to get a 2005 Ford Excursion with the 6. 0 which also has been a great truck.