Ford v-10?

[saltbranch]

Anyone have/had them? Experience? I found a 2008 ford f-350 dually 4x4 for a good price. besides the obvious MPG's....anything else to look for?

 

[John SD]

Neighbor has a couple Ford V-10s and likes them. You don't buy a V-10 for MPG reasons. OTOH, I've heard mileage isn't that much worse than a V8 and the V10 actually has enough power for the job at hand.

Minimal maintenance issues,cheaper fuel, and less EPA garbage compared to a new diesel would make me seriously look at a V-10 for a chore pickup and occassional pulling rig.

If you drive it all day and/or put on a lot of miles with heavy trailering, then diesel is probably still the way to go.

 

[Kingfisher]

How many miles on it? What are you going to use it for? Call your local dealer and price a a tranny and a v10 long block.......

 

[DLD]

I had one - I liked it a lot, would buy another one. The one I had was in an '01 F250 supercab short bed two wheel drive (on purpose, 'cause I was scared of the mileage) and could get a consistent 14-15 mpg on the highway empty - I even calculated one tank at 17+, but I had a good tailwind that day. Like John SD says, mileage only slightly worse than the V8 gas empty, and noticeably better pulling, 'cause it's not working as hard. They pull great, but if you're used to diesels you'll have to get accustomed to keeping the revs up higher. You can buy a lot of gas for the difference in cost of buying, maintaining and driving a diesel.

My nephew has an '08 F350 4x4 V10 that has over 200K miles - it's biggest issue so far has been a fuel pump. My '01 had around 100K on it when I traded it (couldn't get along with the two wheel drive any more) and never had anything but routine maintenance. I'm sure there are exceptions, but they have a reputation for being reliable, low maintenance motors.

 

[saltbranch]

61,000 miles and the carfax thing shows no wrecks and regular maintenance with the exception of differential work at 18k. Will be my daily driver and hauling "stuff" on a regular basis. My heaviest trailer I own right now would allow for hauling a max of about 15k, that would be 4-6 times a year. Most loads are 9k on average, Most trips are 100 miles and flat lands of south texas.

 

[Brute 23]

The Chevy 6.0L will out perform the V10 and should be easily available.

When Fords V-10 came out it was about the same time as 6.0L Chevy. Car and Driver put the Ford on a trailer and pulled it with the Chevy. Then put the Chevy on a trailer and pulled it with the Ford. The Chevy out performed the Ford all around and the Ford was heavier.

Not a Ford vs Chevy deal... just saying that is what the test showed.

 

[DLD]

Lots of difference in the early V10's and later ones. In '05 they went from 2 valves to 3 valves and also upgraded to the torque shift transmission. The early ones weren't bad, but the later ones are much stouter. Also, the key to pulling with a V10 is making sure it has 4.30 axles - I believe that's standard with a dually. 3.73's aren't the end of the world, but this engine makes it's torque at higher revs, so the 4.30's are more comfortable pulling.

 

[JHH]

Cant believe no one has said they have trouble with spark plugs blowing out. Have done lots of repairs on these as well as the 5.4.

 

[hillbilly beef man]

Cant believe no one has said they have trouble with spark plugs blowing out. Have done lots of repairs on these as well as the 5.4.

This was a problem with the earlier years, by 08 they had this fixed. This sounds like a great truck for what you are going to use it for.

 

[hillbilly beef man]

The Chevy 6.0L will out perform the V10 and should be easily available.

When Fords V-10 came out it was about the same time as 6.0L Chevy. Car and Driver put the Ford on a trailer and pulled it with the Chevy. Then put the Chevy on a trailer and pulled it with the Ford. The Chevy out performed the Ford all around and the Ford was heavier.

Not a Ford vs Chevy deal... just saying that is what the test showed.

This was done in 98 when the V10 first came out. This engine only had 275 hp and 410 ft-lbs of torque, plus most of them had 3.73 rearends, which is usless in a gas truck IMHO. A gas truck needs at least a 4:10 rear to be at its best. As DLD touched on in 05 Ford switched to a 3 valve head which upped the engine to 362 hp and 457 ft-lbs, which is more than the Chevy 6.0 ever had. I have a V10 in my company F-450 and am well pleased. Fill up, drive, enjoy, repeat. 62,000 miles without a hiccup, and it will out pull the 05 Duramax that it replaced if you keep the revs up.

 

[Brute 23]

Im not being biased or brand loyal here.

The V10 is still behind the curve. The 6.2L now still produces more even torque (what matters for pulling). The LS motors are solid and hard to beat. You can read that on the Ford Forums.

IMO...
If your buying a 1/2 ton truck the F150 with the 5.0 is the best thing going.
3/4 Gas is the new GM 6.2L or 6.0L hands down.
Diesel... its a Dodge for pulling... Chevy or Ford for comfort and ride.

 

[saltbranch]

On our work trucks, the Ford 6.2 have been great. The 6.0 Chevy we are having trouble with. One of our 2011 GMC 3500 with the 6.0's, we just had to drop a new remanufactured motor in. Truck was 96,0000 miles. The other truck been in/out of the shop for various issues. The 6.2's Fords have not had any issues yet with a few trucks in the 170k range. All these trucks have multiple drivers on them daily and are ran hard.
I know guys that have the 6.0 and have had good luck. Me personally, I am not brand loyal....i have had good and bad service from all 3 truck mfg. Its just a machine/tool for me, I go with what I think is the best bang for the dollar that I can get.

 

[Brute 23]

If you having good luck with the 6.2L V8 then stick with it. Its not a bad motor. The V10 is just over hyped.

 

[Calhoun Farm]

Hard to beat a diesel for towing, if it has sparkplugs its not a real truck :)

 

[denvermartinfarms]

Hard to beat a diesel for towing, if it has sparkplugs its not a real truck :)

:clap: you got it. I don't care who ya are, a diesel will do anything a gas truck will do better and is more cost efficient.

 

[Calhoun Farm]

I used to race dirtbikes offroad in my younger years and it blew my mind of the guys that would buy big v8/v10 gas engines pulling 18ft campers loaded down. Get 7mpg and strain the sh*t outta that motor just to say "diesels are cost to much to maintain".

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I used to race dirtbikes offroad in my younger years and it blew my mind of the guys that would buy big v8/v10 gas engines pulling 18ft campers loaded down. Get 7mpg and strain the sh*t outta that motor just to say "diesels are cost to much to maintain".

I know. Some folks act like it cost 300$ to change the oil in a diesel pickup. I have to say I really enjoy driving around with 525hp and getting 24mpg. My dad has a 6.0 Chevy and for a gas engine it's great, but empty at very best he gets 12mpg.

 

[hillbilly beef man]

"diesels are cost to much to maintain".

I think that when most people say that they are lumping repairs in with regular maintence. I will agree whole heartedly that there is not much difference in the cost of maintence, but repairs are a whole different ball game. $ 5-8k repairs are not unusual for a diesel, where as in a gas truck a whole new engine and transmission can be bought for less than that.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

Another thought is re sale. Sure a diesel is higher new. But there are not to many things that hold there value like a diesel truck.

 

[Brute 23]

I like my dodge... but its not great for just bouncing around in the pasture like a 1/2 gas. The great thing about the 6.0s and trucks of that nature is its an in between.