F250 with V10

[BMABITY]

What are your thoughts on these engines for lighter towing (around 10K)?

I know there fuel mileage is crap, but how are they on maintenance for a tow purpose vehicle?

Need something reliable to tow around the toy hauler during winter and only use as a commuter for one day a week...

The diesels are too high priced for the amount of use I need IMO.

 

[Ziggy]

check 28Eliminators "what's it worth" thread

 

[blacksockdown]

I had an 01 V10.4:30 gears.That was one towing mofo.

 

[HavaToon]

I have an 01 f250 V10, it will tow anything but will use a ton of fuel doing so. About 10-12mpg empty 6-8mpg towing. Not one issue with the truck or motor, but it has under 100k on it and lives in Havasu as a lake truck now.

 

[HBCraig]

I have an 01 f250 V10, it will tow anything but will use a ton of fuel doing so. About 10-12mpg empty 6-8mpg towing. Not one issue with the truck or motor, but it has under 100k on it and lives in Havasu as a lake truck now.

Exactly what he said. Tow great, but use a lot of fuel. Mine was great.

 

[Big B Hova]

Father in law had a 2001 f250 work truck with v10. Had 429k original miles on motor and trans when he sold it!

 

[purrfecttremor]

I have a 2004 with 88000 mi I bought new. Don't use it much but it's a towing mofo. All I've ever done is maintenance and never one problem!

 

[Runs2rch]

They get it on! Reliable also. So what you are down a few mpg's towing.

 

[Wadernation]

check 28Eliminators "what's it worth" thread

right? that was good timing.

 

[beerrun]

I have an 01 with 145k I've gotten as low as 2mpg towing to 12mpg just driving around but it's a great truck I'm the 4th and 6th owner of this truck

 

[Hullbilly]

What are your thoughts on these engines for lighter towing (around 10K)?

I know there fuel mileage is crap, but how are they on maintenance for a tow purpose vehicle?

Need something reliable to tow around the toy hauler during winter and only use as a commuter for one day a week...

The diesels are too high priced for the amount of use I need IMO.

You need to find a 2005 or newer, the first gen were gutless pigs, the second "PI Head" were much better but still nothing to write home about. The 3rd gen went to a 3v head wich helped quite a lot, but also the addition of the torq shift tranny made things much much nicer.

As far as durability the early models had spark plug thread issues, exh manifold studs that snapped and coil packs would crap out early. Hard parts wise they are pretty stout. By 2005 they had these things pretty squared away. The only thing is the ford v10 is a rev machine it needs to be strung out to be in the real world meat of it's powerband, but ford designed it that way, and they like to run accordingly.

 

[JB in so cal]

Had an '01 2 wheel drive short bed crew cab. Got 16 empty driving to havasu. 10 towing my magic. Had an '06 4 wheel drive crew cab short bed. 12 empty 8 towing.

Great truck both!

 

[cicchetti_24]

I have an 01 with 145k I've gotten as low as 2mpg towing to 12mpg just driving around but it's a great truck I'm the 4th and 6th owner of this truck

2mpg?? Yikes how in the world did that happen? Wow

 

[Vegaskeith]

I have a Excursion V10. It'll get to the lake or the dunes but, don't expect any speed records getting there. Haven't had any issues with mine. I have upgraded the exhaust.

[video=youtube_https;n6dEGjFJ6m4]https://youtu.be/n6dEGjFJ6m4[/video]

 

[C-2]

03 V10 in Excursion, 128K miles, a few batteries, loys of oil changes and recently the alternator...but that's been it. I still need to change the plugs!

I researched the motors with the plug issues, found they fixed the heads in November 2002.

Of course, the exact month my motor was made, lol, but apparently I got one of the post-fix models without any issues.

 

[pkrrvr619]

01 with 200k miles.

runs like a top.

pulls my 8500 trailer up the grade easy as pie. gotta rev it to 4500 rpm to get it really moving though.

mpg, like others have stated, aren't the best. but if you can get a v10 for cheap you will have to buy a lot of gas to equate to buying a newer diesel.

as long as its not your daily driver, i say they are a great truck for towing.

:thumbup:

 

[BMABITY]

A powerstorke 7.3 with roughly 200K miles is in the 16 to 18K price range depending on condition.

Im hoping to find a V10 with half the miles for 8K price range which seems much more reasonable for a 10 year old + vehicle.

what do you guys think, worth the extra money for a higher mileage 7.3 or stick with the V10?

 

[j-bone]

01 Excursion 4X4. 35 inch tires it's whole life. 115K miles. Mostly road trips and towing. Never an issue. Basic services, tires, brakes and batteries. That's it. I love it. Will cruise 75 easy. Never changed gears and it still drives and tows great. Also, changed plugs at 100 with zero problems.

 

[purrfecttremor]

They get it on! Reliable also. So what you are down a few mpg's towing.

8 mpg and 12 if I'm hwy driving and 10 if my wife is driving.She doesn't believe in cruise control:yikes

 

[Bigbore500r]

My 99 V10 E450 motorhome runs pretty good, it actually surprises me how well it runs for being the early low-hp model. Of course the Moho has 4.56 gears and short DRW's so it is in the meat of the powerband most of the time. Id take one 100x over, instead of a 6.0 timebomb powerstroke.

 

[Hullbilly]

A powerstorke 7.3 with roughly 200K miles is in the 16 to 18K price range depending on condition.

Im hoping to find a V10 with half the miles for 8K price range which seems much more reasonable for a 10 year old + vehicle.

what do you guys think, worth the extra money for a higher mileage 7.3 or stick with the V10?

v10 all day.

 

[was thatguy]

I seriously can not believe just how shitty Ford mileage is...with any combination.

How in the world do you guys accept those types of mileage numbers as being "OK"?:yikes

 

[pkrrvr619]

I seriously can not believe just how shitty Ford mileage is...with any combination.

How in the world do you guys accept those types of mileage numbers as being "OK"?:yikes

most likely denial.

i guess it comes with the territory when buying a v10. i knew what i was getting into which is why my truck only sees trips to home depot, desert 1x a month, and parker 2x a month during the summer.

with so little mileage per month, the gas cost is usually less than the booze we drink during said river and desert trips.....

:thumbup:

 

[rivrrts429]

I seriously can not believe just how shitty Ford mileage is...with any combination.

How in the world do you guys accept those types of mileage numbers as being "OK"?:yikes

It's not just the Ford. The GM 8.1 is a fucking gas hog too.

My buddy routinely saw 2 mpg climbing a light grade with a 26' toyhauler trying to leg it to keep up with my diesel.

It is what it is and if you don't have diesel it's the next best choice. Pay to play.

 

[was thatguy]

It's not just the Ford. The GM 8.1 is a fucking gas hog too.

My buddy routinely saw 2 mpg climbing a light grade with a 26' toyhauler trying to leg it to keep up with my diesel.

It is what it is and if you don't have diesel it's the next best choice. Pay to play.

I guess I'm spoiled. Had Cummins for the last 8 years. (05 and now 08)

I freak out at anything under 16MPG...
Worst I ever got was about 14 MPG pulling my loaded down 28' 5th wheel in the dead of a Colorado winter.

The '05 got 17 no matter what.

I've been thinking of selling the '08 recently and going gas...guess I'll rethink that...:yikes

 

[rivrrts429]

I guess I'm spoiled. Had Cummins for the last 8 years. (05 and now 08)

I freak out at anything under 16MPG...
Worst I ever got was about 14 MPG pulling my loaded down 28' 5th wheel in the dead of a Colorado winter.

The '05 got 17 no matter what.

I've been thinking of selling the '08 recently and going gas...guess I'll rethink that...:yikes

My '15 dually will do 16mpg with an egg under my foot at 70mph. Towing my 40' 5er and it's about 11.5 with that same egg under my foot. Not great but it's realistic and hand calc'd versus the lie-o-meter on the dash.

I've never paid much attention to fuel mileage. I like my big trucks and I drive a 1/2 ton Monday thru Friday. My diesel is a tool to tow my toys on the weekends.

If I was to buy a gasser and couldn't stomach the cost of a diesel I'd look at the newer 1/2 tons. Plenty of power and still great fuel mileage. My '14 Chevy kicks ass and it's nowhere near as nice as the '15's and '16's. Seems like it goes forever on fuel considering how much I use it during the week.

 

[mjc]

I have a 03 8.1 dually. It gets about 12 empty ,8.6 towing the boat. Didn't care about the mileage I have. Only put 6k miles in 5 years, sit most of the time in the garage in Havasu. Figured gas was easier to maintain with such low usage.

 

[cnj]

Had an '01 F250 Ext cab long bed 2WD w/V10 and 4.30 axle. 13.5 was the best empty mileage I saw. Thing would tow a house, though.

 

[beerrun]

2mpg?? Yikes how in the world did that happen? Wow

Towing my travel trailer home from the desert in the wind.I got pissed off and went the next day and bought a new diesel but someone wanted that truck more than me twice so ended up buying back my v 10

 

[OCMerrill]

If your pulling you have to be willing to let that tach needle rise. They like to rev.

 

[cicchetti_24]

Towing my travel trailer home from the desert in the wind.I got pissed off and went the next day and bought a new diesel but someone wanted that truck more than me twice so ended up buying back my v 10

That is crazy! 2 mpg...


I sold my Silverado and after I did the upgrades, lift, gears, chip towing my boat I was averaging 16 MPG.

I am looking at an EcoDiesel since I don't really need anything other than a 1500, and I'll be honest I drive 45 miles to work each way so I bought a Prius, and I just can't bring myself to buy another truck that does 13/19 again. So I think the EcoDiesel is going to be the perfect truck for what I need.

 

[cicchetti_24]

I guess I'm spoiled. Had Cummins for the last 8 years. (05 and now 08)

I freak out at anything under 16MPG...
Worst I ever got was about 14 MPG pulling my loaded down 28' 5th wheel in the dead of a Colorado winter.

The '05 got 17 no matter what.

I've been thinking of selling the '08 recently and going gas...guess I'll rethink that...:yikes

I sold my Silverado a month ago, and have decided to look at the ecodiesel

I don't need a 2500 as it's not practical for what I do, and I've driven the ecodiesel and I really like the power the mileage etc...

 

[JDKRXW]

I seriously can not believe just how shitty Ford mileage is...with any combination.

How in the world do you guys accept those types of mileage numbers as being "OK"?:yikes

Because over 100,000 miles, the difference in fuel consumption between 15mpg towing (almost any diesel truck towing and driving mix) and 10mpg (Ford V10 towing and driving mix) = 3330 gallons of gas.

3330 gallons of gas = ~~$6500

The additional upfront cost of a diesel = more $ than $6500.
Maintenance of diesel = way more $$ than V10.
Risk of a breakdown of diesel = way, WAY more $$$$$ than V10

 

[28Eliminator]

You need to find a 2005 or newer, the first gen were gutless pigs, the second "PI Head" were much better but still nothing to write home about. The 3rd gen went to a 3v head wich helped quite a lot, but also the addition of the torq shift tranny made things much much nicer.

As far as durability the early models had spark plug thread issues, exh manifold studs that snapped and coil packs would crap out early. Hard parts wise they are pretty stout. By 2005 they had these things pretty squared away. The only thing is the ford v10 is a rev machine it needs to be strung out to be in the real world meat of it's powerband, but ford designed it that way, and they like to run accordingly.

My 2000 pulls like a MoFo, so I beg to differ on your "Gutless Pig" comment. It has less HP (310) compared to the post 05 models (362), but nowhere near "Gutless Pig" status :rolleyes

As for the Spark plug issue, mine were changed at 100,000 by the dealer (Approx 2005), and it has NEVER spit one. I know some of them had that problem, guess I've been lucky

2mpg?? Yikes how in the world did that happen? Wow

I'm not going for it... Pedal on the floor in 1st gear pulling a house up a hill in the wind maybe. But only then, and I bet the mileage improved as soon as it started going down the other side of the hill That or there was something seriously wrong with the engine...

01 with 200k miles.

runs like a top.

pulls my 8500 trailer up the grade easy as pie. gotta rev it to 4500 rpm to get it really moving though.

mpg, like others have stated, aren't the best. but if you can get a v10 for cheap you will have to buy a lot of gas to equate to buying a newer diesel.

as long as its not your daily driver, i say they are a great truck for towing.

:thumbup:

This :thumbup:

My Boat loaded on the trailer is close to 10,000lbs, and it has been pulling Chiraco summit for the last 10 years at 70... in the middle of summer... with the AC on , and i'll bet i'm still getting better than 2 MPG on the way up :rolleyes

01 Excursion 4X4. 35 inch tires it's whole life. 115K miles. Mostly road trips and towing. Never an issue. Basic services, tires, brakes and batteries. That's it. I love it. Will cruise 75 easy. Never changed gears and it still drives and tows great. Also, changed plugs at 100 with zero problems.

Yep :thumbup:

Because over 100,000 miles, the difference in fuel consumption between 15mpg towing (almost any diesel truck towing and driving mix) and 10mpg (Ford V10 towing and driving mix) = 3330 gallons of gas.

3330 gallons of gas = ~~$6500

The additional upfront cost of a diesel = more $ than $6500.
Maintenance of diesel = way more $$ than V10.
Risk of a breakdown of diesel = way, WAY more $$$$$ than V10

Exactly!!

I'd buy another V-10 powered truck in a heartbeat (before I would spend the money on a Diesel). If I was towing all the time, which like most in this thread I imagine are not , A diesel would make more sense, but for the small percentage of actual towing time that we do, it's not worth the added expense to get a few MPG's better.

 

[beerrun]

My 2000 pulls like a MoFo, so I beg to differ on your "Gutless Pig" comment. It has less HP (310) compared to the post 05 models (362), but nowhere near "Gutless Pig" status :rolleyes

As for the Spark plug issue, mine were changed at 100,000 by the dealer (Approx 2005), and it has NEVER spit one. I know some of them had that problem, guess I've been lucky



I'm not going for it... Pedal on the floor in 1st gear pulling a house up a hill in the wind maybe. But only then, and I bet the mileage improved as soon as it started going down the other side of the hill That or there was something seriously wrong with the engine...



This :thumbup:

My Boat loaded on the trailer is close to 10,000lbs, and it has been pulling Chiraco summit for the last 10 years at 70... in the middle of summer... with the AC on , and i'll bet i'm still getting better than 2 MPG on the way up :rolleyes



Yep :thumbup:



Exactly!!

I'd buy another V-10 powered truck in a heartbeat (before I would spend the money on a Diesel). If I was towing all the time, which like most in this thread I imagine are not , A diesel would make more sense, but for the small percentage of actual towing time that we do, it's not worth the added expense to get a few MPG's better.

Nothing was wrong with my truck 10k trailer filled the truck with super unleaded before I left the desert in Gordons well and I was out of gas at the top of the hill in jucumba 72mi on that tank

 

[JDKRXW]

Nothing was wrong with my truck 10k trailer filled the truck with super unleaded before I left the desert in Gordons well and I was out of gas at the top of the hill in jucumba 72mi on that tank

Saw similar with a buddy's truck once. Bismarck ND to Belfield ND, 117 miles against a 70 mph headwind pulling a loaded 4 place enclosed sled trailer (about 7k pounds). We didn't think we'd make it, but we did. The fill was 35+ gallons.

 

[Big B Hova]

If you tow alot and tow alot of weight, diesel is the only way to go. Not only mileage, but you don't constantly gear hunt pulling slight hills. Yes... diesels are more money in maintenance and more to fix when they break down. But if you buy a real diesel like a cummins, and stay away from the ford powerstroke bull shit, you should see many miles of no breakdowns with basic maintance. I thought about selling my mega cab and buying an eco diesel because I don't tow THAT much, but having the heavy duty truck that has the capability is kinda nice.

I sold my 07 6.0 Vortec max Silverado 1500 for my 07 mega cab. Love the power, But I also love not having to stop for fuel towing from here to havasu with the 32 gallon tank. My silverado would see 17 mpg empty on the freway, 10 towing. Cummins I average 14-15 towing boat, 13 towing toy hauler. 17-19 empty.

 

[Gelcoater]

Because over 100,000 miles, the difference in fuel consumption between 15mpg towing (almost any diesel truck towing and driving mix) and 10mpg (Ford V10 towing and driving mix) = 3330 gallons of gas.

3330 gallons of gas = ~~$6500

The additional upfront cost of a diesel = more $ than $6500.
Maintenance of diesel = way more $$ than V10.
Risk of a breakdown of diesel = way, WAY more $$$$$ than V10

3300 gallons =$6500?
I guess that depends on where you live?Thst equates to 1.96 per gallon.

Here in Cali it's about 2.59 per gallon for super,so that same 3300 gallons would be $8,477.
A few months ago it was well over $3 per gallon.

I have no comment on the V-10,my old Ford had a gas 460.Towed fine but thirsty.range was about 270 miles per fill up,35 gallons.
The Diesel I run now average range is 390-420 miles per fill up,36 gallons.

 

[Hullbilly]

My 2000 pulls like a MoFo, so I beg to differ on your "Gutless Pig" comment. It has less HP (310) compared to the post 05 models (362), but nowhere near "Gutless Pig" status :rolleyes

As for the Spark plug issue, mine were changed at 100,000 by the dealer (Approx 2005), and it has NEVER spit one. I know some of them had that problem, guess I've been lucky



I'm not going for it... Pedal on the floor in 1st gear pulling a house up a hill in the wind maybe. But only then, and I bet the mileage improved as soon as it started going down the other side of the hill That or there was something seriously wrong with the engine...



This :thumbup:

My Boat loaded on the trailer is close to 10,000lbs, and it has been pulling Chiraco summit for the last 10 years at 70... in the middle of summer... with the AC on , and i'll bet i'm still getting better than 2 MPG on the way up :rolleyes



Yep :thumbup:



Exactly!!

I'd buy another V-10 powered truck in a heartbeat (before I would spend the money on a Diesel). If I was towing all the time, which like most in this thread I imagine are not , A diesel would make more sense, but for the small percentage of actual towing time that we do, it's not worth the added expense to get a few MPG's better.

Obviously my definition of gutless pig and yours are different, I've owned 2 v10's they are durable but don't haul the mail. Sorry but I do not consider a empty 0-60mph run of 10.5 seconds remotely quick, let alone what happens when there is a trailer behind them.

to each there own.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

3300 gallons =$6500?
I guess that depends on where you live?Thst equates to 1.96 per gallon.

Here in Cali it's about 2.59 per gallon for super,so that same 3300 gallons would be $8,477.
A few months ago it was well over $3 per gallon.

I have no comment on the V-10,my old Ford had a gas 460.Towed fine but thirsty.range was about 270 miles per fill up,35 gallons.
The Diesel I run now average range is 390-420 miles per fill up,36 gallons.

your math is wrong, figure the differance between the cost of diesel and gasonline.