123k on my 2000 V10 4x4 excursion not a single problem since new. worst 9mpg-best 14mpg 75% towing(one and two car trailer, 27 ft. boat. Maintanence has been cheap I do my own oil changes every 5k, plugs changed at 100k, two coolant flushes, couple fuelfilters and four airfilters. That's it! I can say after driving a few 5.4 the v10 is the way to go with the gaser's, mpg about the same. Either way you can't go wrong gas or diesel.

 

I'd consider the source of those "horror stories" before I took them too seriously.

Mixed Driving, MPG:
V-10 12.5
V-8 13.5
6.0L 17.0

Mixed Driving, $/10,000 miles: (based on local fuel prices of $1.94 and $2.25)
V-10 $1552
V-8 $1437
6.0L $1324

Not ALL that different, are they?!?

When I was shopping for my Super Duty, I heard those horror stories too. Rather than taking their word for it, I did my own research and concluded the stories were bull*****. I think the numbers above support that.

Buy what you want to drive!!!!! All the financial stuff in the gas vs diesel debate is trivial compared to your wants and needs.

Some people have used the "chocolate vs vanilla" analogy when comparing the V-10 to the 6.0L, and I think that's exactly right....

If you like chocolate, BUY chocolate. Just don't rationalize your decision afterwords by spewing a bunch of BS about everything that's wrong with vanilla!

 

I have been driving an '99 PSD since I bought it in April '98. Before I purchased this PSD I researched the same thing that you are doing now. Back in '98 both gas & diesel fuel cost were much lower than now as you know, as the Diesel here now in New Mexico & in the area that I live is at $2.11 per/gallon for Diesel VS $1.89 for Unleaded. I don't recall the cost of either Gas or Diesel in '98/'99 but I do remember that the fuel cost was not an concern when I bought the PSD.
My Truck has the PSD with the 4-speed auto & the 3:73 axles.
My best mpg with my 7.3L PSD has been 26, highway driving from point A to point B, running empty. In town I avg 18, mixed driving is at 19, avg driving on the Highway is a consent 21. Worst was 12.5 with a 1900# pop-up overhead camper/towing a 16 ft car hauler trailer with 4 Big ATVs & all on mountain paved type of roads.
Diesel Engine option $3600.00
Upkeep for per/3000 miles for oil/oil filter $29.25. Fuel filters were $15 each & change every 7000 miles.
{Coolant change, Transmission changes, transfer case & rear only dif oils change once (as front diff is good till 100,000 miles), New Serp Belt at 60,000 miles, K&N air-filter, do not count as this is standard upkeep no matter what engine you have.}
81,000 miles =
$790 in oil/oil filter changes. per year = $132 x 6yrs.
$175 in fuel filters, per year = $30.
$965 in oil/oil filters/fuel filters for 6 years @ 81,000 miles.
Now, Before I bought the '99 PSD, I figured it would take 70,000 miles to pay for the Diesel option, also figuring in the extra cost for the oil changes/fuel filters & better MPG.
Most who buy a diesel use their PSD much more than I have & have already hit that magic number of 70,000 miles years ago. This is also based on an 7.3L PSD.
The New 6.0L PSD cost are higher, as the oil filters/fuel filters are more costly, along with the 6.0L engine & the much higher Diesel fuel prices.
Best bet is to sit down & really see what you will be using the truck for, how many miles per/year & the cost per/year to use either the Gas VS the Diesel package.
Without a doubt, the 6.0L PSD kicks butt & is a blast to punch the fuel pedal to the floor! Even my 7.3L PSD is amazing with the power it has.
I haven't sat down & figured out how long it would take with the New 6.0L PSD to break even, as I am going with the V10 & 4:10 axles.

 

2005 V-10 I see your going to a V-10 instead off the 6.0. Interesting. I thought youd go to the 6.0. Any reasons for that choice.

 

I have a 2001 F350 SC SB 4x4 Lariat with V-10 and Automatic. I transport horses and typically pull a 8k to 10k gooseneck. I have 130,000 miles and have had only one major service problem. The #5 plug blew out of the head on day and had to have a heli-coil repair. The other problem I have is this thing eats brakes and rotors like they are candy. I get 10 MPG no matter what I am doing; city, highway, towing, hauling or empty. The V-10 has plenty of power no matter what the terrain. It is a very thirsty engine though. I just ordered a 2005 F350 CC SB 4x4 Lariat with a 6.0 in hopes of getting better mileage and because I believe the 6.0 will last better when I get to the 200k plus range. I can feel the power starting to go in my V-10 at 130K and it is showing signs of age. It is a little slower to start, smokes a little longer in the AM when I first start it, last 10 tanks were closer to 9.5 MPG which is a drop of about .5 to 1 MPG. It has been a great engine and a great truck. I believe I am still getting a great truck and time will tell if I am getting an even greater engine.

 

My smoker has been a lot cheaper than any gasser I've ever owned!!

 

Well, i bought my 99 3/4 ton with the 7.3 and 62,000 miles on it around 6 months ago, ive put 8,000 miles on it, and in that time i had to preplace a sensor for $125, a wheel bearing for $350, then my brakes had to be replaced for $650, then my water pump went out on me and that was $550, and now ive got a broken leaf on one of my rear springs that just rattles around. and all of this within 6 months and 8,000 miles, and it was all out of my pocket, so now im selling it and getting a gas with a warranty, i really have no need for a diesel i just got it because i wanted one and at the time diesel was dirt cheap, but i cant handle all of the repairs plus the $60 oil changes and the price of diesel, i dont even want to know whats gonna go out after 100,000 miles. One day i will have another diesel but not now

 

150ford;
Cost for one & the other the 6.0L is really for a working type of pull truck, either it be a big 5th wheel or other type of trailers. For pulling heavy loads you have all of the power at the lower rpms but for my needs, I can get along without the Diesels. I have done all of the oil changes myself on my Diesel along with the fuel filters, very easy to do but I am still paying out allot for all of this upkeep.
This PSD that I now have & have had since April '98 has been the longest I have ever kept a truck but with todays higher prices on the Trucks & fuel cost as well, it gets to a point of just exactly what do I really need for an Truck.
I no longer use my truck as a daily vehicle, I just use it on the weekends & Summer Vacations.
I almost bought the '04 F150 but the SB Supercab does not have a high enough payload to haul my pop-up truck camper, my present F350 PSD is a bit overkill for this camper. The PSD doesn't even know the camper is there except during fill-ups at the diesel pump.
Being that I have gotten used to the power with the PSD, I figured I will be real pleased with the '05 V10 & for only $510 over the smaller V8 I might as well get the bigger motor, I know this combo of the V10/4:10s & the 5-speed auto ought to be a great running rig & can handle all of my Camper & flatbed 16ft car-hauler with just the ATV's loaded on it with ease.

 

Which Airstream do you own?(how much does the thing weigh?). Depending on which one sound like you did not have enough truck for the job of your trailer or foot. So you ripping on gas engines is probably based on the fact you bought the wrong truck for the job.