Just got back today from a quick round trip from NM to LA,CA, 2.5 days(1,730 total miles).
Best mpg was 14.8 at 1st fill-up, then it dropped the closer I got to California, running empty.
NM unleaded is 88 octane as their isn't 87 here. AZ & CA I used 87 octane.
Worst tank going to LA was 9.1mpg but I was fighting a 40mph head wind for 200 miles, running empty, no-load & @ 75mph. After that, no head wind & mpg went to 12.5 @ 75mph.
MPG in CA & heading East & towing a 3000 LB travel trailer was 8.7mpg & 9.1mpg @ 65mph.
MPG in AZ & heading East was 11.5 & 11.0 @ 65mph.
MPG in NM @ 88 octane was 11.9 & 12.2 @ 65mph.

GAS PRICES:
CA regular gas Stations, $2.84 per/gal.(high $2.99@Needles)
AZ regular gas stations, $2.39 avg (low $2.11@Kingman)
NM regular gas stations, $2.33 88 octane

CA Truck Stops $2.19 per/gal(Low) avg was $2.49
AZ truck stops $2.29 avg.
NM truck stops $2.21 avg.88 octane

Going on a trip?
Locate your Truck Stops & plan on filling at all of them.

While towing back from CA, at times the 5-speed would downshift 1st into 4th then into 3rd pulling steep hills @ 65mph & the Engine would "Roar" @ 4000-4300 rpm's, at times it is very loud, sounds like the engine is gong to come apart, is this Normal?
This my 1st gas engine in 10 years & I got use to the Diesel lower RPM's.
I did kick it out of criuse control after I felt it was in the 4300 rpms too long & dropped it down to the 3900 rpm range till I crest the hill, then I put it back on criuse.
BEWARE: I-40 West thru NM & AZ is a rough Highway,
both the East & West directions.

Truck ran great, no problems at all.
The H2O gauge I'm not sure if it is working correctly, it Never moves at all past the half-way mark & jumps up to the half-way mark after just a few minutes after a morning start-up.
The digital read-out stated everything was "OK".
Truck goes in on Friday for the "Recall", oil change, rough idle at times(could be the Gas) & have the coolant system check.

 

sounds like a good trip

 

the rpm's are fine they like to rev out to about 5,000. they will run fine all day long at 4,300 rpm

 

2005 V10

The engine coolant and trans oil temp gages are slightly more than a placebo but not quite a true reading analog linear indicating gage. Basically they are a three position indicator that is computer controlled. The fault with this system is that you will never get a kinda hot "climbing fast" indication. One min it will be "normal" and the next min " too hot!" I refer to it as a high tech "idiot light".

Fortunately the 5R110 TorqShift is not as prone to overloading the entire cooling system as fast or as severely as the 4R100 was. But for complete peace of mind I still highly recommend adding an addition trans Oil temp gage and an aux oil cooler. Cheap and easy mods and very good insurance.

 

Excellent trip report!

The RPMs are no big deal to an OHC engine and the roar you sometimes heard was probably just the fan keeping those temps down. Sounds like everything was working as designed.

Interesting how gas seems to get cheaper & better the further from CA you are.

 

Good trip and I let mine do 5000 RPM when I am passing other trucks. On my 2300 mile trip my oil level never moved on the dipstick with this motor working and revving . My 02 Honda Accord will use a 1/2 quart of oil in 2000 miles if I let that little 2.3 V tech rev a little. Honda makes great motors but not as great as these Ford V10s.
NoMo is right about the cooling fan. you hear them on the gassers more than the diesel.
My V10 at 4000 RPM just sounds like a Tiger purring, at 5000 RPM she sounds like a hungry Tiger purring. I am getting to love that V10 Indy car sound and I like to roll my window down and punch it on the highway just to hear her talk to me. Wrench.

 

Good trip !!
Funny how the V10 warms you up. After you wind her up and listen to it a while, seems thats the only way you like it...... Love crusing down the hwy with the OD off...stretching the foot back and forth...

 

You all are correct.
OK on the higher RPMs but the roar I was hearing was coming from the air-intake. At times I could hear the Fan Clutch engage but it only came on a few times & not for long. The Coolant reservoir was a little low but it was top-off today at the Ford Dealer.
The "Recall" was done, along with a fresh oil change.
Next weekend this V10 is heading to the High Rockies in Colorado for a 5 day trip with a car hauler flat bed in tow & 4 ATVs loaded on it. All 4 of us are going in my Truck & we have two 12,000 Ft elevation Passes to cliimb over. Now that I know about the Higher RPM's are OK, I am looking forward to the drive.
Thanks for the all of the input.
I do need to install the tranny temp guage but haven't had the time to get it done but it will be done soon.
Total miles on my '05 as of today is 4450, bought on March 3rd.

I have also learned to re-set the MPG digital readout at gas fill-ups, gives a very accurate reading by just a few tenths when I compare it with the calculator.

Gas mileage jumped back to 14.6mpg today running empty & back to the Dealer & cruising home over & threw the Mountains & back to my home, unblievable mpg with this V10 F350, (160 miles round trip, elevations from 7300ft to 5000ft to 9000ft & back down to 7300ft).

 

Doesn't it come stock with a tranny cooler?

 

Yes it does and under most normal usage it is good enough. But if you hook up a huge 5th wheel and start backig it up hill into a parking pad and do mot pay attention to the temps I assure you will smoke the fluid.

And when you are 5 min into a long steep grade and have the trans down in 3rd and rpms up to 4800 on a 101F day.. Would you prefer to let the factory system climb to 208-220F or spend $75 and keep her down around 180-190 F and not cook the fluid?

On the 05/06 and 5R110 it is just a good option. I think it is a necessary precaution on the 4R100.

 

It was just a question... I'm probably taking your response wrong, but you sound argumentative or defensive. After thinking about it though, I think I'd love cooking the fluid, along with a ribeye steak.

 

Instead of buying/installing a tranny temp gauge,I just added a second tranny cooler in series,in front of the radiator so I know it will be cool enough when towing.I tow a 34' triple axle toyhauler and wanted to be safe than sorry.

 

ace
please read freds sig. you will then understand, it's the way he is. and that he is one heck of a wonderfull man, who just happens to spend a lot of time researching and shares what he finds. i agree with the add on cooler when towing. you just can't do enough to keep em cool.

 

Ace

You are right my post sounds harsh and condescending.

I mean to say that both the 4R100 and the 5r110 are externally cooled from the factory.

The 4R100 can quickly overload the factory system and by the time most drivers notice the high temp it is too late.

The 5R110 has a slightly better design and an external oil filter also but there are certain conditions that the system can get over temp also.

I advise folks who tow heavy to add a better gage and a fan controlled aux cooler as a way to spend $75-$100 and save a $5000 problem.

Sorry the post was hard sounding.... I get a lot of PMs on this site and every now and then someone takes me to task for my opinion on this subject. Lately there have been a few that tried to tell me I was stupid and that Ford already had though of that and installed a aux trans oil cooler. I just did a knee jerk post when I saw your one line question that I took wrong.

Again my apologies

 

Fred, no harm, no foul. Thanks for the apology, that's something I'd expect from a stand up guy (if I read the post right being harsh), and I appreciate it.