Hello everyone... I'm looking at trading in my ole f150 (87 5.0 with way too many miles) on a newer (99+) f250 or so. I've done some searches on the subject, but all i find is diesel vs v10 discussions.

I'm more curious in the 5.4 vs v10 area. The truck i'll be getting will be mostly a daily driver, seeing somewhat short trips. There's also a posibility of me moving to minnesota, so it'd see cold starts also... I will very seldom tow a trailer with a 3000lb mustang on top of it - I don't own a trailer actually, but in the event of breaking the thing down at the track, i can get a hold of one. So far it has held together so i think i'm ok .

Anyway, for the most part, like i said, the truck will be a daily driver. I'm kinda curious what the mpg and general adequacy is of a 5.4 vs the v10 is in a truck this big (I can tell you a 150hp non HO 5.0 with a 3 speed C6 auto and 250k miles is not exactly adequate to push a 5000 lb truck, for example). Being that i'm used to getting 12-13 mpg highway, the v10 mileage doesn't scare me.

basically, the way i see it between the two (6.8 v10 and 5.4 v8):
v10 pros:
better power
being able to tow without thinking twice about it when needed (better to have too much truck than too little)

v10 cons:
less mpg (?this is what i need to get an idea on, just how big the diff is between the 5.4 and this)
less parts interchangeability with my mustang (who knows, maybe a 5.4 would see a 4v swap sometime down the road :P)

v8 pros:
better mpg (maybe?)
still way better towing power than my 150hp never running pushrod wonder
quite a bit closer to my 4.6 mustang - so i'd be more familiar with it

v8 cons:
iffy towing capabilities (esp on the way to minnesota if i end up moving, i don't think it would do too great uphill through new mexico)
usually have too many miles - most of the 5.4 trucks I find are white, ex-company work trucks, and tend to have quite a few miles on em...


how far am i off on these? also, a few quick questions about the v10... If I get a 99, how hard is it to find/do a PI headswap? I had a 96gt before my mach, and did the pi headswap on it, was like night and day... how hard is it to find the heads/intake and whatever else is needed? Any good sites where I can look up prices on basic parts/mods? I rarely leave anything stock

as a future possibility, in case i do end up getting a v10, what kinda mileage can these get - i imagine the same, safe up to 200k miles with good maintenance on them? last but not least, what kinda power is the v10 good to with a KB or whipple on top? do they use the same powdered toothpicks rods and hypersuck pistons as the 4.6/5.4s, good up to 450rwhp?

Thanks in advance



ps. you guys have some nice trucks... i tried towing my mom's escort with my truck and a dolly, and I was pretty close to taking it off, and going to get a hitch for my mustang...

 

I know they sell em, but I have no clue why anyone would buy a 5.4 SD when the 6.8 is only a $600 option . If You want to pull something, what is it worth to you to have something more than capable of doing the job? As far as fuel mileage, you want mileage, buy a scooter. These 6.8 SD's with the 4.30 gearing are awsome.

 

Hey Fosters, try changing your search parameters as your questions are some of the most commonly asked ones.

That said, given the price of good used V10s at the moment, get yourself a 2001 V8 or V10 then you dont have to worry aboutthe PI issue.

Milage difference between the V8 and the V10 is negligable, slightly in favor of the V8. If possible get a truck with at least 4.10 gears.

Many gas SD owners have > 100,000 miles with no problems, just keep it maintained, although it looks like you have that part down already.

Anyways, good luck with the search for your "new" truck.

 

hehe, thanks, that's pretty much what i needed to hear... searching for "v8" and "vs" and "5.4" i think isn't working right, terms may be too short.

my mach has had 4.30s in it since 6k miles, so the gears wouldn't be a problem, even if it came with 3.73s or whatnot. 01's and up seem to be a bit harder to find for my price range - up to $10k, but will keep in mind. Thanks

i'm not looking for mileage, heck, anything would probably be an upgrade to my truck, i'm just curious how big the difference is... i figured if it were as big as the diff between the v10 and the diesel, it might pay off, especially since i don't plan on towing much

 

When you talk about the mpg difference between a 5.4 and a 6.8, you have to specify whether you mean loaded or empty. With a load, the 6.8 will quite likely get better mpg; empty the 5.4 will be a little better. However, its hard to consider 4,000 pounds to be a load...... If you really are 99% of the time going to use the truck as a daily driver, there are F150's rated to 9,900 pounds and some of those guys talk about some really nice mileage.....

 

it would be empty. I have considered 5.4 f150s, but it seems f150s are a lot more expensive for what you get... I think people shy away from the f250s and larger trucks b/c of mileage... and when it comes to 5.4 f150s, what i've noticed in my search is that they tend to ask a premium for them being that they have the biggest engine available... kinda like with diesels for f250s.

Plus, the superdutys look infinately cooler

 

Simple searchs on forums like these are not as intuitive as, say, Google. You have to be very specific. Or very broad. Or both.

Anyway, when they were both 2-valve, the V8 and V10 hardly got any difference in mileage.

Now, probably the same thing exists. The modular platform is efficient enough that reducing it's load at low RPMs is almost directly proportionate to the amount of fuel saved.

The only extra friction the V10 adds is two sets of low-tension rings, 2 pistons rubbing the walls, an extra main bearing and two extra rod bearings. Oh, and two extra cam bearings and four valves. That doesn't equate to enough to notice.

The problem is not using that extra ooomph you get with the bigger motor

 

I agree with you Fosters...when comparing the SD to the F150s. Dollar for dollar...the SD is the better buy value wise. Plus, better truck period!

Now...I absolutely LOVE my V10...and believe it is one of the BEST engines ever produced by FORD. However, for your needs...the 5.4L will do just fine. It is a really good motor too (has to be...it is a Modular)!

I have driven both (Dad's SD is a 2001 F250 SD CC 5.4L Auto 4.10s) and it does just fine towing 8000lbs. Might be under powered going up the grades here at high altitude in NM, but still does a fine job. My SD does the same job easier, but then it has the V10.

So rest easy...and buy with confidence that either engine will get the job done for your needs.

Good luck...

biz

_____________________________
2003 F250 SD SC 142" XLT FX4 V10 Auto 4x4 3.73s

 

"These 6.8 SD's with the 4.30 gearing are awsome.[/QUOTE]"
I cant agree more

 

"
I cant agree more[/QUOTE]

too bad the 8.8 gears in my mustang won't fit... I've been wanting to go 4.56s in it for a while now...

 

Try to drive a 5.4 or a V10 and for the difference go with the big motor my V10 is a daily driver and if you keep your foot out of it it is not bad on fuel no worse than old 5.8 with auto. All are good but depends on driving habits what you do. When you get to a stop light on a four lane and someone who has tried to pass and was unable to put in tow command and take off when the light changes and you will be suprised how many vehicles will follow a 6500 LB. truck its fun.

 

If I were in your shoes I would buy either truck, depending on the intended use, that was in the best shape/or had the lowest mileage. Of coarse the V10 will have more power, and I sure do love my V10, but I wouldn't rule out a 5.4.

Also if it helps I just made a 250 mile jaunt across the mountains of NC running 75-80mph through the mtns and I averaged around 13.5 mpg. I was impressed given the conditions. Keeping a sane pace I can get 14-15, so its something to keep in mind.

 

I've managed to get 28mpg out of my mustang (cruise control from phx to san diego, on one tank of gas) and i've managed to get 7mpg too (screwing around with a friend, pretty much 3rd gear all the way to a track 50 miles away and back)... with my truck, i get in the 15s around town or freeway, slightly less if i wanna keep up with freeway traffic, since the thing has no overdrive... and therein lies my dillema, the v10 wouldn't really get worse gas mileage than my truck, but i just wouldn't need it 98% of the time...

Like you said though, I think it'll come down to whatever better shape truck i find in the end... either way it'll be a huge upgrade.

 

My new V10 is generally in the 13-14 mpg range...on a 400 mile trip I got almost 16 on the hiway.

I tow a 10K pound 5th wheel and never got less than 9 mpg, but I tow on pretty level ground most of the time, and I keep it to 65 mph when towing.

A buddy that we camp with had an older 5.4 F250 and gets 8 mpg towing a 5er and never got 16 mpg on the hiway....he has said for three years he should have bought the v10.

I went from a diesel to the v10 and won't look back...no more diesels for me....

 

Great choice on the truck. The SD is by far a better value over the F150. For around the same price (gasser) you get a superior truck in terms of payload and tow rating.

What you see as the hard choice is really a simple one. The V8 and the V10 get within 1 mpg empty. But, the V10 has far more tq and hp. Here in MN, I get 12.5 - 13.5 mpg mixed cty/hwy empty in the summer and 11 -11.5 mpg in the winter. Towing mpg varies on the load, but is generally around 10 mpg.

The used market for gassers is very depressed and offer great value to the buyer. I would stay clear of a '99 because 1.) the price difference of that and a '00+ is small and 2.) the PI heads in the '00+ offer better performance numbers in terms of tq and hp.