Hey all, I have owned a 99 v10 with 250,000 on the clock and still running. I curntly own a 96 7.3 diesel and thinking of selling it to get a v10. but every time i talk about it, people chew me up. saying the V10 is not reliable and a gas hog. I beg to differ, my diesel is way expencive on repairs and im tired of spending $100 a week on litttle things for it. Im not trying to start a war over diesel vs v10. but i just wana know why the v10 cant get a good rep. Thanks

 

Maybe the ones giving it a bad rep didn't take good care of it and crapped out. If you take good care of any vehicle, it will last a long time.

My theory is this. Most people who own cheap economy cars do not have the financial means to properly maintain the vehicle. It dies prematurely and it gets a bad rep. You get a well off person with the same type car and maintains it, the car runs forever. Generally, people who are better off will not consider an economy car because it's a status symbol.

This is just a generalization and may not be accurate.

 

I think people here "V10" and just make assumptions. "Its a V10 it must get bad gas mileage". In fact my V10 gets better mileage than the 6.0 suburban that it replaced. One must remember its a 415ci motor making 315 plus horsepower in a 7500lb truck. It ain't no Tacoma!
I think the spark plug thing gets blow out of proportion also.
Mine blew out after a plug change. My fault, I didn't torque to proper specs.
We have 6 other mod motors in the family and NONE have had this problem. Mileage ranges from 18k on an 03 Mach 1 to 324K on and F150 with 5.4.
The V10 is a great engine!

 

I never heard the V10 as being a bad motor... I had a first year excursion and it was strong motor.

 

I didn't know the V10 had a bad reputation; and I am a diesel owner. I guess the only thing I can say I have heard is they are not exactly good on fuel but as VAXB said, it is a 7500lb truck.

But easily things can start getting an undeserved reputation. The OP is case in point. Making the claim that the diesel is way expensive and the claim of $100 a week in repairs? sorry unless it's abused and neglected I don't buy that. I own a 2000 7.3 with 158,000 on it and not including normal maintenance (oil changes, and coolant change at 100k) and modifications (it's chipped and I revised the fuel system) I haven't spent more then $500 TOTAL on that engine in 10yrs in repairs. and part of that was an Alternator which even the V10 has so it's NOT a diesel thing. the 7.3 was and is known as the bullet proof of the diesels.

unsubstantiated claims are what gives motors a bad rep. I don't want, nor would I buy a V10 but you won't hear me say it's a bad motor ever.

 

Good question and lots of great answers.
I agree it absolutely does not deserve a bad rep. It is a great engine for 90's tech.

On the plus side, it does make it easier for us to get great deals on great trucks!

Ignore the fools and smile all the way to the bank.

 

The only people I hear bashing on the V10 typically have not owned one. Once in a great while there will be some one who gets one and is not happy but they are the very rare exception. Horrible gas mileage is also relative, my truck gets 12 MPG mixed driving and my 2000 Explorer gets 16, not much difference considering the size and capability difference.

 

It's the V-10 thing. If they were refered to as 6.8l instead there wouldn't be such a misconseption about poor fuel milage.

 

When I knew I wanted a 5th wheel I looked at diesel trucks. It seemed to me that the newer diesel were having problems trying to meet EPA standards. There MPG was not that great with the running rich to clean the particulate filter. I bought a low mileage V10 for a tow horse and I am glad I did. It pulls with plenty of power. It will be interesting to see if Fords new diesel will make it. From what I read the MPG has gone up. Only time will tell. I plan to keep my V10 for a long time-it works for me.

 

If you want to know about the reliability of a V10, you need to ask people who have actually owned them. My '99 has almost 100K on it and still pulls my travel trailer with ease. It is a very reliable engine and requires little to nothing beyond routine maintenence. The only weak points are the spark plug issue with the early 2 valves and the exhaust stud problems. I did have an issue with the manifold studs but mine has never spit a plug. I did change them at 70K. I have yet to meet a V10 owner who was unhappy with their rig.

People who cry about poor fuel mileage in this large vehicle are misguided souls at best. I get around 12 MPG empty and 9-10 MPG towing my 7500# trailer. That is pretty decent mileage in my book given the capability to pull my trailer. If they want good mileage, go buy a Honda, but good luck towing or hauling anything.

 

I do have to say that mileage is pretty bad.

worst I have ever gotten with my 7.3 is 11.5 and that was towing 15,000 at 70mph. I average 19 empty and 14-16 loaded. best I ever got was 21 hand calculated.

And the 390 I had and built in my old 73 used to get 12-14 empty and 11-12 loaded. and that was 40yr old technology.

 

My answer was to the reliability question of the OP. These engines are bulletproof.

Claiming your diesel gets better mileage is pointless to the OP's question. I gave realistic mileage readings from my truck (also hand calculated). When driven empty it is usually short trips around town where one doesn't get the best mileage. When towing, it is at 55-60MPH on the freeway generally. The best mileage I have ever gotten towing was 19 MPG but it was such an anomoly that don't like to even mention it. Just trying to keep it real here.

 

i think the bad rap comes from the spark plug problems and the exhaust manifold studs.

i don't like the ford diesels with the exception of the 7.3 and maybe the new one. the rest seem to all be problems plagued. Dont get me wrong im sure there are many people that haven't had any problems with there engines but there are lots and lots of people who have.

i feel like for what my truck is capable of the gas millage is great. my 92 2500 with a 350 gets about the same millage it may even be worse. both my parents Chevy with 5.3 average about 17mpg they get about 20 on a road trip.

my truck in the summer averages about 12.9 right now i getting 11.9 but i let the truck idle alot and on a road highway will get about 14-15. i towed 5000-6000 pounds over the summer 600 miles on i81 and averaged 10.5

 

Ignorance and stupidity from others mainly. I have verified that on more than one occasion.

I agree. MPG also varies widely due to a large amount of variables.

 

I love my V10 F250. It is the most reliable truck I've ever owned, is comfy, hauls stuff very well and I like the way it looks. But I don't drive it every day anymore. Know why? Because gas here is $3.45 a gallon, my truck gets mid 11's on winter gas and driving a 3/4 ton truck as if it were a commuter car is just a bit silly. I was putting $80 a week in the tank, which was $70 more per month than my payment! So I dug my trusty '88 Mustang GT out of it's two year storage nap and have been driving it daily. It gets 20 mpg, even with your foot in it, my truck gets to stay clean and I don't feel like I'm supporting half the Arab nation. Could I have gotten away with an F150? Maybe, but I've had enough of cresting some steeper hills towing a trailer with my foot through the firewall, plus I needed both rear seat legroom (mines a crew cab) and a full size bed and a used (my price range) F150 isn't any cheaper than I paid for my F250 that tows at whatever speed I feel like, is nice enough to take on family vacations even without a trailer (it does get 15+ mpg on freeway) and is a heck of a lot more economical to maintain than a diesel. Ask a Ford tech how many V10's he sees per year vs how many diesels he sees and I think the reliablity questions can be put to rest.