Looking for advice and others experience. I have not posted much on FTE but I have spend hours pouring through the forums. I have to say that I have learned allot on this site and it is one of my favorites to go to.

A little background info on my self, I am deployed right now to Afghanistan and I am going to buy a Superduty when I get back. I have owned 3 Ford F-150's and a 03 F-350 with the 7.3. Hated to get ride of the 350 but the wife at the time now ex-wife needed a new car and I couldn't swing another payment so I had to down grade.

I was looking at getting another Diesel but the more I research and think about it I am really have trouble justifying the Diesel. I really don't tow much and when I do a gas engine would work just fine. Plus save my self on the cost of the truck and the maintenance that goes with the diesel. I would be just fine with a F-150 but I love the Superduty's.

So to my questions now. Which engine is more reliable, and has the longer service life? Which one seems to hold up better. I know both engines have had issue's with spark plug blowouts. What year models are better then others. Thanks.

 

05+ were 3 valve motors, more power, no plug blowouts, just plugs getting stuck in the head, although they make the tools for removal. Vehicles built after 10/07? came with the newly designed plugs, mine did not . My V10 gets 1-1.5 mpg less, on average, than my 06 5.4 and has more power (06 5.4 11-12mpg, 08 V10 10-11mpg, both mpg's are combined. Highway I had 13.5 with 5.4 and 12.5 with V10). I have read about both engines going the distance. I'm happy to not have the 5.4 and also couldnt justify, or afford, a diesel of similar model year so I took the V10. I would push people towards the V10 just for power (better overall and much better low end power) and fun factor. 5.4 is a good reliable motor I just grew annoyed with it while towing. No towing, the 5.4 will get it done but the V10 will put a BSEG on your face!

 

They're both fairly reliable and with proper maintenance should have a rather long service life. So, it comes down to what you intend to do with it.

If you're going to consistently tow anything heavy I would go with the 6.8L. If towing is not an issue, go 5.4L.

With the 6.8's the PI heads are important ('00 and better) and in either '03 or '05 they went to the 3 valve engines, which were better still.

I've had both (150 & SD250) and much prefer my Super Duty.

Just make sure you get back safe from your deployment!

 

I know I would probably do fine with the 5.4. Really the max I would tow would be about 7000 lbs. And that is not going to be very often. So I know the 5.4 would do just fine. I have read that the 5.4 gets better mpg by a hair. So really as far as mpg it is a toss up. I know the V10 would beat it in the fun factor for power. Thanks for your input I look forward to more from others.

 

If mileage is even a slight concern, go for the 5.4L. The 6.8's are great engines, I love mine. It pulls like a 40 mule team, but I get about 10MPG around town.

But, I didn't buy it 'cuz it was good on gas.

 

go with the V10 like mentioned about 1-1.5MPG less than the V8 isnt really worth it for me. also what sounds better i have a V8 or V10?? lol. there is also a fellow on here that last month posting that he had 355k on a 05 V10 not bad to me for longevity!!!!

watch this video. love the sound of this one!!!


f350 v10 playin in snow - YouTube

 

I love the 08-10 year model body style. That is another reason why I am looking at gas engines.

But my second dilemma I have to figure out, is do I look for a 08-09 and use it as a daily driver to or do I get a 99-03 and use it for weekends, towing needs, hunting and etc.

My wife traded in my Tacoma (2nd worst truck I ever had, 01 Dodge 2500 cummins is #1.) on a new 11' 4 Runner. That is the last time I listen to my wife on what truck I should get. (She is a die hard Toyota fan.) So I took her Corrolla since she was still upside down on it and I am not there so it didn't matter. So I was thinking that I would use her Corrolla as my daily driver about 50 miles round trip a day and have the older truck for the weekends.

I have to do the math and see which way is cheaper. The corrolla is not even close to being paid off so I would be making 3 car payments if I got a older truck.

 

Gas mileage would be an issue if I use it as my daily driver. But what is really 1-1.5 mpg in that regard. It really doesn't make that big of a difference over a month. Maybe $50 a month. The V10 does have a better ring to it and gets the testosterone going. LOL

 

That V10 in the video sounds awesome!!!

 

i bet u want a V10 now huh? lol

 

It is nice.

 

As already said, the 5.4 only gets slightly better MPG than the V-10. So if MPG is your main concern, you probably want the 5.4. If you want more power and don't mind using a little bit more gas, then the V-10 would be a good choice.

The switch to the 3V engines came in 05. The 3V 5.4 has about the same power as the early V-10s, and obviously the V-10's power increased with the switch to 3V as well.

All of this said, shop around and see what kind of deals you can find. I happened to find an awesome deal on my 05 with the 3V 5.4, so that's what I went with and so far I am very happy with it.

Reliability isn't really an issue on either engine with regular maintenance. The V-10 is essentially the same engine as a 5.4, but with 2 more cylinders. My work has several vans with 5.4s that have 300-400K miles on them with nothing more than regular maintenance and an occasional COP replaced.

 

Where are u located?

 

Go for the V10. I was originally thinking about a PSD or 5.4. Price on a PSD is crazy. Not a big diffference on the MPG 5.4 vs. 6.8.

 

Definitly a V 10 theres no question about it. Superduties are heavy trucks an need the most power you can get. The 3 v V 10 would be great an have great power with not much difference in mileage. For durablity you cant beat them. I have yet to wear out a Ford gasser yet an I have had them all. There Built Ford tough pardon the pun. Fords new 6.2 motor in the latest superduties is awesome. I pitty anybody racing one. They would blow away anything that got next to it. Ford has really stepped up there motors in power an towing. Nobody can touch them. Good Luck an hope you get a truck that will satisfy you.