I currently have an 86 CC dually w/ 460 V8. I tow an 8,000lb fifth wheel and get about 7 mpg all the time. I may be switching vehicles and beginning to commute in my truck, which will cost a fortune at 80 miles round trip per day.

I like the CC PSD, but can't afford to go new. Used ones are hard to find and more expensive than nice used V10's. I can get a nice low mile V10 for about $4 to $5,000 less than the same in PSD, and that is I get to it before it is sold.

Question: Will I regret not getting the PSD? Will the V10 tow good? Will the V10 get good enough fuel mileage to justify the $5,000 cheaper price? How will the V10 perform against my old 460, especially towing in some mountains?

Any experiences are welcome...
Thanks

 

I can only give you an answer the first. "How the hell would I know?"

I believe that all of the other questions have been discussed at great length. Were not able to find out the answers from previous posts?

Understand I want people to post but sometimes threads like these can turn into the infamous Gas vs. Diesel thread and people get a little hot under the collar in those types of threads.

Okay...on to #2. I'll give it a go.

2. Yes. But what exactly do you mean by "good"?

3. Only YOU can do the math. If you use JUST fuel price differences & MPG differences then you must use the fuel costs in your area.

4. I've never owned a 460. I am not qualified to answer that. 4x4x4x4 I think owns both.

 

Well I guess you put me in my place!
Sorry for askin...

 

No! No! No!

I WAS NOT trying to "put you in your place"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some of my comments were there for those reading waitin' to start another flaming war!

You have good questions but I think some have been covered. So a search while others post to this thread could be beneficial to you!

Always ask but always look for more info too!

 

I did some reading...some of it was very helpful. I understand that the PSD is the winner hands down in torque and mileage, but I am interested in a comparison between the 460 and the V10. If I can not expect much of a performance improvement while towing, I will hold out for the PSD. If the improvement is dramatic with the V10 I may go with it.

In talking with the Ford mechanics, they say that many motorhome owners prefer the 460 over the V10. I am looking for experiences of "upgrading" to the V10, and how dramatic the improvement is going to the PSD. Not trying to start a diesel vs gas war...just looking for real world feedback.

Searches do not always cover the specifics I am looking for, but I can try again.

 

A V10 will pull your 8000lb'er with ease but I really doubt your mileage will be much better than 8 or 9 if that.

I have pulled my 5000lb trailer with mine on several trips and I got right at 10 mpg highway and I live in WV so it's fairly hilly. I wouldn't mind a diesel but I bought new and just couldn't justify the extra $100 a month it would add onto my payment. I figured it would take about six years to break even given my yearly mileage and the price of diesel in my area (which is always about 30c higher than 87).

If I was buying used I'd really consider a Powestroke though. That way someone else takes the depreciation hit and you a helluva motor that's probably just getting broken in.

Either way you can't go wrong!

 

I really don't care about mileage while I'm towing. But for an 80 mile commute, it is worth asking about. I have a buddy who has the PSD and loves it. Gets 20 to 22 mpg commuting around Los Angeles!
Trying to find a used PSD at a reasonable price is proving to be a challenge though. I have found several NICE V10 trucks around.

I think I may go with the V10.

 

I think the general consensus is that for towing or motorhome use, the V10 is not quite as powerful. A bit more fuel efficient, though.

To do over again, I'd look harder at the PSD.

 

Having never owned a PSD I cannot comment on that engine.
I have owned both a 460 HD 3/4 1992, and now own a 2001 F250 SD V10 so I can comment on these engines.

The 460 gas engine in my opinion was the best gas towing engine Ford ever built. It was just solid, quiet and reliable.
I pulled a 11,000# Carriage 5th wheel with it. It had a GCWR of
18500 and when I weighed it with my wife and myself fully loaded it weighed 17,800lbs. It just loved to pull if I wanted to
run 70mph it would run 70mph, same goes with 75mph but I never did those speeds after the wind took my alum domes out
on the trailer. I had a 4.10 axle with the 460.

I now have a 9000lb trailer being pulled by a V10 with a 4.30 rear axle and I never have been really happy with it. The only good thing about it is that it gets a lot better gas mileage than the 460. The engine is noisy, probably needs more engine noise abatement foam. I bought it with a 3.73 rear axle and had it changed because it was a real dog with the trailer weight.
With the 4.30 axle it is no longer a dog but it still doesn't meet my expectations for the horsepower and torque.

There is not a lot I can do at this time because trucks are to expensive to just trade-off. So make your decision right the first time if you can.

Gas mileage 460 with trailer 6 to 7mpg
Gas mileage V10 with trailer 7.5 to 9mpg

Hope this helps
fknipfer

 

My experience has been in contrast to that of fknipfer1; before my 1999 F250 with V10, automatic, 4.30 gears I towed with an E350 Van, 460, C6, 4.10 rear end. Both pull hard, if I had a load much larger, I would definitely go PSD. In SoCal, #2 goes for about .20 less per gallon than 87 octane.

Mileage: Slight advantage to V10, currently about 11.5 MPG; the 460 was always a little less than 10 MPG. I take about an 8 to 10% cut in mileage when towing my typical load, (7000 lbs.)

Power: Advantage V10; Baker grade, (LA to Vegas), 60 MPH in 3rd at a cruise, had to drop the 460 down to second to keep the revs up, (partly the fault of the slightly taller gears).

I do miss the sound of that big V8 exhaust, the V10 sounds like several angry Accords running in low gear.

 

??? The V10 is not more fuel efficient than the Power Stroke.

 

he wasn't comparing anything to the powerstroke, he was talking 460 vs V10.

Thanks for all the help. Since I will be driving quite a bit, and towing some, I have now decided to go with the Powerstroke.

 

Yes, I was referring to the gas engines.

 

In comparing the 460 to the V10:
I pulled my 8000-10000# camper with an 87 E350 van with the 460. It had the same carb as yours. Later I added a MSD. Two years ago I purchased a 99 E350 SuperDuty van. I expected some improvement but never expected that kind of change. It was like night and day. The pulling mpg was about the same but there was a LOT more power. The greatest challenge around here is Black Mountain on I-40 near Ashville. My speed increased from 25-30 mph to 50-55 mph going up.
Traveling without the camper I get 14-15 mpg. My wife uses it as the family taxi so the local milage is in the 11-12 range.
Granted that there may have been some difference in the rear ends but not that much. The new van has the 3.73.
You should enjoy either one you choose.

 

I had an older F250 4 door 4X4 w/460, headers, manifold, ignition, X exhaust, carb tuned on a dyno, and Mucho power/torque... oh yea It always had one of those extreemly humongous campers parked in the bed except when I took it to Germany. Never ever ever got better than 8mpg loaded, empty, slow or down hill. Great power and much fun to own... twin tanks took over 48 gallons of high test and for a soldier was really breaking the bank $$$ fuel wise.

I am so tickled with my signature truck getting 13.7mpg empty, mix driving, and 9.8mpg loaded down, up the mountains, and accross I10 to el paso Tx/ Fort Hauchuca Az @ 75mph you just can't imagine!!!!!

dpoelstra you are going to be happy with either choice

Yes my 460 had much more grunt, but I am a lead foot, and I usually have TWO big twin Harleys in the bed and a 22' bumper drag hooked up for long weekends. The V10 on 87 octane and with NO MODIFICATIONS (3.73:1 LS rear) takes me up the steepest grades with out going down to 2 gear.

Count me as a Ford V10 lover and one HAPPY Camper too