ive been looking at a few 250s and 350s one has the 5.4l v8 gasser the rest have the 6.0 dsl most are 2003 the one is a 2005 but just a bit above my price range unless i can talk the dealer down but the question is wich is better on fuel i drive highway to and from work about 7 miles each way dont do much driving other then loading up my quad and a few friends rzrs and take em down south for rides in the summer

any tips or suggestions?

 

I have an 04 Eddie Bauer 6.0L Powerstroke. The best mileage I got is close to 17 mpg on straight highway driving at an average 73 mph. Never got this good mileage before, maybe all those time I was driving against the wind, which was most of the time here in southern Nevada. I heard 6.8 L gas engine run about 14 mpg highway, maybe a little less.

Current fuel price where I live is ~$3.00/gal regular, and $3.89/gal diesel an almost a dollar difference in fuel price.

Diesel takes 15 qts of oil every oil change at 5,000 interval with oil filter ~$18 each time, fuel filter change every 10,000 to 15,000 miles and cost ~$56 for part.

Gas maybe take 6 qts of oil with less than ~8 oil filter, and no need to change fuel filter that often.

6.0L Diesel do not like short run, need to run engine more than 30 min.each time. Only thing good about diesel is it can pull better than the gas engine can on an incline. Cost a lot to up keep the 6.0L Powerstroke.

Check out the 6.0L section and do your search accordingly before jump in. Buy the truck that best fit your need. 7 mi to work is not cutting it for a diesel...

 

My previous truck was an 03 F150 supercrew 4X4 that had the 5.4L and I drove it for 70k plus miles and it is a good engine, but our work truck is a F-250 super duty 4X4 and it also has the 5.4L in it and its a gutless wonder, way under powered. So I would stay away from a Super duty with the 5.4L.

My F150 got about 12 MPG with normal driving, mixed freeway and in town, and about 6 to 7 MPG towing my 24' travel trailer. With my 06 F350 CCSB 4X4 I get around 14 MPG with normal driving and around 12.5 MPG towing the same trailer and when I can burn a whole tank at freeway speeds I get over 19 MPG.

 

most the 6.0s ive looked at have under 75,000 miles and the the gas modles ive looked at have about that or more i know diesels last alot longer then gas .. oh and i live in ohio so most the hiways around here range from 50 to 65 mph pretty flat in the area i live in.. ive looked at f150s but i just like the look of the super duty better

 

Unless you are needing the 6.0l diesel for towing I would steer clear; if you really want the Super Duty for it's HD suspension & big durableness then get the V-10; driving 7 miles to work is going to be hell on the diesel & you will end up getting worse mileage than the V-10 because diesels are not efficient until they warm up fully; gas only takes 1/2 as long to reach peak efficiency.
Diesels are COOL but these high tech beauties need to be run right or put aside 2-3k a year and every other year throw it a the motor. You can neglect & beat the gas motor with a stick & it will only ask for cheap filters & a bit of oil.
I pull a 10k trailer 3x a year & if I had a do-over I'd go V-10 with a stick.
Ford should have also thrown a nice 'tuned' 460 V-8 at these trucks.
A friend has GMC 454 dually that he tows a 13k trailer with; mileage sucks when towing but empty he get 15 mixed. Never see any decent ones for sale as they are a super cheap & reliable tow beast...I digress

 

Not to be contrary but I also live around 7 miles from work and my mileage with my 6.0L still bests my F150 with the 5.4L by 2 MPG on normal driving and by 7 while towing the same trailer, and on long trips unloaded the 6.0 bests the 5.4 by 7 MPG. That being said I don't only drive my truck to work so I do get a chance weekly to get her up to freeway speed and run a bit.

And you are right about the gassers, you can pretty much do as you wish with them as long as you keep gas in them they are happy and check the oil once a year or when they start making odd noises which ever occurs first .

I had a 97 F250 4X4 that had the 460 and it got 10 MPG no matter what I was doing with it. But I loved that truck, had I not sold it due to gas prices I wouldn't be driving this 6.0.

 

It seems that fuel mileage and "looks" are your two biggest concerns. Unless you are pulling loads more than you mention, find an old f250 with a 5.4 and enjoy.
No need for a diesel.

 

Every person I've ever talked to with a 5.4 in a SD hates it. No power, and marginal fuel economy. Considering you're commute, it sounds like you'll have to decide what you want more; power or fuel economy. If you want fuel economy, buy a 5.4. If you want good power, spring for a v10 or a 6.0.

 

The year you pick makes a big difference on the 5.4. I think 05? they switched to the 3Valve version which makes more power. I had a 07 F-150 and I get very similar mileage with my 6.0, maybe 1 mpg better. Not enough to pay for itself if you dont need it for towing. I know the super duty is heavier but I drove an 08 F250 with a 5.4 and it was ok. Would be fine for hauling a few quads and cheap to maintain.

 

Did the 3v upgrade improve fuel economy? Had an '03 expedition with the 2v 5.4 and i got 15 mpg no matter what. Until i lifted it, then it went to 11....... but i digress lol.....

 

im not gonna be pulling nothing too terribly heavy with it i just prefer the look of a superduty over the standered f150 ive heard the superdutys with the 5.4 are sluggish and boring but dont know if i wanna burn tons of money with the v10 .. dont really know what kind of mileage diffrence there would be because i imagine the 5.4 would have to work alot harder and burn more gas

 

Buy the diesel. I was in your position not long ago agonizing between keeping a gas truck (which fit my needs just fine) and wanting a diesel. Got into a 6.0 and have been enjoying every minute of it.

 

after doing some research the only issues im having with buying the diesel is the cash im gonna have to dump in it right after buying it.. like the upgraded egr cooler and oil cooler all the fluid changes and head studs as a precautionary measure

 

Personally Id go gas unless you need the pulling power. I feel like everytime I run to the store or run short errands around town that I am doing it a diservice. Theres way more maintenance and thats after the cost of all the bulletproofing.

The gas motor is just turn the key and drive it.

 

yea more i think the more im goin to gas but now the only question v10 or v8