So, I'm looking for a new tow vehicle. V10? 7.3? V10? 6.0? 7.3? Questions, questions, questions...

I found a nice 1999 V10 with 134K miles on it. What's the longevity of these engines given proper maintenance, of course? My '98 4.6 F150 doesn't get the best of mileage, so that's not a big concern. I just want to know that I'll get a few good years out of a V10 if I decide to go that route. And I have heard about the spark plug issue, also. The 4.6's had the same problem and mine are still intact. So, I don't think that's an issue either.

I did just look at a very clean '97 F250 7.3 PSD (166K mi) - I'm just not sure if it was over priced at $10,200.

 

This link might be of interest:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-used-v10.html

I'm watching this thread closely. I logged on to ask the same question!

Ron

 

What are you towing? What is the weight of the trailer? How many miles will you be towing?

 

Properly maintained the V10 will last for many years and miles, mine has been pulling form new and it still has a lot good miles left in it, right now it has 127K but I will be replacing it this summer with a new truck because I just want a new truck .

Denny

 

Thanks, plastermaster, interesting and informative read. I test drove the '99 V10 this afternoon and have to say I was quite impressed. It was the 4X4 version and we're looking for just a 4X2 and we were just on flat land, but it had more than enough oomph to get us moving quickly. At 134K miles it sounded pretty solid. This was the first V10 that I've tested - do they usually have a faint dieselish sound to them? Or was that something wrong with the engine? It had some other issues that need attention before I would consider it though (both lock solenoids and missing tail gate were the biggest).

dualwheels66, we're towing a ~5100# travel trailer now but plan on upgrading to a 5th wheel in about 3-4 years. We know it's a little overkill now, but don't want to have to do it again when we upgrade. And it would making lugging the trailer up the hills a little easier. And we'll be towing around 2500 miles a year if our calcs are right.

This is actually one of the hardest vehicles that I've had to purchase. The '97 4X4 PSD had definite advantages and I did like the truck and the way it drove. I'm just not sure I can get over the $800 over retail blue book price and the fact that I would be buying an older vehicle than I use now. Sure, maybe apples to oranges, but still...

 

The V10 is an outstanding engine. I went from a 1990 F350 7.3l IDI diesel to it. I've looked back cause of the mileage.... IDI does better hands down. If you maintain it it will last you til retirement. I put 45k on mine in 9 months and I never had a reliability issue.

 

The only V10 I would stay away from, interestingly enough, is the '99 - if you're towing heavy, it WILL run out of torque at high RPMs, and coupled with the 4-speed 4R100 tranny, you can find yourself in a bind when it comes to being right where there's not enough torque to do the job.

For example, imagine you're in 3rd gear pulling up a hill at mid-range RPM. You think, heck, I'll push the go-pedal a little more and get it to downshift that'll help ... NOT - it down shifts, RPMs come up to where the heads can't breathe anymore, and the extra gear in 2nd can't help it - so it SLOWS DOWN. Let it upshift again into 3rd, there's not enough go-pedal to get any torque, so you push the pedal down and it again downshifts into 2nd. And... repeat.

At least, that's the story I've heard from others with the '99 - if you're not going to tow especially heavy, or aren't going to be in very hilly areas while doing it, I can't see any reason not to get the truck if it's well maintained and it's a great price...

 

I don't have that problem but mine is 2000..... its build date is 12/99

 

I don't have that problem either. And I tow quite abit down in wva and it does just fine with 35s on it and 4.30 gears

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but the 99's don't have the PI heads and they have EGR.

 

Yes no pi heads and im not sure if mine has a egr or not?

 

My 99 has an EGR Also has the dieseling sound that the op asked about. I havent been able to determine what it is yet. Most shops around here or mechanics that are familiar with the v10 say not to worry about it in a v10. Even got the "its normal" response a few times. Not sure if I like it making any kind of noise but I cant afford a rebuild and cant find a good quiet running used one around here. So I guess I run it till it goes and I'll know what the noise is. Haha!

 

Here is my familie's experiance as we have 5 V10 in total.

-My fathers 1999 F250 sc/sb 4x4 V10 auto trans 3:73 gears-is EGR equiped,very reliable and has decent power but lacks top end as stated in earlier posts.Pulls hard on the bottom then really flattens out on top.

- Brother in law(#1) 1999 F250 sc/sb 4x4 manual trans 4:10 gears-is EGR equiped,very reliable but less than impressive on acceleration.Holds power good has a very flat power curve.I don't like the manual with this engine.

-Father in-laws 2000 F250 sc/LB 4x4 auto trans-non EGR equiped 4:30 gears-very reliable and totally abused(long oil change intervals,hauls heavy loads).Has good power through-out the RPM.Stays in overdrive on almost all hills(4:30 gears to thank) pulling 6500lbs trailer.Has flat power curve.Not alot of top end above 3500 rpm.

-My 2003 F350 cc/sb 4x4 auto trans non EGR 3:73 gears.Very reliable and has outstanding power through out entire rpm range.Totally different from the other three trucks.just wish I had a 5spd auto.

-Brother in-law(#2) 2010 F450 C class motorhome 2V,non EGR, 5spd auto trans.Runs very similar to my 2003 F350.Pulls hard from top to bottom of RPM.

All trucks get almost identical fuel millage when loaded.If this helps anyone.

 

If you can hold out for a 2005 and later V-10, you will be doing yourself a huge favor with the Torqueshift tranny. Much more power in the 3V engine and the tranny is far superior.

Pap

 

I love mine....2011 F450 4x4 and the Torqshift. 30k miles and works great. I tow a lot and it does well....its no powerstroke but it gets the job done. Guy that works for me has a 2000 Excursion with 203k on it ...no plug issues, tiny exhaust leak and the tranny crapped out around 140k.....solid