Thats not true at least for me at all. Diesel would have to cost double what gas costs in order for that statement to be true.

My 7.3 requires basically no maintenance. I change the oil once a year and I changed the fuel filter once since I got it. Other than that I put maybe $200 into o-rings and stuff into my X which I recovered with just two camping trips and the money saved because of the amazing fuel mileage!

I had a gas truck, I am one of those people that HATE watching the gas gauge go down and having to fill up every 200 miles.

 

Well, my trip to test drive and possibly purchase the '04 Ex didn't happen due to miscommunication and the fact that the dealership said they don't offer financing for out of state buyers. Perhaps that's a blessing because I can't imagine a state line stopping a vehicle purchase. I have other avenues of finance if that turns out to be the vehicle for me but for now I'm going to continue to search. I have considered the V10 because of the cost savings on the purchase price but it seems that the diesel bug has bitten and that's what I really want. In my area, diesel fuel is $.30-$.40 more per gallon and given my 45 mile round trip to work, it won't add a tremendous amount to my fuel bill but I understand that maintenance can. I'm just going to keep looking until I find the one. Thanks to all for the feedback, it has helped a lot.

 

Yes and no if your not including the purchase price difference which here in the bay area i cant find a decent diesel excursion for less then 18k i got my v10 that was in better shape and less millage then all the diesel for 8900. That is a huge about of coast to make up. If you drive a ton then yes you can make it up but if you dont you will never make that up. Also figure in the extra coast of maintenance 15 qts of oil each oil change, fuel filters every 10k and all the other joys of diesels (like it being impossible to leave them alone sense its so easy and fun to get big power out of them.) If your driving short distances also diesels dont like that but if you drive a lot and drive for good distances normally diesels are great. I have had two diesel a dodge cummins and a ford 01 super duty with the manual. Loved my SD but couldnt put the kids in the extended cab, and dont trust autos behind Diesels. Granted fords autos are way better then dodge. I ran the numbers for me driving 5000 miles each year and gas being 20 cents cheaper then diesel it only coasted about 200 more each year to have the v10 over my old sd 7.3l that got 16 at best. (granted it was lifted on 37's)

 

That makes sense right up until you hook a 12k lb trailer to the hitch... I still get 14-15mpg with my PSD when the V10 is getting 6-8mpg. On a 600 mile tow that adds up pretty quick. It all depends on how you plan to use it. Now that diesel has finally dropped to the price of premium gas in my area it's getting better. And I got mine for $15k in 2011 w/115k on the odometer. It was an import from Texas and it was in great shape and has never been exposed to salted roads which was one of my primary criteria.

I've seriously considered getting another V10 Ex so my wife can use it to haul the kids and their friends around town so she doesn't have to take the PSD on all those short trips...

 

I as well got mine for $14K in 2010ish. The up front cost means nothing to me because if/when you sell it that cost is recovered (maybe even make money on it).

Fuel filter every 10K? Thats $15... About the same cost as a GAS filter every 15K.

15 quarts of oil, sure, my oil changed cost me $75 but like I mentioned I make that cost up over a gas truck in just one single camping trip and then some. I only change my oil once a year.

The rest I do is just fun stuff and preventative maintenance which I would do no matter what engine is under the hood.

Like I mentioned if the OP doesn't need 4x4 it is easy to get over 20MPG with a diesel every day driving especially if his work commute is mostly highway every day.

Pulling the TT AND boat in my sig I get 14.5MPG with my 7.3. With my old gas truck I would have to make two trips to get the TT and boat to the lake and not even think of getting over 10MPG with either in tow. The gas truck struggled to keep up 60MPH with the TT one even small hills. It sucked so much gas it made me sick!

I am and forever will be a diesel man!

 

yep really. Granted, it's 2wd and most drives are longer trips on mostly flats. I've seen your videos and show shots of doing 100+ in the ex...
EPA numbers are bunk and can EASILY be beaten. I've beaten them in every car I've owned.

 

*edit* and beating EPA numbers is very possible if you drive like one of those idiots that takes 45mins to get to 50 mph off a light. but thats not what NORMAL people do. again your a 1 in a million case. not the norm. again apples to oranges.

EXACTLY! a 2wd on flat ground at highway speeds!!! you are talking the best possible driving conditions NOT the norm for a in town daily driver...do you not comprehend apples to oranges? apparently not.

Like i said go see what everyone else is getting its not just me. Yes i drive fast occasionally, but do i drive 100mph everywhere? no that's impossible. how much would your average drop if you were in a hilly/mountainous area. 45-50mph speed limits and stop lights every block. i'm pretty damn sure your never going to get close to your 13mpg average..ever. BTW an average is not just 1 or 2 tanks its over a extended period of time and miles.

btw where are your fill up numbers and your awesome average of 13mpg over 10,000 or 20,000 miles? got any data to back up your words? start comparing apples to apples if you want a true comparison.

i have all my fill ups tracked since buying.


my old '00


my old '04

 

How does that fuelly work? Is it just a phone deal or can anyone use it somehow?

 

i started using it online, just in the last 2 months did i get the app on my phone.i still like to update via the computer though as much as possible. very easy to use. go to the site and sign up. quick,easy, simple and makes it very easy to track your mileage,fuel costs, maintenance items..ect

 

Interesting how the diesels seem to either get 15mpg or 18mpg.

2003 Ford Excursion MPG Reports | Fuelly

 

You thinks it's city vs highway primarily being driven? Those are very close to my city vs highway numbers...

 

That would make sense.

 

The diesel oil change should be around 5k, because the engine shears the oil. Rotella T6/filter cost me about $120.00 (15 quarts!) doing it my self. Regular oil would be around $60.00?, i cant remember because i switched to synthetic, because it gets cold in mn.

 

That year do you think the higher numbers are the 7.3?

 

Obviously.