Did I choose correctly?
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Spokane, WA
Did I choose correctly?
Just purchased an 04 F250 with the V10. Obviously mileage is a big concern, truck is a daily driver 70+ miles a week short trips, with minimal towing (23' camper or 14' ATV trailer). From what I've read a diesel is more expensive for maintenance and doesn't like short trips. Is the V10 the best choice? Thanks gang.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 7,460
Likes: 85
From: Kent Station, WA
Welcome to the club. Any plans for the new truck yet? SPD Y pipe or headers may be something to look into. The factory pipe is necked down. Check out 5star tunings website for a detailed picture. Pretty sure its they show in the install picture.
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Spokane, WA
Upgrades
Its a Harley Davidson edition on 325/65r18 Cooper m/t. Stock pipes have a nice sound and tires are already upgraded. Just planning on some astetic upgrades and maybe a tune for any help in the mileage department.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,113
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
The v10 will do excellent for what you describe, I make numerous 1-2mile trips a day on the farm loaded and unloaded a day and an occasional long-run way overloaded with my 06 3v v10, it's been almost flawless for the five years I've owned it. Dad has a 00 v10 with 155,000miles and has driven the same way and it still runs and drives like new with good maintenance, it dose use a quart of oil in 3000miles but has done that for the last 50k and hasn't gotten worse.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,653
Likes: 4,737
From: Itinerant
Don't fall into the diesel/ V10 BS. Don't look back and second guess yourself, you bought the V10 and it's a great engine true work horses. If you have any other question on the truck/ engine ask away a lot of good guys here with some experience and even some without that will give you some advise. 
Welcome to the board.
Welcome to the board.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
My particular take on all this diesel vs gasser BS is are you (buyer) working daily in a diesel engine servicing job or have fairly extensive past experience with that fuel type? If not then the gassers tend to be "easier" to own and maintain for most of us.
While I'm sure diesel's have their place and use, where nothing else is so well suited a DD for the average or "normal" user doesn't seem to be one.
MPG's are a natural concern with with Mike's 5 Star Tune's that can be maximized if his programs are of any interest. While in theory he can increase the MPG's he's better at installing a BSEG or so I understand.
While I'm sure diesel's have their place and use, where nothing else is so well suited a DD for the average or "normal" user doesn't seem to be one.
MPG's are a natural concern with with Mike's 5 Star Tune's that can be maximized if his programs are of any interest. While in theory he can increase the MPG's he's better at installing a BSEG or so I understand.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
Mine has been doing exactly what yours will be doing without a problem for a couple years or more now.
There isn't going to be a 20mpg mod, and all the other big gasser trucks get about the same, so just add in some gas money to your budget and carry on.
I have to drive a little over 2x what you do , I have a 30mpg Protege ( no, i wont call her a beater..
that i use for most of that.
There isn't going to be a 20mpg mod, and all the other big gasser trucks get about the same, so just add in some gas money to your budget and carry on.
I have to drive a little over 2x what you do , I have a 30mpg Protege ( no, i wont call her a beater..
that i use for most of that.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
For what my V10 has been doing over the past 12 years, a diesel would have already croaked.
Not because a diesel can't live long, but that my V10 has been through a few phases in it's life.
Lots of stop-and-go and short trips, averaging about 2 miles a day (yeah, 2 miles). Was lucky it got up to operating temp before I shut it down.
A bunch of stop-and-go commuting 44 miles round trip to work.
Now back to lots of small trips, or sitting for MONTHS at a time.
For me, and many others, it works out in the end. It's been FLAWLESS except for broken exhaust studs which just gave me a good excuse to put headers on it
Oh, and I"m not even up to 60K miles yet ... and I got it new in June 2002. So we're coming up on 13 years in a few months...
Not because a diesel can't live long, but that my V10 has been through a few phases in it's life.
Lots of stop-and-go and short trips, averaging about 2 miles a day (yeah, 2 miles). Was lucky it got up to operating temp before I shut it down.
A bunch of stop-and-go commuting 44 miles round trip to work.
Now back to lots of small trips, or sitting for MONTHS at a time.
For me, and many others, it works out in the end. It's been FLAWLESS except for broken exhaust studs which just gave me a good excuse to put headers on it
Oh, and I"m not even up to 60K miles yet ... and I got it new in June 2002. So we're coming up on 13 years in a few months...
Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
I bought my 1999 V10 in 2005. At the time of purchase, I tried really hard to justify the getting a diesel but "settled" for the V10. Since then, having watched friends wrestle with the maintenance on their diesels compared to the simple reliability of the V10, I'm very happy with my truck.
I typically average 13mpg per tank (hand calculated) and an oil change costs about $35. When I bought the truck, it had 60K miles and it currently has 150K.
Like others who have posted, towing isn't a regular task for me so I wouldn't get the true long term benefits of the diesel. Besides, stock V10 and stock diesels are rated for the same towing capacity by Ford.
I typically average 13mpg per tank (hand calculated) and an oil change costs about $35. When I bought the truck, it had 60K miles and it currently has 150K.
Like others who have posted, towing isn't a regular task for me so I wouldn't get the true long term benefits of the diesel. Besides, stock V10 and stock diesels are rated for the same towing capacity by Ford.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
I bought my 1999 V10 in 2005. At the time of purchase, I tried really hard to justify the getting a diesel but "settled" for the V10. Since then, having watched friends wrestle with the maintenance on their diesels compared to the simple reliability of the V10, I'm very happy with my truck.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,955
Likes: 50
From: Mesa
Those big tires will not help with power or mpg. Roughly 34.6" diameter. Stock is 31.6". If you're truck has 3.73's then you would need 4.10 gears to get back to stock. Also if your speedo says 65 your are actually doing 71 unless the speedo has been reset for the larger tires.