Considering your choices, you can not go wrong... because I am so very happy with my V10 choice I will be in the group that is telling you to get the bigger motor. Because you have a daily driver and won't be using the Super Duty for getting to work every day...go with the V10 as the fuel costs are worth the power to haul that boat to the good spots!

A benefit of the V10 over the V8... V10 Super Duties have their own very unique coolness!

Good luck with your new Ford Truck. They are awesome!

 

I use my F250 as a daily driver and LOVE the V10. I especially like to see the face of drivers when I haul past them up hills. The engine does not even work. I just wish it did not sound like a modified V6.

 

I drive my Superduty every day, it's my only vehicle. It's the fourth F250 I've bought, the first was a 1983. I bought them all new. I got the 7.3 liter diesel on this one and I'm very happy with it. I will say I was very happy with all the others and they were gas engines. The only downside to the diesel is initial cost is considerably higher. Oil changes are higher, I think the diesel takes 14 quarts and the air filter is more. Mileage will be better, but if you don't drive enough miles you won't recoup your extra money spent on the engine. If you tow a trailer, I recommend the diesel, otherwise I wouldn't be afraid to go with the 5.4 Liter. Don't get to caught up in the engine, there all fine, it's the truck that your buying!! Good luck

 

And now that (in the North East) desiel is the same cost as gas. So there is no savings there.

 

FWIW, I have a 03' CC 4/4 with the 5.4 and 3.73 rear end. I really wanted the diesel but just could not justify it. I live less than a mile from the office and use as my daily driver. I was told if you don't give the diesel time enough to "warm up" it could cause problems? We do travel about 240 miles round trip every weekend from April to Oct. to the lake. We store our boat ther so I only tow about 5 miles to the water every weekend. We did go to Missouri this past June and towed the boat (6000lbs) 1500 miles round trip. I could not have been more satisfied with the performance of the truck. It honestly exceeded my expectations. Hit some major inclines and although I did take the OD off several times, it never "bogged down" from 70-75 mph. Average mpg for the whole trip was 10.8 if I remember correctly, it was just shy of 11 I know. This was at speeds from 70-80 mph consistantly.

I am getting just shy of 12 now average but I did put bigger tires (285's) on it so I imagine that hurt some.

Unless your just driving a lot daily and towing consistantly, I think you'll be very pleased with the 5.4. Get the SD though, can't beat the looks of them!!

Sorry for the long post but hoping this will help.

Good luck!!

http://www.teamcrownline.com/albums/...13eb3158152d81

 

LPD the 5.4 is all the engine you need as a daily driver and hauling some stuff. Don't compare it for a minute with the old gas guzzeling 351 or Dodge 360 with more cubes as this engine has more ***** and about 3 or 4 mpg better gas mileage. Big states he's getting a solid 12mpg empty? He's got a problem! I'm getting just about 15 with a ton in the back in traffic? Unless your hauling a trailer or racing at every stop light the 5.4 is enough engine. As was stated up here in the NE diesel right now is on par with reg, normally it's 25 cents more. A V10 has more power for sure, but I'd lose at least 3mpg which equates to well over a hundred miles to a tank? I drive 30K a year and can't afford to run a diesel or V10. Right now a V10 would cost me more than $600 a year in gas just to go faster? A diesel, just triple that without the thought of buying it or maintinence. I'm real happy with my 5.4 the second time around and will buy another. Trimman

 

ditto on trimman's comments.
Mine suits me just fine and I haul my 3,000 lb boat all over the Adirondack Mts fishing.

Rich

 

Hey Forty, email me.Yours is disabled. trimman

 

Just to add a note, 2004 F150's 5.4 has 3 valves and 300 hp. Don't know about SD models yet. Not that I think they need more power or torque. Ford got trucks to suit everybody with an open mind.

Trimman, Bigs got a Diablo chip and 4.10 auto in SC form. I'm not a fan of chips myself. I do like the 4.10 but prefer 5 or 6 speed. If someone changes tire sizes and doesn't recalibrate their speedo, the mileage, mph, and MPG will be off. Don't know BIGs tire size though and certainly don't mean to disrespect anybody. 10 years ago I couldn't get 10mpg in a Pinto. I drive much more sensible now and completely sober. By the way, the tech articles are good.

 

Tim, I guess I should have mentioned mine is an 02 250 5.4 6 speed 4.10 gears, factory 265's manual hubs,regular cab, 8ft bed. Mileage is for real and not conjecture as I fillup at the end of the week of driving 500 plus miles. Same thing with my old 99 5.4 5 speed with 4.10's. I guess it's time for a truck signature? trimman

 

Trimman, I wasn't contradicting you. Just explaining why his (BIGs)mileage could be so low. I just recal. my '97 F350 speedo and it was easy. Don't know if SuperDuty is similar though. My friend has 2002 5.4L, 6 speed, 3.73LS in RC 4x4 and gets over 17 according to him. 265 tires was stock on his.

 

Tim et al.,
I run 285 75R16s on my truck on the stock rims. They are Bridgestone Deuler Revo 694s. Other than the Diablo chip, I am stock. I do have prolly 500 lbs of tools and straps I haul. That might even be high. I keep the tires at 65 lbs all around and don't mind the ride that much. I was doing a (construction) job about 55 miles away for about 3 months and drove US 24 back and forth. Speed there is 50-60, and I didn't do much passing at all. I thought I would pick up some mileage but did not. Stayed right at 12-12.5.

Not sure what else I could do to up the mileage other than drive like a bluehair. I am still pretty happy with my truck for the way I use it (very little hauling--now).

Big

on edit I reread trimman's(I think) post and just wanted to clarify that I don't think I drive the truck that hard. I do prolly 50% 50% city/highway and don't go over 75 mph. It is very rare that I really get into the gas at a stop light or getting on the interstate. I used to a long time ago but not now. Mileage never really changed anyway, although I could get it to go down if I wanted to

 

I never intended to make anyone mad. My only points were 1) Chips can decrease gas mileage and 2) Oversize tires warrant a speedo recalibration to make the mileage numbers accurate. I went from 215/85/16 to 235/85/16 and revs/mile changed from 687 to 650. So without calibrating I was losing 6%. That's not much but my sizes were very similar. Tire ht. change was only ~1". Rev/mi for 265/75/16 (K-S MSR) are 651 and 628 for same tire in 285/75/16. So you are off about 5%. It's nothing to pick about 12 mpg to 12.44 est. I'd have to go to Bridgestone site to get more accurate. It took me less than 5 min. to recal. my truck. I'd be happy if my F350 got 12 mpg all the time w/ 5.8L MT. Some trucks have to work and if it's earning me money then I just buy more fuel. I apologize to everyone here for deviating from the subject. Every day is good but I'm not always.

 

Tim Ervin, you didn't offend me. I am just adding my two bits to the conversation. I know all of our info here is anecdotal, but when taken as a whole, I think we see that our info averages out and we can see trends (like in the fuel economy). I think the info about fuel economy is 'on topic' for this thread. It answers one of the questions that LPD111 posted in the opener. I think this is a good thread. Keep it up!

Big

 

Tim I'm not mad at all, whatever gave you that idea? To clarify further my truck is a work truck. Bottom line is cost per mile is my objective as with other tools of my trade. The 5.4 does this real well, almost too good! Discussions are what make this place tick. sorry if you misunderstood my intent. trimman