I am going to buy a 2003 F250 Super Duty 4x4, auto, within the next 2 months. Mostly likely it will be the 'short box' with the super cab/ext cab.

I recently drove a friend's SD (F250, reg cab, short box, 4x4, auto) with the 5.4L V8 and the power was 'nice'. Does a super cab/ext cab F250 add any significant amounts of weight to the truck so that the 5.4L V8 will 'struggle'? I am not that fond of driving a V10 due to my thoughts about gas mileage. Is the 5.4L V8 too 'small' for an F250 SD 4x4 etx. cab truck? I am just thinking about the weight to power to gas mileage ratio issue compared to having a larger cid/higher hp/tq engine, or even the 6.0L diesel.

I will use this truck as my daily driver, camping, hunting, truck. It won't be driven 'that' much, since i have a take home 'company vehicle'. It will also occassionally tow a 3,500 lb boat, haul some landscaping items for my new home, etc. Basically be a general do-it all truck that I will HAVE to keep for a long time.

What kind of gas mileage will the 5.4L V8 get compared to the 6.8L V10 and also compared to the 6.0L V8 Diesel? I have never drove nor owned nor worked on a diesel so I am kind of rather shying away from buying a diesel. I am very open to a diesel, just unsure if I need that much power it offers.

THANKS a ton for any and all info helping me decide which engine I will want/need.

 

Welcome to the site! Some of this is covered in the Super Duty FAQ section:
Click on "Engine and Transmission"
http://www.clubfte.com/users/monsta/SuperDutyFAQ.html

To be honest, if mileage is your main concern, you don't need a SuperDuty. You could do everything you have mentioned with a F150. For that matter, I don't need a SD either, but I wanted one.

As for engine, the diesel will get better mileage but you really pay for it both up front and with higher maintence costs. The 5.4 will get a couple of mpg's better than the 6.8 if both are equipped with the same rear gears... but if you try to boost the V8 with a 4.10 gear, the mileage drops to that of the V10. For the price of the V10, I think you would be happy with the extra power.

Now I will step back and watch the age old diesel vs gas war begin again. Did you do a search of this?

 

You might want to check out the thread labeled "250 V10 or powerstroke" There is 3 pages of info about all the engines.

 

I would not recommend the 6.0 to anyone right now. I know Ford is still having some problems with them. If you buy a truck right now it will most likely have an 03 engine in it not the new 04 which is supposed to have solved some of the probs.

I would go with the V-10 for a measly $600 more. I'd rather have too much than to find out after the fact I had not enough when you're spending that kind of money.

No knock on the 5.4 though. We have them in some of our work rigs and they run great and haven't been any trouble. Just giving you my opinion.

 

Yeah, I really don't think I will be able to afford a diesel right now.
I do have access to an X Plan and will be using it.

I have driven a 5.9L V8 360 1500 Dodge Ram 4x4 auto quad cab. The 5.9L seemed to have enough power, even with the 1/2 ton.

With the 5.4L V8 being a smaller cid engine, 333 cid I believe, I am just debating and unsure how it would perform in a 3/4 ton ext cab 4x4 SD.

The 5.4L V8 I believe is rated @260 hp@4500 rpms compared the the 5.9L V8 being rated @245 hp@4000 rpms. The 5.9L is rated @330 tq@3250 rpms while the 5.4L is rated@3500 tq@2500 rpms.

I know how the 5.9L V8 Dodge engine performed in the 1/2 ton. I have always been a Dodge guy, until now. Super Duties are awesome. Like I said above, I am uncertain how the 5.4L will perform in the SD 3/4 ton. I 'think' the 5.4L will be good for my general needs and uses, but I just would rather know the engine wont be overworked and almost struggling in a 3/4 ton truck.....especially when loaded down towing a boat and when camping and hauling gear.

I guess if the 5.4L seems to be a tad on the sluggish side I 'could' do some performace mods to boost the hp/tq ratings. Then again, the 6.8L V10 engine costs what, like $500-$600 more, and is rated at 50 more hp and 75 more ft lbs of torque. Plus it has a much larger cid, being 415 cid compared to the 333 cid of the 5.4L.

How much more does the V10 weigh than the V8?
How much more does a SD ext cab 3/4 4x4 weigh over a similar 1/2 ton 4x4?

How much more mpg does the 5.4L get over the 6.8L?

Does the 5.4L and the 6.8L respond well to performance mods?

Thanks again. Great list.

 

Like nafzimo said, the FAQ is a good place to start. Then a good amount of searching on the site.

I have a 2000 3/4T Super Cab, 4X4 Short bed, 5.4L with the 4.10 gears. I also have a Diablo chip in my truck. I would not do the 3.73 gears with the 5.4 with the uses you outlined. I would really go with the 6.8L V-10 with either 4.10 or (preferred) the 3.73s. I get a solid 12 mpg almost all the time (empty). Best I ever saw was just a tick under 14. I check my economy every tank and it averages solidy at 12.

From what I have seen here the V-10s get at least that or better (with 3.73s) and still can pull a decent load. If you like to shift your self, the 6-speed ZF sounds like a heck of a tranny to put behind the 6.8L, and might even help the economy of the 5.4L. If I had to do my truck over after 3 years and 9 months and 93562 miles, I would certainly have gone with the V-10.

Now I am looking to upgrade to the F350 Crew Cab 4x4 with that haunted 6.0L. Wish me luck.

Big

 

The 5.4 seems like it would be more than enough for what you want to do. You could even get an F150 as someone posted earlier. Both the V10 and diesel will be overkill and you should only buy one if you "want" one because you don't "need" one. Consider the 5.4 with the 4.10 rear end.

 

If you have to put the 4.10 rear end behind the 5.4, you may as well go with the V10 and have the extra power at hand when needed. The lower gears have already used up any mileage gains over the V8... and it is only $600 more.

 

If you're going to be pulling a 3500-pound trailer, consider one of the larger engines. I felt my 5.4L was more than adequate until we bought a 21' Trail Cruiser (probably ~3500 pounds w/ water & our stuff).

The truck hardly noticed my utility trailer which I often loaded to 2500-2800 pounds, but the extra 1000 pounds and higher profile (more wind resistance) of the Trail Cruiser really slow it down on hills.

In an F150 (which is ~1000 pounds lighter to start with) it might not matter. Have to ask an F-150 owner with a 5.4L and a 3500-pound trailer to find out ........

 

If you are driving a dodge right now with a 360 you will probably get better mileage with a v10. I know my friend has a 01 Dodge little half ton and my sister in law has a tahoe with a 350 and I get better then those two. Get the v10 you will not regret.

 

LPD111,
I have the 5.4 as you can see from sig below. I tow a 14 enclosed trailer with three quads and all of my camping gear and it does the job fine however, if I would of waited I would have gotten the PSD. In your case you say the PSD is not in your immediate budget, so I would reccomend spending the $600 bucks and go for the V10 and rest assure it will have enough power to do all of your towing needs. Beside the MPG is only about 2mpg+/-.
Just $.02 from a 5.4 owner.
Manny

 

Prior to buying the 2001 F250 Superduty diesel, I owned a 1994 F250 HD with the 5.8 Litre V8 gas engine. I don't remember the axle ratio, but I'm thinking it was the equivellant to the 3:73 in 1994. Both trucks were 4x4, standard cab, 8' bed. I was VERY happy with the power and fuel economy of the 5.8. It's my understanding that the 5.4 is more powerful than the 5.8 was. I didn't pull trailers very often, but I loaded the bed regularly. I think if I hadn't bought the diesel I would have gotten the 5.4 Liter just for the fuel economy. If gas gets any more expensive, this will become much more of an issue.

 

I have 3 5.8L (1990, 2-1997) and a 7.3PSD (2002). Friends have 5.4L and uncle has 7.3L and v10. Of course second hand information is only as reliable as the sources so I can not guarantee you same or similar results. As all of Fords new OHC engines, they are very reliable if serviced properly and make more power than the OHV engines prior to them. Their power is at higher rpm so I would prefer lower gears. I love my 5.8Ls. 5.4 gets better mileage though especially in 1/2T and RC SuperDuty. Any full size HD chassis 4x4 will cost a lot for fuel. The PSD is very powerful and efficient. My trucks are all RC though. My uncle has SC F350 4x4 DRW 7.3 and SC F250 4x2 V10. He likes both but prefers to pull 24' horse trailer with the V10. It gets 10-12 depending on loaded or empty. Diesel only gets 13 but it is DRW 4x4. I don't want a debate either because it all depends on preference, experience and availability of cash up front. New F150 is supposed to be awesome. Also 5.4 has more valves 3 vs. 2 per cylinder. You said that you would not drive a lot with the truck so mileage isn't a major expense. I would prefer the cheapest if it sit still alot. V10 3.73 vs. V8 4.10 will be close in mileage empty. Loaded will depend on how much. V10 4.30 will pull as much as diesel but will drink a lot more. I can not say if you'd be satisfied with the V8 power but you can test drive one. It should compare well with the Dodge. I am looking for 5.4 F250 4x4 RC MT now. And I pull 10-12K once a month. If I drove the truck less per week (1000 mi) and pulled more often, I'd go with the V10. I prefer the gas trucks in mud because less weight and rev higher/quicker. If I pulled real often, drove a lot of Hwy miles, or pulled uphill then I'd go with a diesel. Just my opinion though. One friend w/ 5.4L 6sp, 3.73 RC 4x4 gets ~17 mpg in town empty w/ stock size AT tires. I can't beat that with a smaller truck. Good luck.

 

Big truck BIG engine!!
What dont you understand??
First rule always go bigger cause if you dont and someday you will need more you will say I should have gotton that V-10.

JMHO

twinbulls

 

Well, I guess I could chime in here. I am very happy with my truck. I ordered it, so I could have got the V10. I chose the V8 with the 4.10 and 6 speed and it works great for me. Gas mileage was not an issue when deciding between the two, it came down to the V8 sounding better and not like a sewing machine.
The $600 (more like $500) is a bargain for the V10 and it might work great for you, but from what it sounds like the 5.4 will work great too.

This debate will go on forever. Go drive some trucks and see for yourself. All 3 engines have thier place, each one seems to fit the needs better than others.

Food for thought...the 5.4 V8 is hardly a dog. I am not sure where that myth came from. My last tank I got 15.8 mpg in combined city/hwy. Good luck with whatever you choose, you can't go wrong with either engine.