Hey guys. I just bought a 2008 f350 v10 with 102,000 on it. I drove it for about 2 1/2-3 months and it spun a rod bearing on the first cylinder with 105,000 on it. Now that I’m having problems I’ve got talking to some people that have been around v10s and they have said that the v10s have a lot of lower end problems and other problems for that matter. My options are to rebuild it or buy a reman block, or swap a 12v Cummins in it that I have laying around. But my question is are the 2008 v10 very reliable or do they have a lot of problems? They are wanting $6,800 for a new low end at my local ford dealer. Is it worth spending that much or for close to the same amount I could swap over a Cummins. How well are the v10 made to hold up? The truck looks to be in pretty nice shape and I thought with that low of miles it would last along time, but I didn’t have much luck on that. I’m planning on keeping this truck for a very long time. Thanks

 

I've had good service from mine. 135k, lots of towing. Not a lot of known v10 issues. What type of maintenance history on the truck? If you want a Cummins swap, a 6.4 probably a better donor.

 

I've never heard of these "lower end problems". It's just a 5.4 Triton with 2 more cylinders, so if the v10 had common rotating assembly issues, so would the 5.4, I've never heard of such.

Sounds like you caught a case of bad luck. The logical thing would be install a long block & be done with it for a few hundred thousand miles. Just my opinion

 

I have a 2002 F250 V10. She has just under 300,000 miles on her and she pulls better than my buddy's built and tuned 7.3. A V10 will last you forever if you treat them right.

 

A 2V like your '02, yes. A 3V, no.

OP, if you've got the time -- and more importantly, the willingness -- to do a 12V CTD swap you'd be way ahead.

The 3V's have valvetrain problems and oiling problems, esp at idle.

Just a smattering, here's talk of a recall for camshaft roller followers and the 4th post speaks of a fleet of bucket trucks with an 81% failure rate (I'd imagine bucket trucks idle A LOT)
https://www.towforce.net/topic/3581-...recall-notice/

That coulda been a fleetguy48138 from our very forum:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-failures.html

Read this,note it doesn't get good until page 2 (post #12 and later)
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/tow4...e-t138129.html

The internet legend of "81% failure rate in bucket trucks" apparently made it to an RV forum, where all the gray hairs got scared that their 3V V10's might suck (here's the answer: they do) and just attacked the OP saying motorhome use is nothing like bucket truck use, which uses logic that mostly escapes me, but hey, whatever.
81% Failure rate on 2013 V10! - iRV2 Forums

My buddy with an '07 now goes so far as to shut his down in drive-thrus and such after my '08 dropped a valve at 157k mi and effectively destroyed the whole engine. The same buddy with an '07 did his entire timing set as PM just 'cause after my failure.

I'd be real hesitant to put $6800 into the bottom end without a warranty, but even then they're not going to warranty the top and that's what you REALLY need. So I'd do a full Ford long block installed by [whatever shop or dealer] will get you a full engine warranty, or go the better (but steeper learning curve) route of a CTD.

It's a bummer 'cause the '08-10 chassis is great but not a single motor is worth fixing, not the 5.4 (nor does it have any business in a 3/4 ton+), not the V10 and not the 6.4. Way to go Ford.

I know all the Ford lovers are gonna flame me yet again but no one can argue the 3V V10 is awesome with a straight face. If you have it and it's working, fine.... leave it....path of least resistance, I get it. But it's not worth any investement of time or money if it has major problems. I know, I'm a jerk, a loser, an idiot, a "plague guy." Yep, sure.

 

I'm in the same boat as suggesting you spend the $6800 on a Ford remanned engine and be done with it. At least you will have a two year warranty with that. I have a hard time believing you will be able do a Cummins swap for close to the same amount, considering you would be into fuel lines, along with fuel delivery system, then electronics as well as mechanical fabrication to make it all happen, only to end up with a truck that will have electrical Gremlins to contend with for the rest of the truck's service life. At least with a Ford reman, it's just a straight up long block swap with far less headaches.

 

You can get a good aftermarket engine with a better warranty. I would look around or get a junkyard engine and have it checked and maybe it will go 200k or more. better oil pump and a few parts may make it last...
Do some research about fixing the weaknesses.

 

I think the failure rates were increased in years over 2013+ IIRC. Haven't seen too many complaints from anything under that if it was treated properly.

The biggest concern with these engines is oil. Don't let them run low, don't run it longer than you should.

Cam followers were an issue and have been revised. I recently replaced all of mine when one failed and chewed my driver side cam up. Though I bought mine with 141k on it.