Gears or Upgrade
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 106
From: Southern KS
The 3V V10's are far less reliable than the 2V by design. They suffered insufficient oiling to the heads which caused problems with roller followers for obvious reasons and they suffered the same questionable hydraulic timing chain tensioners which would either blow a seal and/or not work all that well due to low OP anyhow. Insufficient OP.....chains slap......timing chain guides break apart....pieces reside in pan and circulate throughout motor....clog oil pickup.....OP suffers even more and on and on.
The 3V V10 has all the problems of the 3V 5.4 except cam phasers and the phasers really aren't that problematic in the 5.4
An '11+ 6.2 will pull circles around the 3V V10 and get better mileage while doing it. I've used both extensively in the CO mtns with identical loads but my V10 did me the favor of cratering around 155k due to a dropped valve from a failed roller follower
Buy what you want......and good luck if that's a 3V V10. But it's a free country and your money to spend or waste as you choose
The 3V V10 has all the problems of the 3V 5.4 except cam phasers and the phasers really aren't that problematic in the 5.4
An '11+ 6.2 will pull circles around the 3V V10 and get better mileage while doing it. I've used both extensively in the CO mtns with identical loads but my V10 did me the favor of cratering around 155k due to a dropped valve from a failed roller follower
Buy what you want......and good luck if that's a 3V V10. But it's a free country and your money to spend or waste as you choose
It is pretty obvious that you are disgruntled due to a relatively rare failure of your V10.
You seem to rely on emotion rather than logic when forming your opinions and those are the opinions people reading these forums should take with a grain of salt.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,676
Likes: 4,780
From: Itinerant
You are so misinformed it is pathetic. I hate to see this kind of crap spewed on an open forum.
It is pretty obvious that you are disgruntled due to a relatively rare failure of your V10.
You seem to rely on emotion rather than logic when forming your opinions and those are the opinions people reading these forums should take with a grain of salt.
It is pretty obvious that you are disgruntled due to a relatively rare failure of your V10.
You seem to rely on emotion rather than logic when forming your opinions and those are the opinions people reading these forums should take with a grain of salt.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 106
From: Southern KS
The only thing bad about the 4.56 is the highway rpms will be high. If you are running empty and 85 mph it will be noticeable. If you are towing and running more normal speeds it won't be so bad.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 47
From: Eagle River, AK
3-4k per year and mostly towing, sounds like the 4.56 gears are a great option.
Pretty high price to pay for that little of mileage per year, but could likely help save the transmission as well.
EDIT - With the 285/75R16 tires and towing, I think the 4.56's are a great choice.
Pretty high price to pay for that little of mileage per year, but could likely help save the transmission as well.
EDIT - With the 285/75R16 tires and towing, I think the 4.56's are a great choice.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,172
Likes: 1,376
From: Chaz
I would do selectable lockers while in there to get the most out of it. Most people buying a truck with gears like that will put some big off road tires on it. Assuming the truck is clean and worth putting money in..
I am wanting to do this on a 6.2 I have and thought it over. Would only need one though.
I am wanting to do this on a 6.2 I have and thought it over. Would only need one though.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 295
From: Fresno, CA
You are so misinformed it is pathetic. I hate to see this kind of crap spewed on an open forum.
It is pretty obvious that you are disgruntled due to a relatively rare failure of your V10.
You seem to rely on emotion rather than logic when forming your opinions and those are the opinions people reading these forums should take with a grain of salt.
It is pretty obvious that you are disgruntled due to a relatively rare failure of your V10.
You seem to rely on emotion rather than logic when forming your opinions and those are the opinions people reading these forums should take with a grain of salt.
I've watched FordTechMakuloco's videos on the 5.4 V3 Issues and it all seems to stems from poor oil maintenance (10k mile oil changes) and an oiling system which isn't very forgiving. Once you start plugging up oil passage you start having issue with phasers, roller followers, etc. Also the cam chain tensioner design isn't very good with the plastic housing.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 106
From: Southern KS
Can you elaborate on why he isn't informed? We're all here to learn.
I've watched FordTechMakuloco's videos on the 5.4 V3 Issues and it all seems to stems from poor oil maintenance (10k mile oil changes) and an oiling system which isn't very forgiving. Once you start plugging up oil passage you start having issue with phasers, roller followers, etc. Also the cam chain tensioner design isn't very good with the plastic housing.
I've watched FordTechMakuloco's videos on the 5.4 V3 Issues and it all seems to stems from poor oil maintenance (10k mile oil changes) and an oiling system which isn't very forgiving. Once you start plugging up oil passage you start having issue with phasers, roller followers, etc. Also the cam chain tensioner design isn't very good with the plastic housing.
If someone decides to take the risk and deviate from the factory recommended oil change intervals then those particular engines might have issues. Most of the oiling issues that I have read about, with quite a bit of research since I own one, have been on commercial versions that idle for several hours per day. That can be hard on any engine but I could see where this might affect the V10 particularly if the OCI is extended.
As far as comparison to the 6.2, there is a reason they still put the 6.8 in the heavy duty applications until recently. It makes quite a bit more usable torque. Saying the 6.2 will pull circles around the 3V V10 is ignorance at best.
A decently cared for non-commercial V10 will last a long time with proper maintenance. You will only read about the non-commercial failures since those guys are crying the loudest to the online audience.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,172
Likes: 1,376
From: Chaz
3V, 10V, 80V, 2V... doesnt matter he only drives a few thousand miles a year and plans to get a 7.3 gas in a few years. Not like he will miss a bunch of oil changes and mess something up.
The used truck market is nuts right now, I would wait till at least next year before upgrading anything.
The used truck market is nuts right now, I would wait till at least next year before upgrading anything.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 212
Likes: 16
I put 4.10s and a TruTrac on my 2001 V10. Stock tire size. If you go bigger on tires go 4.30 or more.
Still have the Dana 50 in the front. Waiting for the right 60 and I'll move the gears over and put in a elocker.
-Mac
Still have the Dana 50 in the front. Waiting for the right 60 and I'll move the gears over and put in a elocker.
-Mac
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,055
Likes: 1,559
From: Media PA
My 2V V-10 Excursion is our dedicated tow rig for our 12K TT. It came with 3.73 gears and was kind of doggy towing our old 9500lb TH, it would get you wherever you wanted to go but would downshift if you ran over a shadow. I wanted to go to 35" tires eventually and wanted to be in the 4.30 effective ratio, so 4.88s were the answer. I swapped to the 4.88 first while still running 32" tires and stayed that way for 2 years, towed that TH like a locomotive and at 65 MPH the RPMs were 2400. Towing mileage went from 6/7 MPG up to 9 with the deeper gears, unloaded mileage dropped by about 2. With our current 12K TT and Banks header with 5Stars 89 Octane Performance tune loaded we now see 8/9 MPG towing at 65/68 MPH on the highway with very few downshifts, many Interstate Highway grades here in the East can be pulled in OD without dropping a gear. And cruising at 85 MPH unloaded here in the East is a great way to meet the local Police, so the higher revs at those speeds are a non-issue for me. The change to deeper gears has been the single best upgrade to our 6.8 tow rig. 
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,491
Likes: 295
From: Fresno, CA
My 2V V-10 Excursion is our dedicated tow rig for our 12K TT. It came with 3.73 gears and was kind of doggy towing our old 9500lb TH, it would get you wherever you wanted to go but would downshift if you ran over a shadow. I wanted to go to 35" tires eventually and wanted to be in the 4.30 effective ratio, so 4.88s were the answer. I swapped to the 4.88 first while still running 32" tires and stayed that way for 2 years, towed that TH like a locomotive and at 65 MPH the RPMs were 2400. Towing mileage went from 6/7 MPG up to 9 with the deeper gears, unloaded mileage dropped by about 2. With our current 12K TT and Banks header with 5Stars 89 Octane Performance tune loaded we now see 8/9 MPG towing at 65/68 MPH on the highway with very few downshifts, many Interstate Highway grades here in the East can be pulled in OD without dropping a gear. And cruising at 85 MPH unloaded here in the East is a great way to meet the local Police, so the higher revs at those speeds are a non-issue for me. The change to deeper gears has been the single best upgrade to our 6.8 tow rig.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,055
Likes: 1,559
From: Media PA
Yep, '05 EXs got the facelift but kept the same 2V motors and 4R100s along with the front leaf springs.