Ok guys and gals I need your opinions badly. It is time to upgrade my truck and I am torn between the old gas versus diesel dilema. First of all, I now have the V-10 and have had no troubles and absolutely love everything but the gas mileage. My new job has me on the road more than usual and I have aquired around 25,000 miles since Christmas. Here is my question, with this many miles a year and soon to be more will I be better with the diesel. I am considering it for the mileage and the longevity. I am just concerned with the excess mileage on the V-10. How long will they last compared to the diesel? And before you ask, I only haul a 24ft pontoon boat or a 135 Massey Ferguson tractor on a 20ft trailer. The tractor isn't an everyday thing but the pontoon is usually every weekend. Ok now it is your turn! Let me know what you think and don't hold back!!

Thanks
Scott

 

Personally, I would buy a disposable car. Something small that gets good gas mileage and keep the truck for weekend warrior use.

2000 F350SDXLT,SRW,RC,5spd man,V10, Front Leveling Kit,4.30 gears, 285/75/16 Wild Country

 

Now come on, could you go all week without driving your truck? Actually I thought of that and I still need a truck for work to haul tools and wire. Not to mention I couldn't fathom driving a Ranger or something small after getting use to a SUPERDUTY!

Thanks
Scott

 

You may be in the first group of people to find out how long they last considering it's a 1999. My mom had a 65 mustang with a 289 V-8 and it had 265K when she sold it with only one lifter replaced. My guess is that the V10 should be expected to go short of 200K or better if it is not abused.

I don't think that you can save money by buying another truck just for mileage and longevity but it sure would "justify" buying another one if you really wanted to. Wait another year and and see how the 6.0L performs, then get a long bed and you will only have to fill up the big tank half as often as short bed, V10 with 4.30s.

 

Well I was in the same boat as you a week or so ago with a.......
1999 F-250 4x4 SuperDuty
SuperCab LongBed V10 XLT

I loved the V10 but didn't like the fuel mileage, especially when pulling the 26' 5th wheel at anything above 60 MPH. Then engine was flawless and great power with 72,000 miles when I sold it to upgrade to a.........
2002 F-250 4x4 SuperDuty
Crew Cab Short Bed 7.3 Diesel XLT

Well I was told the majic economic justification for a diesel was 36,000 miles or more a year based on mileage improvements, service cost and resale value.(this was the story to the wife!!) I was a little below that level but decided to pull the trigger on the diesel anyway and all I can say is WOW!!!!
I often wondered what all those diesel guys where getting all excited about but now I know. Every day I drive it I like it even more. Today was the second refill and I hit 17MPG for the second tank, and they say it gets better after break in!! All that power and better fuel economy???? It is almost too good to be true. Now I can't wait to get that trailer hauling up the nearest grade this weekend!!!!
It is well worth the extra cost to me and I actually like the rumble down the road in the diesel!

Good Luck!
Sldhd

 

Do the 2002 PSD, still have that nice Turbo whine,??My 99' sound's great, and it is stock, Hmm, I bet that extra 80 HP, superchip, would be a nice addition to the truck,,have'nt done it yet,,!

I know a guy that sell's them,,he said he would put it in and let me try it,,if I did'nt want it he would remove it, no charge,,HHMMM,,sounds like a way to tease me out of $400.00 buck's or so,, .

99' F-350 PSD,,,,,, ,,,Later,,,,Mark

 

Why don't you buy a used diesel? That way you can avoid the high initial investment of a diesel but you'll enjoy the benefits of better mileage and can drive it longer than you would the V10. Someone suggested in an above post that you buy a small car for every day driving and I just can't agree with that. I drive about 40,000 miles a year and riding in small cars makes my back hurt. I like to sit up straight in my truck rather than reclining in a smaller car.

 

Ok, here is an update. I have found an '01 F-250 Supercab XLT with a 7.3 and a 6 speed. There is 21,000 miles on it and completely stock. I can trade for $9000 difference. I will be trading the one in my signature after I put it back to stock condition. This means that I am keeping my lift, wheels, tires, alarm, etc. Does this sound like a good deal? Oh yeah, I am going from a white truck to a black truck.

Thanks
Scott

 

dont sound like a bad deal at all. but white from white to black?


-nathan

 

I know not the best color choice! Black is beautiful when it is clean but thats alot of work for 15 minutes of enjoyment

Scott

 

Well let's look at this one.

The Diesel will last 300,000+, and the gas will go over 200,000 as posted on this site. Both points are usually irrelevant, cuzz 99% of us NEVER keep a rig that long. The little "drive you nuts stuff" starts falling off the trucks before the motor wears out.

I think you're smart looking at the tried and true 7.3 if you decide on a diesel rather than a new release design in the first model year.

If you're going to drive high mileage, the 5.4 will get you 14-16 mpg highway (heck my v10 gets 14 highway) and at a lot less initial and maintenance cost than a diesel, especially since you don't haul much. You'll save lots of $ over a new diesel to buy gas for all your rigs.

I'd be the first to say "get the diesel" if you were hauling trailers all over the place, but for just highway driving, they cost too much to own and operate.

I guess to sum it up, when I was having dinner with a Master Mechanic for CAT, I asked him what diesel pickup he drove. He answered "a 5.4 litre gasser". I asked him why not a Cummins or PSD? He said "too much money to buy, maintain, and fix when something goes wrong".

Just my humble opinion as always Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

Thanks for the opinion Outpost. Maybe I should elaborate on why I am considering the diesel. The reason I am looking at the diesel is because I am getting 10-11 mpg with my V-10 and I am averaging 25,000+ miles a year. I am at 60,000 now so in 2 years I will be around 110,000. How long will the V-10 last at this mileage, 4 more years? Now the diesel will give me better gas mileage and last me longer right? Yes the maintenance is more but will it be more than what I am gaining from longevity and mileage? I'm not dead set on the diesel yet. One thing that I noticed while test driving is that my V-10 will get there quicker than the diesel. I know these aren't RACE trucks but I do like the 10 for its quickness. I still need help so keep the opinions coming!

Scott

 

Well guys and gals, I bit the bullet and bought an '01 F-250 Supercab Diesel with 6 speed. I bought it Friday and have since then removed everything off of my V-10 and have placed them on the Diesel. I haven't even had time to enjoy it yet. It has been a long time since I have driven a stick and it is going to take some getting use to. I have noticed one thing that makes the trade worth it and that is no more SQUEAKING springs I do have a couple of questions though, does the '01 have a Dana 50 or 60 front and does the Diesel weigh more than the V-10?

Thanks
Scott

 

Scott,

The 01 comes with the Dana 50, and I beleive the diesel does way more.

 

The diesel weighs a LOT more...I think its 800 lbs more