I sold my 1996 F-250 (5.8) a while back, bought a 1996 Ranger 4x4
XLT. Realized that the Ranger is hurtin' for space! Now I decided I need a new F-250. Looking at a 4x4 again, but don't know what engine I should get. I need it to tow either a trailer or a fifth wheel, as it will be a light commuting truck and a vacation hauler. My question is which engine is best for what I need it for? For some reason deisel costs more than super grade gas around here. Where I've traveled it's cheaper than regular unleaded. Don't know why.
Is it worth it springing for the deisel if deisel costs more here? Or should I go with the V-10? Are there any problems with maintaining a deisel? I was also wondering if it's easy to find while traveling in the middle of the night as we often do.
Thanks for any help.

 

The 460 is a real strong engine....more than most people need. About the diesel....are you saving the amount in fuel cost that you will be paying to swap engine's?? Most freeway driving at night you will have no problem getting fuel for a diesel...just go to the truck stops...most are open 24 hrs. Hope this helps you a little.

 

Diesel costs a lot more where I live too. I drive a 1997 PSD everyday for work, but my personal truck is a V10. People will argue the gas/diesel thing with as much passion as the Ford/Chevy thing. For me, the V10 was more cost effective. After factoring in $75.00 oil changes,and the higher cost of fuel, I figured it would take over 180,000 miles to even out the cost. That would take me almost 10 years of driving. I think there is definately a place for the diesel engine, but it's not in my garage.

 

I guess I'm leaning toward the V-10. At least I can guarantee fuel. That expensive oil change for the deisel sounds like a real rip-off. Why so much? By the way, Yellowstone. Where are you from? I'm in the Santa Barbara, California area. I can drive thirty miles and get deisel for much less than here. Are the dealers selling it for a higher price because they don't sell so much of it? Don't want stale fuel, that's for sure!
Dangme

 

What will you be towing and where? Towing a big load in the high mountains would be better with the PSD. All other scenarios I would go with the V10. As far as the oil change thing, the PSD takes 15 QUARTS and a $10 oil filter (at Walmart), while the Triton V10 takes only 6 quarts and a $3 oil filter (Walmart again, both filters by Motorcraft). The diesel also has a fuel filter which needs (or should) be changed much more often. Diesel fuel often has a higher price (outside of truck stops) because of less frequent turnover of the tank stock. It's nothing for a filling station to sell 10,000 gallons of gas per week, especially with all the SUV's running around, but rarely sell 1500-2000 gallons of diesel. There's also usually less competition. In my town here in MI out of six stations, only two sell diesel. Consequently the diesel is 20-25 cents higher than gasoline. By the way, I love my V10.

 

Dangme, diesel costs more in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties because they are included in the 'South Coast Air Basin' along with the rest of the LA area.

All diesel sold in this area has to meet a lower sulfur requirement. The extra refining step to desulfurize the diesel increases the cost. That's why you can find it cheaper in Santa Maria/SLO County.

You needn't worry about diesel availability on cross country trips. I made a trip to MI a few years back in a diesel. Basically following the old 'Route 66'. Every little town or fuel stop had an abundance of diesel fuel pumps. Even way out in the middle of nowhere.

But you should try to best determine what kind of load you be pulling, how far, how often, to make the V-10 vs PSD decision. The PSD has advantages in power, longevity, and economy, but the added cost makes the payout only if you use it a lot. For only an extra $600, the V-10 option is a good value.

 

To answer your question, I live in PHX., AZ. I'm not sure exactly why diesel costs more here. It seems to me it was'nt that long ago and diesel was cheaper than gasoline. Perhaps as Blackbeauty mentioned it is because of less turnover. I drive my PSD work truck about 45000 miles per year all over AZ, from Yuma to Flagstaff and everywhere in between, and never have a problem finding diesel out on the highway. In town however is sometimes more difficult.

 

I'd have to say diesel. I live a few miles west of Shreveport, LA, about 8 miles from Texas. I-20 crosses through here so there's quite a few high volume truck stops in the area. Needless to say, diesel is cheaper for me. Gas is higher usually. The diesel where I get it is running about 1.19 to 1.21 a gallon. On my way down to Houston Friday night, I found some for 1.17! On the way back up Sunday, I made me a stop there! With only about 1500-1600 miles on my F-250, I'm getting between 17-20 mpg, normal driving, some boost in there, mix of city and highway. This is my first diesel - I'm never going back to gas!

Except to refuel my '74 Bronco...

 

Really if you tow a lot the PSD is the no brainer decision (and I have a v10). But the extra cost up front and the other items people mentioned must be factored in.

Another one is if you live in the cold you may want to plug in the block heater at night. I remember reading somewhere that this useds 1200 watts of juice. Picture your sife leaving her blow dryer on HOT all night long. Pretty good deal for the power company.

Rob

 

I just got a used PSD (2000 f-250 2wd) for work. my 2001 2500 Ram gets about 15 mpg empty and 10 loaded,most of my time is loaded,as for the Ford it is getting around 19 average loaded. diesel around here is $1.15 and reg. unleaded is $1.07. I'm saving almost $30.00 a week in fuel. $120.00 month minus the $35.00 oil change each month I'm still way ahead. plus you have to figure engine overhauls in too average 300,000 miles for a diesel or 150,000 or so for a gasser.if you are buying new the extra for diesel is a little hard to justify but it is a little nicer in my opinion. just my $.02

 

500,000 mile expectant life on a diesel Power Stroke. That's absolutely wonderful...if only there was a truck where everything else would last that long. The days of STEEL trucks are gone. $4,700. could go a long way in fuel and maintanace cost. The engine is the main item in a vehicle, but only a fraction of the vehicle. The rest of it will break at the same rate, and cost just as expensive, PSD or gasoline. That's what made my decision to go for the V10. Hope that helps!

 

The 460 is no longer available, it was cancelled in, I believe, '98 when the V-10 came out.

-Rich

 

Dangme,

First problem is you either have to buy a communting truck or a hauling truck, there is no in bewteen. If you want to haul a load up any kind of grade, your best option is the PSD. It is arguable that the maintenance costs are higher for the PSD, but maintenance intervals are also further apart. You get a longer warranty from Navistar on the engine than what Ford gives on the V-10. If you are pulling a heavy load through the mountains, you can add an exhaust brake as to not burn out your service brakes on the truck, these are even great for around town driving. The toque increase of the PSD alone is worth it, you'll never have to slow down to climb a hill again. Also, the PSD has a much higher resale value due to engine lifespan. It's your call, but if you want to pull a trailer, I recommend the PSD.

Now on to another question you raised. You're looking at an F250 4x4, I would assume XLT CC. This truck weighs in around 6,400 lbs wet but empty. Add a driver and three passengers and your now up to 7,000 lbs. Now add your tools, generator, and firewood and you're up to about 7,500 lbs. This only leaves 1,300 lbs available for pin weight on a 5ver. Try and find a 5ver over 24' long with a pin weight of 1,300 lbs, you won't. The numbers Ford publishes in their towing guide are a pipe dream. Those numbers are for F250 V-10 Reg cab, XL 4x4. Start adding options and the weight of the truck goes up and it's hauling capacity goes down.

With the F250's your limiting factor is your GVWR, not your GCWR. You will exceed your trucks GVWR before you exceed your trucks GCWR. Be forewarned, RV and truck salesman will tell you whatever it takes to get you to buy whatever it is they are trying to sell you. Trust me on this, been there done that. I was sold a 5ver that was too big for my truck, but the RV salesman swore up and down that it was within my weight restrictions. Buyer beware!

Just some food for thought from someone who has already been down that road, and doesn't want to see other fellow RVers take the same wrong turn.

-Rich

 

Hi Rich,
I must respectfully disagree on the issue of gas versus diesel. Whether PSD or V10, each engine has its own plus' and minus'.
The PSD does have more torque but power is equated to both torque and horsepower; torque gets the load moving and horsepower gets the load moving at speed over a given distance. Therefore, if one considers the V10 and 4.30 gears, the gears alone give a tremendous gearing advantage which translates into more power. I agree that if the PSD and the V10 both had the same gearing(3.73) the PSD would have the advantage. However, the V10 with 4.30 gears makes it and the PSD pretty much equal as the set towing limits suggest.

The PSD, at very high altitude, will have an avantage not because of the engine's dynamics but rather the turbo. Again, gearing will make a huge difference in the hills. I have driven both the PSD and V10; I bought the V10 with 4.30 gears. Several factors weighed in on my final decision. The PSD, which is an excellent engine, does cost more to maintain and the turbo takes a long time to spool up. If you calculate it out, it would take @ 180 000 miles of towing a heavy load to amortize the added expense of the PSD. I can buy alot of gas for $4500. Moreover, the diesel can have geling problems(cold weather), long warm up times(wait to start), plugging the diesel in when the weather turns cold(which uses several hundred watts of energy for the block heater@1000 watts- try that one for a few months and see what your energy bill will be), difficulty finding fuel in remote areas, short commutes is really hard on a diesel, and of course, the expense to repair a diesel that is out of warranty.

Resale is another issue. If the PSD costs @ $4500 more at purchase, one would hope that the resale value would be at least $4500 more than the V10. But, if you keep the truck the 10 years that some people claim, a 10 year old truck is still a 10 year old truck.

Either engine is quite durable, and would be an excellent choice. As they say, "Different strokes for different folks."

Cheers!
Tim

 

Tim,

I'm not here to argue or convince anyone that the PSD is better, because both engines have there place in this world. However, when pulling a heavy load, the PSD wins hands down, I've seen it first hand.

You are correct that the 4:30 gears in a V-10 bring it closer to the torque mark of the PSD, but in the long run, the PSD still has more torque. Yes, the V-10 has more horespower, but torque is what keeps the load moving up the steep hills.

One major benefit for chosing the PSD is the fact you can add and exhaust brake, which saves your brakes, and sometimes your life, on long steep descents.Having burned the brakes on both my truck and trailer on steep descents, this is a must in my opinion.

As for the turbo spool up time, I've never seen this as a problem with the new superduty's.

Just my $.02

-Rich