Gutless V10
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 104
Likes: 1
From: maryland
Shastahydro
I'm not much of a mech., but yeah, something is wrong. I have driven a wide variety of vehicles and have owned a few performance vehicles, but my 2004 V10 is a brute.
I have a 89 F250 w/351 that is quicker, but put a boat behind them and Mr. Torque comes to life. I don't drag race anymore, but if I did the V10 would need a lot more tire to be usable.
I'm not much of a mech., but yeah, something is wrong. I have driven a wide variety of vehicles and have owned a few performance vehicles, but my 2004 V10 is a brute.
I have a 89 F250 w/351 that is quicker, but put a boat behind them and Mr. Torque comes to life. I don't drag race anymore, but if I did the V10 would need a lot more tire to be usable.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 73
Likes: 2
From: Mass
Originally Posted by shastahydro
The thing has no power whether it's loaded or not. I have to drop it into 3rd gear to go up most highway grades and Ford insists that there is nothing wrong with it. It also pings heavily in 5th gear even with Premium fuel.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 851
Likes: 5
From: On top of a big hill...
Originally Posted by The Kidd F-250
If its that bad upgrade to a ford psd they will walk over a v-10 anyday. Those v-10's are good engine but dont produce the low end touque like the psds. Always rember torque first.
A stock V10 is cheaper & will out-accelerate or keep up with any stock 7.3L PSD unloaded and towing light to middle weight trailers.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 415
Likes: 4
From: St. Mary's MD
[QUOTE=MountainHound]You might call a 7.3L an "upgrade" but I'd rather run a 5.5 cubic inch chainsaw for 6 straight hours than use a stock 7.3L as a daily driver. The chainsaw is quieter & smells better!!
QUOTE]
LMAO
Complete personal preference. I like the PSD, but I had no need for one, the V10 is an awesome power plant. He obviously hasomething wrong with his V10. Lord knows we don't need to go there on the PSD/V10 topic 
QUOTE]
LMAO
Complete personal preference. I like the PSD, but I had no need for one, the V10 is an awesome power plant. He obviously hasomething wrong with his V10. Lord knows we don't need to go there on the PSD/V10 topic
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
Likes: 8
From: NE Texas
Jay,
How long has been this way - gutless? Did you buy it new or used. If used, did it have power at first?
When you took it to the dealer, did they perform a drivability test, i.e., did a tech hook it up to a diagnostic system while you or someone else drove it so that they could take readings?
Just what tests did they run? Fuel pressure, throttle position, compression? Does it ever miss or stumble?
I have a ’99 that’s stock and it’s a hoss. I can’t imagine one being called “gutless” unless something is very wrong.
How long has been this way - gutless? Did you buy it new or used. If used, did it have power at first?
When you took it to the dealer, did they perform a drivability test, i.e., did a tech hook it up to a diagnostic system while you or someone else drove it so that they could take readings?
Just what tests did they run? Fuel pressure, throttle position, compression? Does it ever miss or stumble?
I have a ’99 that’s stock and it’s a hoss. I can’t imagine one being called “gutless” unless something is very wrong.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 73
Likes: 2
From: Mass
Originally Posted by MountainHound
You might call a 7.3L an "upgrade" but I'd rather run a 5.5 cubic inch chainsaw for 6 straight hours than use a stock 7.3L as a daily driver. The chainsaw is quieter & smells better!!
A stock V10 is cheaper & will out-accelerate or keep up with any stock 7.3L PSD unloaded and towing light to middle weight trailers.
A stock V10 is cheaper & will out-accelerate or keep up with any stock 7.3L PSD unloaded and towing light to middle weight trailers.
. As far as out-acclerating a psd unloaded never mind loaded the psd is quicker. And as far as towing goes which one makes more power i wasnt sure on that one lol. I have never seen a v-10 out tow any psd on the road and you wanna know why the psd makes more power(325hp and 560ft-lbs of tourque). While you guys make 310hp and 425 ft-lbs of tourque. Thats the point get over it You will never see a v-10 acclerate a psd. Diesels are the BEST and the new wave of the future. PS:moderaters i am sry if you dont like what i said but i wanted to get my point across.
Last edited by The Kidd F-250; Apr 1, 2004 at 06:02 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 851
Likes: 5
From: On top of a big hill...
Originally Posted by The Kidd F-250
I have never seen a v-10 out tow any psd on the road and you wanna know why the psd makes more power(325hp and 560ft-lbs of tourque). While you guys make 310hp and 425 ft-lbs of tourque. Thats the point get over it You will never see a v-10 acclerate a psd.
You shifted gears on me in your second post and start compared the V10 to the new 6.0L. Yeah, the 6.0L outperforms the V10. It also costs an extra $4600 and has a less than stellar track record for reliability and quality.
A 6.8L in equally configured pickups will out-accelerate a stock 7.3L unloaded and towing light/moderate loads. It's not a bash on the trusted and durable 7.3L, it's the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts!
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 552
Likes: 2
From: Midland, TX
I am new to the Ford side of things but, do you lose power when the engine is hot? I have a Chevy at the moment and I have no power at all when its gets to normal operating temp and its hot outside. If you have this problem try throwing in a 160 thermostat or something. There are tons of small things to look at.
Fuel filter, air intake, clogged exhaust, bad plugs, bad tranny, might have filled it with hard water and caroaded (sp?) the lines not letting it cool right, and the list goes on. Good luck. Hope it works out for ya.
Fuel filter, air intake, clogged exhaust, bad plugs, bad tranny, might have filled it with hard water and caroaded (sp?) the lines not letting it cool right, and the list goes on. Good luck. Hope it works out for ya.
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
Likes: 20
From: Washington State
Originally Posted by The Kidd F-250
PS:moderaters i am sry if you dont like what i said but i wanted to get my point across.
Talk 10s or leave.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 817
Likes: 297
From: KY
I have some 100 other trucks to compare my 99F250 V10 to. From dodge V10's to old clapped out 350's and everything between, and yes its a gas sucking gutless pig all things considered. Only thing more embarrassing to drive/tow with was my 87 F250/6.9. Sell it you say? I would to but I guess Im the only one who didnt get the memo about it being fords early 6.8 turd on wheels.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,781
Likes: 1,512
It looks like this thread was revived after being dead for over 19 years.
Since we're here, I think the 6.8 V-10 is a perfectly good engine if allowed to rev, but yeah is short on low end torque. I have a 1999 that makes 17,000+ pounds move around just fine, even over the Rocky Mountains in the thin air. Would I like a little more power? Sure, but it keeps up with others in my class, even at 24 years old.
Back to the original post:
My guess is that @shastahydro didn't let it rev, and might even have had like a 3.73:1 rear end and maybe some really steep hills. If he's going up hills at 40MPH in 5th gear, that would explain all symptoms.
Either way, @shastahydro hasn't logged back on for almost twenty years. I suspect he isn't worried about this thread any more.
Since we're here, I think the 6.8 V-10 is a perfectly good engine if allowed to rev, but yeah is short on low end torque. I have a 1999 that makes 17,000+ pounds move around just fine, even over the Rocky Mountains in the thin air. Would I like a little more power? Sure, but it keeps up with others in my class, even at 24 years old.
Back to the original post:
I have a '99 F250 V10 5 speed and the truck is a gutless wonder. It has no power at all. I hear all you guys saying how you love your V10 but I sure don't. Is there something wrong with it? I've had in into service to be looked at and they say everything is fine. Would a chip help? If so, which brand?
Thanks,
Jay
Thanks,
Jay
Either way, @shastahydro hasn't logged back on for almost twenty years. I suspect he isn't worried about this thread any more.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 8,930
Likes: 4,310
From: sussex county, nj
yah 19 years dead., will people ever look at the dates of the last post?
my 05 f250 v10er was a bear, hauled many a v12 DD marine engine with the trans sitting in the bed, when i placed my order .i failed to listen to many in this very forum, went with 4:10's when i was told get 4:30's . would have been a lot cheaper than what it costs 6 months later,
my 05 f250 v10er was a bear, hauled many a v12 DD marine engine with the trans sitting in the bed, when i placed my order .i failed to listen to many in this very forum, went with 4:10's when i was told get 4:30's . would have been a lot cheaper than what it costs 6 months later,
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 1,735
Likes: 1,116
The only 2V V10 that I had in a 2003 F250 was paired with 4.56 from the previous owner and it performed wonderfully towing a 14k dump trailer daily. The truck was a rag doll when I got it from an acquisition of another business. Had 230k miles on it and needed everything suspension replaced. I had plenty of spare trucks laying around full of the parts it needed so it cost me very little to put it back to work for me hauling the dump trailer. Body ended up rotting away and it was a supercab short bed which didnt fit my use case so I retired it to farm use with 280k ish on it.
Like most of the complaints for heavy trucks being "turds", they come from people who are expecting car like performance from something weighing double without a trailer hooked up.
Like most of the complaints for heavy trucks being "turds", they come from people who are expecting car like performance from something weighing double without a trailer hooked up.