I bought my V10 for many reasons. I do recreational towing (camper/boat) and only put on 6-10k miles per year on my truck. The V10 has plenty of power for my needs and the addition of a oil burner would have no effect on how well I get to the lake and back. Secondly it was 5K cheaper than the oil burner, nobody can argue this. It's fact that oil changes are over 3xs the cost more on an oil burner over a gas and I don't care who you are or what you drive but when the oils dirty it's gotta be changed (10k on an oil change will cost you a new motor, my opinion). being I only put 6-10k on per year I end up doing my oil changes every 3 months or 2k miles just because it's very cheap insurance and it's a very minimal price to pay (costs me $13 to change my own oil with the recomended motorcraft products). Next is maintenece in gerneral. For the amount I drive I didn't want to be buying expensive fuel/water filters, air filters, front tires more often, Glow plugs are very expensive compared to spark plugs, and don't forget always having to plug it in so it will start in the winter and fuel additive expense (I live ND, -32* last week - forcast again for this week). Next which this is a horse a piece because you never no what it's gonna be but right now gas is 20c cheaper than diesel. I can fill up at any gas station. I dont' have to wait to start or cool down. It's warm in 5-10mins instead of 20-30mins. No diesel smell, fuel or exhaust. No noise. Also the V10 is only a $600 option over the standard 5.4L. Thats nothing for what you actually gain. Just one more thing If you're going to run long distances between oil changes (10k miles) on your diesel then add in oil analysis so you know you're not harming your 5K dollar premium motor.

It comes down to how many miles you drive per year and what you really want (it's the vannila/chocolate thing, you're gonna buy what you want) The diesel gets better mileage, has better towing performance, and will generally last more miles with proper care. They both have there goods and bads but the reasons above are why I bought my V10. When It's all said and done I just didn't drive enough miles per year to justify that extra cost/hassle of owning the diesel. You cann't go wrong either way so buy what suits your needs the best and you be happy with either decision. sorry for the book and good luck on which ever you buy.

 

Does the "new" 3-valve V10 mean anything to this evaluation? I would think that the increased HP/torque gets it closer to the PSD. It's still not there, but it still isn't a smelly, treat it like a baby (an expensive upkeep baby too), diesel. I like to have my V10 and vanilla too. Furthermore, as I read the PSD threads, I notice quite a few PSD owners have problems. Don't see that with the happy V10 owners. It all comes down to spark plugs!!!

 

Oh well...
that's why it's still a free country - we can all get what we WANT

and I don't have to justify to you or you to me
But it DOES make for some interesting leaps in logic, doesn't it ?

And I and our Left coast buddy over there have only been asking for two years for a head to head - one in California and one here in Texus to settle it once and for all - but nary a V-10 taker yet !!!

guess they just post their boasts - and don't come out to play

 

Actually, it seems as if ford "crippled" the V10 in deference to the PSD (and its ungodly markup), by leaving off the variable valve gear that the 5.4 gets and lowering compression. Without those deletions the V10 would be producing around 400hp and 500 ftlbs!

 

I got my 05 PSD because I wanted a diesel, so I got a diesel.. To each his own..(PS, mine is a diesel) :-)

 

I don't think anybody in their right mind would say a V10 tows better then the PSD. As I stated before it comes down to your needs and wants. if you wnat a psd your not going to buy a V10 and vise versa. There are places for both where each will excell in it's own. Same goes for the 5.4L. Everybody writes it off (including myself) but for most the 5.4L does what they ask of it. No it's not going to tow a 15Klb fifthwheel up a 6-8% grade hill at 70mph but if thats your porogitive then you probobly wouldn't be considering it either. Heck just about all of us here have more truck than we need. 20 years ago the the trucks didn't have 600ftlb or 400HP engines and people towed then, mater of fact is many trailers have become lighter in recent years(Hudge gains in campers and stock trailors). As I've stuck by the same this entire thread, buy what suits your needs and what you really want. chances are if you buy something your unsure of, you'll be unhappy or lose money because you'll be back in trading.

Good Luck!!

 

Bought my '03 used. It became available right when my old truck died. I really wanted a diesel--just because. I lucked out and got one.

The spreadsheet I downloaded (from here, maybe) says I'll break even at 76k miles which'll be in a year or two. That's probably very rough (bought one tends to believe what they want to justify a diesel--I know I DO).

I would maybe consider a gasser next time. But, 10 MPG vs. 17 MPG doesn't sound good to me.

Oil changes are easy. Lowere fuel filter is a pain but doable.

 

Let's look strictly at the numbers. At 18,000 miles a year, let's say you'll get 12 mpg with the V10, 18 mpg with the diesel. At $2 a gallon for gas, the V10 will cost you $3000/ year. At $2.30/ gallon for diesel, that one will cost you $2300 per year for fuel, a savings of $700/ year over the V10. It will take a little over 7 years to earn back the extra $5000 you spent up-front for the diesel. From a $ standpoint, if you'll keep the truck for that long, it makes sense. Otherwise, I'd have to look at the gas engine.

 

I don't get why someone can't ask a question without it turning into a testosterone competition. The guy asked the V10 people why they chose a V10. Not a single reply from a V10 person said the 10 was "better" than a PSD. Will the PSD last longer? YEP!!!
Does the PSD have more HP and TQ? YEP!!!
Does the PSD get better fuel mileage? YEP!!!
But some people don't want to trade all the bad aspects for the good. You just can't get around the fact of the extra costs, noise and smell of the PSD. Both up front and during maintaince.
I don't think you could ever break even on oil changes due to the huge difference in cost ($12 VS $50 for do it yourself at Ford intervals of 5K and 7.5K).
As for fuel, 13 MPG VS 18 MPG and $1.75 VS $2.00. That means you can get roughly 100 more miles for the same amount of money with a PSD. (I gladly traded that 100 miles for not dealing with the smell of fuel and exhaust and the convience of getting fuel anywhere).
Longevity? You paid $5K for it up front with the PSD!
Then you have the huge cost difference between fuel pumps, injectors, batteries (2 in the diesel), filters, plus the things gassers don't even have like water/fuel seperators, turbo chargers, intercoolers (admit it guys they are what makes your PSD's great and they due wear out/go bad), glow plugs and for the most part engine heaters!
If you are going to tow the max every day and you start it up in the morning and it runs as long as you do, go for the PSD.
In reality the 5.4 would probably be enough for the majority of us. Let's be honest. How many regularly tow more than 5K pounds? I know I don't! My friends with PSD's don't! The majority of people that own Ford Super Duty trucks use them for passanger vehicles and haul nothing more than groceries. They buy the truck for the looks and status. Heck I only have 4x4 because of my driveway in the winter. Other than that it is never in 4x4.
I too wonder what would happen to diesel sales if Ford gave the 10 VVT and it put out more gitty up than the PSD for several thousand less.
Like I said at the start, IT'S ALL ABOUT BRAGGIN' RIGHTS !!!

 

Alright, I hate arguing about stuff, yeh right, so heres my best comparison now that we bring money into it - this post may be a little lengthy - just an advanced warning

here are the terms for comparison -

100,000 miles before selling - same trucks with only the diesel option being different. averaging 15,000miles per year.

The 6.8L V10 - 12mpg with gas at $1.80 (current price) - $0 above initial cost (no diesel engine) - oil change every 3K @ $20 - fuel filter every 25k @ $10 - Air filter every 15K @ $13 - tires every 40K @ $165 apiece - +0 for resale -

The 6.0L Diesel - 18mpg with diesel @ $1.96 (also current price) - $5,000 above cost of V10 - oil change every 5K @ $65 - fuel filter every 25K @ $50 - air filter every 12K @ $50 -tires every 40K @165 apeice but with the fronts wearing 1/3 quicker than the V10 due to extra weight - Resale +$2,500 -

alright everything above is averages so don't jump me about a couple of bucks here or there - resale is just an average depending upon the market for either - These are the main expenses in owning a problem free vehical - I'll leave out electricty for pluging them in when its cold and or fuel additives as not everybody lives in a cold climate which would also bring into acount warm up time and extra fuel spent on idling every day (don't want to open that can of worms)- this is just a comparison on a fairly level playing field - this is also asuming insurance registration and ect is the same which it isn't but that another place I don't want to go.

6.8L V10 will cost you 17,465.99 to own for 100,000 miles
6.0L V8 PSD will cost you 17,230.60 to own for 100,000 miles

To me it looks about like a wash so if you want a Diesel buy one, If you want a V10 Buy one - they both have pros and cons but when it comes down to it buy what you want as either will serve there purpose well and when all said and done they cost dang near the same. Don't start the argurement about the diesel being $230 cheaper to drive as everything was an estimate and if we are going there I'll have to bring up the interest on another $5k on the loan and the fact that I'll invest my saved $5K with an average return of %20..........Lets just not go there and keep this to the basics!!!

Let hear some thoughts now.

 

Different strokes for different folk. Heresis my 2 cents. If your going to pull a load everyday with your truck then you definilty want the diesel. If just an occasional load
and a mainly a daily driver. The v-10 should work just fine for you. I bought my PSD because it just happened to be a truck I was lookin for. Do I need it. No a V-10 would have been just fine for me. This is just one off those cases where I was in the right place at the right time and I took advantage off the situation. I was lookin for a V-10 and I would have been happy with it Im sure.

 

Ok, before this turns into another "oil war" thread....

get what you want, why you want it !!!

I can't justify it to you, and you can't to me - so leave it at that and mostly - ENJOY what brung you to the table !!!

I know I do

c u !

 

Yea, lets keep this on the basics. Price of Gas vs Price of Diesel over the last 9 years I've owned diesels!! Diesel has averaged 10% lower I was buying Diesel for $1.51.9 a gallon last spring when Gas was for regular $1.85.9 So lets use some real munbers here!!

100,000 miles on gas At 13 (You wish) MPG = 7692.3 gallons X $2.00.0 = $15,384.61
100,000 miles on Diesel At 16 (I do average) MPG = 6250 Gallons X $1.80.0 = $12,000.00

I would average about 6 MPG with a Gasser because I have a very heavy right foot!!

I just took my mom to lunch and I asked her to smell real rard and tell what she smelled. She said it smelled a little musked, so I asked if she smelled any diesel and she said no!! She only rides in my truck about 3 times a year!! It now has 193,000 miles on it!!

The only thing on my truck I've had to replace is a starter ($340.00) and both batteries ($160.00)!! Yea my oil changes cost $70.00 a pop but I only do it every 10,000 miles!! Back when I had gassers I did the same with them!! I put about 56,000 miles a year on my truck, I've crunched the numbers, if you drive less that 15,000 miles a year get the gasser you will be happy!! If you put more than 30,000 miles a year you can't go wrong with the smoker!! Between that it's a zero sum game they are both great motors and you could be happy with either!!

 

I am getting a V10 in my 05 because I am not happy with the 6L PSD in my 04. What I want most in a truck is reliability and I have been broke down twice with my 6L. When I heard that Ford is coming out with yet another PSD in 07 it was an easy decision to try a V10. They are reliable and they are an engine that Ford is sticking with. My 95 and 00 7.3 PSDs were both reliable and better on fuel than my 6L. I hope the 07 motor turns out to be a winner. Take care, Wrench.

 

Here is my rreason I got a v10, just plain couldnt afford a diesel. I looked for a used one and they seemed as expensive as a new one, but I got my v10 just a couple weeks ago for 25,400. I dont drive it everyday and I really wanted a superduty, so it,s what I could afford, so far I am happy. I believe this is why FORD is the number 1 truck leader they give you sooooooooooo many choices of how to get your truck.