Hello All,
I'm a current F350 6.0 owner, thinking of crossing over to a V10 Excursion. My wife wants a new house so my '03 F350 KR CC FX4 and 5'er have got to go (shameless plug - check the classifieds here on FTE for my F350 ).
I'm going to replace it with an SUV of some kind. I was considering a V10 excursion which I can pick up used around here at a decent price (less than half of what I owe on my F350).
I would like to hear comments on the mileage and dependability on these vehicles. I can't imagine that a V10 pushing that heavy parachute down the road is going to get very good mileage but I would like a rough idea of how much.
Thanks for any help!

 

I have an 00 ex and I love it. The v 10 is a good engine ( so far ) . I get around 9.5 towing my 17 ft enclosed trailer. And thats 80 - 90 too. Kina lead footed. I have gotten as good as 14 with no trailer. I have 3 kids and they all have plenty of room to spread out. I think you will be happy with one.

 

With my '01 4WD V10 LTD, I've gotten 11.3 towing my open car trailer ... typically 15 to 16MPG highway eastern seaboard & 14MPG highway out west (higher speeds) ... usually about 11MPG around town. It all depends how lead-footed one is. I considered a diesel, but the added up-front costs would buy a lot of gasoline ... so much that I wouldn't see any REAL savings with the diesel's MPG figures until I passed the 175K mile mark. And by then, I'm ready for a newer vehicle.

Change the oil regularly. I had an '87 F350 with the 5.8L gas V8, and never had to pull the valve covers ... sold it with 192K miles on the clock.

 

I don't know much about the V10's except they suck gas, while my 2001 4x4 Limited 7.3 X gets around 16-17 around the highways of Dallas/Fort Worth.

On a highway here in mostly flat TX, with no load, I can get 18-19 if I keep my foot out of it and run around 65 -68 MPH.

Keep in mind you'll need to spend a few hundred bucks on improving the poorly designed factory suspension for this 8000 + lbs vehicle, but once this is done it's a great highway cruiser.

At around 110K miles you'll have to replace the front drive hub and axle seals, as I've come to understand as typical with 4x4 X's. (my 114K mile 4x4 is headed to the shop Monday for this $1000 repair job)

Besides, the powerstroke motor will easily run for 300K miles as long as you chasnge the oil.

 

Agreed, but "sucks gas" is relative. My V10 gets better MPG than all of the gas V8 trucks I've owned before ... small block and big block. So basically, all of my old Ford trucks really did suck ... gas, that is. The diesels do get better MPG, but one must pay more for it.

If you're the type of person that routinely keeps a vehicle for 200K-plus miles, then your best choice is a diesel. If you're like me ... and I'm one of those who tires of a vehicle when it starts "showing" its age ... the gas V10 is the most cost effective choice.

 

Got an 03 PSD 6.0 diesel. Just thought I would butt in and let you knw how my diesel does. Highway 65-75 get about 15.5, if i stay at 65 i get about 17.5-18. In the city, about 13.
You know, those V-10 seems like they're gonna make it to 200K, kinda like the diesels. Either way, if you go with any kinda excursion, you wont go wrong. Good luck.

 

I agree; V10 or Diesel, you gotta give a little, to get a little.

 

I have a 2000 Excursion V10. It has 75k miles on it now. I bought it used with 28K miles 3 years ago. So far it's been one of the best vehicles I've ever owned. You can haul a load of people (I know, we have 7 kids) and you can put anything you want to behind it and never know it's there. As for gas mileage, I've gotten as good as 15.3 interstate with 9 people and luggage. I've also gotten just under 10 pulling a load...around town maybe 11 is about all I get. I have a heavy foot also. I didn't and wouldn't buy one for gas mileage. They are great performing vehicles though. I've had mine to 95 several times and it's just cruising (computer keeps it from going higher).

Good Luck!

Tracy

 

Great truck. Great motor. I had a couple of problems right off the lot, but not at all related to the V10. After 5+ years, still not a single problem with the V10, 4R100 tranny or any other component, really.