In my search for a tow vehicle, I have come accross a 99SD reg cab long box 4x4 with the V-10 and standard trans. Before I drive five hours to check out this unit, I would like more info on the engine. from posts I have read, it sounds like it is a relatively good engine. Are there any common issues with the engine? Is it easy to work on? Is this engine option still available in new trucks?
Any concerns with the 4x4 drive train?
Thanks

 

The V10 is a very reliable engine. The 99s were the first year the V10 was offered in a Superduty. The 99 V10 engine was rated for 275 HP. They got an increase in HP in 2000 by 35 HP making the 00-04 V10s 310 HP. The 99-01 did have a few problems with spark plugs blowing out of the heads. This can be avoided by maintenance, basically tightening the spark plugs to a certain torque and checking those torque numbers periodically.

My biggest concern is that you will get that V10 with the 3.73 rear end ratio. The 3.73s are not for towing and the V10 performs best with the 4.30s. Check the rear axle ratio before you buy and try to aim for the 4.30s. The standard transmission is pretty much bullet proof and the 4x4 is reliable IF you get it with the manual transfer case. The ESOF (Electronic Shift-On-the-Fly) will fail, no doubts about it and the main thing that will fail will be the automatic locking hubs. The ESOF is excellent when it works but the hubs are the weak point. Aim to get one with the manual transfer case.

And yes, they still offer the V10 in the SD. Check out the 05/06s and you will see a HUGE difference between those trucks and the 99 you're looking at. The new V10s have TONS of power and are extremely reliable. Hope that helped.

Gary

 

Check out the V-10 Forum on this site. You will get even more info there.

 

I had a 2000 F-250, v-10, with a 3.73 rear end, and I towed a 11,000 lb. total weight bumper pull travel trailer all over the US. It averaged 8 to 9 mpg for 5 years, and I never had any problems. I did get a 2005 f-250, v-10 with a 4.10 rear end, and other than less gas milage, I can't tell a difference.

 

Thanks for the info. I found the V10 forum and after reading further posts, satisfied myself that the V10 was the engine for me. I followed up with another call to the seller of the 99SD to get more details. I was extremely happy with the info received until he advised me it did not have air conditioning. I can't believe that ac is not a standard accessory on the SD. I can live without power windows, door locks and if I had to, without cruise control, but not ac.
The search goes on

 

I would aim for a 2000 or newer with 4.30s. They are the best gears for the V10 as the V10 loves to rev. With the 4.30s, you can tow just as much as the diesels legally.

Gary

 

[/B]I have a 2006 SD with the V10 and 4.10's with only 3500 miles. I am pulling a 7X14 cargo trailer with two big Harleys and I get 9.8 mpg. So far no problems with this truck at all.

 

[QUOTE=veedubber] Is this engine option still available in new trucks?
/QUOTE]

Oh yes indeed. The 99 that you looked at was 275 HP rated and the 05+ 3v version is rated in the 365 hp range. My 03 2v version is rated at 310 hp but I added some goodies.

 

My first SD was a 99 V10 CC Lariat F250, used, approx 65 kmiles. Towed a 12klb 5er behind it all through the Rocky mountains and the rest of western Canada. Approx 20 kmiles over 3 years with the trailer, another 40 kmiles without.

Problems experienced:
ESOF - front hubs repaired once, worked automatically for a while, then unreliable again. Solution. Get out of the truck and lock manually. ESOF still worked for trans case in/out.
Rear spring - Broke one, or it was broken when I bought the truck. Came apart while unloaded after a long tow. Weights on the truck were at legal max with the trailer. Solution: replaced with 5 leaf vs factory 4 leaf, added an extra leaf to the front.
Noise in front axle/trans case, vibration when in 4WD. Diagnosed as transfer case, but appeared to be only part of the problem as mostly went away when replaced. I think axle/pinion bearings needed replacing.

At last issue (not a real issue except in 4wd, and even then only an annoyance, but I thought perhaps bigger poblem looming), I traded truck on 05 PSD F350. Old one was going to need tires and muffler too very soon too.

Overall, V10 was a great truck. Mileage with the trailer was about 7 mpg, without about 12 mpg. I had put a 25 hp chip in it and got a real seat of the pants boost out of it. Good with the trailer behind it except on long, steep grades, and sometimes trying to pass slower traffic in the mountains. The key phrase here is "slower traffic" ... the 19 klb combined rig liked to move!

I traded to a diesel for more torque and a newer truck. Not because I needed to, but because I wanted to.

Greg