I'm looking into getting a new/used truck.. One's a 2000 f-250 SD 4X4 with a 5 speed standard and has 80,000 miles, and the other is a 2001 f-250 XL SD 4X4 with a 4 speed auto with 100,000 miles... Is there anything I should look for..? I've had my 84 diesel f-250 too long and am a little out of touch with the gas stuff.. Fuel economy is my biggest concern so the 5.4's in both of these seems to fit the bill... Or should I look into something else... Any suggestions??? I'm not towing anything big or hauling heavy loads anymore so that's why I have considered the smaller V8 gas models in my search...

 

I just bought an 06 5.4 f350. My choice was based on what i was going to use the truck for. I don't think it will get the mileage of your 84.In fact I wish I still had my 85' diesel it was a great truck. If you are driving long distances on a regular basis get a diesel if you are towing and hauling get a diesel. Another thing to keep in mind is that the v10 owners claim they get almost as good mileage as the v8 but with alot more HP.

 

I would consider another used diesel but they are another $5-6000.00 more than the gas models and are hard to find with less than 150,000 miles (everyone towing a fifth wheel across the country 10 times)... The way I looked at it is $5000.00 buys alot of gas, and I can't see saving that with the diesel over a 5-8 year span (that's how long I would probably keep the new truck) .. I guess I could consider the bigger V8's, I don't know about the V10!!! Is it a reliable engine? I should have posted this under the general questions,, but the 2 trucks I was looking at both have the 5.4.. so you might see this again in one of the other forums... thanks for the reply F350

 

5.4L is the biggest V8 gas engine that Ford makes now. The V10 is a 5.4L with 2 more cylinders.

 

A 2000-2001 5.4 is a V-8 isn't it? Mine is. Don't look for great gas mileage. I guess it depends on what you consider mpg. My 2000 E-150 5000 lb. van get's 15.5 tops. If I just bump my speed up to 60 mph on 55 mph roads, it drops 1-2 mpg. My mileage goes from 12.5 to 15.5.

I was disappointed at the mileage to say the least when I got it last year. I have an 89 E-150 with the 302 and it gets 18 mpg. I expected better out of the 2000. I found out since that after 98 or so, Ford put HO heads on all the 5.4's. Possibly that is why the lower mpg.

 

Yes the 5.4L is a V8 and the 6.8L is a V10. The PI heads shouldn't hurt mileage, they have improved intake ports that make them more efficient, which also makes more power. About 35 more than non- PI heads.

 

i have a 2006 f250 5.4 3.73 and i got 11.4 mpg when driving aggressive and 13.2 when driving like a grandma...im completley happy with it because i tow nothing and haul only counter tops...the 5.4 2v (2004 and before) and 3v (2005-present) are both reliable solid engines...

 

LxMan1, I think my problem is I tend to use that 35 more HP more often than I should. I used to not think anything about it just a year ago, but with it costing over $100 now to fill my tank...

 

Yep, every time I feel the power, my wallet gets lighter. I try to drive easy, but with the Predator and Flowmaster exhaust, it's hard sometimes.