Hello,
I am new to the list and am looking at buying a F-250 with either the regular 5.4 V-8 or the diesel engine. I have not driven either of these vehicles yet as i am still reasearching them both. I am aware that the Diesel is more money (not sure exactly how much).

Anyway,
Here is what i need the truck for:
Im going to be hauling a 3200 pound car plus a trailer of a unknown weight mostly hwy and interstate.

The truck will be driven 80 miles a day 5 days a week to work and back on the interstate or hwy.

Some town driving obviousley.

Im interested in mpg considering the current fuel prices but have to take into affect the price difference.

Can anyone please offer opinions or experiences?

Thanks,

Chris

 

I drive a 2002 F250 4x4 with a 5.4 at work and a 1995 F250 4x4 Powerstroke at play. I would not have a 5.4 in anything that I own. The work truck is so underpowered that it lugs down in 4 high. Both trucks have 3.55 gears. The Powerstroke has never acted like it did not want to pull, the 5.4 acts like it doesn't want anymore going up a hill. The powerstroke gets 19mpg, the 5.4 gets 9 mpg. I would recommend a PSD to anyone. I would recommend a 5.4L to my mother-in-law.

 

Really! 9mpg? is that city?

I dont like to hear that... I drive a 2000 ranger right now and it gets 12-16mpg depending on the situation. I am disgusted every time i fill it up because I ONLY HAVE A 3.0L V-6! It is so pathetic... I cant afford to have lower mileage cuz i drive so much but Diesel is so expensive.


Ahhh.. What a delima.

Thanks,

Chris

 

Howdy napsterstang,

Go with diesel, you will love it. Tons of
towing power for that trailer of yours
and better fuel mileage than that
gasser is going to get. I have a 93
F250, it gets about 18-20 empty
mixed city and highway and 12-14
loaded down with a 8000LB
goose neck, mainly highway driving.
Sometimes the truck stops will have
a slightly better price on diesel fuel,
and usually better quality diesel.
Tell us what you end up getting.


Gr8ride

 

"Go with diesel, you will love it. Tons of
towing power for that trailer of yours
and better fuel mileage than that
gasser is going to get. I have a 93
F250, it gets about 18-20 empty
mixed city and highway and 12-14
loaded down with a 8000LB
"
I hear ya on that. Its just the initial cost and cost of matinence that im debating over. I think if i want a diesel ill have to look used for sure.

Chris

 

I did a lot of research and for what I needed I found a 1997 f350 PSD Crew Cab 5speed srw for less than $10,000. The truck was a contractor's truck, and has 190,000 miles. But thats not a problem with the diesel. I saw a 1997 f350 automatic with 135,000 miles listed for $19,900 three weeks later. I bought mine to pull a travel trailer, that I am now hunting for.
What is nice is when someone asks me "What the heck do you plan on pulling with this truck?", my response is "whatever I want!"

 

Yes Napsterstang, 9 mpg. If I have to get in the mud it drops to 6 or so. Like I said, it is a work truck so we have to keep accurate records for it and it averages 9.37 mpg on the highway and 5.86 mpg in the mud.

 

Just my 2 cents worth.
The PSD (6.0) will run you an additional $5000 over the 5.4.
Right now regular gas is running $1.59 and diesel is running at $1.89 per gallon in South Western PA.

I've been running a 2000 F150 (regular cab, 8ft bed) with the 7700 payload package (Ford used to designate this as a F250 light duty) 5.4 engine, 3.73 rears.4x4, four speed automatic. Running empty, I average about 13 to 14 mpg (combined city/highway). If I am running on the farm in 4wd alot, milage drops to about 10 mpg. I pull a 20 deck over flat bed behind this truck and when I had it loaded to legal limit my fuel economy dropped to about 7-8 mpg. The 5.4 has lots of power and you can get 4.10 gears now, but on steep hills (loaded to max) it is lacking.
And it is a PIG!

My neighborhood mechanic keeps trying to talk me out of going with the oil burner for several reasons.
Initial cost
Cost of maintanance
The truck will rust away and the engine will be puking oil on the ground befor the engine is worn out.
He claims that the local that are running diesels are only getting 12 mpg


I'm currently shopping for a new truck. The new truck is going to be an F350 srw Super Cab with the 6.0 and 5 sp auto. Depending on whose numbers you believe, this rig should get 18-20mpg. Read into this whatever you want, but this truck should meet my needs a little better for hauling and fuel economy. My current truck has a tow capacity of 8400#, the curb weight of my trailer is 3200# so the most I can put on my trailer is about 5000#. So far this is adequite but if I want to haul an 8k-10k tractor..............I need more truck.

Bob

 

Napsterstang,

We have 5.4's at work. I have driven them and it doesn't seem like there is anything left after 50mph. That is empty. Don't know what they will do loaded but... I doubt it is much.

I didn't want any question and after 3 1/2 years I still don't have any question

Good luck

 

I am sorry to hear that the 5.4 is such a dog. (NOT)

I pulled an 8600 pound trailer with my F150-7700, and while it did downshift if it saw a hill coming up, it pulled the trailer at highway speeds. It pulled a 5000 pound trailer without any difficulty at all, and rarely downshifted out of overdrive.

Mine must have been the exception to some sort of rule.

A 5.4 will pull your car trailer without difficulty, and it will do it right smartly. It will cost you $6000.00 less new than the 6.0 liter diesel with an automatic transmission. It will not produce a smell that gives Vietnam Vets flashbacks like a diesel does.

Having said all that, I am not going back to one. (And an occasional flashback won't hurt me any.)

 

Well,..seems like the majority here recomend the diesel...-BUT what did you expect to hear when you post a question like this in the diesel forum?

As far as pulling goes gas or diesel makes not as much difference as your gearing and transmission does.
(ever seen those old farm tractors with 150 some odd cu in gas engines- and a rear differential the size of a television set?)

Show me a diesel pickup that out pulls that!

I'd say your major concerns would be to go with 4.10(or higher) rear gears and manual tranny-if brute pulling power is your main concern.
I know -alot of guys would tell you the auto is better for towing-torque multiplier,etc,etc.
these are the same guys that buy trucks decked out with power-everything,sun roof,and leather seats-for "work"...lol...sure.

I don't know about you but seems to me only Bill Gates or Donald Trump could afford to spend 40,000+ for a truck to tear it up like that!
After your gearing and tranny you should consider engine choices-but only then.
If you need a heavy puller-but don't drive anymore than you said you do then the "best" engine for you would be the v-10.
It's 4 grand less than the diesel without the extra money needed in oil changes.
I think it is a mistake to not consider this engine along with the other two you ask of,for your needs.
From all you mentioned it would seem to me to be the "best" for you(gotta think out of the box)-don't worry bout the mileage penalty-the high cost diesel oil changes+more expensive fuel+4000.00 additional cost,will more than off set that.

If however you think you might do ALOT more driving than say12-15,000 miles a year than the diesel would be the way to go-as not only will it be driven enough to cover it's higher costs-it will also last ALOT longer!

You may have heard the saying"It's not the age,it's the miles."-well wouldint it suck to have a gas powered truck with 180000 miles on it in 2 yrs?
So for low miles and lots of power I'd say go gas-if you need the same power with 3-4 times the longevity then I would go diesel....but then again you may just want the diesel anyway-in which case you should just buy it and not bother asking anyones advice when you know what you really want anyway!...lol.


Regards.

 

Hi guys. Just thought id report back and say that i bought a diesel. I got a 02 F-350 supercab. Its Black with black lether captin chairs and is the sport package. After driving the 3 engines i narrowed it down to the Diesel and the V-10. I think that the 5.4 would have had a hard time with my car behind it...
Thanks for all the advice and see ya around!

 

Congrats, you made the right choice in my opinion. Hope you like it. duece

 

Napstertang,

I know you will not be disappointed with your new truck. Oil changes, which I do myself are a snap. Just be careful of the four gallons of oil when yer changing it.

I just love my Power Stroke.

Steve

 

What consists of a diesel oil change besides oil and a filter?