I just purchased my X 2 weeks ago, 1st Ford I have ever owned. Anyway it is a 2001 XLT pretty loaded. V-10 w/ 93,000 miles. 6" lift w/ 35's. 3.73 gears. Couln't afford a diesel, but really wanted an X. I just added a K&N drop in filter. The entire reason I got an X is for road trips & pulling our boat to the lake. (It weighs somehwere around 5000lbs loaded) Shouldn't be a big deal for an X. I live in northern AZ, so anywhere we go is up hill one way & down the other, and many of them, also summertime when pulling the boat ether to Phx or Lake Havasu is REALLY HOT, 100deg+. I always run 91 octane gas when pulling. Started with the oil, but changing all fluids to synthetic.

After doing a bunch of searches for upgrades for power & towing, I am wondering about a few things. I can tell that there a bunch of pretty smart guys on this forum, so any help is greatly appreciated.

Looking for best power gains for the buck.

Pulled the boat this weekend to PHX. Handled the boat with no issue. Was very cool to haul 8 people & have room! I was a little disapointed in how hard it had to pull up the hills. Never even though about putting into OD. In 3rd gear would run 70mph right @ 3000rpm, that was comfortable, any signifacant hill would drop me into 2nd and would pull @ 4000rpm. Is this nornal? I have been reading that the V10 likes RPM.

Would a dual exguast from the header be better than a "bolt on" system, in order to get rid of the Y pipe.

Many talk about a gear swap, I know this would help in take off, but what about the rest, since I am already running pretty high RPMs.

Some talk about programmers not doing anything & others say they do?????

I have other questions that I will post seperatly but these are my major concerns.

Thank you for your input.

Leon.

 

This is THE best bang for the buck. You need to regear to NOT LESS THAN 4.56.

Your high RPMs are due to it having to run in lower gears to stay within the powerband. Gears will solve this. Nothing else will even come close to the performance gain by regearing. Or course, going to back to stock size tires will help but...

Keep in mind that your torque peak is at 3250rpm while your horsepower peak is at 4250rpm. You can spin the V10 at 5K all day long if you really wanted to.

 

Monsta, thanks for the input. I talked to a friend today who has a shop that specializes in axles That would put me about 3200+ rpm in OD at 75mph. He srongly suggested not to tow in OD. That is a little steep for my budget now, I will have to work into that one. For now I will get all the maintance started & start saving some $. Thanks, Leon

 

Your friend is wrong.

4.56s with 35s would put you at 2331rpm in OD @ 75. You don't tow at 75mpg right?

Oh, and you CAN & SHOULD (if you're concerned with mpg) tow in OD.

 

Maybe I got my #'s mixed in the head, so many #'s make my head hurt. (joke) Anyway, his reasoning for not towing in OD, was that the tranny in 3rd gear is a direct drive. I have come to the realization that good gas mpg & towing don't usally go together.

 

You tow in OD unless your trans starts hunting for gears while towing a load up a grade, or if your EGT's were getting too high.

Stewart

 

I don't tow, but have noted the better gear shifts with a tuner. Many have reported better towing exp after adding the tuner. While not addressing the issue directly, it is a cheaper fix in the mean time while you collect the $ needed for the gear swap.

Plus good gas mpg and the V-10 is what don't go together in one sentence.

Welcome to FTE!

 

Thanks for the feedback. What brand & how much does a good tuner cost. I would do the install myself, i like to do as much as i can. Stupid question.... I thought the EGT issue is more related to diesels. Do i need to be concerned with the V10? I am planning a better flowing exhaust system, mostly cause I like the sound, performance is a bonus.

Thanks, Leon

 

I don't even own a V10 Excursion and can answer your question...........................The answer is GEARS! I have read tons and tons and tons of posts about the towing improvement with gears and the V10. 4.30's or 4.56's....gotta decide! I am just going by what many have said here at FTE, ditch the tuner, exhaust CAI etc and spend your money on gears and then you won't need that other stuff that adds like 10Horsepower on gas engines! Tuners, exhaust are amazing on Diesels but on gassers that my friends have I can hardly tell a difference. Always thought they were a waste of money on the gassers I have been in.

 

You are running considerably larger tires than stock along with a 3.73 gear. Those two items do not go together when towing. For one thing, it is harder on the entire drivetrain. Before I had my current X, I had an 03 XLT V10 4X4 with 4.30 gears. I towed very few times while I had it, but when I did, it had a car trailer loaded with my 91 Mustang and a cabin full of people and support gear (tools, jack, etc). I live in WV and we have some moderate hills on the interstate to get there. Needless to say, once I got up to 70-75 mph, it went into OD and stayed there unless I hit the bigger hills. I was impressed. The V10 is designed to make power at higher rpm's than an old big block. Doesn't hurt it a bit, so gear it where it needs to be. I would recommend at least 4.30's as a good compromise and it may be cheaper as it was a factory offering. You will find power that you did not know was there.

 

Well it looks like it is gears hands down. Better start saving some cash. Thanks. I still will probably do the exhaust, just casue I like the sound. V-10's do sound pretty cool with free exhaust! Some of the new go fast power boats have V-10's from Illmor & they are beyond awsome!