Ford F-350 6.8L V10

[brisam]

I am looking at updating my tow truck to a 2009 F-350 with the 6.8 L V10 gas engine. Would like to receive comments on the performance and reliability of the V10 engine. Have heard they are gas guzzlers.
I currently pull a 2014 Montana 3402RL rated about 16,000 lbs GVWR with a GMC Duramax and very happy with the performance of the diesel engine. Looking at the F-350 as the gas engine units are pricing 4 to 8000 dollars less than the diesel units and now only travelling less than 4,000 miles a year and getting less each year.
Not interested in hearing pros and cons of diesel versus gas, only want to hear of experience's with the Ford V10 engine.

[unclesam]

If you do any of your own maintenance on your. vehicles, spark plugs are really "fun" on this engine!

[mlh]

I have a V10 Motor Home. Most C class Motor Homes are Ford chassis V10. They DO like gasoline as any gasoline engine does that is being worked hard. The V10 does have a reputation of having spark plug problems. I think the threads stripping out. If you need to have the plugs changed be sure they are installed to specs. Other than that they are a solid engine. There is a Ford V10 web site look it up and see what they say about these engines.
Lynwood

[dieselguy]

The V10 is a pretty good motor for a gasser. It has to spin at a higher RPM to make its power ... noticably more than your current diesel. That characteristic in itself is a bit unnerving for some. It may bug you for ever one of those 4000 miles you tow per year since you are used to a diesel. And ..... Yes they are gas hogs ....

[Joint Venture II]

The 09 V10 is a 3 valve engine and makes 362 hp @ 4,750 rpm & 457 ft lb torque @ 3,000 rpm. The Ford V10 has a stellar reputation for reliability. Assuming the engine has been well cared for throughout its life, you can expect it to last at least 200,000 miles before needing to perform any major repairs. That means the big V10 shouldn't scare you away, unless 7-8 mpg on a good day frightens you towing your FW.

Is the 6.8 Triton V10 reliable? Overall, this engine is well built and is highly reliable. Outside of the common spark plug blowout issue on the pre 2002 engines, there aren’t really any costly problems that the 6.8 Triton is known for. The spark plug issue can be fixed preventatively with a repair kit that costs a few hundred bucks. The only other known common problems are super simple and inexpensive fixes.

I have owned 4 V10 powered trucks, 2 with the 4R100 auto trans and 2 with 5 or 6 speed manual trans. My present truck was a 5 speed manual but I swapped to a 6 speed manual for better towing use. I have owned a new 2004 F250 4WD V10 6 speed manual, 2001 Excursion 4WD V10 auto, 2002 F350 4WD CCLB V10 auto, and my present truck. All (present truck has 103k miles) went over 200k with no spark plug issues or any problems whatsoever. I tow a Monty in my signature and am very happy with my towing power, get between 7.33 and 8.57 mpg regularly towing. Running w/o FW gets me 13.5 - 14 mpg. The 3 valve engine will get less but you have more power too.

[mlh]

If you aren’t satisfied with the power you can get a tuner from 5 Star that will help some but not much. What it does is use all the gears in the transmission more efficiently.
Lynwood

[DadsHemi]

I’d also be looking the rear gears in it.

[Joint Venture II]

Originally Posted by DadsHemi

I’d also be looking the rear gears in it.

Very good advice, V10's love the 4.30 axle ratio in pick ups.

[mlh]

I think my MH gears are 488.
Lynwood

[Dave W]

Having towed a 12K+ 5er with a F350/w.V10 would advise against using one for a 16K 5er, Besides never seeming to pass a gas station(6-7.5 mpg), the 5 speed transmission can never find the right gear going up anything but the least grade, even with the 4.10 final gear ratio. Get a diesel and forget a V10 with that much RV.


A MH with a V10 has a much higher gear ratio but is still in the 5-7mpg range at best.

[Joint Venture II]

I have to agree that towing 16k is tough for a V10 although it can be done. Towing 12k is a very reasonable demand from a V10 as I have learned from towing mine over western mountains but I am also geared with 4.30's and utilize a manual 6 speed transmission. On a recent trip to Wyoming I traveled over 5 passes and never dropped below 38mph even at 6k elevations. Averaged 7.12 mpg for the round trip of 2734 miles.

[artfuldodger]

Yes diesels are more money but much of the extra cost comes back at trade in time. If fuel prices don,t come down though, but continue to rise, fossil fuel vehicles are going to be almost worthless on resale in the future.

[brisam]

Like to thank everyone for your comments. A few of the comments remind me of the days when I pulled a lighter RV with a 6L gas and the relief I felt when I went diesel. I think I will search for a diesel when replacing my existing truck. Thanks again.

[jeririgged223]

Had a gas engine pickup and couldn't get rid of it fast enough. Felt like I couldn't pass a gas station without the fear of running out we used fuel so fast. Changed to a diesel and I'll never go back as long as I'm pulling my Montana

[Ml barber]

Originally Posted by brisam

I am looking at updating my tow truck to a 2009 F-350 with the 6.8 L V10 gas engine. Would like to receive comments on the performance and reliability of the V10 engine. Have heard they are gas guzzlers.
I currently pull a 2014 Montana 3402RL rated about 16,000 lbs GVWR with a GMC Duramax and very happy with the performance of the diesel engine. Looking at the F-350 as the gas engine units are pricing 4 to 8000 dollars less than the diesel units and now only travelling less than 4,000 miles a year and getting less each year.
Not interested in hearing pros and cons of diesel versus gas, only want to hear of experience's with the Ford V10 engine.

Diesel

[northern lights]

AWe have a 2005 V10 XLT that has done the Rockies several times with zero problems. It gets 10-11 mpg city & 7 towing a 13,000 pound 5th wheel. It's not an economy truck.

It isn't afraid of anything. It has 185,000 Miles & the only repairs other than maintenance & regular oil changes were brakes, a pinhole in a brake line & catalytic converter replacement.

The ride is great. Everything works fine. it's a 3 valve engine. We bought it used 5 years ago. The same truck retails for about $6-$7,000 now. Balancing that with the costs of a diesel truck, it's a great buy for the money now.

It does want to downshift a lot if cruise control is on going up a 6% grade. So, I don't try to use cruise control on those and so there no automatic gearshift problems. Using the accelerator going up those gives more control too.
Lesser grades aren't an issue with constant downshifting.
It always starts. It always runs. It's always dependable.

We had a V10 in our old motor home & I became a believer back then. A great value for the money.

[Joint Venture II]

Originally Posted by northern lights

AWe have a 2005 V10 XLT that has done the Rockies several times with zero problems. It gets 10-11 mpg city & 7 towing a 13,000 pound 5th wheel. It's not an economy truck.

It isn't afraid of anything. It has 185,000 Miles & the only repairs other than maintenance & regular oil changes were brakes, a pinhole in a brake line & catalytic converter replacement.

The ride is great. Everything works fine. it's a 3 valve engine. We bought it used 5 years ago. The same truck retails for about $6-$7,000 now. Balancing that with the costs of a diesel truck, it's a great buy for the money now.

It does want to downshift a lot if cruise control is on going up a 6% grade. So, I don't try to use cruise control on those and so there no automatic gearshift problems. Using the accelerator going up those gives more control too.
Lesser grades aren't an issue with constant downshifting.
It always starts. It always runs. It's always dependable.

We had a V10 in our old motor home & I became a believer back then. A great value for the money.

Couldn't agree more and find your reasoning very sound. I considered buying a new F350 7.3 gas 4x4 earlier this year but when they told me my cost was $65k and they would take mine on trade for $6k I laughed and got up and left. At the time I had 98k miles on mine and it ran perfect. Never looked back either.

A diesel without a doubt has more towing power, gets far better fuel mileage and might last more miles BUT at what costs? Paying $75-100k for a truck isn't in my "play book" nor will it ever be. More up front costs & more maintenance costs and God forbid you have problems after the warranty is gone. I love being debt free and able to do whatever I want.

[davideboe]

As you only tow 4000 miles per year, I presume that you believe you will save money for fuel as you drive the V-12 without the 5th wheel. Do you know the mileage expected when you are not towing? I have a 2003 Chevrolet 2500HD with the 8.1 ltr with a 4.10 differential. Towing my 12,000 lb 5th wheel, I got 7.5 mpg. Driving without the 5th wheel, I got 11 mpg. I attributed that to the 4.10 differential.

[Joint Venture II]

Originally Posted by davideboe

As you only tow 4000 miles per year, I presume that you believe you will save money for fuel as you drive the V-10 without the 5th wheel. Do you know the mileage expected when you are not towing? I have a 2003 Chevrolet 2500HD with the 8.1 ltr with a 4.10 differential. Towing my 12,000 lb 5th wheel, I got 7.5 mpg. Driving without the 5th wheel, I got 11 mpg. I attributed that to the 4.10 differential.

All 4 of the V10 powered trucks I have owned had 4.30 axle gears in them. all of them would when not towing and just cruising at 65-70mph produced 13-15mpg on cruise control. Manual transmission trucks achieved about 1/2mpg better then the auto versions. GM products with the 8.1L engines burn more fuel due to the larger displacement then the Ford 6.8L V10's and 8.1L GM engines are old technology cam in block design while the V10 is new technology overhead cam design and more efficient.

[mlh]

I thought Ford went back to over head valve with the new 7.3 engines.
Is that right?
Lynwood