2004 F-350 V-10

/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #1  

Treemonkey1000

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2008
Messages
1,894
Location
Renton, Washington
Tractor
Kubota L3750
Just wondering if any of you have heard pro's and con's about the 2004 V-10? Not sure when they came out with the V-10's. This truck is on sale at a local dealer for $21K. It has 24K miles on it. I would be hauling my Kubota
L-3750 which is about 4000lbs so that should be no problem. I do tree work so more than likely would only be putting up to 3000 miles a year if that much.
Right now I have an 1988 Chevy with the 454 which is giving me 7 mpg..
Tossing this out there to get some wisdom from you all. Maybe take a look at the webpage go to trucks and look for the Dark Gray 2004 Crew Cab lariat..

Used-Frame
 
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/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #2  
Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 1948-2009 Ford F150, Super Duty & SUV owners community and information source. Covers F100, F-150, F250, Bronco, Ranger, Explorer, Expedition, Lighting, Escape and More might help with some of your questions. Looks like a sharp truck, I thought the maroon one beneath it was equally impressive. From what I have heard/read, I wouldn't shy away from a V-10 for gas mileage, read where some users are getting 10-13 mpg, same as my 6.0 Diesel, without the $6K additional dollars to the sticker.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #3  
I'm running an '08 1 ton dually flatbed with the V-10. It has the 4.30 gears and will show around 12.8 mpg on the road empty(which is almost never). Towing 9,000 to 14,000 lb loads on a gooseneck trailer is usually around 8.9 mpg. Lots of power.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10
  • Thread Starter
#4  
Cool thanks for the replies and websites guys. I will look into that. Looking at the other info it says 3.73 gears and limited slip axle. Camper package. So I am guessing I would still get better mileage then my older Chevy.. Brings up the question of torque for pulling hills. The 454 engine in my older Chevy seems to pull the hills pretty well. Here in Washington we do have some steep stuff occasionally. No fun having a bunch of cars behind old "farmer Jim" :eek:
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #5  
2000-2004 6.8L V-10 is rated at 310 HP and 425 ft.-lbs. of torque. I believe your 454 is 230 HP/385 ft.-lbs..
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10
  • Thread Starter
#6  
dgl24087 said:
2000-2004 6.8L V-10 is rated at 310 HP and 425 ft.-lbs. of torque. I believe your 454 is 230 HP/385 ft.-lbs..
The 454 is only rated to 230 HP? Actually the motor in the truck is a 1992 454
Shoot my big Chainsaw has that much HP :D
 

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/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #7  
The Ford V-10 has been around for a while and has proven to be a good, reliable, engine. Parts aren't too expensive for it and it'll last 200k or so if taken care of. I'd say go for it.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #8  
There was a pretty well discussed thread on the V-10 several months ago on TBN. You might give it a search--we discussed mileage in depth. I believe there may have been several posts on different year models.

My 08 V-10 does just what I want it to do. I have a 6 speed manual and 4.12 rear I believe. Get 9 or so towing and high 13's to mid 14's empty on the highway.

I tow a 5203 with front end loader and bell tech PHD. I really don't know the exact weight of all that. the tractor is 4700 pounds for sure. the trailer is a 20 ft 12000 pound bumper pull big Tex. Works OK for me.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #9  
I had a 03 F250 with the V10 and the 6 speed stick
13mpg around town and on highway (consistently)

7 to 8mpg towing.

had plenty of power, although it would finally slow down on long long up hill grades (remember I'm at 5000 feet to start) but for most things, no big deal.
the auto's get a couple points worse milage.

fine truck
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #10  
Buy the gas station that goes with it. Are you serious ? In less than 2 years gasoline will be 8 dollars a gallon. I have a friend with an 04 V-10.... no local dealer will even take it in trade. Those trucks are sale proof. If you need a puller get a cummins... or at least try one out.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #11  
joes_427_vette said:
Buy the gas station that goes with it. Are you serious ? In less than 2 years gasoline will be 8 dollars a gallon. I have a friend with an 04 V-10.... no local dealer will even take it in trade. Those trucks are sale proof. If you need a puller get a cummins... or at least try one out.

But if that's true, then diesel fuel will be 10 dollars a gallon.

I think the newer version of the V-10 is the best "big block" gas choice right now.

Today, the big difference between gas & diesel is the longevity of the engine-generally a diesel will outlast a gas engine by 2-3X the miles or hours and the MPG advantage once a load is attached to the truck. Diesels don't suffer the dramatic drop in fuel economy that gassers do once the big trailer gets hooked up.

Ford was rumored to be doing away withthe V-10 for the "Boss V-8" 6.2l 400hp replacement, but with truck assembly lines basically being shut down at Ford, I don't think much of Ford's little money they have left is going into truck development.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #12  
Actually, Ford has plans to introduce a smaller version of the F150, codenamed P525 and likely to be badged as an F100, scheduled for 2010 or 2011. Powerplants are to be a 4 cyl. and an Ecoboost (gasoline direct injection and turbocharged) V6. Also in the works is a Ranger replacement, codenamed T6, also to be introduced in 2010 or 2011. This truck is to be built in Thailand, South Africa, and Australia, possibly Mexico as well. The Thailand built truck cannot be imported to the US due to the "chicken tax". 4cyl. engines, gas and diesel, are rumored, and V6 engines, gas and diesel, may be available as well.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #13  
dgl24087 said:
Actually, Ford has plans to introduce a smaller version of the F150, codenamed P525 and likely to be badged as an F100, scheduled for 2010 or 2011. Powerplants are to be a 4 cyl. and an Ecoboost (gasoline direct injection and turbocharged) V6. Also in the works is a Ranger replacement, codenamed T6, also to be introduced in 2010 or 2011. This truck is to be built in Thailand, South Africa, and Australia, possibly Mexico as well. The Thailand built truck cannot be imported to the US due to the "chicken tax". 4cyl. engines, gas and diesel, are rumored, and V6 engines, gas and diesel, may be available as well.

Well yeah sure, but notice the few new trucks they are introducing are smaller, lighter & more economical?

You'll find very few plans for new big block gas sucking engines......except to drastically curtail production of them.

I read that GM plans to introduce hybrid technology to their full size trucks by 2009.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #14  
dgl24087 said:
2000-2004 6.8L V-10 is rated at 310 HP and 425 ft.-lbs. of torque. I believe your 454 is 230 HP/385 ft.-lbs..

I sometimes wonder whether the engines are actually that much more powerful or whether it's just the way they're measuring horsepower and torque now. I think you're right on the ratings. I used to pull the fifth-wheel we lived in with a 1989 Chevy one on dually with the 454 and I think the 230 hp was right. Then I traded truck and trailer for a 40 ft. Bounder motorhome powered by a 1991 Ford 460 V-8 gas engine and I think it, too, was rated at 230 hp. Of course in those days both of those vehicles just had 3 speed automatic transmissions. I put a Gear Vendors overdrive on the Chevy and a U.S. Gear overdrive on the motorhome.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #15  
Boy, I hate to even speak up here because I know where these threads tend to go. I have a 2004 F350 V10, bought it new, still very happy with it. Yeah it uses gas, but guess what?, anything that hauls uses gas. I have horses, cows and a big old 5th wheel camper. I need a big truck. I have 70k on it and hope to get 200k which will take ten years. God Bless America and drive what fits your life.

Semper Fi,
Bake
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10
  • Thread Starter
#16  
Ok I am not trying to stir the pot at all here. I started doing some googling on the V-10 and Duramax diesels. Taken with a grain of salt I know that most any vehicle can be put on a pedestal or be buried in a pile of bad publicity. Here is what I found. The F-350 V-10 looked great. I am trying to justify how much to spend on a vehicle that I may put 3000 miles a year on. Of that 3K miles 80% will be not towing anything. Maybe hauling a bed full of chips and logs.
10 Worst Used Cars and Trucks
Spark Plug Ejected From Engine - Ford Problems.com

Chevrolet fail to warranty Duramax Diesel Engine - Trucktrend.com Truck Talk Forum

Drove around today looking at several car lots. Quite a few V-10's to be found. Some Duramax trucks. The nicest was a 2005 Dodge 5.9Liter 24 valve Turbo diesel.. Now that would last me till the cows come home...
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #17  
The V-10 is a good engine and I average 13 - 13.5 MPG empty on my F-250 4x4 with 5-speed manual and 4.11 limited slip rear end. I don't tow often, so I don't have towing MPG available; but when I do tow something it does just fine. The heaviest thing I've towed with it was a Bobcat mini excavator.

For the amount of miles you plan to put on yours, the V-10 should be more than satisfactory. Mine gets the same light usage you plan on Tree.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #18  
Another thing to consider, can you get an Excursion with the V10. You would have to check the towing ratings of the X compared to the truck to see if would handle what you need to tow.

The X's were made up until 2005. The 6.0L diesels had a bad reputation. The 7.3L are pretty good. We are watching the prices drop on the X's and might get one in the next 6 months or so. The prices for SUVs have dropped 25% over the last few months and I think the trend will continue. You might be able to get the V10 for real cheap in an X.

Later,
Dan
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #19  
Treemonkey1000 said:
Ok I am not trying to stir the pot at all here. I started doing some googling on the V-10 and Duramax diesels. Taken with a grain of salt I know that most any vehicle can be put on a pedestal or be buried in a pile of bad publicity. Here is what I found. The F-350 V-10 looked great. I am trying to justify how much to spend on a vehicle that I may put 3000 miles a year on. Of that 3K miles 80% will be not towing anything. Maybe hauling a bed full of chips and logs.
10 Worst Used Cars and Trucks
Spark Plug Ejected From Engine - Ford Problems.com

Chevrolet fail to warranty Duramax Diesel Engine - Trucktrend.com Truck Talk Forum

Drove around today looking at several car lots. Quite a few V-10's to be found. Some Duramax trucks. The nicest was a 2005 Dodge 5.9Liter 24 valve Turbo diesel.. Now that would last me till the cows come home...

Well, the engine might, anyway....Dodge trucks have had numerous problems over the years. Everything from "death wobble" in the front end which is a mysterious wobbling of the steering system that on all accounts can be downright scary to extremely weak automatic transmissions that collapse behind all that Cummins torque.

The 5.9L Cummins does not escape problems, either. In the past, they have had the dreaded #53 block, which was cast too thinly resulting in massive engine failure and the "killer dowel pin" problem, causing massive engine failure, too.

remember, a diesel engine is only part of the equation. There's thousands of other parts that can fail and cost you thousands, too.

I think your best bet is to buy the best value truck for your hard earned money and forget all the "sky is falling" crap you read on the internet.
 
/ 2004 F-350 V-10 #20  
Builder said:
I think your best bet is to buy the best value truck for your hard earned money and forget all the "sky is falling" crap you read on the internet.

I agree! gas can double for all I care, but I am still going to hold onto my paid for 2004 Z71. what's the use of having a gas sipper if I can't use it to do any of my work? times are tough but as the old saying goes, "things aren't as bad as they seem"
 
 
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