F350 V 10

unreconstructed · Nov 28, 2007

Finally got my 08 F350 (2WD) with V10 which I ordered in mid-August. Towed my Jd 5203 with FEL to my place over Thanksgiving. The V10 did everything I expected it to do --I replaced my F250 with 5.4 with the 350.

Mileage was about 9 towing and 12 1/2 without a load on the highway. Have read reports of the V10 making 15 mpg highway on a good day. Don't know that I will pick up much more mileage after putting on a few more miles. Will add a K&N after warranty expires.

Any feedback from V-10 owners?

NOTE: not trying to get into a diesel vs gasser debate..

IllMarty1 · Nov 28, 2007

I had 2000, 2003, F350s 4wd CC SRW with V10s. I now have 2006 but an F250. Gas mileage towing was very similar with 10000lb 2 axle bumper pull trailer. Non towing mileage about 11 combined city/hwy driving. Only got 14 once when on highway running about 72 mph with big tail wind. Just weighed it the other day empty with 1/2 tank fuel and was 7600lbs with no driver or passengers.

I love my truck. Tows great and lots of room.

twabscs · Nov 29, 2007

I purchased a 2008 F250 CC 4x4 Lariat with the V10 and just love it. I looked all over for a V10 and finally the dealer had to drive 350 miles (one way) to pick one up at another dealer out of state. Traded in an 05 6.0L oil burner and am very satisifed with the change. After doing lots of research, I just couldn't spend the extra $6K just to get the 6.4L desiel especially after the reduction in MPG going from the 6.0L to the 6.4L. Plus all of the new desiel emission requirements will eventually add to more costs down the road. I don't tow a whole lot so it was the right choice for me.

I've got 2K miles on her now and averages about 12.5 MPG on the HWY. Over time that is supposed to go up a bit once the motor breaks in, etc.

Robert_in_NY · Nov 29, 2007

Great to hear some actual numbers. I get tired of hearing how so and so gets 30 mpg with his motor or so and so gets 35 with his brands motor

I get around 16mpg with my 06 F250 with 6.0 and that is just normal local driving. I never clocked it while towing. Our 4.6 and 5.4's get around 10-14 depending on what tools are in them. I think our next truck will have the V10 and while I like my 6.0 I do not need two diesel trucks at one time as the rest of our towing on a normal basis it light duty towing of 2-3 tons.

radman1 · Nov 29, 2007

I have a 1999 V10 F250. Yours is about 75 more hp and 3 valve design instead of my 2 valve design. The early ones had some issues with blowing out spark plugs if not torqued tight enough. I have not had that problem. The V10 has been an otherwise extremely reliable engine for Ford. I make about 9-10 with fairly heavy load. 12mph empty at 65-70mph. My all time worst mph was about 5-6 mph pulling, tall, heavy load at 65-70 mph with 25-30 mph headwind. For me, wind resistance will hurt fuel mileage much more than weight of load. I use mine about 80% of the time pulling some type of trailer.
I think about getting a newer model but this one has had almost 0 problems. My next one might be a diesel, but a gasser is probably the most logical choice for my use.

john_bud · Nov 30, 2007

unreconstructed said:
Finally got my 08 F350 (2WD) with V10 which I ordered in mid-August. Towed my Jd 5203 with FEL to my place over Thanksgiving. The V10 did everything I expected it to do --I replaced my F250 with 5.4 with the 350.

Mileage was about 9 towing and 12 1/2 without a load on the highway. Have read reports of the V10 making 15 mpg highway on a good day. Don't know that I will pick up much more mileage after putting on a few more miles. Will add a K&N after warranty expires.

Any feedback from V-10 owners?

NOTE: not trying to get into a diesel vs gasser debate..

I think you are right in the ball park for that rig. All the guys with them get 12-14 mpg empty. Most don't pull much and they get the same pulling small trailers (snow mobile, ATV, Boat, etc). There really isn't any way you will get much more mpg with that truck as it is tall, broad and heavy. But hey, it's a TRUCK.

Most of the guys have bought a 2nd or even a 3rd time with the V10 and like them all lot. One went from a V10 to a 5.4 and LOST mpg. Not a happy camper, but he has no patience and jumps the loud peddle expecting V10 torque.

Enjoy the ride,
jb

TheDingy · Nov 30, 2007

Be glad that you got the V10 in the Ford's in the 08's I know of a lot of people that have traded in due to the gas mileage in the 08 diesel's from Ford. There was a F250 that someone I know had it was getting between 4.5 and 6.0 MPG when driven in city traffic and the highway, this is not a good thing!

mjncad · Nov 30, 2007

My 1999 F-250 XLT Super Duty 4 x 4 has a super cab, long bed, V-10, 5-speed manual, 4.11 limited slip rear end and I get an average of 13.5 MPG from it. I get 450 miles on a tank of gas. I don't tow often; but when I do the V-10 has served my needs just fine, though I don't have any towing MPG figures. The largest thing I've towed is a mini excavator from the rental yard.

I would like a set of headers, cat-back exhaust and a K & N style oil-less air intake system for it.

I've been quite pleased with the engine, and at the time I ordered it, it was 10% the cost of the 7.3L diesel.

My only gripe with the truck is there is a sour spot at 65 MPH where the cab noise is quite loud. I attribute this to a combination of engine and drivetrain harmonics.

I'm noticing more and more V-10's in newer Super Duty's around here and I'm wondering if that's due to the added cost of the 6.4L engine and the lower MPG due to the modern emissions hardware. I had my truck in for routine maintenance at the local Ford dealer and I saw that diesel oil and filter changes were in the $100+/- range depending on engine displacement.

JESSE1 · Nov 30, 2007

TheDingy said:
Be glad that you got the V10 in the Ford's in the 08's I know of a lot of people that have traded in due to the gas mileage in the 08 diesel's from Ford. There was a F250 that someone I know had it was getting between 4.5 and 6.0 MPG when driven in city traffic and the highway, this is not a good thing!

If you're getting that kind of mileage then you've got a sick truck. The emissions equipment has definately hurt mileage but not that bad. My '08 F-450 has only 1600 miles but so far it's gotten a high of 15 highway and 12 city driving. That's with a 4.30 axle ratio and a 8900# truck. You do have to keep your speed down, these trucks are as aerodynamic as a brick. The mileage on all the new diesels have been hurt by the emission equipment.

The V-10 is supposed to be a bulletproof engine. I've never heard of anyone having a major problem with one. They make a lot of sense in an F-250/350 SRW pickup.

Offy · Nov 30, 2007

I special ordered my Y2K CC Dually with the V-10. It has continually delivered 12-13 mpg when not towing. The worst that I have gotten was just over 8mpg towing a sprint car from Florida to Iowa at 80+ mph. It has plenty of torque for towing and a lot more pleasant that a diesel to own.

unreconstructed · Dec 3, 2007

Thanks for all the replies. I saw the 15mpg on an RV web site. Don't think I will ever see that. I drove mine 1200 miles in the last two weeks. The best mileage I have gotten so far was doing 80 (thats the speed limit) on I10 with a tailwind--a little over 12.5 I think. With a head wind I doubt I would have gotten 9 at that speed.

Anyhow, as I stated earlier, towing with this vehicle is a much better experience that with my 5.4. I believe I like the 350 over the 250, but that may be just my imagination.

machmeter62 · Dec 3, 2007

unreconstructed said:
Thanks for all the replies. I saw the 15mpg on an RV web site. Don't think I will ever see that. I drove mine 1200 miles in the last two weeks. The best mileage I have gotten so far was doing 80 (thats the speed limit) on I10 with a tailwind--a little over 12.5 I think. With a head wind I doubt I would have gotten 9 at that speed.

Anyhow, as I stated earlier, towing with this vehicle is a much better experience that with my 5.4. I believe I like the 350 over the 250, but that may be just my imagination.[/QUOTE

I have a '78 Ford F-350 dually dump truck (6600# empty) with a 351 Cleveland engine/4.10 axle, and get 10 mpg around town empty, and 10 mpg on the hwy loaded at 55 mph. It struggles to a crawl on steep hills with the 4 speed trans. It's licensed for 14,000 GVW.

JiminGa · Dec 3, 2007

2004 King Ranch F250 V10 FX4 4x4 crew cab short bed...bought it used last August with 83000 miles. I have 160000 miles as of today. the computer gives me very close to 15 on the highway running 70. only thing done to it is a k&n air filter. It had 315-75-16 tires on it when I got it and the computer gave me about 12.5 on the highway. in town I get around 12.
I love my truck, it's been problem free to this point, I wish it got better mileage, but I'm glad it's capable of doing everything I've asked of it.

jcmseven · Dec 4, 2007

I personally could get a little over 14 on the highway with my V10 (2002) model. This engine also had a chip in it for extra power, although I doubt it made as much power as the new ones stock. My neighbor has a V10 in his Excursion and just ticked over 200K miles, still running great. I am NOT going to illicit any diesel/gas comments hopefully, as per the original mandate of this post, but owning a new 2008 diesel I would say the mileage of the two empty should be within 1-2 mpg on highway and perhaps closer in town. The V10 is an underappreciated motor in my opinion. It is as tough as a nail, and very powerful. In the truck test done by I believe Pickuptruck.com(?) it took the other gassers behind the woodshed. It also posted excellent acceleration for such a heavy truck. I suspect once broken in further our OP should see 15 on highway and 10+ while pulling if the load is not too heavy.

John M

jcmseven · Dec 4, 2007

I would like to post a correction. I cited the PUT.com article I read based on my recollection. I then, after posting, went back and read the article again. The Ford V10 performed well, winning or placing second in most tests it appears. All the trucks seemed to perform similarly when empty with the Ford improving the most when towing. This to me does not represent the dominance I had recalled reading earlier. I apologize about any confusion; it was unintentional and I hope I have corrected my misstatement. I should say that the Ford V10 was "very competitive" with the other gasoline trucks. I do think, though, it is an excellent engine that any potential Ford HD buyer should consider when looking at a new truck.

John M

Runner · Dec 4, 2007

I have a 2004 F350, single rear wheel, extended cab, long bed V10 with the 4.30 rear axle. My experience so far has been an average highway mileage of around 11. Towing a 5,000 lb boat it got around 9.

Runner · Dec 4, 2007

Should have put this in the previous comment, but here are my "issues" so far with the F350:

-A/C compressor had a bad seal and leaked within the first 6 months - replaced under warranty

-Ford used cheap radiator hose clamps, the kind you just squeeze to open instead of with screws to tighten, and I've had three of them spring leaks. Ford replaced them with the good ones under warranty, but only the one that was leaking each time, not all at once. I could have done this myself, but it was a matter of principle - Ford needed to see that this was a problem.
I still have some of the spring type clamps on there and carry spare screw-type clamps in the toolbox, just in case...

-One tail light was burned out at 350 miles. Not a big deal, but strange in a new vehicle.

-Mine puts out a puff of white smoke about every third or fourth start. From what I read on the Ford truck web sites, this is not unusual for the V10 and does not indicate a problem, but it still looks strange coming from a new vehicle. I haven't heard a defininite explanation for this issue yet.

Otherwise the vehicle has given good service and performed as expected.

Runner

Robert_in_NY · Dec 4, 2007

Runner said:
-Ford used cheap radiator hose clamps, the kind you just squeeze to open instead of with screws to tighten, and I've had three of them spring leaks. Ford replaced them with the good ones under warranty, but only the one that was leaking each time, not all at once. I could have done this myself, but it was a matter of principle - Ford needed to see that this was a problem.
I still have some of the spring type clamps on there and carry spare screw-type clamps in the toolbox, just in case...

What year is your truck? Do you know if they used these clamps on just the V10 or all of the engines? So far I have not noticed a leak on either our 02' 5.4 or 06' 6.0. I can't remember what was on my 4.6l on my F-150 but they held great as I had to pull the alternator and the one radiator hose was in the way (as well as a bunch of other things). I am just curious. Take care.

Runner · Dec 4, 2007

Mine is a 2004.

Don't know if they used the same ones on all engines or not. However, after I took mine back in for the second time, I crawled under one of the new ones they had on the lot and looked to see what it had. The dealer had installed an extra screw clamp right next to the spring clamp on them.

Quite ironic to have my new Built Ford Tough Super Duty spewing coolant because Ford tried to save 3 cents on hose clamps....