6.0 owner with V10 questions - Diesel Forum

60psd · 02-16-2006, 09:58 PM

I have the truck in my sig. and have had numerous problems with it. I have looked at other makes but the super duty is still the nicest truck out there. My last option would be to go to a V10. I tow a trailer that weighs approx 10k lbs twice a month and various other lighter trailers. Trips vary from 100 miles to 800 miles. My question to you guys is would I be happy with a V10's performance and gas mileage. How bad is the mileage? I would be looking at an '06 f350 cc lb 4x4 auto. Any opinions would be appreciated.

DaveV10 · 02-17-2006, 03:33 AM

See my sig below. I didn't tow anything with this one yet. On my daily drive to work and back, about 18 miles each way, I'm getting between 9 and 10 mpg every week. Oh well, it looks tough doing it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] I had an 02' before this that was set up the same and got about the same mpg. It was never back to the dealer for anything except to get the hubs lubed right before the warranty expired.

60psd · 02-17-2006, 08:09 AM

I see you have the 4:30's...Would the 4:10's be sufficient and would that hurt less at the pumps.

ADStryker · 02-17-2006, 09:15 AM

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... about 18 miles each way, I'm getting between 9 and 10 mpg every week...

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First I'll make you feel bad, then I'll make you feel better. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

My truck is similar, except it's a PSD crew-cab long wheel-base with a 6.5" lift. I get about 14 mpg around town running empty (elevation is around 5000' here).

However, you'll pay less for the V10 than the PSD. $5k buys a lot of gasoline. Let's say, over the life of the truck, that gasoline averages $3/gal, and diesel averages $3.5/gal. Let's assume average V10 mileage is 10 mpg and average PSD mileage is 15 mpg. Let's assume that the V10 costs $5k less than the PSD. Let's ignore differences in maintenance costs for now.

Therefore, for every 100,000 miles driven, the V10 uses 10,000 gallons of gas at an average cost of $30,000. The PSD uses 6,667 gallons of diesel at an average cost of $23,333. So, the V10's fuel costs are greater by $6,666 per 100,000 miles.

So, if you're going to keep the truck for 100,000 miles or more, maybe it makes sense to get the diesel. It's more complicated than that, obviously, because you also need to account for the increased cost of maintenance on the diesel (it has a larger oil capacity, etc.) and you'd need to account for differences in trade-in value.

However, the other thing to consider is that the fuel cost is spread out over time, so you don't incur it all at once.

That being said, the real advantage of the turbo-diesel to me is that it doesn't lose as much power at high altitudes as the normally-aspirated V10. But if you're not towing in the mountains that doesn't really matter.

I think you'd be much happier with an average-running V10 than one of the lemon 6.0 PSDs.

60psd · 02-17-2006, 09:42 AM

ADStryker, I did almost the exact fuel cost analysis as you posted last night while I was sitting here trying to make a decision as to what Im going to do(great minds think alike [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]). Then I got to thinking about when the truck got over the 100k mile mark. Will it still pull strong and just how long after 100k will it be reliable. Man, I love my truck when it runs....why couldnt I just have gotten a good one [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]?

bigred6 · 02-17-2006, 11:23 AM

I have a 99' with a V-10 and 4:30 gearing. I am running 285/75/16 and get around town 12-13 and Hi-way 13-14. As, far as the towing, every time I towed, the truck didn't seem to know the load was back there. Now, I may not of tow close to the 10K. But, I do not know as I never weighted the load. I have the towing,camper packages, with Auto trans.
I think that a diesel may ahve been better. But for me, the V-10 is just right.
So, my feelings are, buy what you want.... If it don't fit you needs you could always sell it....
tj

60psd · 02-17-2006, 01:24 PM

What about longevity? If taken care of, will it go 150k and still stay reliable? Or will it be ready for a repower?

bigred6 · 02-17-2006, 02:15 PM

I am pushing 97,000 miles and it still seems to have the power as when i first bought it.
tj

60psd · 02-17-2006, 02:29 PM

Thanks man. Im just trying to make a tough decision. Do I keep my truck, which has left me on the side of the road too many times, do I just loose money and get another diesel, or do I break even and go with the V10. Thanks for the input.

robsd · 02-17-2006, 03:08 PM

The 3v v10 has a ton more power than my 99. My 99 tows so-so in OD but real nice out of OD. Heaviest thing is about 6k with a tractor and trailer. Out of OD it worked well. But if you get one get the 4:30 for the towing. I have 3:73 and 315 tires. So I may be running 3:23 or so on the rear end. Not really that good for towing. I average about 11-12 on daily driving, never checked the towing. My truck is a CC LB 4x4. A v-8 would have probably been fine for me.

You really sound like you need a diesel, to bad you got a bad one.

mflores · 02-17-2006, 03:29 PM

My dads got a 99 V-10 and he has hit the 200,000 mark. Still runs good and he still tows with it everyday. He gets between 11 to 14 mpg. The truck is a tow truck so all of those miles are pulling miles. The only problem he has had is a fuel pump. I would recommend one to someone. It all comes down to power. If you can live with a little less power, go with the gasser. But if you want the power you are going to have to go with the diesel.

BadDogPSD · 02-17-2006, 11:39 PM

I've had the 7.3 PSD and now the V10 in my current truck. They are both great motors and tow very well. Personally, I think my 7.3 did a better job towing than my 6.8... it just seemed to have 'endless' power pulling grades. The 6.8 does fine towing, but it's not the same. Milage wise, I got 16-18 with the 7.3 in mostly highway driving, and 12-14 when towing my 10k lb 5th wheel.
The V10 is getting 14 mpg mostly highway and about 10 towing 7k.

60psd · 02-18-2006, 03:15 AM

The V10 is getting 14 mpg mostly highway and about 10 towing 7k.

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Those numbers arent too bad. Are they hand caculated?

BadDogPSD · 02-18-2006, 10:35 PM

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The V10 is getting 14 mpg mostly highway and about 10 towing 7k.

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Those numbers arent too bad. Are they hand caculated?

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I was actually surprised it's getting that good of milage. And yes, it's hand calculated... fill to the neck each time & divide the miles driven by the gallons added...

ordually · 02-19-2006, 02:48 AM

Towing wise I've been very impressed with the V10. I dragged a 4 horse GN trailer loaded with my belongings from Denver to Portland over the high, hot, windy, fast-running I-80 and was very happy with the V10. GCVW was 19,200 according to the scales in Cheyenne. Truck weighs 7520 empty, so call it a 11,700 lb trailer load. I climbed most grades at 70-75 without a problem, passing anybody I wanted to. The V10 also had the power to quickly regain speed (say 55->75) on a 4-6% grade if you got caught behind a truck, that part surprised me the most. I was only below 65MPH on one very long steep (7%) hill and that one got me down to 60. This was at mostly 7000+ ft elevation and 90 degrees outside, not prime conditions for a normally aspirated engine.

Mileage-wise I get about what the others are reporting here, 14 MPG highway at 70MPH or so, about 12-13 MPG at 80-84MPH, and about 10-11 in pure city stop-n-go. Towing mileage on that run was between 9.5 and 7.5, not bad given the speed I was running. From what I read here most diesels start to suck it down pretty good when you're over 70, and I did most of that at around 80MPH.

Ord