First Impressions - Diesel Forum

barrelhorses · 10-22-2008, 04:59 PM

I will change my sig later. Picked up new 2008 V10 in Columbus today. Drove it home (about 115 miles). I reset the MPG before leaving the lot and got up to 14.2 coming down 71 towards Cincinnati. By the time I got home, the average MPG was down to 13.5. I had about 30 miles of backroad and in-town driving between the highway and home. Overall, I'm very pleased with this MPG. My diesel would have got around 16 on the same trip.

Power wise, it seems to do fine. Being new and all, I really didn't put it to any test, though. I know that going 75 MPH on the highway it seemed to have PLENTY of pedal left. The few times I did pull out to pass something, I didn't nail it and it still passed with ease. I know it will not tow the LQ as well, but I won't be pulling it around too often anyhow.

LSchicago2 · 10-22-2008, 09:38 PM

I am trading my 05 6.0 for a new V10 too. Thanks for the report. Lloyd

Pappy19 · 10-22-2008, 10:52 PM

The more you drive your new V-10, the more you will love it. Yes, it is a high reving engine and it is designed to be such. Not to worry when it rev's to 4700 while passing a Dodge Cummins, you can just smile.

barrelhorses · 10-23-2008, 05:46 AM

I know I'm going to have to get used to it. I probably never had it over 3000 RPMs yesterday. First thing I have to do is quit watching the average MPG and just let the cards fall where they may.

jonrjen · 10-23-2008, 08:10 AM

On the open road with the cruise set around 65 you will be readings of around 17 MPG.
It is when you get off of the open road, where the go pedal gets played with in traffic or back roads when the MPG drops the average to the 13 to 14. IF you want to see something real scary, hood up a Scan Gauge and watch the instant read out of the MPG.
As Pappy says don't be afraid to run the RPM up the dial, the truck loves to see the higher rev's, it just takes some getting used to coming from a diesel.
The "Triton V-10 is Ford's Best Kept Secret"

Lightningfast01 · 11-22-2008, 10:22 PM

keep the updates flowing. I may be in the same boat with my 05 6L nearing 100K... I hate the new diesels and the new diesel emissions. I may be going back to gas this time around. I am not paying 9K in diesel fees for 8-12mpg and regens etc..
I am use to running 1800-2K most places towing. I would be freaked out by a screaming gasser, lol. I can only imagine the fuel flowing at that RPM!

I may see if there is a local V10 to try out.

barrelhorses · 11-23-2008, 09:01 AM

Lightning, I've got about 1500 miles on the new truck now. I'm still getting used to it. I've driven PSDs for the past 8 or 9 years. I really like the V10 so far. I'm only getting about 10.5 MPG overall right now but this is quite a bit of stop and go driving. I'm taking it on a road trip next weekend. Should see over 400 miles of highway mileage round trip.

timid1 · 11-24-2008, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightningfast01

keep the updates flowing. I may be in the same boat with my 05 6L nearing 100K... I hate the new diesels and the new diesel emissions. I may be going back to gas this time around. I am not paying 9K in diesel fees for 8-12mpg and regens etc..
I am use to running 1800-2K most places towing. I would be freaked out by a screaming gasser, lol. I can only imagine the fuel flowing at that RPM!

I may see if there is a local V10 to try out.

Around 8 is standard for towing in a PSD. Unloaded, you'll get closer to 14-15 MPG over time (probably about 10k miles). The $9k premium you pay for diesel will pay for itself over time, because you might only get 10-12 MPG on a gasser. Of course, someone who actually OWNS a gasser would be able to tell you for certain. I'm just speaking from experience with my brother's 00 Dodge Dakota, my 00 Frontier, and my 06 Titan.

Pappy19 · 11-24-2008, 09:49 AM

Towing heavy on a round trip from Idaho to southern New Mexico going through Colorado mountains, I got 9.3 average doing the speed limits. Solo, I am getting around 11.9. I have all the power I need and then some. This is a great setup with the V-10 and 4.10 gears, Torqueshift tranny works super.

LSchicago2 · 11-24-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timid1

Around 8 is standard for towing in a PSD. Unloaded, you'll get closer to 14-15 MPG over time (probably about 10k miles). The $9k premium you pay for diesel will pay for itself over time, because you might only get 10-12 MPG on a gasser. Of course, someone who actually OWNS a gasser would be able to tell you for certain. I'm just speaking from experience with my brother's 00 Dodge Dakota, my 00 Frontier, and my 06 Titan.

The diesel won't pay for it self here. My 03 V10 F450 gets 6 MPG
my 05 F450 gets 8 mpg. Gas is $1.89/diesel $2.99 here now, so, the V10 costs .31 per mile to drive for fuel, and my 6.0 costs .37 per mile for fuel. add the higher costs for maintenance, and all the high dollar diesel repairs. The V10 will save money every day from day one, the diesel will (no longer, not like 5 years ago) recuperate it's cost.

timid1 · 11-24-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSchicago2

The diesel won't pay for it self here. My 03 V10 F450 gets 6 MPG
my 05 F450 gets 8 mpg. Gas is $1.89/diesel $2.99 here now, so, the V10 costs .31 per mile to drive for fuel, and my 6.0 costs .37 per mile for fuel. add the higher costs for maintenance, and all the high dollar diesel repairs. The V10 will save money every day from day one, the diesel will (no longer, not like 5 years ago) recuperate it's cost.

I thought about that after I said it, and I agree!

The maintenance cost is often hidden. 15 quarts of oil, one oil filter, two fuel filters.... it does add up. Sounds like I'm being sarcastic, but I'm not. It adds up.

Lightningfast01 · 11-24-2008, 06:13 PM

The one plus is they are giving diesel away taking 15-20K off sticker. That negates the diesel up charge. Both trucks require a Torque shift trans.

barrelhorses · 11-29-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrelhorses

Lightning, I've got about 1500 miles on the new truck now. I'm still getting used to it. I've driven PSDs for the past 8 or 9 years. I really like the V10 so far. I'm only getting about 10.5 MPG overall right now but this is quite a bit of stop and go driving. I'm taking it on a road trip next weekend. Should see over 400 miles of highway mileage round trip.

I drove 460 miles starting out at home yesterday morning and ending up right back here this evening. Alot of the miles were I-75 between Cincinnati and Mt. Vernon, Ky., with the remainder being state roads and in-town driving. According to the lie-o-meter, I was averaging about 14.2 by the time I hit the Ohio River as we started our little journey (about 40 miles more or less). Due to Cincy traffic, I was driving about 55 most of the time until we entered the Blue Grass. From that point on, I started driving a bit faster

and my mileage subsequently dropped. I was driving 75 to 78 MPH most of the time with a few stints of 80+ and by the time I hit Lexington, I was averaging 12.8 MPG according to the lie-o-meter. When it is all said and done, when I filled up tonight, my hand calculations for the trip was 11.5 MPG. Definitely not spectacular, but I absolutely loved driving the truck. The same trip in my 2005 PSD got me around 16 to 17 MPG, so with current prices, I still saved about $0.015 a mile on fuel on this trip.

Now I can't wait to hook the LQ up and see what the truck'll do for MPG. I'm hoping for 8 but will settle for a little less. Of course, I won't be driving so darn fast so maybe it'll get 8.

Pappy19 · 11-30-2008, 07:30 PM

For about $600 you can add a Diablosport Predator programmer and an Air Raid intake system. Both will add about 2 mpg and mor poop to boot. I keep my Predator on the "middle" 91 octane-performance setting and really like it. I have 29k so far and NO problems, at all. Love this truck.

barrelhorses · 11-30-2008, 08:43 PM

Pappy, you need to add the air raid to you signature.

I haven't made up my mind, yet, as to whether or not I want to get a programmer. I am sure a programmer would add to the SOP-meter and maybe to the MPG, but I am still worried about screwing up the engine or transmission. I guess I saw too many 6.0 horror stories. I know this is not the same engine, though, and it has a history of being a strong, reliable engine.