I currently drive a 2004 F350 6.0PSD auto CC 4X4. I was commuting 50 miles a day and getting 14-17 mpg on Connecticut's highways ( 85MPH- crawl)very happy with the truck. My new job takes me 1.9 miles door to door. What is this going to do to my truck, even if I take the long way (6 miles) it still won't get to opperating temp.Should I be looking at a gas truck? I don't tow or haul anything I just like a CC Super Duty, I am looking at a 2006 King Ranch F250 CC with the 5.4L V8 4X4 3.73LTD slip. AT 3.00+ a gal for diesel and unleaded not to far behind is this a mistake or a wize move? Any input would be great.
New job , will it kill my truck?
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33 Hits and no comment? Not enough complaning about the 6.0 PSD? OK, I have a bell housing drip, 3 recalls, and replaced the glow plug harness on the right side. Back to the question what will the short trip do to my truck, should I be looking at a gas truck? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif
if you feel like you want a gasser, you got to decide that one
i would keep the diesel /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif
2 mile commute to work, you can walk to work or ride a bike lol,....
good luck with your decision /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif
i would keep the diesel /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif
2 mile commute to work, you can walk to work or ride a bike lol,....
good luck with your decision /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif
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1,146 Posts
Have you considered just buying a small used car for the daily commute? Nothing fancy, but just some wheels to get back and forth to work....
With current gas and diesel prices, you are going to be saving 3 to 4 gallons of fuel a day from your current expenses. That's roughly $8 to $10 per day. You could pay for a small used gasser pretty quickly with that "extra" money.
With current gas and diesel prices, you are going to be saving 3 to 4 gallons of fuel a day from your current expenses. That's roughly $8 to $10 per day. You could pay for a small used gasser pretty quickly with that "extra" money.
[ QUOTE ]
Have you considered just buying a small used car for the daily commute? Nothing fancy, but just some wheels to get back and forth to work....
With current gas and diesel prices, you are going to be saving 3 to 4 gallons of fuel a day from your current expenses. That's roughly $8 to $10 per day. You could pay for a small used gasser pretty quickly with that "extra" money.
[/ QUOTE ] I have to agree with this post, you can always buy a old beater truck or car to use to drive back and forth to work In. Do you tow anything? If all you do Is use the truck for a daily driver then Diesel Is really overkill even If It does get better fuel mileage. Of course half of the reason of owning a diesel Is for the fun of It. It comes down to your money, and Its your choice on what you want to buy with It. As far as hurting the engine, I think not. You can always start It up and let It warm up before making the 2 mile journey to work, and remember there Is the weekends to get out and put It through It's paces. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Have you considered just buying a small used car for the daily commute? Nothing fancy, but just some wheels to get back and forth to work....
With current gas and diesel prices, you are going to be saving 3 to 4 gallons of fuel a day from your current expenses. That's roughly $8 to $10 per day. You could pay for a small used gasser pretty quickly with that "extra" money.
[/ QUOTE ] I have to agree with this post, you can always buy a old beater truck or car to use to drive back and forth to work In. Do you tow anything? If all you do Is use the truck for a daily driver then Diesel Is really overkill even If It does get better fuel mileage. Of course half of the reason of owning a diesel Is for the fun of It. It comes down to your money, and Its your choice on what you want to buy with It. As far as hurting the engine, I think not. You can always start It up and let It warm up before making the 2 mile journey to work, and remember there Is the weekends to get out and put It through It's paces. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
The truck is my only vehicle. I like big Fords. I like pickups. I owned a car once. I guess my question is will a 5.4 v8 gasser push a CC 4X4? I don't tow or haul anything except the trips to the cheepo depot,dump,and garden center.
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205 Posts
I don't commute very far to work either - about 1 mile to and from work and my dually is also my daily driver. My advise, for what it's worth, is to let it warm up, drive it. So long as you use it more then just committing to work, you should be OK. I have had only a re flash - and no other work done to mine.
I had this same question years ago with our first PSD and I went with a small beater. We have the room for the extra rig and the insurance is cheap for an older beater. I looked for a Toyota as their rep stands pretty tall for holding up and to this day I don't think my 3rd PSD minds me driving that little Toyota back and forth. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif Just my 10cents worth.
Your truck will work fine even with short distance driving. Just take it for longer trips a few times a week to get it properly warmed up. Short distance driving is equally tough on gassers and diesels during the winter.
The 5.4 engine is actually pretty decent and works well unless you are into towing or just like having serious power. Several folk at work have 5.4's and are happy with them.
As far as getting a second vehicle to drive to work.... I picked up a small Subaru two years ago. It sits in the garage and collects dust. Full size trucks are *much* more fun to drive.
Lou Braun
The 5.4 engine is actually pretty decent and works well unless you are into towing or just like having serious power. Several folk at work have 5.4's and are happy with them.
As far as getting a second vehicle to drive to work.... I picked up a small Subaru two years ago. It sits in the garage and collects dust. Full size trucks are *much* more fun to drive.
Lou Braun
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34 Posts
Does ford offer the 5.4 in the king ranch 250/350's?
IMO you won't be satisfied with the 5.4 in a Super Duty. It's a great engine, but nothing to compare with the power an feel of your 6.0.
If it were my truck, I would do three things:
1. Keep it plugged in no matter what the temps are.
2. Let it idle to warm up a min of 3 minutes.
3. Buy a preluber such as the one Here
The pre luber will eliminate the danger of dry starts, thus eliminating the concern with taking frequent, short trips.
I would invest in some good synthetic oil, and possibly a bypass filtration system(not Amsoil Dual bypass), and I wouldn't worry about it at all.
If it were my truck, I would do three things:
1. Keep it plugged in no matter what the temps are.
2. Let it idle to warm up a min of 3 minutes.
3. Buy a preluber such as the one Here
The pre luber will eliminate the danger of dry starts, thus eliminating the concern with taking frequent, short trips.
I would invest in some good synthetic oil, and possibly a bypass filtration system(not Amsoil Dual bypass), and I wouldn't worry about it at all.
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143 Posts
I drive a 95 saturn with 100,000 miles on it to work everyday, truck stays in garage until I am ready to pull either boat or travel trailer. Mine is a 6 mile each way, but can't beat the mileage on a 11 year old 4 banger!! Only have to fill it twice a month!! I would keep it and get a beater, jmho!
Supercrew632
Supercrew632
Even though your trip to work has shorten drastically, if your family is anything like mine there is always a reason to get in the PSD and take it somewhere. We take my truck everywhere, work is just one of the places it goes, the thing is so comfy the family would rather take it anywhere we go.
You may want to change the oil more often and every once in a while take the truck out and really drive it hard. I know one person with a 5.4 in their F250 and they don't like it, but it does everything that ask it to. Personally, I don't think the 5.4 is the right choice for a superduty. It's a good engine but not the right choice.
Rick
Rick
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164 Posts
I would keep the 6.0 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif , as the others have said just take a good hard run at least every other week or so and enjoy it. Assuming you would trade the 6.0 in for the gasser you would take quite a loss and would not be worth it.
IF you really do move to a gasser get the V10 and 4.10 (maybe even the 4.33 if most driving is under 70 MPH) not the 5.4 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif or the 3.73, the gas engines need more revs than the 6.0. Mileage is not that much worse for the V10 (compared to the 5.4) and power /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif is closer to what you have now.
IF you really do move to a gasser get the V10 and 4.10 (maybe even the 4.33 if most driving is under 70 MPH) not the 5.4 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif or the 3.73, the gas engines need more revs than the 6.0. Mileage is not that much worse for the V10 (compared to the 5.4) and power /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif is closer to what you have now.
The only thing that causes problems with short trip not warmed to temp driving is. The condensation moisture that developes inside an engine while it sits has no chance to be disapated with the heat buildup of the engine. This moisture will mix with the oil and cause the oil to sludge up sooner, and shorten its useful life. If you have ever looked into the valve cover of an engine through the filler hole and seen a whiteish film hanging around inside. This is what happens when this cold driving goes on for long periods, as in months at a time with no real warmed to operating temp driving. If you change your oil under extreme service guildlines, it should cause no other problems. It would help to warm the engine up fully once a week or so though. This is "NOT" a problem for diesel engines only, it also effects gas engines the same way. As far as hurting the engine, it will not."IF" you properly maintain the oil, and warm it up fully at least once per week. If you do this no warm up driveing, day after day for a couple of months with no longer trips to warm the engine, you will develope the white sludge in your oil. If you do it with a gas engine it will happen just the same way.
i wouldnt reccomend the 5.4 in a CC superduty.i loved it in my 99 supercab F150 but it wasnt enough for my 2004 expedition.really sucked when trying to pass on a two lane.the new 3valve has more power but thats a LOT of weight.Not only that it got 3-5 mpg less than my 6.0 .hope this helps and good luck.
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