I am looking at buying an 2003 F250 XLT 4x4 SC Fx4 v10. (78,000 miles on it) What kind of Mpg's do these beasts get? Also is the v10 an overall good engine?
Will be pulling a 7000 pound unitly trailer in the summer time.

 

I think they are great engines, But fuel economy really does suck. I get 11 on the freeway and 8 in town. I guess it doesnt help with a 8 inch lift and 38 inch tires But i love all the attention it gets

 

I have basically the same truck you're looking at...
I've been getting around 12 mpg in mixed highway/city driving... Have not towed with it yet. From what I hear, they are great engines. You may want to check out ford-trucks.com, they have a dedicated V10 forum with lot's of good info.

 

I've done a lot of research on these before I purchased an '06 F-250 with a V10. Got it in October and since then the mileage is slowly improving the more miles it gets on it. It's between 10 and 13 depending on where (city or highway) and how you drive. Lots of power and I've talked to a few owners who claim they have 200,000 miles on them. I just didn't want the diesel but needed the power for towing our RV. Personally I wouldn't have one for a daily driver though because of the fuel mileage.

 

Mine's listed in my sig. It is an auto with 3.73 and 33" tires. I get 11/12 mpg for mixed driving and a little over 14mpg for highway trips if I stay in OD and keep it at the speed limit.

Towing 4000 to 7000lbs on the highway it gets around 9mpg. More tha nenough power for that weight, even with the 3.73 axle. It pulls all the highway hills around here in WV in OD or 3rd doing 60/65mph.

ANd in my opinion the milreage on these engines is fine. You have to consider it's a 415cc engine in a 7000lb truck that makes 400lb-ft of torque at 2000rpm. Compare this engine to other gas engines in 3/4 and 1 ton pickups and you'll find it gets the same or better mileage than all the other engines out there from the other manufacturers and it still makes more torque than about all of them.

Take a look at the GM 6.0L and the Dudge 5.7L in their respective 3/4 ton trucks and you'll find even the 2v V10s like mine will easily smoke those two engines towing or unloaded and gets better mileage to boot! The only other gas engine out there that gives it a run for the $$ is the GM 8.1 and the Ford 2-vale 6.8L gets much better mileage and keeps up with the 8.1L despite being about 20% smaller than GM's "big-block".

The new 3valve V10s are even better and only slightly worse mpg from what I hear.


As far as I'm concerned, if you want a gas towing engine in a HD pickup the Ford V10 wins hands down.

 

BlackJack- forgot to mention, that most of the V10 guys that tow prefer the
4.30 gears...

 

I think you meant 415ci not cc. Just a slight difference between those.

 

Awww, just a small technicality! Ya'll know what I meant!

 

Yeah we all knew, just had to call you on it. Keeps the topics going on the forums that way. No harm, no foul.