I have not really heard anything negative regarding the 2v V-10's. I spend a lot of time on the camper forums. Folks like me (who do not put a lot of miles on their trucks) love the power. I have the 3v V10 with the 4.30's, talk about impressive on steep inclinces pulling my 10,000 lb travel trailer with cargo (4 bikes & firewood) in the bed!!!! I get ~9mpg towing, mostly camp nearby within 3 hours, and take 2 trips down south 12-14 hour trips per year, and the mileage does not change running locally on flat land or in the hills in WV, VA, and NC.

 

Any year V10 would be fine. Sure, the 3-valve V10s have a more efficient head design, but Ford is cranking more power out of them, so any fuel economy that the new heads gain you is lost.

 

My 2004 V10 4x4 crew cab with the 4.10 gears pulls my 28 ft 8,000 lb (empty) trailer no problem! In fact, I constantly have to keep my eye on the speedo 'cause every time I look down, I'm doing 70mph..easy. It's quiet and runs like a top. If fact, we've gone on a few trips where the in-laws are following behind in their car, and they often comment how well the truck pulls hills.

Plus, right now anyway, diesel is 35 cents per gallon than regular.

Factor that in, plus the ???$ grand difference for diesel, depending on how much you drive/tow, it might take you a very long while to break even.

 

I have the V10 in a 2002 Excursion,It's a Rocket,will pull a mountain and gets 12-14 MPG. I would buy another in a second..P.S. 100,000 miles and I replaced the battery twice,thats my expenses other than maintenance and it uses about 1/4 quart between changes,LOL

 

Looks to be a fleet truck...baffles the mind why they didn't put a hitch on this truck.

I think you can do better...

JP

 

I don't think it was... Fleet trucks don't have aftermarket tint on the front windows, Ventvisors, and a bug shield. And that trucks bed didn't look too bad for no bedliner...

 

The plug ejection thing was fixed with the 2000 models and is practically unheard of with later models. The reason was due to a combination of too few threads in the plug ports and the relatively soft aluminum the plugs are threaded in to. Ford was replacing the heads under warranty when it happened but a stripped plug port can be easily and fairly cheaply rebuilt with a Heli-Coil kit.

Other than that, the engine has a stellar service record. It's been around since I think 1997 when Ford started using it in Econoline vans. It started out at I believe 270hp/400lb-ft, then in 2000 went to 310hp/425lb-ft and went to the 3V heads in 2005 with another bump to something like 362hp/457lb-ft.

Mine's 5 years old and has been perfect and never leaves me needing more power. I've kept it bone stock-never felt the need to **** away $$ on tuners or any other aftermarket junk.

All that aside, I'd never commit to buy the eBay truck unless you can drive it and take a look under the truck. Who knows, it could be a lemon or the deal of the century. Good luck!

 

Also to chime in as well... this engine is used for power generation purposes as well as the Essex V6 (4.2l) used for the same thing. Ford Power Products only sells those two engines for Marine, Power, and other applications.

What's even better is the fact that they use the engines that are built overseas for Power Products here in the US. Kinda interesting.

 

Just got to drive a V10 at a dealership and was pretty impressed.Was a 2005 3V with enough power for what I would need.To bad the truck was not in that great a condition.Wanting $28000 with 45000 on the clock,a little beat up though as it was a work truck.Is on E-Bay at a dealership in Folsom.The V10's are sure hard to come by used.

 

I found mine through Ebay, I had to go out of state to get it. It's in pretty good shape There are some deals out there if you keep looking.

 

I have a 99 F-250 with the V-10 for a work truck with 411 rear end I believe. This truck has been great. It's never been in the shop for anything. Gets 11mpg all city driving and has plenty of power. if you find a nice one get it!!!!!!!!!!!