Best motor for reliability/cost of ownership between super duty gassers (and 6.0)
 

For various reasons, I need a temporary super duty for about 12-18 months. Based on budget and whatnot, I've narrowed it down to these options and would love your opinion which one I should get for lowest cost of ownership + reliability. I've found trucks I like in my price range with each of these combos, and they cost about the same. I haven't read any comparisons that take engine mileage/price into consideration (IE the 6.8 may be better than the 5.4, but what if it has double the mileage? Is that still true?)

High mileage (230k+) 6.8l V10
High mileage (280k+) 6.2L V8
Low mileage (<150k) 5.4L V8
High mileage (200k+) 6.0L V8 that some shady guy claims is bulletproofed

I'll put at least 5000 miles on it over the year/year and a half that I own it and won't be towing more than 8000 lbs... but I have no concerns about engine power among all these. I lost my F150 and temporarily tow with my wife's V6 Pentastar at the moment, but I'm slightly over my axle rating :)

Get the gas 6.2 or the V-10. Diesel 6.0 is high cost of ownership, the 5.4 is going to be a bit underpowered in a Super Duty and may have VCT issues (same engine that was in your F150). The V-10 has non-variable cam timing and the 6.2 is a relatively simple 2 valve engine that's almost bulletproof.

Perfect- Exactly what I needed to hear. I'll lean on the V10 or 6.2! Thank you.

I'll leave the thread open for anyone else to add on in the next 24 hours and then I'll pick one up tomorrow.

Thanks!

Did the super duty 5.4 get VCT?

Yep. ALL 5.4 3 valves had VCT, the Super Duty switched from the 2V to the 3V in 2005. The only vehicle that kept the 2 valve was the E-series van.

The V10 3 valve did not have VCT. 2005 was also the first year of the 3V V10.

I'd go with the V10.

The 6.2 is going to be in a newer truck. 2010 was the last year of the V10, in 2011 they replaced both the 5.4 and V10 with the 6.2. The 6.0 diesel will be a 07 or earlier.

The V10 I am eyeing is a 2010 while the 6.2 is a 2011.
​​​​​​I used to always drive my bosses 6.0l Amarillo, and so the 6.0 I am eyeing is an 06.

Note that the V10 will have a 5 speed auto, the 6.2 a 6 speed. Neither one has spark plug breakage issues, but the 6.2 uses dual plugs.