V-8 vs V-10 vs Diesel
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: North Carolina
V-8 vs V-10 vs Diesel
I'm looking around at F-250's and wanting to get some ideas on the different engines. I currently have an F150 with a 5.4 v8 so I know what to expect there. But I'm not familiar with the v10's and 7.3l vs 6.0l diesels. Can anyone offer experiences? I'm researching this because I'm looking for a larger camper (8k to 10k in GVWR).
Fuel mileage?
Towing ability?
Longevity?
Performance?
Fuel mileage?
Towing ability?
Longevity?
Performance?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 175
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From: Mechanicsville, VA
Here's my $.02,
The 5.4 is NOT enough engine for the F-250. While that engine does a great job in our F-150s, the F-250 is too heavy for the 5.4. One of my friends has a 5.4 in his 2002 F-250 4WD crew cab. It wants to get out of it's own way, but just can't seem to do it!. And I THINK the tow rating for the F-250 w/ the 5.4 is only in the 8800# range.
My thought is that there are only two choices of engines for the newer F-250, the V-10 and the 6.0 PSD. If you tow with your truck ALOT, I'd go with the diesel, but the payback on the diesel is around 3-400K miles (due to the nearly $6K initial cost and increased maintenance costs). If the tow vehicle is NOT going to be your "daily driver", get the V10. You'll only get about 8MPG towing a 10K # camper, but you can buy alot of gasoline (even at $2/gallon) for the $6K front end difference. The diesel in stock form will get you about 12-13 MPG pulling that same load--(Diesel owners chime in here if I'm out of line)--
The 6.0 PSD will do a little better on fuel that the older 7.3s, but I have not heard evidence that either of them "sip" fuel. If you're looking to buy a Pre-owned truck in the "Super Duty" body style, you won't go wrong with either diesel. I know plenty of guys who have been driving the 7.3 PSDs for years and still love them. I think the only major trouble some of them have had was with the torque converters (auto trannys, of course).
OK, sorry to be so long-winded here, but I'm facing a similar situation. I am looking for a larger camper also and you have many more choices if you have enough truck to tow them. I will probably be forced to pay more for a lighter camper so I can keep driving my F-150. The 15 mpg I'm getting with it is bad enough---I can't imagine stepping up to the price of a PSD or the fuel mileage of the V-10 right now (while the truck is my primary transportation). Now if I find an old beater car to drive every day, the gloves may come off and I'll put a V10 in the driveway.
I sure hope all of this rambling has helped in some way,
Sidewinder
The 5.4 is NOT enough engine for the F-250. While that engine does a great job in our F-150s, the F-250 is too heavy for the 5.4. One of my friends has a 5.4 in his 2002 F-250 4WD crew cab. It wants to get out of it's own way, but just can't seem to do it!. And I THINK the tow rating for the F-250 w/ the 5.4 is only in the 8800# range.
My thought is that there are only two choices of engines for the newer F-250, the V-10 and the 6.0 PSD. If you tow with your truck ALOT, I'd go with the diesel, but the payback on the diesel is around 3-400K miles (due to the nearly $6K initial cost and increased maintenance costs). If the tow vehicle is NOT going to be your "daily driver", get the V10. You'll only get about 8MPG towing a 10K # camper, but you can buy alot of gasoline (even at $2/gallon) for the $6K front end difference. The diesel in stock form will get you about 12-13 MPG pulling that same load--(Diesel owners chime in here if I'm out of line)--
The 6.0 PSD will do a little better on fuel that the older 7.3s, but I have not heard evidence that either of them "sip" fuel. If you're looking to buy a Pre-owned truck in the "Super Duty" body style, you won't go wrong with either diesel. I know plenty of guys who have been driving the 7.3 PSDs for years and still love them. I think the only major trouble some of them have had was with the torque converters (auto trannys, of course).
OK, sorry to be so long-winded here, but I'm facing a similar situation. I am looking for a larger camper also and you have many more choices if you have enough truck to tow them. I will probably be forced to pay more for a lighter camper so I can keep driving my F-150. The 15 mpg I'm getting with it is bad enough---I can't imagine stepping up to the price of a PSD or the fuel mileage of the V-10 right now (while the truck is my primary transportation). Now if I find an old beater car to drive every day, the gloves may come off and I'll put a V10 in the driveway.
I sure hope all of this rambling has helped in some way,
Sidewinder
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 135
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From: Alberta, Canada
It all comes down to dollars, if it were me and I had an extra five grand for a diesel, I would opt for that in a F350. The one tons have a better ride believe it or not than the 3/4 tons and they cost about the same and can take a lot more abuse. Otherwise, the V10 in my experience is actually an okay motor(wife's work van has one). Fuel mileage with the diesel is a little better, but not much(You'd have to go through a lot of tanks of fuel before you finally paid off that five grand premium), and the diesels cost about triple to service(oil and filter changes) Also, I'd hesitate to buy a used diesel because if you end up with a bad one, they will bankrupt you. At least if you buy new, you've got a warranty for a while.