F350 V 10

[unreconstructed]

Thanks for all the replies. I saw the 15mpg on an RV web site. Don't think I will ever see that. I drove mine 1200 miles in the last two weeks. The best mileage I have gotten so far was doing 80 (thats the speed limit) on I10 with a tailwind--a little over 12.5 I think. With a head wind I doubt I would have gotten 9 at that speed.

Anyhow, as I stated earlier, towing with this vehicle is a much better experience that with my 5.4. I believe I like the 350 over the 250, but that may be just my imagination.

 

[machmeter62]

Thanks for all the replies. I saw the 15mpg on an RV web site. Don't think I will ever see that. I drove mine 1200 miles in the last two weeks. The best mileage I have gotten so far was doing 80 (thats the speed limit) on I10 with a tailwind--a little over 12.5 I think. With a head wind I doubt I would have gotten 9 at that speed.

Anyhow, as I stated earlier, towing with this vehicle is a much better experience that with my 5.4. I believe I like the 350 over the 250, but that may be just my imagination.[/QUOTE

I have a '78 Ford F-350 dually dump truck (6600# empty) with a 351 Cleveland engine/4.10 axle, and get 10 mpg around town empty, and 10 mpg on the hwy loaded at 55 mph. It struggles to a crawl on steep hills with the 4 speed trans. It's licensed for 14,000 GVW.

 

[JiminGa]

2004 King Ranch F250 V10 FX4 4x4 crew cab short bed...bought it used last August with 83000 miles. I have 160000 miles as of today. the computer gives me very close to 15 on the highway running 70. only thing done to it is a k&n air filter. It had 315-75-16 tires on it when I got it and the computer gave me about 12.5 on the highway. in town I get around 12.
I love my truck, it's been problem free to this point, I wish it got better mileage, but I'm glad it's capable of doing everything I've asked of it.

 

[jcmseven]

I personally could get a little over 14 on the highway with my V10 (2002) model. This engine also had a chip in it for extra power, although I doubt it made as much power as the new ones stock. My neighbor has a V10 in his Excursion and just ticked over 200K miles, still running great. I am NOT going to illicit any diesel/gas comments hopefully, as per the original mandate of this post, but owning a new 2008 diesel I would say the mileage of the two empty should be within 1-2 mpg on highway and perhaps closer in town. The V10 is an underappreciated motor in my opinion. It is as tough as a nail, and very powerful. In the truck test done by I believe Pickuptruck.com(?) it took the other gassers behind the woodshed. It also posted excellent acceleration for such a heavy truck. I suspect once broken in further our OP should see 15 on highway and 10+ while pulling if the load is not too heavy.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

I would like to post a correction. I cited the PUT.com article I read based on my recollection. I then, after posting, went back and read the article again. The Ford V10 performed well, winning or placing second in most tests it appears. All the trucks seemed to perform similarly when empty with the Ford improving the most when towing. This to me does not represent the dominance I had recalled reading earlier. I apologize about any confusion; it was unintentional and I hope I have corrected my misstatement. I should say that the Ford V10 was "very competitive" with the other gasoline trucks. I do think, though, it is an excellent engine that any potential Ford HD buyer should consider when looking at a new truck.

John M

 

[Runner]

I have a 2004 F350, single rear wheel, extended cab, long bed V10 with the 4.30 rear axle. My experience so far has been an average highway mileage of around 11. Towing a 5,000 lb boat it got around 9.

 

[Runner]

Should have put this in the previous comment, but here are my "issues" so far with the F350:

-A/C compressor had a bad seal and leaked within the first 6 months - replaced under warranty

-Ford used cheap radiator hose clamps, the kind you just squeeze to open instead of with screws to tighten, and I've had three of them spring leaks. Ford replaced them with the good ones under warranty, but only the one that was leaking each time, not all at once. I could have done this myself, but it was a matter of principle - Ford needed to see that this was a problem.
I still have some of the spring type clamps on there and carry spare screw-type clamps in the toolbox, just in case...

-One tail light was burned out at 350 miles. Not a big deal, but strange in a new vehicle.

-Mine puts out a puff of white smoke about every third or fourth start. From what I read on the Ford truck web sites, this is not unusual for the V10 and does not indicate a problem, but it still looks strange coming from a new vehicle. I haven't heard a defininite explanation for this issue yet.

Otherwise the vehicle has given good service and performed as expected.

Runner

 

[Robert_in_NY]

-Ford used cheap radiator hose clamps, the kind you just squeeze to open instead of with screws to tighten, and I've had three of them spring leaks. Ford replaced them with the good ones under warranty, but only the one that was leaking each time, not all at once. I could have done this myself, but it was a matter of principle - Ford needed to see that this was a problem.
I still have some of the spring type clamps on there and carry spare screw-type clamps in the toolbox, just in case...

What year is your truck? Do you know if they used these clamps on just the V10 or all of the engines? So far I have not noticed a leak on either our 02' 5.4 or 06' 6.0. I can't remember what was on my 4.6l on my F-150 but they held great as I had to pull the alternator and the one radiator hose was in the way (as well as a bunch of other things). I am just curious. Take care.

 

[Runner]

Mine is a 2004.

Don't know if they used the same ones on all engines or not. However, after I took mine back in for the second time, I crawled under one of the new ones they had on the lot and looked to see what it had. The dealer had installed an extra screw clamp right next to the spring clamp on them.

Quite ironic to have my new Built Ford Tough Super Duty spewing coolant because Ford tried to save 3 cents on hose clamps....

 

[mjncad]

Quite ironic to have my new Built Ford Tough Super Duty spewing coolant because Ford tried to save 3 cents on hose clamps....

That's what happens when accountants dictate decisions best left to engineers and designers. BTW, my wife is an accountant.