Superduty V10 vs 6.0

[Halligan]

I had a 2008 F350 with the V-10. The motor is light years better than the 6.0 diesel in terms of reliability. The only downfall is the spark plug design in the 3 valve heads. Ford is very aware and very ignorant of this flaw. They actually redigned the heads in late 2007 to correct this issue. I did a quick search and any V-10 built after 10/9/07 should have the updated head/plug design. My truck was an early 08 (built in April 07). If you want the best possible V-10 scenario I suggest buying a late 2008 or 2009 V-10. That will eliminate any spark plug worries. If your limited to an 05-08 V-10 expect plug issues. FWIW I loved my V-10/Torqueshift combo. I just had to many issues with the rest of the truck so I ditched it (well before I needed spark plugs).

[bfdiesel]

All the Modular Ford engines used the same spark plug and head design. The problem with them spitting plugs gets blamed on the V-10s. They are actually less common to blow plugs than the V-6 or V-8 engines and how often do you hear about them failing? Not very.

Everyone I know who has or had a 5.4 has lost at least one spark plug. That is about three people, but batting a 1000 from where I stand

[shfd739]

Im in the same boat but looking at an Excursion next year. I like the V10 for the gas simplicity but the diesel for the power and better economy.

I want as new a truck as possible and the 5 speed trans so that leaves with a 6.0 if going diesel.

Our mechanic at work has owned a V10 Ex and currently has a 7.3. He's also had a couple 6.0 trucks along with turning wrenches on all of them at work.

It looks like V10 Ex's all get low teens on the highway for mileage and when towing it goes into single digits. The diesels seem to do high teens empty and low teens when towing. That to me is appealing.

Our mechanic's advice has been to find a low mileage 6.0 with a good history and no current issues; do the EGR delete and Bulletproof oil cooler and enjoy it.

Personally Im still torn. I like the gas motor for quietness and simplicity but the diesel will do better fuel wise and the power.

[bjm206]

As a production change in 2003 they added more threads to the spark plug ports on the heads. Engines built after the change seem to only have the problem if the plugs are over torqued when replaced in the only examples I have heard of. In the past (2v modular engines no longer in our fleet) I have seen the issue occur frequently enough to notice on engines built before the change date. Sometimes on engines that had never had a plug change. Ford has a TSB (07-21-2) that covers how to do the repair which is a little daunting the first time you do it.

[Got Beer]

I went from a 7.3l to a V-10 (not voluntarily, a bone head rolled my crew cab in Mexico). That V-10 was a pig I could not wait to off load. Very poor mileage. Towing a flat bed trailer with two dirt bikes up Hwy 395, I was mocked and heckled by my cousin in his diesel. I could only pull about 40 mph up the grades. In fact, once I sold the V-10, I towed the same load with wife's V-6 Tacoma and went faster up the grade and better gas mileage. My V-10 was a 2001 F250 Supercab with shell. Mileage was closer to 10-11 mpg even without towing dirt bikes.

Ever since losing my 7.3l, I longed for the return of having to turn the motor off to order from the drive-thru window.

[greasyfingers]

Good info, thanks.

My 6.0 seem louder than most and has been since new. The exhaust is very quiet coming from the tailpipe - the noise is engine compartment, I don’t think a 7.3 has anything on it as far as diesel clatter and general din. Inside the cabin engine noise is OK with the windows up, overall it is reasonably quiet on the freeway. I have to shut off the engine at any park entrance (a problem if the engine is smoking hot from driving up a mountain) or any drive thru to be able to communicate with someone outside the truck. It detracts from idyllic natural areas to hear the noise with the windows open, definitely detracts from the experience on a otherwise quiet scenic drive with the windows open and knowing that anyone around me has to listen to it too.

Gas mileage would be acceptable since I wouldn’t be using it as a daily driver, except that the gas tank on these trucks is pretty small, 29 gallon on my truck, unless they have a larger tank '05.

Just so you know the FTE resonator drastically reduces in cab drone, so even if the sound from your tail pipe is fairly quiet a lot of the noise people complain about with diesels is the drone while driving. Yes the engine it’s self is noisy due to compression ignition and injector clatter but that nearly disappears with the other mods I explained earlier. Also I coated the exterior of my valve covers with spray on bed liner too which cuts injector noise in half.

I used to drive 6.0s daily and I can tell you they are fairly quiet compaired to my 7.3 which didn't have the sound deadening at the time.

Im in the same boat but looking at an Excursion next year. I like the V10 for the gas simplicity but the diesel for the power and better economy.

I want as new a truck as possible and the 5 speed trans so that leaves with a 6.0 if going diesel.

Our mechanic at work has owned a V10 Ex and currently has a 7.3. He's also had a couple 6.0 trucks along with turning wrenches on all of them at work.

It looks like V10 Ex's all get low teens on the highway for mileage and when towing it goes into single digits. The diesels seem to do high teens empty and low teens when towing. That to me is appealing.

Our mechanic's advice has been to find a low mileage 6.0 with a good history and no current issues; do the EGR delete and Bulletproof oil cooler and enjoy it.

Personally Im still torn. I like the gas motor for quietness and simplicity but the diesel will do better fuel wise and the power.

What is complicated about a diesel?

I agree, an EGR delete or aftermarket and head studs and 6.0 problems are gone. It is unfortunate thats what you have to do make it relyable but alot of cars have their problems.

I went from a 7.3l to a V-10 (not voluntarily, a bone head rolled my crew cab in Mexico). That V-10 was a pig I could not wait to off load. Very poor mileage. Towing a flat bed trailer with two dirt bikes up Hwy 395, I was mocked and heckled by my cousin in his diesel. I could only pull about 40 mph up the grades. In fact, once I sold the V-10, I towed the same load with wife's V-6 Tacoma and went faster up the grade and better gas mileage. My V-10 was a 2001 F250 Supercab with shell. Mileage was closer to 10-11 mpg even without towing dirt bikes.

Ever since losing my 7.3l, I longed for the return of having to turn the motor off to order from the drive-thru window.

I'm with you the v10 is guttless! and even if you don't care if you're paying 70% more for fuel cost, your range on the stock tank goes from 475/550(diesel) to 300/350(gasser)

Recently I made a trip from GA to ND and I averaged 21mpg hand calculated and I had over 500lbs of gear in the bed. I also moved from Anchorage, AK to GA pulling a goose neck and a GCVWR of 21,000lbs and I averaged 13mpg. Usually i get 16-17mpg in the city.

I'm just saying that the 6.0 can be made quiet and with a couple mods it can be relyable and have good milage. And you'll likely save the amount in EGR/studs in your first year of fuel expence.

[homemade]

So it looks like an ‘05 V10 has issues too, I wasn’t looking at anything newer because of price and I don‘t want to trade one set of problems for another.
Has anyone here actually installed an EGR delete kit like the Sinister product? They list 6-8 hours to install so that probably means at least a weekend for me.

[transientmechanic]

I like my 6.0 but I have owned Land Rovers forever so "quirky" is normal. I really think they get a bad reputation undeservedly... There are a handful of things that go wrong and nearly all of them show signs of failure beforehand and will not leave you stranded.

Yes, mine has broken on me. FICM failed, that was $400. No big deal really. I have an EGR delete and head stud kit waiting to be installed as soon as i get a free weekend to tear the motor apart. This doesn't bother me like it seems to bother so many other people. But, like I said... I'm coming from a long history of Land Rovers....

[bfdiesel]

I like my 6.0 but I have owned Land Rovers forever so "quirky" is normal. I really think they get a bad reputation undeservedly... There are a handful of things that go wrong and nearly all of them show signs of failure beforehand and will not leave you stranded.

The ICP sensor went out on my brothers 05 with no warning and it did leave him stranded. Also the 6.0 is prone to blowing a line off the high pressure oil pump which will leave you stranded.

A side note; we had a cold spell last year (-40's F) and one of the fuel stops here in town wasn't selling a good winter blend of diesel. The Chevy's and Dodge's did fine on the clouded fuel, but the Ford's mostly 6.0's were parked along the road. They had just enough fuel to make it a 1/2 mile to mile down the road before the primary filter plugged.

The Ford's parked inside did fine, but the ones parked outside and just plugged in were the troubled ones. Those of us with Chevy's and Dodge's had fun towing them to a shop or garage to warm up.

[greasyfingers]

You can also go with an aftermarket EGR if you have inspections in your area. Check this place out http://shop.strictlydiesel.com/store...L_Engine_Parts I have ran 6.0s in Alaska in some extremely cold temps running regular #2 and the truck start just fine as long as the glow plug system is properly funtioning, -35* with out plugging in.