Gas mileage on the F250 v10

[whitey]

Torn between a 7.3L oil burner or the V10.
The truck wont see a bunch of action. Most likely hauling fire wood and a few trips east of the mountains hauling dirt bikes and sometimes a fishing boat.

My girl friend has the 7.3 litter F250 and it only gets about 13-15 mpg.
What can a guy expect to get in a V10.
I have a small block chevy with a 454 in it and it only gets about 10 mpg.

I heard the V10's get pretty good mileage.
what are Your thoughts on this.
Thanks.

[predatorpro]

my dads f350 v10 gets about 10 to 11! my cummins gets anywhere from 18 to 23! 

[Rick]

With diesel as much or more than unleaded,you'll have to put a TON of miles on a truck to make up for the higher purchase price of the diesel engine.

For a truck that won't get driven much,you'll probably never make up the difference.

[follow maggie]

Have a buddy that has one with the v10. I think it's a 2009. It gets 9mpg loaded or empty, kind to the skinny pedal or hard on it.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Have a V10 in my work truck. I get 10 with it no matter what. Loaded or unloaded.

The extra you pay for a diesel you make up for in power, fuel mileage and resale value. I bought a 2005 dodge diesel for 30,500 in 2005. I sold in 2008 for the same price. My 08 dodge is worth as much now as it was when i bought it new. If i needed a nock around truck i wouldn't hesitate on the V10, my work truck has all the power in the world. And if you find it for the right price you can buy a whole lot of gas for the difference in price of a new truck.

[Huntbear]

Brother's 2001 F250 Superduty with the V10 gets about 12 empty and 8 or 9 loaded with a camper.

[Hunter mike]

My Cummins gets rarely less than 17 combined unloaded (hills will knock it down a bit and of course towing the 8000lb trailer I get 10-14).  About 20-22 on easy hwy driving.  I use a V10 Ford at work and I think around 10 combined is as good as it gets.  A nice enough rig with good power, but those 10-cyl tuneups are pricey (labor-intensive).  Either will work if the truck will mosty sit.  If you think it will get driven a fair amount, then go for the diesel for sure!

[fish vacuum]

Between gas prices and the spark plug problems, I'd pass on the V10. Google "ford sparkplug blowout" or "triton spark plug blowout" if you've never heard of it.

[fish vacuum]

The truck wont see a bunch of action. Most likely hauling fire wood and a few trips east of the mountains hauling dirt bikes and sometimes a fishing boat.

How big's the boat?

[whitey]

It depends whos boot needs to be pulled. Any where between 19 and 22 feet. Im looking at buying a 21 foot Olympic or Glasply. My little truck wont do it for very long.
I think I will just spend the little extra and buy an oil burner.
10 miles to the gallon is hard to swallow.
Thanks everyone for your input.

[MagKarl]

I have both V10 and 7.3.

V10 is a 2001 Excursion, I've never broke 15mpg.  Averages 12-13mpg.  Towing my 22' travel trailer I get about 10mpg. 

My 7.3 95 f350 is mildly modded, injectors, custom chip, intercooler, etc.  Average empty 15-16mpg.  Best ever was 2 tanks at 19mpg.  Towing same travel trailer I do about 13mpg.

Even on the internet you won't find that many guys that claim 20mpg.  I spend a lot of time on multiple Ford forums and my numbers are pretty typical.  Don't expect more than 3ish mpg difference between the two motors.
   

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

 

[firefighter4607]

C-Money has a V-10 F-350 Reg cab w/ the 6 speed manual. I will drop him a PM to Comment on here on his MPG's.

Also I didn't see anyone say if they have a manual or auto trans. Also didn't see 4x4 or 4x2. That will make a difference. That also brings up the question of what are you wanting? Manual or auto; 4x4 or 4x2; reg, super or crew cab; and bed size? Each one will have different mileage.
If you aren't going to use the truck a lot of the time I would stay away from diesels. Also the spark plug blow outs only happened on certain years. Off the top of my head I can't recall what years. There are problems with every engine including a bunch of problems with the cummins people have recommmended above.

[JohnVH]

my '99 cummins auto 4x4 averages 16ish around town, 22 on the highway, and about 13 towing a 26' 8000lb trailer over the pass.   

[C-Money]

As FF4607 said, I have an 04, F350, reg cab, 4x4, 6 speed manual, V10. Empty, HWY & city driving, I average 13.5 MPG. Last weekend I pulled the 5th wheel from Moses Lake to Goldendale via Yakima, over all those passes, I got 11.9 MPG. My 6 speed does not do to bad for me, MPG wise. Plenty of power, starts with ease cold weather or hot, runs like a top. Whitey, my V10 plays pretty much the same role as you describe for your pickup, with me hauling hay, or livestock once in a while. I am very pleased with my 6.8 V10, and highly recomend one. FF4607 feel free to add anything I missed. Whitey, feel free to ask any questions you may have.

[coachcw]

solve the issue with a 6. 0 gas chev 2500.

[Bigshooter]

I've had a few buddies with the v10's and they all got between 8-11mpg.  I have a 7.3 and I get 18-20mpg with it.  Just depends on if I keep my foot out of it or not.

[JohnVH]

just dont buy one of these POS!

[ckr]

solve the issue with a 6. 0 gas chev 2500.

I have that truck.  I love the motor and the best I can get is 15 highway.  10-12 around town

[coachcw]

solve the issue with a 6. 0 gas chev 2500.

I have that truck.  I love the motor and the best I can get is 15 highway.  10-12 around town

yeah but it's 5k less than a smoker and less maintance !

[Woodchuck]

just dont buy one of these POS!

Is that a 6.5?

[jeepasaurusrex]

My F-350 Dually has a 7.3L in it. I drive it every day to and from work. I average 18mpg. Over the road I average 24mpg.
On my hunting trip this last week. I towed my travel trailer up and over Hwy 20. I averaged 15.5mpg and never got below 40mph (darn corners) on the pass. On the long uphill pulls, I would cruise along at 50+mph and not even think about it. I now have just under 168,000 on it and besides the under valve cover harness connector giving me trouble once, I have not had any engine related issues. A couple months ago, my transmission lost all forward gears. There was not any failures internally, just the mid plate loosened up and blocked the forward gear fluid passages. I had it rebuilt anyways and the guy who did the work made sure that would not happen again. Overall I am very happy with the truck. I will never own a gas powered truck again.

[jeepasaurusrex]

Gotta love Duraturd blocks. 

[JohnVH]

Is that a 6.5?

no, duralemon!

[engelwood]

I have the 6.4L Diesel for my F-250 - had it chipped and did some small modifications that are not to be spoken of......  and I'm getting around 19 on the highway. Power is thru the roof. Running just under 900 ft/lbs of torque according to chip specs. Thing will turn a tire in a blink of an eye, so I know it's way up there on the torque factor.

[Woodchuck]

Is that a 6.5?

no, duralemon!

Wow, what was the deal there. I love my Max 

[JohnVH]

Wow, what was the deal there. I love my Max 

common head gasket failure    first and last gm product Ill buy that doesnt have a warranty. Too bad, it was uber comfy and rode decent.

[Woodchuck]

Best thing you can do with gm stuff is get rid of that damn dexcool. It is the root of many evils. Mine however has green in it.
Someday I will tell you an ugly story about a gas 6 liter we bored and stroked and made a sleeper out of. 

[C-Money]

Forgot to mention, I run stock A/T tires on my V10.

[Mudman]

7.3 is hard to beat.  More power and alot better mpg. I get 16mpg just driving around town .  Way better resale value too.  Its all about the benjamins.

[whitey]

FF4607 and C-Money,
Thanks for the helpful info. Im still torn but i think the Gas guzzler is the better way to go. I think Ford has the only choice in this case (Gas). I would love a Oil Burner just cant bring myself to spend the money for a truck I will use once in a while.
Thanks again, Guys like you 2 ( as well as a bunch of the other folks) are what make this a great place for getting honest answers.
Rock on fellas & Gals.
Whitey..OUT!!

[C-Money]

Right on Whitey! Be sure to post a pic of your new ride when you settle in on one. 

[Fisherdave10]

My dad's '99 F-250 7.3L has a mild chip tune and a DIY intake.  He gets ~18mpg highway.  Oil burner?  I've never heard the term. 

Gas trucks make me sad.  Get a Powerstroke 7.3L.  They'll outlast the rest of the truck if they're maintained.  For top fuel economy, get a Cummins diesel. 

[Special T]

the 7.3 is just as much of a work horse as a cummins. I'm on my 5th cummins right now. My not so little bro was a ford mech. His shop truck is a V10 with a tool box and his personal rig is a 99 7.3 stick.  The auto hooked up to the tranny is the root of most problems for the 7.3 get a stick and see if its fly wheel has been up dated. The v10 isn't bad just not the power and durability of the 7.3. IF it is motly a commuter and has shot drives then a gas is likely your better investment. IF you do more long drives and will pull more the deisel will treat you better.

[swalker]

i have a 99 7.3 in an f350 4 door doelly. i get 16 on hiway and 13 towing. i will not buy another gas truck again. the power and dependability of a deisel is far better than that of a gas motor. 

[Special T]

is it a stick?

[Mudman]

i have a 99 7.3 in an f350 4 door doelly. i get 16 on hiway and 13 towing. i will not buy another gas truck again. the power and dependability of a deisel is far better than that of a gas motor.

  Me too.  Love it and never ever go gas unless something drastic changes.