Ford EFI V10- any issues?

maddawg46 wrote:
Just st bought my first Class A. It's a new coach with the Ford V10. Kinda doggy going uphill, but I'm retired so not in a big hurry. It's not a Deisel so it's going to rev out. That motor has been around a while, so I assume major bugs have been worked out. I have that new 6 speed transmission that is suppose to be Fords answer to the Allison tranny.

Just wanted some feedback on people that have had this motor for a while.

Well since you said its your 1st class A than you should understand even if it was a diesel it still would not fly up the hills, pushing or pulling 25,000 lbs {motorhome & toad} up a hill will never be fast.

Do not over work it in the hills and it will last for many years.

n7bsn wrote:
Early production, like 98,99,2000 have issues with spark-plugs. They really didn't have enough treads in the engine.
That's about it.

You didn't mention what model year you bought, there are minor differences between model years.

I had problems with my 99 V-10 plugs wouldn't stay in engine block.

n7bsn wrote:
Early production, like 98,99,2000 have issues with spark-plugs. They really didn't have enough treads in the engine.
That's about it.

You didn't mention what model year you bought, there are minor differences between model years.

: yes your right but it was the 99 to 2003 Class A and the 97 to 2003 Class C, plus same problems with the Ford V8's then in 2004 problem fixed. 1999 to 2003 also only have 305HP just like the Class C's but in 2004 Class C stayed with same HP and Class A moved up to 362HP. It has changed again starting in 2016 All Ford Chassis's have now met the EPA standard of 320HP that means if you have a V10 CLass C or A they have 320HP no more 362HP.
Stude

timmac wrote:

maddawg46 wrote:
Just st bought my first Class A. It's a new coach with the Ford V10. Kinda doggy going uphill, but I'm retired so not in a big hurry. It's not a Deisel so it's going to rev out. That motor has been around a while, so I assume major bugs have been worked out. I have that new 6 speed transmission that is suppose to be Fords answer to the Allison tranny.

Just wanted some feedback on people that have had this motor for a while.

Well since you said its your 1st class A than you should understand even if it was a diesel it still would not fly up the hills, pushing or pulling 25,000 lbs {motorhome & toad} up a hill will never be fast.

Do not over work it in the hills and it will last for many years.

: I still like my 350 Chevy and my 351C Ford's but I now like this Ford V10 we have put 40,000miles on er in last 4 years so 10,000 a year. Only problem we had is one of the plugs popped right out of it's hole and landed on top of motor sounded like we blew head gasket. Got er fixed up with tow truck and a good Mechanic from Good Sam on the road within 24 hours, did I mention that tow truck towed us and the Trailer attached to us which was a U haul with a heavy 1962 Studebaker Car on board weight 4800#'s we hardly new it was behind us climbing up to 8600' into Montana Mtn's with a fresh snow storm. We hit hill and when she hits around 40mph then we just sit in around 30 mph going up and not much faster going down if large hill. This helps cool engine down, just look at all the RIgs on the road when going up hill they do the same slow down and stay there with 4 ways on cool engine then pick up speed on downhill.
We have climbed some pretty big Mtn's in Colorado area 12,000' or more and not one ounce of problem right now were in Forest CIty doing the Winnebago Tour, going to a great car show in Clear Lake,IA
been traveling for 4 weeks now and all is well except what my wife keeps trying to do to get better WIFI service by installing a new roof top antennae, one of these trips to the roof will work as she just does not give up.
My worry were a 26'MH with the V10 tow a 2400# tow'd and will one of these days own a Winnebago V10 30'3" Vista 29E with one slide down the drivers side and you can walk from front to back with it in. Main thing this time around Electric Awning no more putting it away and losing my arm.
Stude

We used to have a 2002 RV with the Ford chassis and V-10. I had small problem that showed when going up hill. When the engine was under load and still in a higher gear and the RPM was still low, I could feel a slight miss in the engine that was not there before. My wife didn't notice it, but I did but again only when the engine was under the additional load of slightly going up hill. The miss was caused by one bad ignition coil or COP. Googling the problem it was recommended to replace all 10. I found a recommended seller on Ebay selling all 10 new COP's for under $200. This solved the problem and the V10 ran perfect again.

The V10 likes to rev. You likely need at least 4.88, 5.13 or 5.38 gears in that motorhome to truly take advantage of the V10's high rpm horsepower at the slower speeds motorhomes travel.

Ford's coil-on-plug ignition system was a bad design, included on the 4.6 and 5.4 V8's and 6.8 V10. Too much heat in a cramped engine compartment of vans and motorhomes kills the coils quickly.

SoCalDesertRider wrote:
The V10 likes to rev. You likely need at least 4.88, 5.13 or 5.38 gears in that motorhome to truly take advantage of the V10's high rpm horsepower at the slower speeds motorhomes travel.

Ford's coil-on-plug ignition system was a bad design, included on the 4.6 and 5.4 V8's and 6.8 V10. Too much heat in a cramped engine compartment of vans and motorhomes kills the coils quickly.

I've got 80,000 miles on my old V10 without enough threads for the plugs. I did replace the plugs at 40,000 miles following a careful procedure from a Ford forum. I checked the torque on the replacement plugs 10,000 miles later and they were fine and they are running fine currently.

Never had a COP problem with the MH or a 2003 Explorer, 4.6, with 130,000 miles on it. Maybe Winny provided adequate air flow.

We had to replace the COP's a couple times on the old E150 with 4.6 V8

2013 Itasca 35' with the V-10. Sure, it will scream going up hills/mountains but it does go. It has a very good gas engine equivalent of an engine brake. We do not put that many miles on the MH, only about 19,000 in 3-1/2 years so I change the Mobil 1 once a year before we hit the road. I also know the Mobil 1 could last a whole lot longer but I keep the records for the warranty.
On the whole a very competent performer.