Duty cycle Ford V-10 (( update bottom post))

carringb wrote:
400,000 very hard miles on mine. Empty weight is 8500 lbs. typical loaded weight is 22k combined, sometimes up to 25k. Over half the miles are towing miles. Engine and trams is all original, except my belt tensioner pulley seized last night, and I've had to replace a few starter relays, a radiator and the alternator.

You've got a very good vehicle...full size, heavy duty van with a bullet proof power train.

When the time comes ....and it does for every vehicle...what will you replace it with, assuming your vehicle needs have not changed ?

Les

400,000 very hard miles on mine. Empty weight is 8500 lbs. typical loaded weight is 22k combined, sometimes up to 25k. Over half the miles are towing miles. Engine and trams is all original, except my belt tensioner pulley seized last night, and I've had to replace a few starter relays, a radiator and the alternator.

The V10 Ford is one of the best if not arguably the best towing motor around. Yes, it is that good.

It's just a real good robust design that holds up VERY well.

A friend is a fleet mechanic that has a lot of buses that run this engine and most have over 250K long hard miles on the clock with very few problems.

In short, this engine is as good as the 6.0/6.4 is bad.

All the Ford Mod Motors have a really good rep in general (save for the spark plug issue from the earlier builds). In the most abusive situation of tons of idling and lead footed acceleration, all our mod motors made it north of 200k miles. You still see cops rolling in some crown vics and I'm sure those motors are north of 200k miles as well. Still see taxies as well. I'm sure the car ended production back in 2009.

I think the Ford V10 was a far better choice than the diesel 6.0!
I have heard mostly good things about it.
MNy post of 200k us miles

Had a 99 bought new and traded in @ 200k miles...still running great with no problems and no real issues in the 10 years I had it. Great engine.

I've had mine 5+ years and only put 55k on it. At 57 yo I suspect the truck will out last me.

I have two V-10 trucks, one for me and one for the crew. My '03 has some 230K miles on it and the '00 crew truck has right at 300K miles. Both run at about 9000# day in and day out with tools; mine I use to tow about once per month and am right at the GCWR when I do.

My truck is starting to use a little oil now - maybe a quart in 2000 miles. I recently had the air conditioning compressor, some sort of idle sensor (wouldn't idle when hot) and two power door lock solenoids replaced and that is the extent of the repairs it has needed so far. The compass doesn't work any more but I am OK with that.

The crew truck uses oil at about the same rate, has had 2 O2 sensors replaced and one spark plug that blew out of the head at about 100K miles. That repair was about $600 and seems to have held fine ever since.

Both trucks have had the driver's seat rebuilt and recovered. Both have had the factory stereo replaced in favor of one with Bluetooth. Other than wear items like tires and brakes everything else is original, including transmissions, radiators, etc.

YMMV and I wouldn't expect to ever own two trucks as reliable as these ever again but these two have been truly remarkable. I'm going to replace them eventually but as of now can find no reason to do that.

It's awfully hard to wear out any properly maintained engine these days, and the V10 is widely regarded to be one of the best. I wouldn't worry about it.

Automatic transmissions on the other hand...I have yet to have one, of any make, last much past 150k without issue.

It depends on entirely on how it's used, abused and maintained.