E350: V10 Gas, or 6.0 Diesel?
We have a Ford Excursion and a family of 6. It tows well, but with all of us loaded up, gear, and gas, we are really not left with a whole lot of payload, so it limits the amount we can tow. We are lo...
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I have a V-10 in a shuttle bus with a GVWR of 14,050 pounds and loaded weight of 9,900 pounds. It has plenty of power, and ability to tow anything I want to, as it has a 5,000 pound cargo rating. (When I checked the weight I had a 450 pound wheelchair and 6 passengers in it).
The V-10 has plenty of power, gets 8 MPG, I have a 4.60:1 rear axle ratio, and for me that is the deal breaker, as the engine spins really fast at 65 MPH, compared to what I would consider a ideal ratio of around 3.73 for my load. I guess if I was towing a trailer, then the 4.60:1 ratio would be great.
I would stay away from the 6L diesel unless it already has a coolant filter on it, and has low mileage. Sure many of these diesel vans have well over 300,000 miles, one member said he had 450,000 miles on his, but needed a cam sensor, and did not fell like spending another $2,500 to have the old and tired engine replaced, so replaced the van instead.
With a engine coolant water filter, the engine oil cooler will not plug up, overheat, crack, let water into the engine and cause $15,000 in repairs.
Besides the diesel engine is about 700 pounds more than the V-10, and will take away cargo rating.
You might be able to find a used ambulance with the diesel engine. Typically we would keep ours for about 10 years, then retire them, with around 100,000 miles on them. Back in the early 90's Ford made a decision to change all ambulance packages to require the diesel engine. It was 2010 when Ford said no more diesels in the vans, and the V-10 became the required engine for ambulance package.
Good luck,
Fred.
The V-10 has plenty of power, gets 8 MPG, I have a 4.60:1 rear axle ratio, and for me that is the deal breaker, as the engine spins really fast at 65 MPH, compared to what I would consider a ideal ratio of around 3.73 for my load. I guess if I was towing a trailer, then the 4.60:1 ratio would be great.
I would stay away from the 6L diesel unless it already has a coolant filter on it, and has low mileage. Sure many of these diesel vans have well over 300,000 miles, one member said he had 450,000 miles on his, but needed a cam sensor, and did not fell like spending another $2,500 to have the old and tired engine replaced, so replaced the van instead.
With a engine coolant water filter, the engine oil cooler will not plug up, overheat, crack, let water into the engine and cause $15,000 in repairs.
Besides the diesel engine is about 700 pounds more than the V-10, and will take away cargo rating.
You might be able to find a used ambulance with the diesel engine. Typically we would keep ours for about 10 years, then retire them, with around 100,000 miles on them. Back in the early 90's Ford made a decision to change all ambulance packages to require the diesel engine. It was 2010 when Ford said no more diesels in the vans, and the V-10 became the required engine for ambulance package.
Good luck,
Fred.
