Ford 6.2L - Thoughts

[valhalla360]

Thinking about upgrading the truck. Looking for something in the 7-10yr old range.

With the Ford, that crosses from the V10 to the newer 6.2L V8.

I guess I hadn't been paying attention. Wow, 385HP and 400ft-lb...that would make the biggest diesels from the late 90's look anemic. That jumps up form the current truck that has something like 305HP and I haven't wanted for more power.

So any concerns I should be aware of? If the cost difference is minor, would you bump up to a slightly newer truck to get the 6.2L?

Setting aside the political/environmental hot potato, for non-towing use, I'm liking that it's E85 compatible, since I started watching and E85 is around 30% lower price, so even if I lose 10-15% on the MPG, I still come out ahead on the miles per dollar (calculated a 27% increase in miles per dollar at current local prices assuming a 10% loss in MPG). I can always switch back to the standard E10 stuff if I'm going to do some heavy mountain towing or I know I want the extra range between fill ups.

Weight ratings aren't an issue, so I don't "need" diesel. Whichever one I find in better shape at better price I will go with.

[Grit_dog]

They're great engines and a great truck/combo based on the 2 I've had.
V 10 and 5 speed was a great combo too. 6.2/6 speed is a bit better. Plus you get a newer interior and features in the same old familiar Super duty platform.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

jkwilson wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:

jkwilson wrote:


Don’t forget the 27% HP drop. That’s the bigger deal with that truck.

I understand that some are getting more horsepower with E85, but I have no hard evidence. What you are missing is that way more fuel is injected, off-setting any power loss. The amount of power loss or gain would be determined by how the engine was factory "tuned."

No way to get more horespower out of E85 than E10. Physical impossibility unless the engine has been tuned to dump E10 straight into the exhaust to reduce fuel economy.

But at maximum power, the engine will produce 27% less HP on E85 than on E10 because there simply isn't as much energy in E85.

This statement is very wrong. The BTU content of fuel has NOTHING to do with the power you can get from it. In fact, the power you get from a fuel is almost always inversely proportional to the BTU's it has.

Here is some good reading about E85.

OP the 6.2 is a great engine with a great reputation. No worries with this engine.

[rhagfo]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

Lynnmor wrote:
Did you know that many race cars use alcohol?

Depends which kind of race car ! NASCAR cars use E15, but it is special racing fuel and it is over 100 octane.

Indy cars use methanol. Very different animal. It makes a lot of power but requires a lot of fuel.

Do you really want to tow using E85? Many ask does it help to run premium.

[theoldwizard1]

Lynnmor wrote:
Did you know that many race cars use alcohol?

Depends which kind of race car ! NASCAR cars use E15, but it is special racing fuel and it is over 100 octane.

Indy cars use methanol. Very different animal. It makes a lot of power but requires a lot of fuel.

[BarneyS]

PLEASE folks, learn how to edit your post when quoting somebody so we don't have quote after quote after quote after quote and I have to spend my valuable time editing because some are either to lazy to make the effort or to stubborn to lean how to edit their own posts.

I am going to quit editing them and just delete them instead. That is FAR easier and quicker.:R
Barney

[parker_rowe]

Lynnmor wrote:


Again, MORE fuel is injected, thus the power is still maintained. Did you know that many race cars use alcohol? Because ethanol is an oxygenated fuel, it can run at a richer mixture.

Also, e85 has a higher knock threshold, so you can run more ignition advance.

If the timing is normally reduced to allow running regular e10 87 with the high compression ratio's in todays engines, you can gain power running e85 because you are able to run the ignition timing the engine actually needs to reach it's full potential.

Just because e85 has 30% less energy per unit (or whatever the percentage is), doesn't mean you lose 30% power. As said above they just have to inject more fuel, hence the fuel mileage loss. Wether you gain power all depends on how the factory tuned it for e85 vs e10.

[Lynnmor]

jkwilson wrote:


No way to get more horespower out of E85 than E10. Physical impossibility unless the engine has been tuned to dump E10 straight into the exhaust to reduce fuel economy.

But at maximum power, the engine will produce 27% less HP on E85 than on E10 because there simply isn't as much energy in E85.

Again, MORE fuel is injected, thus the power is still maintained. Did you know that many race cars use alcohol? Because ethanol is an oxygenated fuel, it can run at a richer mixture.

[theoldwizard1]

The 6.8L V10 comes in 2 different varieties. The older one are 2 valve and the newer ones are 3 valve (except on the Econline/E-Series chassis which kept the 2 valve). Big difference in horsepower/torque numbers.

The following were the biggest issues.

Wikipedia wrote:

2-valve 4.6 L, 5.4 L, and 6.8 L engines found in many 1997-2008 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles may have aluminum cylinder heads with threads for spark plugs that are stripped, missing, or otherwise insufficiently bored out.
.
.
.
3-valve 5.4 L and 6.8 L engines built before 10/9/07 and 3-valve 4.6 Ls built before 11/30/07 found in many 2004–2008 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles have an issue with difficult-to-remove spark plugs, which can cause part of the spark plug to become seized in the cylinder head.

The second issue is easily resolved by using an impact wrench on the spark plugs while they are hot.


The 6.2L does not make as much torque as the older V10 but it works well with the current 6 speed transmission and get better fuel economy.

[jkwilson]

Lynnmor wrote:

jkwilson wrote:


Don’t forget the 27% HP drop. That’s the bigger deal with that truck.

I understand that some are getting more horsepower with E85, but I have no hard evidence. What you are missing is that way more fuel is injected, off-setting any power loss. The amount of power loss or gain would be determined by how the engine was factory "tuned."

No way to get more horespower out of E85 than E10. Physical impossibility unless the engine has been tuned to dump E10 straight into the exhaust to reduce fuel economy.

But at maximum power, the engine will produce 27% less HP on E85 than on E10 because there simply isn't as much energy in E85.

[2edgesword]

A driver can try to fudge the issue via driving method but it really comes down to an issue of price. If you can't cover a 30% decrease in power with a 30% lower price it doesn't make sense to use E85. The $1.95 to $2.95 difference in price in my area covers the 30% and then some so it makes economic sense even with the decrease in power.

[Hondavalk]

My daughters 2017 F250 6.2 has been a great tow vehicle. Absolulity 0 problems with the truck. Not to beat a dead horse on the E85 but this is from Fords manual
"Switching Between E85 and Gasoline
We do not recommend repeatedly alternating between E85 and gasoline. If you switch from using E85 to gasoline, or from gasoline to E85, add as much fuel as possible, at least half a tank. Drive your vehicle immediately for a minimum of 5 mi (8 km) to allow it to adapt to the change in ethanol concentration. If you use E85 exclusively, we recommend that you fill the fuel tank with regular unleaded gasoline at each scheduled oil change."

[Lynnmor]

jkwilson wrote:


Don’t forget the 27% HP drop. That’s the bigger deal with that truck.

I understand that some are getting more horsepower with E85, but I have no hard evidence. What you are missing is that way more fuel is injected, off-setting any power loss. The amount of power loss or gain would be determined by how the engine was factory "tuned."

[sgfrye]

we bought a 2017 6.2 last fall. 8k miles on it now, about 4k of that towing our 7500lb TT i have been 100 percent happy mpg sucks around 8 to 8.5 but that is expected. about 17mpg not towing off interstate.

would love the 4.30 rear end but they were not easy to find new on lot or used. mainly special order. 3.73 does great with our TT weight and don't plan on towing anything heavier.

[APT]

All of the 2011+ HD truck brands are reliable and powerful within their tow ratings. The 6-spd transmissions really help as well. I highly recommend the 4.xx axle ratio vs. 3.73.