FordExcursions.com Forums
Scubacat
 |
|
• Olean, NY, USA |
|
• Registered on 1/19/2009 |
|
• 1 post |
|
|
|
 Posted:1/19/2009 21:05 |
|
|
I have been told that the 6.0s suck by a couple of people who have had to work on them. They specifically mentioned the 03/04 6.0s
Diesels will get more MPG under most all circumstances but diesel costs about $1 more per gallon here than gas.
I love the power and MPG of diesel but not if the reliability isn't up to par. The V-10 is nice and gale banks has some nice packages to really up the power. Gas is cheap and being gas needs no special/expensive maintenance.
I will be driving about 70-140 miles per day in a mostly rural area and not towing much.
My driving habits...I used to be a lead foot but have really eased up and drive 55-60 mph with the cruise and try to avoid hard starts and stops. |
|
LANDYOT
 |
 | 
• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
|
• Newport News, VA, USA |
|
• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
|
• 1,110 posts |
|
|
|
|
Posted:1/21/2009 18:39 |
|
|
Welcome to the X-Files! 
I'm on my 2nd X ... had on '01 Limited & now have an '05 EB ... both gas V10 engines. I originally wanted a diesel because "real trucks don't have spark plugs," but ...
I crunched the numbers on the V10 & diesel when diesel was only $0.25 more per gallon around here. True, diesels generally do get better MPG, but once you add in the additional costs of diesel ownership, one must calculate how long it takes to recoup those costs. Why? Because the increased MPG provides no savings whatsoever until after the difference is paid off. Then, and only then, will one start seeing a savings based on their higher MPG figures.
My calculations said it would take 175K to 192K miles BEFORE such savings can be realized. I don't care how long a diesel engine will last, after that many miles I am real tired of the vehicle ... plus the rest of the vehicle is now high-mileage. Trade-in value is higher for diesels, but so what? The aim is to "have" one, not sell it later.
Conversely, if I was towing a large load often, then a workhorse diesel could be justified. But in my situation, the gas V10 made more sense. I still "want" a diesel ... but won't let myself get one.
|
|
monsta
 |
|
• The Big Island, HI, USA |
|
• Registered on 1/5/2002 |
|
• 1,056 posts |
• 2 Vehicles
|
|
|
Posted:1/21/2009 20:58 |
|
|
If I was to type a reply direct to the subject it would be EXACTLY what he just said. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |
|
E. Long
 
 |
• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
|
• Atlanta, GA, USA |
|
• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
|
• 2,228 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
|
|
|
Posted:1/21/2009 22:09 |
|
|
I have 201,000+ miles on my 7.3L Powerstroke in my '00 Excursion (I bought it new from the dealer). I have towed about 10 times total. Diesel prices made fill-ups interesting this summer when diesel was up at $4.85/gallon here in North Carolina.
With a 44 gallon tank, the increased MPG is nice for long commutes and road trips. I comfortably get 600 miles per tank (daily driving) and had a high of 800 miles on a single tank (during a summer road trip).
There's something to be said about the power of a diesel even when not towing. The diesels make so much torque that they really hold gears nicely when in cruise control, particularly when going up hills. For those of you with diesels, you know what I'm talking about. When I hit a hill while in cruise, other vehicles will drop a few mph as they struggle or downshift while the diesel's turbo boost builds to give it extra kick without any hesitation or downshifting. When driving through the mountains here in North Carolina and surrounding areas, it's really nice.
If you're on the fence, I would recommend driving both a V10 and a Powerstroke just to see what they both feel like.
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
|
|
|
