Updated at: 27-07-2023 - By: Lucas

Ford’s famous V10 engine will give your life a boost with its power and torque. Few gasoline engines are as strong, reliable, and able to pull as much as this famous powerhouse.

The engine made its debut in 1997 in Ford’s E-Series vans and motorhomes. It quickly became a mainstay in the Super Duty line of pickup trucks.

Since then, the V10 has gone through a number of changes that have made it better. And the result doesn’t let anyone down.

People who own a Ford V10 like that it doesn’t need much maintenance and lasts longer than average.

Some problems with the motor are that it uses a lot of gas, the exhaust manifold studs are rusted, and it sometimes runs rough.

But after doing a lot of research, we didn’t find any major problems.

This article gives a general history of Ford’s V10 engine, talks about common complaints, points out the engine’s good features, and answers the most common questions asked by people who are interested in buying one.

By the end, we hope you’ll have a better idea of whether or not the Ford V10 is the best engine for your needs. Enjoy!

History of the Ford V10

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In 1997, Ford put out two new engines at the same time: a 5.6L V8 and a V10. The first V10 had two valves, and production of the car went on until 2005.

As was already said, Ford first put these engines in their full-size vans and RVs. But as time went on, the V10 engine would soon be found in the F-Series pickup trucks.

In 2005, Ford showed off a V10 engine with three valves. It had 365 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, which was a big improvement over the 2-valve engine, which had more than 300 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque.

Because it had more power, the new motor was used in the biggest F-Series truck and the most popular line of school buses made by Blue Bird.

In 2010, Ford stopped putting its 6.8L engine in its Super Duty pickups.

But the motor was still used a lot in commercial Ford vehicles until 2019, when the company got rid of them all.

Durability of the Ford V10

Most people already know about Ford Motor Company, but the V10 engine may be one of the most durable things the company has to offer.

Most people who have bought a V10 are happy with how long it lasts and how little maintenance it needs to keep running well past the 200,000-mile mark.

Maximum Mileage for the Ford V10

The most miles you can get out of a Ford V10 depends on a lot of things, like how well you take care of it, how much you use it, how lucky you are, etc.

With regular maintenance and small fixes, many owners have driven their cars over 200,000 miles. Some people even went over 400,000 miles without having to make any major repairs.

If you’re looking for a V10 and find a well-kept one, you can expect the engine to last up to 200,000 miles without a lot of trouble or a big hit to your wallet.

As long as you take care of it, the V10 will haul loads and pull rigs for thousands of miles as long as you take care of it.

General Considerations about Maximum Mileage

From what I’ve heard, the Ford V10 can go a long way without the owner having to do much more.

But, as with all engines, the durability of each V10 unit will be different.

Manufacturer flaws, heavy use, routine maintenance, accidents that aren’t reported, and other things can change the results.

Common Complaints about the Ford V10

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There is no perfect engine. Even though the Ford V10 has gotten a lot of great reviews, there are still a lot of complaints mixed in with all the praise.

Some of the most common problems with the V10 are the way it uses gas, how it idles, and the exhaust manifold. Let’s look at the most common problems with the Ford V10.

Fuel Efficiency

People buy a Ford V10 because it has a lot of power, not because it gets good gas mileage. But even among cars in the same class, the Ford V10 uses more gas than other cars.

People who drive Ford F-Series pickup trucks and the huge Ford Excursion often get less than 10 mpg, which makes them unhappy.

Even so, we don’t know how much, if anything, those trucks hauled every day.

We also don’t know what kind of weather they worked in or if the total miles driven were on flat land or in the mountains.

In the end, most people who buy a Ford V10 don’t even look at its MPG. They are fine with the fact that it uses a lot of energy.

Rusted Exhaust Manifold Studs

Owners of Ford V10 engines often say that the exhaust manifold studs break. Most of the time, it’s because of rust.

So, the chance that this will happen to your V10 depends on the weather in your area. If you live in a humid area, you should watch out for this problem.

When the studs on the exhaust manifold break, the exhaust leaks.

Even though exhaust leaks aren’t a big deal, they can cause problems with sensors, waste fuel, and pollute the environment.

If the exhaust leaks into the cabin, it can also be dangerous to your health. But broken manifold studs are cheap and easy to fix.

Rough Idling

Rough idling is a common complaint from customers. Most of the time, this is because the positive crankcase ventilation hose is worn out.

This hose can dry out and split over time, letting gas leak out on its way to the intake manifold. Small leaks cause a small loss of vacuum, which can cause the machine to shake.

If your truck has a bigger leak, it might not be able to idle at all.

Lucky for us, replacing a broken hose doesn’t cost much, and people who are good with tools can do it themselves.

A new positive crankcase ventilation hose can be bought online for $20 to $50.

Rough idling might worry owners at first because it makes the car shake, but it’s easy and quick to fix.

Praise for the Ford V10

Most people who have bought a Ford V10 engine are very happy with it.

Most people just want the V10 to do its job, so you won’t find many reviews that say how great it is and how many hidden benefits it has.

And for the price and the amount of power you get, it does a great job.

Pricing

People who want a Ford V10 would have a hard time finding a better value for their money.

Compared to other gasoline-powered V10s, the Ford model is pretty cheap, even though it has the same amount of horsepower and torque as the others.

For example, Volkswagen has put out more V10s than any other company, but their engines are expensive.

Power

Power is the only reason why people buy the Ford V10. They might have a boat that needs to be moved. Or, maybe they run a building company.

The Ford V10 was made to move heavy things, no matter what. To get a higher towing capacity than the V10, you would have to switch to a diesel engine.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Ford V10

Even though the Ford V10 has been written about a lot over the years, the same questions keep being asked about it.

Check out these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to see if they answer your question about this engine that packs a lot of power.

Can I Buy a Brand New Ford V10?

It would be unlikely, but not impossible, to find a Ford V10 engine that had never been used. By doing a quick search online, you could find many that have sold in the last few years.

But most of the replacement parts are still made, so you could put together a V10 with both new and used parts.

A buyer would probably have to settle for a used V10.

Keep in mind that most of the available stock will come from commercial vehicles, not F-Series trucks.

How Much Horsepower Does a Ford V10 Have?

In the 1990s, the first Ford V10 made 270 horsepower. The version from 2000 had 305.

When Ford went from two valves per cylinder to three, there was a big jump in horsepower.

In 2005, after this change, the Ford V10 could make 362 horsepower.

How Can I Increase My Ford V10’s Fuel Efficiency?

Because the Ford V10 engine uses so much gas, its owners often ask for advice on how to make it use less gas.

Everyone has heard from their mechanics that changing your dirty air filter often is the quickest and easiest fix.

Keeping the right tyre pressure and staying out of stop-and-go traffic are two other things you can do.

People who are willing to spend a little money to save a little money can look into custom exhaust systems, cold air intakes that move your air filter outside of the engine compartment, and metal spacers to replace the throttle body gasket.

To get a little better gas mileage after that, you’d have to make some very expensive changes to your car.

Does the Ford V10 Still Suffer from Spark Plug Issues?

There were a lot of spark plug blowouts in the early Ford V10s. Some people would have to buy new spark plugs all the time to keep their engines running.

This problem was fixed by Ford in 2002, but owners still talk about it online.

You might even read about spark plugs blowing out in cars made after 2002, but this is rare.

If you own a model from before 2001 and have had problems with the spark plugs more than once, replacing the cylinder head is a sure way to fix the problem.

The spark plugs can be oiled and tightened again, or the ignition coils can be replaced.

Final Thoughts on the Ford V10

If you want something cheap, you can’t do much better than the Ford V10. At least when it comes to the costs you have to pay right away.

The V10’s low gas mileage leaves a lot to be desired and will make the savings from the start go away over time.

Still, it has shown itself to be a strong, reliable motor that will last for decades if you take care of it properly.

In the end, each buyer will have to decide if they want a cheaper, less powerful gasoline-powered V10 or one that runs on diesel.

It all depends on a person’s budget, how they plan to use it, and if they have any brand loyalty. Aside from that, it just comes down to what you like.

We hope you enjoyed reading about this powerful machine and learned enough to make an informed choice about your next purchase.

Specifications

I’ve put the specs for the latest version of the Ford V10 at the end of this post for all you gearheads and grease monkeys:

It has a Ford 6.8L Modular V10 engine.

Displacement: 413 CID, 6.8 litres

3.552 in. Bore

Stroke: 4,165 in

Cast iron: Engine Block

Aluminum for the cylinder head

Compression Ratio: 9.2:1

Fuel System: Sequential multi-port injection

7 litres of oil can fit.

The 625-pound weight

5,200 rpm is the top speed.

Horsepower: 362

Torque: 457 lb-ft

Single overhead camshaft, three valves per cylinder, split-pin crankshaft with 72-degree firing intervals, hydraulic lifters, and roller finger followers make up the valvetrain.