If the plugs on the V10s have already been replaced are concerns about the plugs blowing out of the heads resolved or does the potential for that to happen still exist?


Nice truck, btw!

Thanks for the complements, I really like this thing. Just FYI, in town I seem to be getting 10-11 mpg and on the Hwy 13-14 mpg. Now for comparison, my Dodge Dakota 4WD Crew Cab 4.7 V8 only got 12-14, and about 6-9 towing depending on which trailer.

As I said I have used a Dodge Dakota to pull everything I pull for the last 5 plus years. I have just wanted a larger/heavier truck. This truck should last me a long time as I will never use it to its capability. I will say it is really really really nice to have an 8' bed again.

I don't plan any real performance upgrades other than exhaust, and that is only due to the manifold and stud issues, and the factory Y pipe is a joke. I really like the design of the Doug Thorley  headers and Y pipe. They aren't cheap, but we all know good headers aren't cheap and cheap ones aren't good.

I will do:
Coolant Flush and fill
Brake Fluid flush and bleed
Engine oil
All Filters
Check all brakes and suspension

On the transmission I think I will only do a drain and filter change. I am concerned that a flush could cause more bad than good.

Last edited by kardad (11/11/2020 11:37 AM)

I recall they had spark plug blow out issues as well and I forget what year that may have been addressed by ford.  I owned an Excursion with a V10 and had towed with it.  It was like nothing was back there.  The front rotors like to warp if you don't torque the front wheel lug nuts.  Buy a quality brake rotor.

As for the 5.4 I have new respect for them.  I drove a loaded and I mean loaded rental box truck from Ohio to Florida.   It was loaded with my Father In Laws old tools and boxes, both his auto and Tool & Die boxes/tools.  I bet I had 1,000 lbs worth of machine tooling from end mills to drill chucks and more, plus a 9.75 axle and a 302 motor.  There was enough stuff that there was no room left in the truck and the springs were bent downward.  When we got to FL I told my son see how good the V10 runs.  When I popped the hood I soon realized it had a 5.4.  My daily drive has a 5.4 but its a 2010 single cab F150 4x4 which I just had installed 4.10 gears in not to long ago.  I get 14 in the city.

I'm not sure what trans you have, but you need to find out.  If its the 5R110 my truck uses its a great trans, but there's a couple things to know about it.  A flush on them is basically BS; they can't really be flushed. 

The biggest thing is that the original fluid Ford used in them was Mercon SP (only available from Ford).  In later years they switched to Mercon LV (Valvoline makes this in addition to Ford).  The two fluids cannot be mixed or strange things happen with the trans.  If the fluid has never been changed or was changed a long time ago it probably still has SP in it.  In which case you need to either continue to use SP fluid or completely purge the SP and change over to LV (not an easy task without a trans rebuild).  You can still find SP, but its getting harder.  I have half a case or so of it even though my truck now runs LV thanks to the new trans I put in it 2 years back.  If you need that SP let me know.  I can ship it to you for cost of shipping plus $5/quart (forum member discount it was like $9/quart when I bought it).  PM me if interested.

I believe the spark plug blowing out issue can effect any two valve modular engine, unless all the plugs were pulled and the holes helicoiled. 

The V10s okay for a gas engine, though it is thirsty, and from the guys I know that have owned both the V10 and the 5.4 they claimed no real additional power from the V10, just used more fuel.  IMO at this point when towing there's Diesel and then there's everything else and its a gulf between them.  If you're towing fairly light it will be fine.  Start piling on the weight and that Diesel starts to become attractive.  Also, zero chance a Diesel ever spits out a spark plug, unless it sucked one in from a gas truck that dropped one

Congrats on the new to you truck.
I inherited a 03 F350 cab and chassis with a 9' service body for a work truck with the V-10 and about 115K miles. The previous driver said to watch the oil level, it generally burned 2-3 quarts between changes. I thought the quick oil change place that most of the guys were using was shorting me so I was checking it after several oil changes. It was always full. At some point the truck went to a Ford Dealer for repairs and an oil change. The oil level never dropped with that change. I guess Ford had a better idea on the oil than the Pennzoil that the quick lube advertised, if that's what they were putting in it. Never went back to the quick change place and it never burned any more oil. 

I put another 100K miles on that truck before I got something else to drive. I was very pleased with the V-10 and how it ran. Coil packs and plugs is all I ever had to have changed on the motor. I guess the back cylinders are hard to get to. When the first dealer couldn't pin point the occasional miss and stall, I went elsewhere. The second dealer determined that the first dealer only changed 8 of the 10 plugs several month prior, back two were skipped.  

John - I hope they just charged for a 5.4 spark plug change in lieu of the 6.8. Ha Ha
Tom -  Again, thanks for the advice and info,

I know that this particular combination may not be without its issues or near as good as others. But when buying used and looking for a solid truck, you have to be willing to compromise. I wanted a rust free, no wrecks, under 100K mile, 4x4, ext or crew cab, Gas, F250 for under $10k. This truck checked all those boxes. Maybe in 10 years I can afford/justify a F250 with the new 7.3 Gas push rod motor.

Thanks for all the support guys, Now I have a lot of fluids to change.

Rick (Kardad)