The owners of the vehicles powered by the Ford V10 engine may find it quite annoying to pay those huge bills every time they are at the gas station. It means that the demand for some methods to control the fuel economy of these engines is huge. And when there is demand, the offers will appear in plentiful supply. But are they helpful?
Key features and my opinion about the engine
- Production years:1997-2019
- Average lifespan of V10 Triton:350,000-500,000 miles
- Fuel supply type:port injection
- Power range:288-362 hp
- Fuel efficiency:awful
- Engine block material:cast-iron
- Engine reliability score:high
- The most common problems:exhaust issues, spark plugs dying too soon, enormous fuel consumption.
Ford V10 and gas mileage - what should it be?
Well, the V10 engine wasn't made for fuel economy. Ford developed it to tow and haul. It was installed in big heavy-duty trucks, motorhomes, buses, etc. This is a very reliable and durable engine that is ready to go hundreds and hundreds of thousands of miles and develop little to no serious problems.
Sounds good, so far, right?
But the V10 engine has one common problem that so many owners have been trying to fight with. It's the gas mileage. On average, you will get about 10 MPG in this engine when you are driving in the city and sometimes on highways. I know several owners of F250 trucks with V10 engines and all of them report the mileage much worse than the average - they get 7-8 MPG and are unhappy with that.
So, how can you change that and is it worth trying to change the gas mileage in your Ford V10?
What are your options for gas mileage improvement in the V10?
Well, you have several options:
- intake modifications;
- better exhaust;
- chip tuning with gas mileage in mind;
- changing your driving style.
All other methods are too difficult and require loads of money which is not practical at all and it will never pay off. Actually, the mentioned above methods are also not really practical and shouldn't be considered great ones before you learn more about them.
I wouldn't bother about intake manifold change and exhaust system change because it will cost you a fortune and maybe add 0.5 MPG to your average mileage. Is it worth the money you invest in it? I don't think so!
So, there is only chip tuning left.
Will chip tuning help you make your V10 more economical?
Even the best chip tuning will not win a lot of fuel for you. The majority of forum guys who invested in chip tuning admit that there was no change in the gas mileage at all. While some say that they got about 1 MPG more than before. Actually, the gain is not that brilliant, isn't it?
So, when you are reading the advertisement and it says you will get 5-8 MPG gain after the chip tuning in a certain shop, just don't believe it - this is impossible at all even if you go for Stage 3 tuning and change a lot of parts in your V10. These engines are just not made for economy, they are made for durability.
Look at the current gas mileage that you get with your V10 engine as at the investment in durability. Diesel truck owners have to spend hundreds of bucks every 8-10K miles just for maintenance and then thousands yearly for repairs. Your V10 can easily go 300,000 miles without any serious damages at all and this will save you money.
How you can save gas in your Ford V10 without any modifications?
Your driving style affects the gas mileage really much. The way you press the gas pedal in your truck or RV changes everything. Also, you should remember that the Ford V10 engine requires proper maintenance. It's cheap and straightforward, but it should be done regularly and with good parts and fluids.
So, here's what you may try:
- maintain your V10 engine regularly and use high-quality oil and parts;
- don't ignore problems and inspect the engine once it shows some symptoms;
- change the spark plugs at least once every 50K miles, they really go bad for this period;
- drive calmly and don't accelerate too fast, try driving up to 2000 RPM at all times;
- never drive faster than 55 MPH if you want better fuel economy.
Final thoughts
Personally, I would only be bothered with gas mileage in the V10 Ford engine if it's lower than 8 MPG. In all other cases, the mileage is good and acceptable and you win your money on maintenance and overall capabilities of the engine.
Tuning this engine and making any other modifications for fuel economy is not something you really want to do. There are many different reasons why, but the most important is that you will invest money and get little to no results back.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Add comment