Is The 6.8 V10 A Good Motor? (Unbiased Details!)

Last Updated on January 1, 2023 by Leepu Da Maxim

The 6.8 V10 is a very reliable motor and it is mainly used in large trucks and SUVs. This motor offers strong power output and it also has excellent towing capability. This high-performance engine was used in various Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

Key Takeaways

• The 6.8 V10 engine is a ten-cylinder engine with a “V” configuration
• This engine is mainly used in heavy-duty pickup trucks, SUVs, and vans
• The 6.8 V10 engine has a lifespan of more than 200,000 miles and if the engine is well-maintained then it can run well over 300,000 miles without major issues
• One common complaint about the 6.8 V10 engine is excessive oil consumption therefore it requires frequent oil changes

Overview Of The V10 Motor

Metric	Value
Engine family	Modular
Displacement	6.8 liters
Aspiration	Atmospheric
Configuration and cylinders	V configuration, 10 cylinders
Vehicle engine orientation	Longitudinal
Valve configuration	Single overhead cam – SOHC
Assembly sites	Windsor – Ontario – Canada

What Does The Ford v10 Engine Look Like?

In these times, this type of engine is one of the most powerful used in motorhomes and vans. To manufacture this engine, the 5.4-liter modular v8 engine was taken as a model.

So, two more cylinders were added to this engine to provide more appropriate performance and power. In turn, this engine was first introduced in 1997 and began to be used in Ford E-series vans.

Even the v8-type engines before the v10 engine that existed were 5.4-liter 5.0-liter and 4.6-liter. So, it’s a family of modular engines that during the 1990s continued to outperform. In particular, the engine created in 1997 was a V10 and was used until 2005. During this time, this type of engine was used for the F 550 and F 250 vans. 

In turn, the SUV Excursion also had this new engine to offer something different to users. So, this engine could offer between 420 and 425 lb-ft of torque, as well as 305 to 310 horsepower. That’s why a lot of new vans were sold as users would notice the huge difference from previous engines.

After 2005 the new version of this engine had 3 valves and other high-level features. Even the power of this engine was optimized due to the functionality that could be obtained by the later vehicles. So, a lot of vehicles from 2005 started using the new V10 engine. In this case, users were able to obtain a power of 460 lb-ft of torque as well as 365 horsepower.

Here, the power was more than enough to be used in the Blue Bird school bus and for the F 750 vehicle. This is why the reliability and power characteristics allow users to continue choosing Ford engines day after day.

What Is The Lifespan Of A V10 Engine?

One of the positive points that this engine can provide to users is confidence during use and throughout its life. Among all the engines Ford has manufactured this is one of the most convenient in general. So also, other brands have decided to manufacture this engine although many times they have not obtained the best results.

Even the durability and resistance of this engine are one of particular characteristics. This same quality is what has allowed several brands of vehicles to use this engine in different models. In this case, the durability is appreciated by both the manufacturers as well as the users of the vehicles.

In combination with this, the power is combined with a long life span to optimize results. Even users or manufacturers do not want to get weak or unstable engines that can generate bad results in a very short time.

Other types of engines such as those implemented by Jeep in some vehicles provided bad results and a drop in sales. Each of these failures is taken into account by the rest of the manufacturers, to avoid them as soon as possible in their vehicles.

Also, there are very few users who have had bad experiences using this engine in any of Ford’s vehicles. Here, most owners express opinions and write a report mentioning the common problems of most Ford engines. So, those problems that are solid and important to take into account are practically scarce when we talk about the V10.

So, it is necessary to mention that you get a long life before failures and damages start to appear. Of course, this is not an easy task, since it is difficult to determine exactly the life of an engine. Besides, it is not possible to find somewhere a record of the engines that exist along with the useful life of each one of them.

Here, we have to rely on user feedback as well as mechanical reports when working with a V10 engine. In this way, users with a new vehicle and this type of engine will know approximately what to expect in terms of the time of use. It is usually quite common that users who have bad experiences to express it as soon as possible to warn other users.

Generally, this type of engine can provide at least 200,000 miles before problems begin to appear. Even when we analyze the vast majority of forums that talk about the V10 engine, everyone agrees on this amount of miles. Of course, many people claim to have gone all 439,000 miles on this engine without any problems.

Here, we can notice that it is the same life span that a diesel engine could offer. So, if you apply proper maintenance and use to your vehicle you can expect a long life. In other words, with proper use of your vehicle, there is no reason for the engine not to provide at least 200,000 miles. Of course, that requires proper maintenance at the right time.

In this case, we’re talking about regular oil and oil filter changes, and everything else the manufacturer recommends. Some important items are the transmission fluid, fuel filters, and other important components. By applying all this, the user has the possibility of having a reliable vehicle.

What Are The Common Problems With V10?

As we have mentioned, this type of engine can provide a lot of advantages and benefits to users. However, there are usually some problems in operation or service life. Of course, these are not major problems, as most people who use the V10 are very satisfied. However, we can mention the main concerns so that you can be aware of them.

1. Fuel Consumption

In this case, it is necessary to mention that it is a vehicle that consumes a large amount of fuel than other engines. It usually happens because this engine runs on gasoline and is used in large vehicles. As the power and weight of the vehicle increase, the fuel consumption required for the engine also increases.

Vans that use this engine average between 8 and 10 miles per gallon. Of course, this is a low level that offers few advantages compared to a diesel engine. Even this value is often inconvenient when users must transport heavy loads.

In contrast, a truck with a 17.3-liter diesel engine can offer an additional 3 to 6 miles per gallon. Of course, this is an important difference, especially when transporting heavy loads over long distances. So, people who want to take care of fuel economy should consider the V10’s gas mileage.

2. Rough Idle

Among the most common problems, we can find with this engine is sudden idling. Even those who have suffered from this problem for a long period know that it is an annoying inconvenience. Of course, this is not a big concern, since many times the solution is very cheap and simple to apply.

First, it is necessary to check the PCV hose on the V10 engine of the vehicle. It could happen that the material of this engine component will crack at some point in its life. This is why irregular idling occurs when these hoses are damaged. Also, many practical guides on the Internet will teach you how to replace this component yourself.

3. Exhaust Damage

Another concern you should consider is some inconveniences in the exhaust system. Here, faults and rust could show up on some of the manifold bolts. This can easily result in an exhaust leak. You will need very little money to fix this problem.

In particular, you only need the appropriate parts and tool kit to be able to solve this problem. That is why it is another problem that is very easy to solve and of very little severity. 

References:

https://www.vehiclehistory.com/articles/ford-6-8l-v10-problems-to-know-of-before-buying

https://www.drivingline.com/articles/the-ford-v10-is-a-forgotten-high-performance-truck-engine-that-almost-powered-a-supercar/