✅ Questions about Ford E450 w/ 6.8 gas Triton V10 & 5R110W TorqShift 5-Spd Auto Trans

[magentawave]

I am thinking of buying a 2006, 2007, or 2008 Ford E450 with the Triton 6.8 gas V10 and the 5R110W TorqShift 5-Speed automatic trans. These are fleet trucks that have had hard use carrying heavy loads but all had full inspections and oil and filter changes every 5000 miles.

I have a few questions, please…

1) Considering the regular maintenance, how reliable are those engines and transmissions?

2) Is it ridiculously hard to work on the engine (tuneups, oil changes, replace starters and alternators,etc.) due to everything being smashed together under that little van hood?

3) How difficult is it to do a compression test?

4) What kind of MPG should I expect if I drive very conservatively at 55 mph?

Thank very much! 😀

[1der]

1. the 6.8 and 5r110 are super reliable and can reach over 500k miles on normal use and very attentive oil changes and maintenance. At least you are starting in a theoretically great place.

2. The hardest part of maintenance is changing the cois and plugs every 100k miles. Oil changes are easy, starter easy, front end components pretty easy. Valve covers, head work, manifold stuff can be a challenge but some things are really easy since removing the doghouse gives you great access to the backside of the engine.

3. With a manual compression gauge it would be a PITA. You might try looking at the sensor readings via the OBD port using a deep reading software. I think there is cylinder contribution reading for each cylinder.

4. 12 to 13 if really good, 10 to 11 is the norm. 14 on a special day. 8 to 9 towing.

[JWA]

I agree with most of 1der's comments apart from spark plug change interval where I side with 50K myself. The transmission full fluid exchange done about 30K miles greatly extends its life.

Definitely agree with removing the dog house and possibly removing one or both OEM seats should more working space be needed. This relatively easy step affords unimaginable more room, IMHO anyway.

[carringb]

I do 100k intervals on my spark plugs, but to last that long, I had to upgrade to iridium plugs. Platinums wouldn’t make it after installing a tune.

I agree with the others that longevity is not generally a concern.

Spark plugs aren’t really much harder than the trucks, but the PITA plugs are different on the vans. On the trucks, it’s the ones in the back that you can’t really reach. On the vans, it’s the ones in the middle on the driver side.

I did have some cooling system trouble right around the 15 year mark, where all the plastic heater hose fitting failed over about a year. Basically, if you ever have one fail, just replace them all and that will save a bunch of hassle. Mine has rear heat, and the rear fittings failed around the same time, so it seems like it was really an age issues (not to mention the many more fittings with having rear heat).

Mileage is going to depends mostly on frontal area. I’m on E450 axles, with the OE 4.56 gears. At 65, I average around 11. At 55 it’s a little over 12. That’s with the vase van body (but mine’s a dually) and a full rack. But I also have a modular body I add for different applications. Current body build is 14’ tall, which is 110 square feet of frontal area. Which means I’m only averaging a little more than 6 MPG @ 60 MPH.

[magentawave]

Ok, I found out that an OBD scanner doesn't work for checking compression, but I did find out that an oscilloscope multimeter with an ax/dc current clamp probe will work. Its called a “relative compression test.” Several videos on YT and looks easy too.

I also found out that the shooting plugs issue was mostly resolved by 2003 but then the plugs became super hard to remove and often result in breaking. Would it help to squirt some WD40 or PB Blaster in the holes the night before replacing them?

[carringb]

The hard to remove plugs was generally on the 3-valve version, which the E-series never got. I have never needed to soak mine to replace them.

[86Scotty]

Originally Posted by carringb

The hard to remove plugs was generally on the 3-valve version, which the E-series never got. I have never needed to soak mine to replace them.

Same.

[geoffff]

Originally Posted by carringb

But I also have a modular body I add for different applications. Current body build is 14’ tall, which is 110 square feet of frontal area. Which means I’m only averaging a little more than 6 MPG @ 60 MPH.

Whoa, 6 MPG!


"Modular body" -- as in an ambulance, or a cube van "box truck" van? with the V10 engine? I was thinking of building out a cube van someday, but ... 6 MPG!?

[magentawave]

Originally Posted by carringb

The hard to remove plugs was generally on the 3-valve version, which the E-series never got. I have never needed to soak mine to replace them.

Thanks! Good to know.

[magentawave]

Originally Posted by carringb

I do 100k intervals on my spark plugs, but to last that long, I had to upgrade to iridium plugs.

Spark plugs aren’t really much harder than the trucks, but the PITA plugs are different on the vans. On the trucks, it’s the ones in the back that you can’t really reach. On the vans, it’s the ones in the middle on the driver side.

Mileage is going to depends mostly on frontal area. I’m on E450 axles, with the OE 4.56 gears. At 65, I average around 11. At 55 it’s a little over 12. That’s with the vase van body (but mine’s a dually) and a full rack. But I also have a modular body I add for different applications. Current body build is 14’ tall, which is 110 square feet of frontal area. Which means I’m only averaging a little more than 6 MPG @ 60 MPH.

Does it help to remove the drivers seat to access the middle plugs on the drivers side?

Is your current body build similar to a 14’ and 17’ Uhaul box truck with the cab over area?