iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
There are no major issues with that engine. I believe it was introduced either in 1999 or around that time. It is a solid performing engine and had very few problems other than normal wear and tear. If it was maintained properly the engine will perform well and has a good life span. Our first MH was a DS on the Ford F-53 chassis with the V-10.
The later updated engine (around 2006) with 3-valves is a better performer because of the horsepower and torque and the beefed up transmission.
The general opinion around the forums is that Ford got this one right. They did an excellent job of engineering this engine. They had some issues with plugs either blowing out or tearing the threads out of the aluminum heads when the plug was removed but that issues is easily resolved inexpensively without pulling the heads. The issue was also corrected so it wouldn't happen. Some posters may mention the plug problem but it is not that major of a concern.
There are still a bunch of these earlier V-10's out there doing as they were designed to do.
TeJay
__________________ TeJay Auto Instructor/4-yrs USAF/ Liz: RN/ WBGO 2014 Vista 30T/ F-53/CHF/5-Star/Koni * Bella & Izzy * Golden /Cocker mix/ Louie The Cat* All Retired
The 1999 V10 engine is rated at 275 hp. In 2000 it was increased to 310 hp. The third generation introduced in 2005 (the 2006 model year) is the latest 3 valve per cylinder 362 hp.
I'm not sure which transmission came in the 1999 model year. It's either the EO4D or the 4R100. Both are 4 speed transmissions. In 2005 the went to the 5R110W which is a 5 speed transmission with the Tow/Haul mode.
There were some problems with the 1st generation V10's blowing out sparkplugs. They only had 4 threads in the head to keep them in place. We put over 100,000 miles on our 2001 motorhome on the F53 chassis before trading it off. We never had any engine problems.
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 1,111
90000 plus miles on mine. Still running strong. About the sparkplug blow out problem, the correct procedure must be followed when changing out the plugs and the plugs must be tightened using a torque wrench. Transmission is 4r100
__________________
Mark
1999 Bounder 32H Ford V10, 2012 Ford Focus, Pretty DW, 1 cat. Retired USAF
I have the 1999 F53 chassis in my Pace Arrow. I have had it since 2007 and have had no problems except a $25.00 speed sensor going out in the rear end. One screw and ten minutes later it was fixed without me breaking a sweat.
__________________
1998 Pace Arrow 35 ft. F53 Ford V10 2014 Honda CRV toad
32 years mechanic at Delta Air Lines 15 year motorhome service manager. 3 popups....2 travel trailers....5 motorhomes....loved them all.
To expand on the spark plug issue they are good for 100,000 miles. When they need changing get a mechanic that knows what he is doing and you will probably be fine. If not there is a repair kit that does not require removing the head that has a problem. A lot of the bad press and problems evidently came out of the trucking side because they built up miles faster and ham handed mechanics tried to treat the aluminum heads like they were cast iron. By the time most MH's got to 100,000 the problems and answers were figured out.
Linear Mode
