I have to think the bad rap that the Ford V10 and 6.0 Diesel engines get is overblown
It is not too overblown. Don't get me wrong, I am certain there are plenty out there that have been fine. However, there are just as many that have not. I sold them for a while, and have to say that early 6.0 diesels were issue prone.
I own a V10 Super Duty. I have to say I am very displeased with it. Very Very light use, all regular maintenance done. It may have towed 5,000 lbs. or more like 5 times. Otherwise empty or pulling a small boat.
The truck is an '03 and was my first and only new vehicle that I have ever purchased. By 80k the head warped on one side. Truck never got hot, never had any issue. It just started leaking oil one day....thought it was a head gasket, $2,100 later it was fixed(both sides).
I had thought at the time the spark plug issue was addressed on the later Tritons. Found out a month ago it wasn't when it blew one out at 5a.m. as I was headed duck hunting. Truck has 104K on it now. Add to that, at 90K miles I rebuilt the entire front end. Every ball joint, tie rod, and hub shot. The cost to up grade to replaceable parts was not much more than new Ford parts so I opted to spend the coin and covert the hubs/spindles to old school vs. the unit bearing. The plug blowing out was the final straw. I could have had the inserts done when it was down for the head work and saved money, time but misinformation and lack of follow up by Ford left me in the dark.
We all have different experiences but that truck has been the worst ride I have owned yet. I know of two other Tritons personally that the heads warped at around 100K. And several Super Duties that the front ends were shot by 75-80K.
Ford knows all about the head and spark plug issues and chose not to do squat....that is where I have the rub.
They had a massive selection of bad bolts that stretched letting the heads warp, and three or four threads to hold a spark plug in....come on.
Nothing lasts forever, and they all have issues but it rubs me wrong to see dozens of the Chevy LS trucks rolling 160K and had 0 problems.
Rant over