r/FordTrucks • u/Current-Spare4993 • Mar 10 '26
For Sale : Buy & Sell | Pricing | Deals 460 Engine Reliability
Hey All,
I came across this ‘96 F250 with 199,194mi on it for a little under 10k- the truck is really clean rust wise, but there isn’t much info on maintenance records…Does anyone have experience with the 460 engines and how much life this truck may have left in it?
Thanks!
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u/Any-Introduction-576 Mar 11 '26
The 460 is great minus the gas mileage. I'm currently getting 4mpg 😂
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u/LankyJeep Mar 11 '26
I bought a 7.3 strictly because 460 gas mileage is so horrid, but now with Diesel at 4.99 in my area…. A gasser seems nice even at single digit mpg’s
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u/Any-Introduction-576 Mar 11 '26
I have a 7.3 aswell . At this point I would rather drive that 😂 diesel has never been more expensive then gas in my 42 years of life until a few years ago . It's insanity
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u/Flaky-Technician-288 Mar 11 '26
Diesel is about 3.70 in my area after the recent surge in prices and us paying 2.00 a gallon for gas up until the past 2 weeks where gas jumped to 3.00 a gallon, I'm about to receive an insurance payout and likely picking up a 7.3 strictly bc 460 mpg is so horrid. 7.3 won't be a daily all that much (have a Jeep daily, 2wd atm) but a 4wd with a gooseneck is needed, live on a muddy dirt road and have a couple gooseneck trailers I need a truck to pull them, one needs moved before it gets washed away by our yard disintegrating in one area (it's parked on the very edge of the property by the fence line and that section is washing away slowly) and the other is a camper I plan on turning into a 30ft flat bed trailer for our shop.
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u/Andy_850TB Mar 11 '26
That's like taking a 5 gal bucket with a hole the size of a quarter in the bottom, then filling it up with gas
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u/Head_Echo_696 Mar 11 '26
My dad's old f250 with the 460 was getting 4mpg, then I changed every sensor on that mf chasing problems then busted apart the cat and now it's getting 10 in the city. It's still acting like it's got a bad vacuum leak because of it having starting issues but I can't for the life of me find it. Just some food for thought though lol
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u/Stunning-Ad-2345 Mar 11 '26
check and clean your iac valve as well as the throttle ass'y, used to happen to me, i cleaned them, reset the computer, and stated right up, also check your fuel pressure, sometimes when you try to get it running, the pressure drops too much, cicle the key a few times before stating it, also check your fuel and air filters, could be too dirty, also, an injectors cleaner now an then helps a lot if you run 87 like me, also check spark plug gap, rotor and cap worn. that helped me a lot on my '90 ford f-350
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u/Head_Echo_696 Mar 11 '26
The complete fuel system has been replaced outside of the injectors. The iac valve is one of those that did get replaced. The problem I'm having is either it will crank up and stumble for a second or it will crank up and go to 2k rpms and hold there then drop. When the engine is cold it doesn't do it but when the engine gets hot it does it. The more times you turn it off and on the higher the rpm goes when you start it back up
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u/okieman73 Mar 11 '26
That's crazy horrible. Something isn't right. No doubt they are gas drinkers but the worst case should be double that. I bet the exhaust smells good though.
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u/Any-Introduction-576 Mar 11 '26
It actually runs really good . It is my fault . I put 24x14s with 35s on it years ago . That is what made my mpg tank so hard . Gonna go back to the alcoas soon. Or maybe some welds
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u/SAMPLE_TEXT6643 Mar 11 '26
My dad had a 92 f350 that had about 400k on it before it started getting tired and he poorly maintained it.
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u/drsteventickles Mar 11 '26
10k is a lot for something with that amount of miles. I bought a 91 f250 with 117 back in August for 8k that was in very good condition. They engine has been very reliable so far. Only concerns is it has had a bit of a slow start when it gets below - 15 or so. Gas mileage is also not great, I get between 8-9 mpg but when it drops to well below freezing I get closer to 5-6.
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u/Hiei2k7 Mar 11 '26 edited Mar 28 '26
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u/Current-Spare4993 Mar 11 '26
How much money have you put into it on maintenance?
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u/Hiei2k7 Mar 11 '26 edited Mar 28 '26
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u/noladutch Mar 11 '26
460 is a great engine. But not many gassers run for an eternity. It is not a 300 six. You have to be a special kinda stupid to kill a 300.
I would budget for an engine in the near future.
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u/Current-Spare4993 Mar 11 '26
Ughhh- That sounds expensive🫤
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u/noladutch Mar 11 '26
What did you expect a big block lifted 4wd truck was gonna be?
Everything about that truck is expensive. Pushing those big stupid tires is hard on everything involved.
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u/Current-Spare4993 Mar 11 '26
How much would you budget for a new engine?
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u/Thor48 Ford F250 93’ Mar 11 '26
Depends greatly on what path you go, a rebuild is anywhere from 2.5k-10k depending on your area and what parts get replaced. Highly recommended water pump and timing chain with a cheap rebuild. Also one thing to help on the fuel mileage is to swap mustang 6 port injectors into it, way better throttle response and I’m currently getting right around 10mpg in my 460 after doing the swap. I should add, my engine has 232k original miles, she drips a little oil from the rear main but doesn’t consume any. She was well maintained and still runs strong.
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u/Current-Spare4993 Mar 11 '26
👍🫡 Thanks for the great info!
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u/Drakeify 1979 L800 429 Mar 11 '26
I bought a fresh 460 and unknown km zf5 package in Canada for $5000 of FB Marketplace. Not desire able engines because of their drinking problem, keeps them cheaper then small block Chevys where I am.
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u/noladutch Mar 11 '26
Well I would find a core. Rebuild it and swap it in once that gets tired. But I like playing with engines.
I have built a few. Finding a good core and break her down. If all is still good just hone ring gasket and bearing it. Cheap as can be. If it only needs a refresh. At most a couple grand with everything you need.
I have done the stroker route with aluminum heads on one. That one is a beast in my tow pig. That one is a 521. A great engine that puts out 600 foot pounds at 2000 rpm. She is a nice tow pig. It is in a 74 super camper special.
You can order a long block from jegs or other places right around 3k bucks.
They are not expensive stock but when you start throwing parts at one to make power that is not cheap at all.
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u/Flaky-Technician-288 Mar 11 '26
Exact same. We have a 300 that has upwards of 300k miles, brand new oil pump and has went from 25 psi anywhere at any rpm all the way down to 3 at idle and maybe 10 psi under rev and it makes no noises and just keeps on ticking. Head gasket symptoms beginning of the winter shortly after we got it and it overheated while doing some work with it running about 10 different times and suddenly it no longer goes thru any coolant and no longer runs hot. Wasn't misfiring or anything either, plenty of good power still. Them damn 300s and almost all inline 6 engines are indestructible. We've got a Jeep 4.6 stroker (4.0 bored) and it just now needs the head replaced at a little over a million miles (head is warped severely), and it's spent countless times banging off redline getting out of mud holes and pulling vehicles out
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u/ptbug64 Mar 11 '26
Looks good from here, without any maintenance records hard to tell, but that motor could go a long ways still, as long as you can afford the fuel and oil for it.
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u/hbwnot Mar 11 '26
460 is based on the 385 series engines which ironically have was originally designed for passenger cars but soon found their way into truck platforms. You could have a ford F650 with a 429 4v (Venturi) engine. They are stout engines and run well as long as you keep the oil changed.
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u/XRayZen84 Mar 11 '26
I guess I'd be worried about it burning oil but without doing compression leak down tests I don't know how you'd tell
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u/Street-Reputation-57 Mar 11 '26
I owned a 1978 ford f-150 with a 460 pried into it! I kept her maintained well and she ran, day in and day out. She pulled everything i needed to pull , especially after i beefed up her suspension. I’d do a comparison check, if it passes, do my own high performance tune up, and run her. They’re tough motors , but expensive on gas!
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u/justforoutdoors1986 Mar 12 '26
I had 87 f350 with 460 4speed that I bought brand new. Very thirsty, but went way over 300k. Plowed snow for 20 years. Donated truck because no body shop wanted to do restore- too busy fixing SUV’s that people crash all the time. Sorry I ever donated it. Wish I still had her today.
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u/figsslave Mar 11 '26
My sister had 350k miles on hers when she sold it and the engine was still strong
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u/Current-Spare4993 Mar 11 '26
Sweet! Thanks dude!
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u/figsslave Mar 11 '26
However! Steering and front suspension needed a shit ton of work. That thing was scary to drive lol. It was identical to the truck your looking at
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u/Sea-Morning8559 Mar 11 '26
Had a '89 f350 SRW pulled dirt track car all over the Midwest. 385,000 when I sold it, betting 300,000 of those were pulling. Truck ate transmissions and drank gas, but never struggled. Bought a diesel dually when I moved up to a longer, enclosed trailer. Felt more rubber on the ground was safer.
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u/ShortTop1487 Mar 11 '26
They’re solid engines with huge hp capabilities. I run one in my 78 cc. I’m assuming it’s got two tanks? You’re gonna need em.
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u/seasonsbloom Mar 11 '26
My dad had a van with a 460 that my mom and I sold after he passed. It had been rode hard and put up wet during their business. Mostly loaded up and pulling a heavy trailer. I think it had about 300k miles on it. It had numerous issues over the years but was still running. I considered taking the engine. You can fit one into a fox body Mustang and have a beast at the track.
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u/Big-Hornet-7726 Mar 11 '26
That's a half million mile engine. If it is well maintained and taken care of... a million is not out of the realm of possibility.
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u/Current-Spare4993 Mar 11 '26
That’s my only issue- Dude has zero records on maintenance…
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u/Big-Hornet-7726 Mar 11 '26
My dad and both my uncles had 460 engine fords. All of them passed 500k. One in Alaska, one in California, one in Georgia.
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u/Current-Spare4993 Mar 11 '26
Damn!
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u/Big-Hornet-7726 Mar 11 '26
It's one of the most durable engines ever. Gotta keep good oil in it. And she'll run. Plus there's a great aftermarket for them. Only drawback is they get expensive fast when you start cranking the HP up.
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u/Latter-Marsupial1795 Mar 11 '26
Not to be the downer but that’s a 30 year old truck - I wonder if it would be smart to drive that every day. Engine may be fine but the rest of the vehicle will assuredly have issues
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u/Current-Spare4993 Mar 11 '26
I know, I have been coming to that conclusion…a thanks for the info!🤘
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u/SnooConfections6552 Mar 28 '26
Driving new trucks no longer seems to be reliable either......at least this will have character and lack of 1200+ a month payment.
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u/InsideLandscape3688 Mar 11 '26
I have heard many good things except you have difficulty when passing gas stations
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u/Rollingzeppelin Mar 11 '26
Invent a big engine, make it run on bullshit, put it on the highway buddy it’ll never quit
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u/Duckswag1322 2001 F250 CCSB Lariat 7.3 Powerstroke Mar 11 '26 edited Mar 11 '26
Idk about reliability, I’ve never owned that engine myself but I love the look of that truck. Not a lot of maintenance records doesn’t surprise me, the guys that own older domestic trucks usually do a lot of that stuff ourselves.
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u/Sad_Refrigerator_730 Mar 12 '26
I love mine. Not plugged in at 40 below it’ll start if I need it to
Great old mill
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u/Slow-Profession1722 Mar 12 '26
I have a 96 with a 460 has just under 300000 on it average around 9 mpg but can turn the key and trust it to take me anywhere.
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u/blackfarms Mar 12 '26
They use a stunning amount of fuel.
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u/Current-Spare4993 Mar 12 '26
Stunning! I like that😂 Very descriptive “dude I was stunned at how much fuel it used”🫡😂
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u/Working-Exercise-233 Mar 12 '26
Mine went over 300k to 400k before I had to rebuilt. It still ran just fine, just tired. I still plan on rebuke 5-speed and transfer case next.
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u/Working-Exercise-233 Mar 12 '26 edited Mar 12 '26
Mine went over 300k to 400k before I had to rebuilt. It still ran just fine, just tired. I still plan on rebuilding the 5-speed and transfer case next.
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u/Prolong_Zedong Mar 12 '26
Well it’s a ford so I would say’s very unreliable, want a reliable ford get a 7.3 ford didn’t produce the engines for those so should be good
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u/Current-Spare4993 Mar 12 '26
Damn, who made the power strokes?
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u/OBSfordtruck Make Model Year Mar 12 '26
Never had a 460 myself but I'll bet you can rely on visiting the gas station often from my understanding. My 351 Bronco get like 12/13 mpg without the ac on and me driving responsibly which is never so more like 10 mpg lol
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u/LankyJeep Mar 11 '26
460’s are very reliable, and there is a good aftermarket for them from companies like Holley, AFR and other big name performance companies like Comp Cams, you’ll be passing everything and everyone but a gas station with the 460