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Any 1999 F-250 owners?
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If I understand you correctly, this fw-15 is a liquid and you add some at each oil change. what do you do if the coolant level is full. For example, My gas engines rarely need to be topped off with coolant or water so there is no room to add anything unless you drain coolant out. I only notice coolant loss in my vehicles over maybe 14-24 months. Now are diesel engines the same in terms of coolant loss over long periods of time or is there fluid loss more frequently due to heat and pressure which would allow room to add more coolant or fw-15 into the system over short periods of time. I can't see how you can add more fw-15 at each oil change or every other oil change if you do not drain some coolant out of the system to make room for the additive. If you have to do that it sounds like a pain in the neck and a waste of money. But if you have to do that every 3 oil changes I do not think that would be excessive. What do you think?
Mroffshore
My Cummins gets topped off maybe once a year - I'll toss a 50/50 mix into the overflow bottle when it gets below the safe mark, but I hardly ever burn off fluids - they just "wear" out.
The fun part will be when Nav designs a smaller diesel for Ford's light duty trucks. Ford just contracted Nav to develop a diesel for the F150/250 LD/Expedition/Navigator line, so we'll see if they're dumb enough to use cylinder sleeves again, when Cummins has proven that they're certainly not necessary for a (comparatively) small diesel.
Assuming that the additive is sold in English measuring unit quantities, the 9 or 10 ounces makes a lot of sense to me!
Rich
I read what professor Rich posted, in terms of the frequency you add to the coolant system. That would seem much more reasonable to me every 15K. There is not a doubt in my mind you will have to make room for that additive if every thing is functioning properly therefore, it will not be too bad every 12-14 months to drain a little coolant out and add the fw-15.
Thanks,
Mroffshore
I would believe that the High Altitude Package would include a heavy-duty "cooling" system, battery and a recalibrated chip for a leaner
mixture in the thin air up by you. You would think that the standard chip would "map" for both high and low altitudes, but it may not have the accuracy at the wide ranges you will see. A chip specifically mapped for high altitude shouldn't be over-lean at low altitudes in this day and age...just not dead-on-accurate. It would be better performing at height tho.
I suggest that you cruise Ford's site to find out more on this subject...or simply call them.
Mike
I recommend that you look at the new Chevy/GMC. If you're going to be towing frequently, power is #1 and the new GMs have it in spades! The standard GM engines are 20-30% more powerful than the competition and the truck is much more refined.
I own a Ford and am a Ford fan, but I'm realistic too. If I was towing, I'd buy a Chevy.
Good luck!
So sorry .
Have had Powerstrokes and Cummins in the past, nothing compares to this.
Mine is a '99 F-250 SD Powerstrokes single wheel crew cab white with sand color two tone on the bottom, Lariat with automatic transmission and 3.73 gears.
no towing as yet but worst mpg around town is 16
and 24 on the highway at 60 .
I do have one question:
I know that the vacuum works off a pump, but
doesn't it maintain any
vacuum after the truck is shut down? My air
conditioner is in the
"Defroster mode(no vacuum position)" every time I start the engine,
and seems to take to long to pump up to switch to the Air conditioner
mode.I know this may not be a big problem, or may even be normal,
but if it ain't normal I want to get it fixed.
any comments ?
Harv.
Extended cabs are convenient for their additional lockable storage space, and it's nice to occasionally be able to carry that extra passenger or two.
My guess is that this guy is related to that other loser who visited our site recently and then bolted. It's probably the same guy.
My front pads only make it about 15-16K on average. I have the heaviest Dodge you can get (3500 Club Cab 4x4 with the Cummins and automatic) and a truck's weight does take its toll. You're talking about constant weight transfer whenever you brake, and since half ton pads aren't nearly as beefy as they could be, your buddy's Z71 is taking the brunt of the trucks weight whenever he hits the whoa pedal. Ironically, Delco/Delphi supplies the brakes on Dodge Rams. I have NEVER had my rotors cut - Midas has been doing my brakes, and they see no need whatsoever - I get to the pads before they dig in, and whenever I get new pads, they squeal for a few weeks as they seat, then I don't hear from them again until they hit the wear indicators (usually about 10-11 months later).
still 12000 is too quick. I've got a 2X4 chevy and i have 80k on the original pads. back ones still look like new. you can still see the factory mill marks in the rear brake drum. front ones are starting to get close, i expect to start hearing the indicators within the next 10k miles.
i have heard from a few folks that front pads wear fast on chevy 4x4s. but not everyone. kinda puzzling. maybe gms 4x4 doesn't allow enough room for a big enough pad. that would be my guess. but why doesn't everyone have that prob.
if someone tells you you're drums need turning every 12000, either they are screwing you, or your drums are made of play-dough.
5 speed and I am deciding on which of the two gas engines to go with.
I test drove a 5.4 5 speed and found the shifter a bit notchy but I expect that to wear in after a few thousand miles. Any comment on either the 5 speed or fuel mileage would be appreciated.
Thanks
Hope I was helpful
When you pay $200 or $500 over invoice, I'm assuming that's before sales tax, etc. Or are you guys paying "$500 over invoice out the door?"
Thanks,
Ryan
I paid $1100 over invoice for my Ram 3500, but that was still $3600 below sticker. It worked out to 3% over invoice, which everybody agrees is a very fair figure - gives the dealer plenty of profit (when they include the holdback), and saves you plenty off the sticker.
Unless the dealer specifically offers you $200 over invoice, asking that on a $35,000 truck is a tiny bit unreasonable in my book. In a restaurant, you tip based on a percentage of the bill - the server didn't do any more or less physical work bringing you a burger and fries versus a steak and baked potato.
My thought was, during negotiations, when you arrived at your final price ($1100 in your case), was that the TOTAL amount over dealer invoice, or did you then ADD sales tax and tag and title?
I don't know if the way I'm typing is explaining it clearly enough (you know how that can be)
Te funny part was, there was no negotiation. I made the Dodge dealers in my area bid on my order. I mailed a spec sheet to the dealers and said "this is exactly what i want, I'm willing to wait for it - how much?" I sent out the bids right after Christmas 1995, I placed the order in February 1996, took delivery in May 1996 - and the winning dealer's bid never changed one penny from January 3rd to May 24th. In fact, when the truck arrived at the dealer, the salesman recalculated the price right in front of me (using whatever price formula he had written somewhere), and came up with the exact same figure he did in January.
That's what I thought, I just wanted clarification for my own mind!
Ryan
I don't mind waiting for a special order -- does this make a difference in the price? And is it possible to get custom colors (am settling for black, but the color choices are truly pathetic for the SDs compared to their other products. Would have liked something like that deep red avail. on the Expeditions...)
As far as the extensive-maintenance discussion goes, I've got a 93 F350 CC with the IDI Diesel (non-turbo) and have had no problems with it. No special additives or maintenance beyond oil and filter changes, and its still going strong well after 100K. It has the 5 speed with 4:10s though -- never again in traffic. I figure the Auto with 3.73s will still be stronger than I'm used to :-)
Has anyone here added one of those Banks PowerPack type systems to their PowerStroke? If so, did it perform as advertised, and did it burn up the engine faster?
If you are looking for a good deal go to Isbell ford's web site. I agree with Brutus $99 under dealer invoice is great. I also went to a local dealer and told them of the deal, but they do so much business the told me no way. Later, I went to a smaller dealer that wants to increase the amount of trucks they get a year and they agreed to the deal ($99 under). So go to those smaller local dealers to see what they might do.
Some other advice look at financing over the internet. They are the best rates I have been able to find. (locally or nationally) I used People First Finance at www.peoplefirst.com
Hope I was a help
cw
After arriving at the beach, I became very upset when I got back into the truck to go to the store and the oil pressure gauge only can up for a second and bottomed out. I pulled into a BP station and checked my oil (the truck only had 1600 miles on it) and there wasn't any oil on the dip stick at all. I didn't check it before I left, because I ASSumed it would be fine in a new truck. It only holds 5.7 qts. and I put 4 qts in it and it still wasn't up to the max mark on the stick. It ate 2 more qts. on the way home. The truck only has 2260 miles on it and I have put 7 qts. of oil in it and it is at the max on the stick now. I WILL be calling the dealer first thing in the morning.
If you have a V10, check your oil in case you have a leak in the engine like mine. It is burning the oil, not dripping on the ground. A quart every 350 miles in not acceptable. I did hear a rumor today about Ford shutting down production of the new trucks because of so many problems. Has anyone heard anything like this?
I'd ask your opinion of the truck other than the problem, but I can only imagine that I wouldn't even be paying attention to anything other than the oil issue. Let us future V-10 owners know what you find out.
What you have is a good service advisor at a service oriented dealer. Foster the relationship! After the problem is fixed, slip your SA a six pack or two. I've done it over the years and it has done wonders.
Rich
Thanks,
Ryan
I found this information from the following link:
http://www.truckworld.com/Truck-Tests/99-F-Series/f-series-2.html
INDUSTRY FIRST INTEGRAL POWER TAKEOFF PROVISION
WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
An automatic transmission Power Takeoff (PTO) provision is available on all Super Duty F-Series models with either the 6.8-liter TritonTM V-10 gas or 7.3-liter V-8 diesel engine as a purchased option.
The PTO system was designed in cooperation with aftermarket power equipment suppliers to create Ford-specific aftermarket units that adapt to the interface. The PTO provides auxiliary power through the driveline to run devices like snowplows, aerial lifts, tow trucks or dump trucks.
"Businesses are finding that it's getting harder and harder to hire drivers who can operate manual transmissions," Guys said. "Owners would prefer automatic transmissions, but until now, there were no power takeoff applications available on automatics. We know they'll be really pleased when they find out we'll be offering an automatic PTO."
PTO features include:
Left hand, non-standard SAE direct-mount PTO provision.
Continuous duty-torque rating of 120 foot-pounds (170 foot-pounds peak).
Controlled-compression interface gasket that eliminates the need for qualifing gear backlash.
Increased output for a broader range of customer uses.
Lower aftermarket costs to the customer.
Shorter vehicle prep time and less cost for commercial fleets versus clutch pump installations.
Integrated design to preserve cargo space.
Expanded Super Duty F-Series offerings to niche-end customers.
If I read that right, it's for Ford-specific applications, which would suit me, but Warn isn't. And people have had them on automatics for a long time.
Wondering,
Ryan
I talked to a Ford service manager yesterday about your oil leak problem. Said he had not heard of any V10 problem like that but said the automotive industry standard for oil comsumption is 1 qt. per 900 miles. If it turns out you are burning no more than 1 qt. per 900 miles, Ford may not choose to help you unless you have a dealer willing to go the extra mile for you in dealing with Ford. This same service manager used to work for Toyota and he said Toyota has the same policy.
I would be interested in knowing what other Ford service managers out there have to say about this 1 qt. per 900 mile industry standard. Is this true or not?
I think 1 qt./900 miles is too much. I'll accept 1 qt./3000 miles (every oil change). In my case, 1 qt./300 miles is definitely too much and the dealer agreed. I called Ford directly and told them that I wanted a new engine. They said that if it was fixable, then they could only fix it, not replace it. This is the answer I expected, but I thought I would give it a try. I have a new truck and feel that it should have a new engine, not one that has been torn down and rebuilt.