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Gas Mileage
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The dealer filled the tank full when I bought the truck.
I order the truck with the 265/75 OWL ATs and switched them to 265/85R16 Buckshot radial mudders at 32 miles. I drove about 100 highway miles and 160 city miles and filled the tank back up to check the mileage.
It took 22 gallons to go 260 miles = 11.8 mpg. This is better than my old V8 302 which only got 10 mpg. The interstates here in WV are hilly, so I would expect slightly better mileage on flat interstate driving and if you keep the factory ATs on the truck, this may also help.
When posting MPG figures, include what grade of fuel is used. I have not asked this of the people I have talked to with gas engines but I will start. This could make a difference in the numbers which are being reported.
I used 87 octane. I also have a 3.73 axle.
When I ordered my truck, I was leaning towards keeping the ATs, but at the last minute, I changed my mind. I travel through a lot of red clay to get to my camp and when it gets wet, it will plug up ATs in a heartbeat and they will act like slicks. A good mudder is the only thing that will work in a lot of wet red clay.
It does look awesome with the more aggressive tread. I had on guy, who had never seen a Superduty before, just couldn't stop looking at my truck. He said that he was a car man, but my truck made him want to switch to a truck.
My mudders are the same width, and are 1 inch taller than factory. I went through 3 sets of them on my 90 F250 and never did have any problem. Some of my friends have gone up as much as 6 or 8 inches in tire height and have not had any problems.
I have 6000 miles on my 24V cummins, 3.55 rear end.(3000 mi of that towing 6500 lb 5th wheel)I am getting 15 mpg in town, 21 mpg hwy(70 mph), 14 mpg towing 65 mph, and 13 mpg towing 70 mph.
I was getting 10 in town, 14 hwy, and 9 towing the same trailer with F150/351ci/3.55
My friend has a 1996 Dodge 3500, dually, flatbed, with V10 and 5spd. He used to get up to 10 MPG but now can do no better than 7 MPG and he blames it on the oxygenated fuel. He is a farmer and primarily takes short trips and never goes farther than 10 miles without turning off the engine. Any similar experiences with those of you who live in California and have had the Dodge V10 for several years?
Thanks. I tried it but couldn't get in. Maybe you'll want to check that internet address you provided one more time.
But the chip tuning for fuel economy was just a suggestion for others. Like everyone else, I'd like to get a few more mpgs, but I don't have one of the real big engines that have been discussed above and I'm not unhappy about my pickup's fuel economy. I think your discussion was about increasing torque and HP, but I've read elsewhere about using a modified chip in conjuction with a sensor in the exhaust system that sniffed the combustion products to determine if the air-fuel ratio was different from the theoretical optimum of 14.7 (I had previously always thought it was an even 15) and then make compensating adjustments on the fly. It seemed to be applicable to both gasoline and diesel engines.
As I indicated, I'm not interested in pursuing it for myself right now, but I thought others might want to explore it or tell us if they already have. If this technology represents a quantum leap in achieving better fuel economy, I guess we'll all want to know about it. But, probably, like so many other "breakthroughs" we hear about, this may be just another maybe-but-not-yet.
Having owned a 1992 F-250HD 4x4 with the Pre-Powerstroke Diesel I was used to 12mpg. I am wondering if the `99 Powerstroke offers any better milage in the F350 CC DRW 4x4 configuration?
My '92 7.3L wasn't a 4x4 but I averaged over 17 MPG for about 130,000 miles. (That is the sum of the total fuel divided by almost 130,000 miles.)
My rear axle ratio was 3.73.
Rich
The axle ratio on the '92 was 4.10. I was running auto-lock 4x4 (shift on the fly). While I had it I had the front end rebuilt and had the upper half of the engine completely gone through. Without any change in the mileage. The mileage was the same loaded or unloaded. I pulled a 28 foot boat and still got 12mpg. I'm told I can expect 18 - 20mpg unloaded and 14 -16 loaded. I am sure hoping for better mileage out of the '99. Do you know of a site with reliable mpg stat's for the '99 PowerStroke 7.3 diesels?
if the tuneup didn't help, you need to check the manifolds and exhaust system to make sure there's no damaga or blockage to the intake or exhaust airflow. If you're getting too much air, the fuel flow will increase to match it. You can also check your clutch, your drive belts, and the driveline for possible power waste.
If you aren't noticing any power loss with this mpg loss, then it's probably not engine related. You then might want to check the fuel tank, lines and filters.
Thanks for the advice I'll have to try that as soon as i get a chance. And no i haven't had any power lose.
As I said in another post, 17 MPG on the first tank. ALL city stop and go with (maybe) 30% freeway slow and go driving. No complaints!
Rich
I have driven the V8 and it didn't impress me...I think it's too small for a truck that size.
Is there anyone out here that has a real feel on the type of mileage that one will get with the V10. I have heard the 13/15 stories...are they true??? Does anyone have real numbers
GM may have the right idea with the new V8 lineup - instead of the 5.7, there's the 5.3 for half tons, and the 6.0 for the heavy trucks. Maybe Ford should look into a stroked 5.4 for the Super Duty Fs and the heavier E vans.
Bogieman
1) Keep the vehicle tuned up and on it's maintenance schedule
2) Get the SplitFire sparkplugs and wire set (I've heard the controversy, but they helped get me another 1.5 mpg)
3) Get the K&N Filtercharger. It helps the engine breath better & squeezed another 1/2 mpg out of the motor on the highway.
4) Go with Synthetic Oil
5)Get a transmission oil cooling system installed if it's not already equipped with one.
Doing these things have managed to help me get 18 mpg on the highway. In town about 14mpg. Both of these figures are unloaded. Living in an area where engine modifications are forbidden by emissions laws, these are some legal ways to help unlock a little of the potential of that motor . . .
I also should add . . . keep your foot off of the floor. I tend to feather the gas. Living in Katy/Houston, Texas helps too. No hills. I couldn't get those highway numbers living in Alaska.
I hated the first 2000 miles of 12 - 15 mpg so much I talked to every mechanic I knew about the subject. Those were the things suggested to me that you can do without too much cost. You can also spring for skinny tires & rims, taller gears, and major engine mod's. But I don't keep a truck long enough to see the return on those type of investments.
cdean
Back to the issue, my 1985 F150 4x4 with an automatic transmission (no overdrive) and 3.50 gears gets 11mpg in the city, and 14 on the open highway. I have a carbureted 302 with 96,000 miles. I usually have a heavy right foot too.
I'm going to be putting in a rebuilt 302 using all Edelbrock parts, including either a 500 or a 650 cfm four barrel carb. Supposedly it will be putting out near 350hp. I'll also be going to 16 inch wheels, probably 33" tires (used to have 15 inch wheels with 235/75 tires). I have no idea what kind of mileage I'll be getting after that, but I have to something to keep up with the new trucks :-)
If so what are your mileage numbers?
Also what gear ratio are you running?
you may be beeter to ask that ? in 159, it is more directed to new super duties.
Tom
I posted this in one other topic, but here it is again. I have a 250 4x4 supercab V10 LB, 3.73 axle, 5 speed, and have put 265/85 buckshot mudders on the truck. I get 11 city and 13.4 highway.