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Comments
Thanks Mroffshore
I honestly don't know about the synthetic oils. The vehicle manufacturers don't really reccomend them to any degree. How do you get around the maintenance requirements and gain the benefits of using a synthetic?
I do know that in a diesel (due to the high compression) that contamination is the real reason for an oil change. It doesn't take very long before the oil starts turing black from the carbon & soot that gets blown by the rings due to the higher compression. I really don't want to go much past 5,000 miles before changing oil, real or synthetic.
I think the real solution would be a auxillary filter system with its own circulation pump. Something fine enough to filter out the fine carbon particles. Hummmmm, maybe there's a product development project here????
I still have not recieved my new truck, it was due in on the 11th then the 15th and now who knows. I guess other then the fact I'm driving an old ford ranger, 85 with out air that my brother inlaw lent me, I can wait. I could not believe how fast my 89 f-150 xlt 4x4 sold. I was also amazed how well the value held. I got $6,700 for the truck with 88,000 miles on it. I took the money so I did not have to get into ads and all the phone calls etc. Take care and thanks Mroffshore
I was just curious if you had any thoughts on my situation. I realize this site is for trucks but there does not seem to be anyone on the van site with alot of tech. knowlege.
Mroffshore
Mroffshore
There is a fuel mileage section at this web site which should answer your questions on fuel mileage for the Ford V8 and V10.
The V10 has not been out long enough to get a good feel for fuel mileage. The 5.4L V8 has been out in the Expedition and F250 light duty for a while. The people I have talked with that own the 5.4 L V8 have been disappointed with their fuel mileage in the pickups and Expedition. City driving gets them about 10-12 MPG, worse if they drive very hard. The V10 owners who do city driving are getting 9.5 to 10 MPG. No freeway driving MPG figures yet from the people I have talked to but I expect they will get 12-14.
Owner satisfaction is the best indicator of good fuel mileage I have found to date. Chevy pickup owners with the Vortec 350 are very happy with their mileage as are Dodge Cummins owners. Those are the happiest gas and diesel owners I have talked to to date.
Dodge owners with the 360 gas engine are the most disappointed with their fuel mileage and Ford 5.4L owners are a close second. Chevy Diesel owners seem non existant and I have never talked to anyone who owns one. Chevy owners with the 454 vortec gas are also happy with their mileage in this big block engine but they are few in number. I would be interested in seeing a shoot out between the Dodge V10, Ford V10 and Chevy 454 but I haven't seen one yet.
I've been busy lately. A lot of do-do from work.
On the head gasket thing... I had a similar problem on a Datsun 310. In 90,000 miles I replaced it twice and less than a month after I sold it it went again.
The only good thing was that when the head is off, it is necessary to surface grind (a.k.a. Mill in hod rod terms.) the head(s). This gives higher compression and more horse power. The machine shop usually only charges to mill the heads and not by how much they take off. When you do it, tell them to take off as much as possible. You'll notice the extra pep and power. If it lasts another 40-45 K miles you'll have traded by then.
Rich
I have a post for you and Brutus on the delivery site. Don't work too hard and have a good holiday weekend!
Mroffshore!
Mroffshore
Mroffshore
I been looking also. We got a catalog from Performance Accessories in Van Nuys, CA. (LA's San Fernando valley) They have bug shields but NOT for the '99 yet. I was going to call them and bug them for a '99 model.
If I have positive results I'll post.
I don't have the crew cab, just the super cab.
This vehicle is an absolute delight! Today I startled myself with the throttle response. I only pressed about half of the way down and WOW! A real kick in the pants!
Every one loves the 4 doors. Adults will sit in the back seat w/o bitching. There's not as much room as in a crew cab but no real complaints for 30-45 minute trips.
The ride is very smooth! Much much better than my '92 F-250 Super Cab.
Do you have the V8 on yours? I am rather disappointed so far in the engine response on
mine. Also, do you have rust underneath on the driveshaft etc. I love the ride but a few other things bother me. How come they didn't bother to put a power window lock on the driver's side? My dog nearly cut his head off closing the passenger side window himself.
The reason I wrote is because of comments about cold climates and diesel engines. Here in
Fairbanks Ak. we experience -50f every winter and I have found that my diesels were less trouble than any gas engine. Tw0 requirements, #2 Fuel must have aditive or be mixed w/ #1 to insure that wax wont separate and plug the lines and filter; and, if you intend to start this engine in sub zero weather you better have a good synthetic oil like the 5/50 or mobile 1. Aleyska
Pipeline uses Chevy crew cab and suburbans throughout the interior of Alaska. Most if not all are diesel and even with the loss of lubrcation from thinned fuel and thinned oil they seem to get a minimum of 150,000 miles on the worst roads imaginable before rebuild. They dont use synthetic oils but use the lighter oils. Auto transmissions go at about 125,000 miles.
I am thinking of getting the short box crew cab but have no garage restraints. Any thoughts on the pros and cons of the short box.
Test drove the F-350 Lariat, crew cab (LWB), 7.3 diesel on Saturday. It had a Power Take-off option, and power trailer mirrors. I liked the ride as it seemed to hold the road better then the short bed F-250 I tested two weeks ago.
Any suggestions on whether to use regular or synthetic oil with the 7.3 diesel?
Has anybody used the Edmund's buying service? Does it really work?
I originally settled for the short box but now will get the bigger box since most places I go it will not make any difference. It makes sence that the longer wheel base will ride better.
I have the 7.3 L turbo diesel.
I don't know about any rust above the drive shaft. I had the vehicle undercoated and, obviously, I can't see it. The drive shaft may have a little rust on it, but so did my '92 for over 6 years...
As far as mileage goes on the diesel.
The entire tank was city driving or slow and go freeway and never more than 60 MPH and then only for a half mile.
The FIRST tank of fuel gave me 17 MPG! That's better than my wife's '91 Accord!
NO COMPLAINTS!!!!
Rich
I got 12.5 mpg on the first tank, not as impressive as your diesel. I assume you do some towing. I have the Class IV hitch but it turns out I actually need an 8" drop for the draw bar so the trailer doesn't tilt. I am having some difficulty getting one with a 7500 lb. limit. Have you put one on yet?
I drove the F-350, 7.3 diesel, LWB (172 in), crew cab and I thought it drove better then the SWB (156 in). Also, I wont the 38gal fuel tank that comes with the LWB model.
richflynn:
Happy to here that your getting 17MPG in the city with your diesel. Let me know your highway MPG when available.
Went back and forth on the colors, between white and black. I am so glad I went with black, already to many white ones running around town, even if it does get 115 degrees, thats what a/c for anyway
Lucky dog, thats just what I have to read after waiting all this time! Good luck! Did you get the long or sort bed? I ordered the long CC and I would be happy as a pig in poop to get the kind of milage I'm hearing.
Mroffshore
I got the shortbed and it even fits in the garage, with a few modifcations (moving dryer).
i was curious what rear end you had in your new truck? it sounds like the new powerstrokes are getting a lot better mileage than the previous versions. hard to complain about 17 in big truck like that. i've really only heard one report of bad mileage, but i don't know any details on his driving or rear end.
by the way, go Jeff Gordon
cdean
I ordered the truck with a full tow set up. I don't know why, I have nothing at the moment to tow. The intent is, some day.......
BTW
I went to the Angel's game Friday night. My spare was stolen during the game. I strongly advise getting the locking mechanism from you Ford dealer. It seems that this spare carrier is much easier to operate and therefore easier to steal. A real bummer as insurance is $250 deductable.
By the way, I still have a good friend in Irvine who goes to many Angels games. The Angels are in town this weekend. I'll probably catch a game or two at The Ballpark here in Arlington. Erstad is my favorite major leaguer and has been since he came up. Eight in a row.....so far. Only 3 out of first (the Rangers beat the Rockies tonight, the Angels were idle).
Sorry to hear about the theft! Not suprising considering the wicked world we live in!
I wanted to mention, I think Brutus refered me to the Ford diesel web page some time back and I printed some info out on the earlier cavitation discussion. They recommended an additive called Fleetguard DCA4 for prevention of the cav. problem. My question is where can I purchase this coolant additive and how often do I add it to the coolant system? I do not wish to try and test the coolant every so often but I will if I have to and if I learn how to. From what I read, this seems to be the insurance we need! Talk to me.
Mroffshore
Sorry it took so long, I was gone for 4 days working. I got the 3.73 rearend, not too much heavy duty towing. Jeff Gordon looked his best, hows that WALL!!!!!!!!! Go Rusty & Dale
In Texas and Alaska, the tags for my truck cost under $100. In California, they cost around $400, and would probably be closer to $500 on a new truck. I had to have the truck weighed and I had to pay an extra fee related to the weight. I'd recommend calling the DMV in Minnesota and specifically ask them how much it will cost to register the truck.
The registration on the 250 CC was closer to $900 I think $870 total. The part that gets me is that $27 of that actually goes to the roads and the rest is for food stamps and other social programs. If I didn't have such a good job I would be outta here!!!!!!!!!!
Haven't been able to figure that one out.......
Tags for $100!?!?!?!?
Here in California, try more than 8 times that!
mroffshore,
The 'Fleetguard' is an International Harvester (oops, Navistar) product. Any dealer should carry it. Ford offers something different. It's called 'Motocraft coolant additive FW-15'. I don't know the prices, specifications or availability of either product.
Most truck stops should carry other brands. Next time you stop at a truck plaza for fuel, go inside and wander back into the professional driver's lounge. Just ask for advice. It is probably the best source of information on diesel issues. Usually the truck stops carry a variety of diesel specific products. Their prices, while not the lowest, are usually fair.
Rich
If you've ever lived in areas with traffic like CA and Dallas, you will find that everything is an hour away. Tain't that far. Once you get your new truck, it won't be far enough.
Did the $870 include the $300 one-time emissions charge or has CA just significantly raised the registration fees? Last year, I paid $387 to register my 92 FD-250HD 4x4 in California. I first registered it in the CA in 93 when I moved there and paid around $450 plus the $300 fee since I had bought it in Alaska without any CA emissions stuff. The registration fee in Alaska was $75 if you went to the DMV to pay it and $65 if you mailed it in. I forget the exact cost I paid here in Texas when I got here in November, but it was under $100. I transferred the title over for about $12.
The only check mark I know about is the one under the "Post" sign below. If that box is checked, and someone has submitted a post while you were typing yours, you will have the opportunity to read their post and amend yours before posting it.
Regarding the coolant additive, amny Powerstroke owners who are aware of the cavitation potential throw in some fw-15 with each oil change just to make sure there's no loss of protection. Like any other fluid, the additives wear off under heat stress.
That $870 is based on the value of a vehicle. The truck was purchased in CA