Ford V10 Mileage Towing- REAL WORLD

[Groo]

fresh off the lot 09 4x4 std cab F350 srw, towing a 28' x 8.5' V nose
empty = 11mpg
way overloaded = 9.4 mpg (even with the load bars cranked, I was looking for owls to some extent)
based on the dash readout after a 500 mile each way trip through MI 1/2 freeway, 1/2 highway

 

[FlaDon]

Sounds reasonable to me. Just never guessed they would put 3.73's behind the 8.1 Just think of it with 4.10's? It would be a real monster.

Chris

He He He, I don't have to think about it. In 2001 they offered it with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. There was a difference of over 2000lbs in tow rating with the 4.10s. Gas mileage is around 12 with the current garbage gas.

And as Raw Dodge said, I also have a friend who bought the 6.0 instead of the 8.1. Both with the same load will get about the same mileage. But the 8.1/Ally/4.10 will get going faster than the 6.0/auto/4.10 combo. It's all about the torque. And when you hit long hills, the 6.0 loses.

 

[Diamondpilot]

He He He, I don't have to think about it. In 2001 they offered it with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. There was a difference of over 2000lbs in tow rating with the 4.10s. Gas mileage is around 12 with the current garbage gas.

And as Raw Dodge said, I also have a friend who bought the 6.0 instead of the 8.1. Both with the same load will get about the same mileage. But the 8.1/Ally/4.10 will get going faster than the 6.0/auto/4.10 combo. It's all about the torque. And when you hit long hills, the 6.0 loses.

I have never owned one but I was not at all impressed with the 6.0 GM my buddy had in his 2500 4x4. About like the Hemi I had. Good at drinking gas and thats about it.

Chris

 

[FlaDon]

I have never owned one but I was not at all impressed with the 6.0 GM my buddy had in his 2500 4x4. About like the Hemi I had. Good at drinking gas and thats about it.

Chris

As some owners have said about them that have owned both the 6.0 and 8.1s, same garbage mileage with none of the torque. You can get HP two ways. RPM or torque. The 6.0 does it by RPM, the 8.1 by torque. When towing, the 8.1 can stay in higher gears while the 6.0 has to go down a gear or two more. At 65 MPH on a 5% grade and at 15 to 17K weight the 8.1 will drop into 4th and run at 2800 to 3200 RPM. Right smack dab on the peak torque range. Same thing should apply to Fords V-10 and smaller V-8 engines where the V-10 just goes while the V-8 would struggle. Old statement still applies. There's no replacement for cubic inch displacement. And even moreso if you want something to last under the same loads.

 

[FlaDon]

fresh off the lot 09 4x4 std cab F350 srw, towing a 28' x 8.5' V nose
empty = 11mpg
way overloaded = 9.4 mpg (even with the load bars cranked, I was looking for owls to some extent)
based on the dash readout after a 500 mile each way trip through MI 1/2 freeway, 1/2 highway

That should improve some as it gets broken in. And as most people find with the bigger engines loading them doesn't kill the mileage like a small engine would.

 

[deerefan]

the 8.1 was meant as a replacement for the 454, which was no gas sipper either. i've wanted a 454SS pickup for years, a 90 or 91 model, but it will be a toy. i can't drive it everyday w/ 3.73 gears and no o/d, it gets 9 mpg hwy i believe. a buddy had a 2001 2500 hd w/ the 8.1 and he bought a vortech supercharger and some other bolt onns for it. he, with all this, averaged about 11 mpg hwy at 65 mph. we were riding in it one evening at he stomped at about 45 mph and the tires just went up in smoke. with all the bolt ons, i think he was making around 450 hp and well over 500ft/lb.

 

[FlaDon]

the 8.1 was meant as a replacement for the 454, which was no gas sipper either. i've wanted a 454SS pickup for years, a 90 or 91 model, but it will be a toy. i can't drive it everyday w/ 3.73 gears and no o/d, it gets 9 mpg hwy i believe. a buddy had a 2001 2500 hd w/ the 8.1 and he bought a vortech supercharger and some other bolt onns for it. he, with all this, averaged about 11 mpg hwy at 65 mph. we were riding in it one evening at he stomped at about 45 mph and the tires just went up in smoke. with all the bolt ons, i think he was making around 450 hp and well over 500ft/lb.

Even with a stock 8.1 and 4.10s, the tires tend to come unglued. Just not at 45 MPH most times. Depending on how much you want to do to one, you can get 1000HP or 1000lb/ft out of one. Just be prepared to buy new tires and rebuild the tranny. Or if the 8.1/496 isn't big enough for you, drop in a 572 crate engine.

 

[Raw Dodge]

He He He, I don't have to think about it. In 2001 they offered it with either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. There was a difference of over 2000lbs in tow rating with the 4.10s. Gas mileage is around 12 with the current garbage gas.

And as Raw Dodge said, I also have a friend who bought the 6.0 instead of the 8.1. Both with the same load will get about the same mileage. But the 8.1/Ally/4.10 will get going faster than the 6.0/auto/4.10 combo. It's all about the torque. And when you hit long hills, the 6.0 loses.

In 2001 the 8.1/Allison auto with 3.73 is rated at 20,000 lb GCWR.The same powertrain with 4.10 is rated at 22,000lb GCWR.Exactly a 2000lb difference.My normal trailer weights are 7000-12000lbs,which are very easy,however I have been at 22000-24000 a few times,and its no problem at all,with 3.73s.If I lived in Colorado or big mountains,maybe things would be different.I also have the stock 245 tires,which helps,most guys put big tires on and wonder why there trucks dont tow well.....

 

[Diamondpilot]

I never cared for the 245 tires GM puts on 3/4's and the 265 on the 1 tons are not much better looking but they sure do help with grunt. I know in reality they are not small tires but are compared to the competition and with the big square open wheel wells GM puts on it makes them look even smaller. Like you said, big tires are like going down a gear or two. Many do not understand that.

Chris

 

[Raw Dodge]

I never cared for the 245 tires GM puts on 3/4's and the 265 on the 1 tons are not much better looking but they sure do help with grunt. I know in reality they are not small tires but are compared to the competition and with the big square open wheel wells GM puts on it makes them look even smaller. Like you said, big tires are like going down a gear or two. Many do not understand that.

Chris

I dont like the looks either,and I bought my truck used,if i had bought it new, i may have chosen 4.10 and then went to 265's.But you get what you get,and im actually glad i got 3.73 now,with how well this truck pulls its all it needs.My other truck is a 3/4 ton locomotive,if i need more power,I always have the Dodge/Cummins w 4.10 and 1200+ft lb torque...the 8.1 pulls great for a gasser.