F250 fuel economy question

[jcmseven]

Fellow Posters,

As some of you know, I have a 2002 F250 diesel FWD pickup truck. It now has about 50,000 miles on it and came with the 3.73 rear axle ratio. I live in the mountains of western NC and rarely do I have a chance to travel for an extended trip (greater than four hours). I have heard some local claims about truck mileage, so I put my pickup to the test. I filled up going and coming from my destination and tested my mileage. My pickup has the Banks PowerPack system with the Big Hoss module and "Power Elbow" option. I also run a Power Service Cetane booster/treatment in recommended amounts in winter and Mobil synthetic oil. My mileage going = 21.3 mpg at an average speed of 72 mph. My mileage coming back = 18.2 mpg at an average speed of 70 mph. Going, there are rolling hills but it is mostly downhill. Returning, those same hills exist, but several long grades and climbs back up to the hills, which likely accounts for the decreased mileage. My EGT's hovered between 350 and 600 degrees throughout the trip. I was curious to see how this compared to some of the highway mileages seen with other 7.3L diesels like mine; the 6.0L diesel, and other brands. I have heard some in my area say they get 22-24 mpg in average highway driving, but I am not sure I believe them. I mainly also wanted to see how the mileage of my current truck fares v. some of the newer, smaller four valve designs. What are the thoughts of the group? Thanks.

John M

 

[Birdman]

I would be tickled pink if I could break 20 mpg with my truck. The best I have ever seen is 18.3 mpg. I have a 2002 F350 4X4 with the super cab. I don't think you listed your cab and I think that has some influence on mpg. I tried a Superchips tuner and it did not improve mpg enough to notice. I put dual exhaust on my truck late last summer and that is when I got over 18 mpg. Then they started selling winter blend fuel around here and it has dropped back to around 15 mpg. Which is what I usually get. I don't do many extended interstate trips either. I have always been told the secret to getting high mileage from a superduty is to keep the rpm below 2000.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Sorta the "point/counterpoint" thing here. I'm weighing in on the Cummins diesel in a Dodge 3/4 ton side of the story.

I have the HO diesel, automatic tranny, 4WD, extended cab, 4.10 differentials, towing package, ect.

75% of my driving is local, short trips. (less than 20 miles. Short is a relative term. Those of us living in the country refer to anything less than 1/2 a day as "short") With that sort of driving, I average around 16 MPG.

On longer road trips, where I can set the cruise control and let 'er roll, (interstate driving) I can get up to 20 MPG.

A fair amount of the time, (average about 7500 miles per year) I'm dragging around a 20+5' gooseneck trailer, typically with 5000 to 9000 of cargo. Under normal driving conditions, that cuts the milage down to 12 to 13 MPG. (Some stop and go, some interstate/highway) Take that load out on the highway and set the cruise control, and expect MAYBE 15 MPG.

I hear all sorts of claims on milage with diesels. I tend to discount some of those claims. (Especially the ones that claim 25+ while towing heavy loads.) At first, I was amazed at the wide range of milage claims. But more recently, I've decided that it has a great deal to do with one component. THE SIZE OF THE DRIVERS RIGHT FOOT.

From all that I can determine, diesels don't have enough "economy" to warrant buying one for normal, non-loaded milage. They get roughly the same milage as gassers in that realm. With diesel fuel being more expensive, they just don't pencil out to be a big savings. It's when you load 'em up that they shine. A gasser will drop off the charts when you load it heavy.

I'm also of the belief that buying a diesel truck for general driving purposes (read NOT loaded heavy) is a waste. They may last and last, but the package they come in will wear out just like it's gasser counterpart, in 100,000 to 150,000 miles.

I understand the original question was about a Powerstroke Ford diesel, but there are a number of things that apply to diesel trucks across the board.

 

[mikim]

<font color="blue"> will wear out in 100,000 to 150,000 miles.

</font> OH! please don't tell me that ! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif My 2000 lil' F150 that I use to pull my tractor about once a month has 150,000 on it and I need it to last yet another 50 - 100K /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[hunterridgefarm]

John,
I have a 2002 F250 7.3. As you know I live on the otherside of the mountain. I have driven I40 from Morganton to Asheville and average 19.7 mpg with several grades between Morganton and Asheville with the longest being Old Fort Mountain. I usually average around 16.5-18 mpg with short trips city/highway.
I drive a company car so my truck is mostly drivrn on the weekend and about 1.5 hour trip one way is the longest trips I make. I have not checked the mileage while pulling the tractor, but plan on checking the next trip.

I have heard the same stories of 20-22 mpg but I have yet to get that and I have tried to drive different speeds on the interstate to get this but no luck. I think most of the people I talk with use the digital mpg on the truck and never reset it instead of using the old pencil and paper method. I use the digital on the truck but usually reset it when I fill up and that makes a big difference in the mpg reading.

 

[BB_TX]

<font color="blue"> will wear out in 100,000 to 150,000 miles. </font>
Don't think you need to worry Mike. That may have been true years ago, but not any more. Traded '87 Bronco at 208K miles with only very minor repairs and still in very good condition. My '97 F150 with 147K miles was still like new last year when I managed to significantly rearrange the front end. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Farmwithjunk]

We may be talking apple and oranges here. I'm talking about a truck USED AS A TRUCK, towing and hauling. You mentioned a Bronco. Odds are, it didn't spend much time towing 10,000 lb. loaded trailers. I've been through Fords, Chevy's, GMC's, Dodges, and even a Toyota Tundra. Work 'em hard, pull heavy loads, and they start becoming unreliable at or near the 100,000 mark. My wifes Explorer has 275,000 miles on it. It's never hauled anything heavier than my mother-in-law. (PLEASE... Don't let my wife see this) The last truck I owned before my current one was a GMC 3/4 ton. At 110,000 the rear end gave up. 3500 miles later, the tranny laid down. The Ford F350 I owned before the GMC had all sorts of electrical problems, brakes that wouldn't brake, and steering parts that wore out before 125,000.

Working them hard takes a tole. In that regard, they aren't much better today than trucks of 20 years ago.

 

[TheKid]

I've also got an 02 F250 4X4 6 speed with 3.73 gears. It's a super cab with the 8' bed and a camper shell. I've averaged 18.92 MPG over 65000 miles. Two thirds is highway and a third city driving. I don't know what kind of mileage I would get if it was just highway driving. I only fill up about every 600 miles and I haven't taken that long a trip since I had the truck.

 

[dmccarty]

Hunterridgefarm,

I have a 2002 F350 SRW CC with the six speed and the 7.3L engine. I have hit 20.5 mpg a couple times driving rural roads at 55 mph. The 2000 rpm "rule" seems to work. The more the RPMs goes over 2000 the worse the milage. I did a trip a few years ago that went to norhern AL. One leg I went through Ashviille and Knoxville while the trip back went through Atlanta and Charolette. I think I got something like 19.x mpg dring 65ish. The mountain leg was better milage.

I think most people who claim the high MPG are using the overhead which is not accurate. I calculate my mpg every fill up based on milage and gallons. The overhead is usually off by at least .3 to .7 mpg. I have seen it really wacked out during highway trips where it was way off.

Later,
Dan

 

[BB_TX]

<font color="blue"> never hauled anything heavier than my mother-in-law </font> /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I hope they have a great sense of humor if either one does see this. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
You are right. I did some trailer towing/hauling with both, but not enough to add extreme wear to either.