Powerstroke 6.0 gas mileage

[GreatWhitehunter]

It's really tough to tell. I've heard the 7.3's were getting in the 20-25 mpg range. I've also notice a huge lack of power on the 7.3's and the 6.0's. So it's not a real suprise the 6.0 gets worse mpg. I was just thinking I'd get a little closer to 20 but I guess thats not a reality without tuners and I'm not going there. I'm still getting better mpg than the 5.4 gasser I traded in.
Thanks for all the replies.

Matt T.

 

[Kahuna]

I am a Ford person but my son has a 2003 GMC Duramax diesel with a 6 speed manual. He had a 5 stage programmable chip which he generally keeps on the #3 setting. He consistently gets 20mpg highway driving. We were pulling a 12,000lb trailer in the KY hills last summer and that went down to about 14mpg. It is amazing the power he gained with the programmer. He was pulling that trailer in 6th gear, going up a hill, and can still accelerate without downshifting. The #5 setting on the chip adds 150hp. I have a programmer on a 5.4 gas and most it adds is 27hp to the rear wheels. I can still tell a difference at that but I think it takes a little from my mileage. It is hard to get an accurate mileage reading right now since it is so cold.

 

[BB_TX]

2004 F250 6.0 52,000 miles daily driver (70% hwy/30% cty). Been checking it regularly (by pump and odometer, not overhead display) and it gets right at 17 consistently. Display shows 17.8. I have a little heavy foot or I could probably do better.

 

[Mahana79]

i have noticed a decrease in milage when i fill up with 100% ULSD in both the Jetta and DMax. i get most if not all of it back when i dose it with some BioD and PowerService.

 

[cp1969]

I am a Ford person but my son has a 2003 GMC Duramax diesel with a 6 speed manual. He had a 5 stage programmable chip which he generally keeps on the #3 setting. He consistently gets 20mpg highway driving. We were pulling a 12,000lb trailer in the KY hills last summer and that went down to about 14mpg. It is amazing the power he gained with the programmer. He was pulling that trailer in 6th gear, going up a hill, and can still accelerate without downshifting. The #5 setting on the chip adds 150hp. I have a programmer on a 5.4 gas and most it adds is 27hp to the rear wheels. I can still tell a difference at that but I think it takes a little from my mileage. It is hard to get an accurate mileage reading right now since it is so cold.

Chips (programmers, etc.) don't make power--fuel does. All a chip can do is add fuel to a de-rated engine. The reason the chip can add 150 hp to the D-Max is that it already has enough air to process the additional fuel to make 150 more hp...but there is a cost--longevity. Don't expect a D-Max or any other engine running 150hp over stock to last as long as a stock engine will.

The reason why the 5.4 only gets boosted 27 hp is that is as low as the chip can take the f/a mixture given the amount of airflow through the engine. Chip can't make more air flow through a gas engine.

 

[cp1969]

'04 F350, 4WD, dually, flatbed dump, 6.0L, auto, 4.10 axle usually 10mpg- loaded and trailer (10K) or empty, once got 14 mpg empty on the highway. It has a clogged (coked) egr valve (cleaned once by a dealer last fall - cleaned again in January by me). Goes in tomorrow to another dealer to get worked (cleaned out/replaced) has 35,800 miles on it. I didn't understand the coking thing until I talked to the mechanic at the dealership and he gave me two bottles of the Ford additive they recommend, it lasted for 5 tank fills. Been running the PowerServ (white bottle) from Wal-Mart or TSC for the last few, haven't noticed a difference +/- in fuel consumption

Check out Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 1948-2007 Ford F150, Super Duty & SUV owners community and information source. Covers F100, F-150, F250, Bronco, Ranger, Explorer, Expedition, Lighting, Escape and More -its a forum of Ford owners. , they have a forum for the 6L PSD's.

www.dodgeforum.com is Dodge owners- Cummins have problems also.

Your experience with that Ford site might be different than mine. As far as I'm concerned, it SUCKS. I had three posts deleted from there because I had the nerve to question a moderator's statements. He told people to not use the word 'lemon' because it was illegal to do so, etc. I called him on that, so bingo...my posts were deleted. It is either run by the most brand-loyal idiots you can imagine or power-trip twerps. If you want to discuss problems you might be having, that is definitely NOT the place to do it.

 

[HappyCPE]

I hang out here:
Ford Powerstroke Forum
Not as good as TBN, but what is?

My '04 F250 gets 17.5-19 mpg on my 100 mi/day commute. I lost about 1 mpg in October but I don't know if it was the ULSD or a winter blend. I add some Motorcraft additive with each tank.

 

[deereguy]

CP1969, I have only lurked there to look up answers to my questions, I haven't posted anything. My research from there has helped me tremendously with some problems I have had. It has helped me save a TON of $$ in filters and finding ways to cut some costs by doing it myself or by asking more informed questions to my dealer. That site also steered me away from another truck I was looking to purchase due to negative comments from others with similiar trucks.

An update on my truck- It's still at the dealer, when I called them on Thursday (Feb 8) they were cleaning the turbo, I called them on Friday (Feb. 9) to see when its ready for pick-up, they decided to replace the turbo and it would be ready early next week- just in time for up to 12" of snow.

 

[Joe1]

Greatwhitehunter:

A friend of mine has an 06 automatic 6.0 3/4 ton 4 X 4 and his "gas" mileage is 0. Just being a nitpicker. He does claim to get 17 mpg (off his on board computer) pushing 80 on the highway burning California gas, oops sorry, diesel.

 

[jcmseven]

I agree with cp1969 about the chips. The new modern diesels tend to flow lots of air and are underfueled in general for maximum performance. Programmer chips are "fuel dumpers" and although they can be very sophisticated and calibrate fuel curves, etc. they still work primarily on this premise. I have had the chance with my 7.3L PSD to see this in person. When I first bought my truck, I installed an 80hp performance chip. The performance was better than stock but my mileage, when calibrated was 11-12 most times, and a little worse when pulling. I removed the chip after about 15,000 miles and went with the full Banks System. More expensive for sure, but now my airflow meets my fuel flow, and the truck runs cooler than stock and gets better mileage. The performance is much better than the chip was ever alone, and I feel the longevity of the motor is no longer comprimised. I personally know of no one who has sustained permanent engine damage from using aftermarket modules without modifying other components, but I am sure there are some out there who have. For me, I will stay stock or use a Banks-type system with any truck I own.

John M