I have a new F-250, 7.3L diesel. What are the best ways to improve my fuel economy?

 

What are you getting now and what do you expect?

I get about 16.5 driving in a rural area with 45 mph roads and frequent stops. Get about 17 on the highway if I do about 65, less if I go faster.

To improve fuel economy, slow down. On the highway keep the RPMs about 1700 (65).

Drafting is another good highway choice. Get as close as you can to a vehicle towing a big trailer. This will all the lead vehicle to pull the lag vehicle along. Mileage may vary, depends on how many boys in blue you stop to meet and give autographs.

Gear Vendors makes an overdrive unit to fit on the back of your transmission to give you super overdrive.

I have often wondered how the truck would drive and what fuel economy would be had at 75 mph pulling 1500 or so RPMs. With the torque peak at 1200 rpms, seems as though the motor would pull the truck along quite well empty.

 

Well first would have to be exhaust( bigger or straight pipe which ever you prefer), keep your foot out of it and try not to go higher than 2000 rpms, get a chip or a tuner, and an intake mod wouldn't hurt, with all of that I would just about say you would see at least a 5 mpg increase if done properly. Most people that do that to their truck usually don't like to be slow, they like to race and accelerate just to feel the power these monsters have. Just my .02 cents

 

I would definnitly recomend a chip/tuner. have an 01 f350 with the PSD and was getting 16/17. Have just installed the Superchip Supertuner 60HP program and i went immediately to 20/21 MPG under same conditions. also significant power increase. If your not towing a significant load, there is no need to monitor Exhaust gas Temperature or look at a larger dia. exhaust.. I am convinced this is best deal for the money I've come across. See thread.."just installed Supertuner". If you end up trying this out, let us know what you think. The prices vary $325 to $375 depending where you look. My nearest Ford dealer gets $370 at the parts counter for one

 

"Drafting is another good highway choice. Get as close as you can to a vehicle towing a big trailer. This will all the lead vehicle to pull the lag vehicle along. Mileage may vary, depends on how many boys in blue you stop to meet and give autographs."
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The above quote is not a good idea and will most certainly inflame the driver of the person you are tailgating.

A chip or programmer with intake and exhaust will help tremendously. Also by keeping your RPMs down lower you will see mileage improvement.

 

I hope that everyone understands that the drafting thing was put in there for fun. It is however, 100% technically correct.

 

I am getting about 15 in the city and 17 highway only when I keep the rpm's around 2,000. If I drive 80 mph (about 2,500 rpm's) my hwy. mileage drops to about 15. Since Texas is a big state, I tend to want to drive 75-80 on the highway so have been considering a chip. I do not routinely pull any super heavy loads, but do pull a Ranger bay boat (about 3,500-4,000 pounds total). When I am pulling the boat I do not need any speeds over 65 mph. All I want is to be able to drive 75-80 on the highway w/o a load and get about 20 mpg. If a chip is the key, what brand and type?

P.S., thanks for the input.

 

I get about 17.5-19 mpg most of the time. If I'm towing it drops to around 12-13, depending on terrain. We are going to New Mexico in June, so that will be a good towing test. I have the '01 250, 2wd 4r100, 3:73 with a HyperTech 60 hp pwr program III, I feel that is a good setup for me.

Bill in KY

 

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Ford Truck Enthusiasts sells good products that can help with improving your mileage, chips, programmers and so on.
There are also other good products out on the market that FTE does not sell. It may not be appropriate for us to discuss them since this is FTE website. If you care to edit your profile page so that we can send you personal emails directly, you may get more input and options.
Good Luck.

 

I get 11 mpg, with the 38"s but thats only down from 16 or so from stock. I only have a K&N filter but I'd like to get the Banks powerpack. Can you use a chip and the Banks kit together?

 

My 1996 has 3.55 gears that keep the RPMs way down with the stock 235 size tires. Around town fuel mileage is 16.5 and highway a little over 20. Planning on putting a set of 285 size tires on that are about 1.5" taller. This will reduce the effective gear ratio even more and with it the RPMs. I am just hoping that they don't go too low so I am out of the best power band for general driving.
The largest trailer that it should be towning for now is a 14' covered dual axel motorcycle trailer. With the bikes on board should be about 4000 lb.
The programmers sound very interesting and it definately in the future. My frind has a 2000 PSD and after reprogramming his fuel mileage went up 2-3 mpg.

Bob

 

I have a 2000 F350 Dually with stock tires, 4.10 diff, no mods to the drive train, auto tranny. Empty, I get between 15 and 16 on the road averaging 60 and 14 at 70. It goes down to 11 pulling a 5000 lb. travel trailer at 60/65. I met a guy with a V10 getting better than me. That hurts. And someone with the same truck with a chip mod of some kind getting 16 to 18 at 75.

I'm new to the PSD and looking for suggestions on power/fuel improvements. I know abosolutely NOTHING, except what I'm reading on this forum, and it's very interesting. Any thought/suggestions on mods, especially on parts offered on FTE would be appreciated. What the mods do would be helpful info and any suggestions on gauges and why you need them, also. Rate, if you can, your suggested mods by priority.

Greatly appreciated.

 

New free flowing exhaust, k&n air filter(or the whole kit if they make them for the 7.3. Then perhaps a chip of some sort. I don't know how good the "Banks" system is but it's expensive.

 

I have A 99 psd, F350, 4x4, 375 rear end, srw, crew cab, long bed
at 30,000 miles in one tank full the mileage went from 16mpg to 12.5mpg. I get that mileage all the time (loaded, empty, city or hwy) makes no difference. sence then I have put in K&N filter, senthetic oils, comp. chips, rebuilt the trany all with no change.
I now have 153,000 miles and still get 12.5mpg
any body have any ideas?

 

Get rid of the K&N and get a Tymar intake. Not only does it reduce restriction more than the K&N it filters a lot better. It's the only aftermarket air intake that I have seen that increases air flow without compromising filtration.