2000 F 450 with 7.3 diesel. automatic quad cab with 4-88 gear ratio.
What can I do to improve mileage. I am always hooked to a trailer. Not sure if a chip or cold air induction will get the most bang for the bucks. The gear ratio is great for heavy hauling but I would like to get the mileage better. 63 mph at 2500 rpm on the tach.

 

I have the same setup in my 450. All I can do is be easy on the skinny pedal to improve mileage. I get around 8 mpg when pulling, around 11-12 mpg empty. It will pull the world but mileage sucks. Good luck.

 

Lower the gears to 4.30 would be my vote or a tuner like Dp but best thing would be to lower the gears.

 

Thanks for the reply. I see that you have done the Hutch mod. I have foam in the main tank after I have driven it for an hour or so. If I fill up at the first of the trip, it will take fuel with no problem. I have an added aux tank with a traxxus fuel transfer system. The bed is a Western Hauler aluminum so the aux tank is a rectangular box. The 2 hold about 75 gallons total. Filling up at a truck stop with the high flow nozzle is a waste of time. I typically have to gently squeeze the trigger on a conventional pump. It is a trickle and takes a long time. Getting ready to pull our RV to Co in July. Would like to not spend my vacation hanging around a diesel pump. Any ideas are appreciated.

 

The harpoon mod will get you some relief on the fueling issue. I didn't do it because I don't have a problem with that.

 

there are a lot of things that should help gain mileage. intake tuner exhaust are a few. full synthetic fluids could possibly help. i have also heard that the ebp sensor has a lot to do with mileage. so try cleaning that and the tube. also check your up pipes if they are leaking you are loosing boost and there for loosing power. so that means less fuel mileage.

 

Drop the tank and do the Hutch and Harpoon Mod. It will make a world of difference when filling up.
I did mine a couple years ago. Only have to trickle the last couple of gallons in. I also would get rid of the in tank screens while you are in there and install an inline filter between the tank and the fuel pump.

 

i have not driven my 450 much but the gears are the problem on MPG not much will help.

 

Agree.
Very heavy truck with 4.88 gears will never get the same mileage as our pickups do.

My first 450 had 4.88 gears, my current one has 4.30 gears and it does get slightly better mileage while unloaded but doesn't really do any better when towing at max GVW. I've found that I get about 8-9 mpg towing my 16,800 lb fifth wheel no matter what the gear ratio...(4.88 4.30 4.10 3.73). They all are about the same when it comes to mileage....at least that's how it's been for me.

Same for me. I can't fill with the high flow nozzles either. My problem is that my fill points are quite low on the hauler body so the fuel is shooting almost horizontally into the tank. I've found that I have quicker fills if I air up the rear suspension so the truck is raked as much as possible. That seems to work for me....

I also have the Transfer Flow auxiliary tank so I usually fill about 15 gallons in the rear tank and then fill about 15 gallons in the aux tank and then move back to the rear tank etc. This usually gives enough time for the foam to dissipate and makes the fill up procedure a little quicker as well.


The OP may have an air ride suspension so dropping the rear tank may not be practical. The Transfer Flow auxiliary tank doesn't have the same issues as the OEM tank does...