I want to install a programer to increase my gas mileage. In reading comments from folks that have installed the various makes the reviews have been mixed. Any suggestions as to the best programer for fuel mileage increases. MY truck is stock and I pull a trailer that weighs around 7500 lbs. Any input will be appreciated. It is a 7.3 diesel 2wd.

 

A Chip / Tune will definitely be an improvement overall. Providing the Air Intake is sufficient. As for the fuel mileage, I've heard many people say they have seen an increase but have never experienced a noticeable difference myself over the many I have owned.

My current 99 4x4 w/ 250k gets 12 - 13 MPG up hill, down hill, with and without a tailwind. Its just the nature of the beast IMO.

A well maintained vehicle is the best way to maximize fuel mileage.

 

Welcome to FTE, and the 7.3 crowd. As already stated, the first thing to do is make sure the truck is running 100% in stock trim. The little things like tire pressure, clean air filter, and driving habits will go a long way to getting the most from every gal. There are a few other things that will help, especially for towing, but there is no magic formula, or tuner to get you more mpgs. Read a lot before spending money on after market claims of increased power and fuel economy. Many here would do things differently, given what is known now as proven, rather than advertising hipe. Like I said, welcome, and pull up a chair. Lots to learn here.

 

There is a link in my signature - "custom tunes". You want to click that and find the information you seek therein.

Welcome to the forum!

 

With all the junk in my sig I have increased my mpg by .75 most was the air and exhaust. not towing I weigh 7875 lbs and get 14 to 16.5 the tunes did little to help but they make driving better. The best thing is no boost leaks lower than 2000 rpm and clean oil and fuel.

 

fuel mileage on these is a mystery. my '97 with 60 hp edge program, 6637 intake 4 inch exhaust and 295 tires got 18.75 mpg empty ( hand calculated over 180,000 miles) if I kept it under 2500 rpm. as for me personally tire pressure doesn't affect it. I normally run 70 front and 60 rear. but during hunting season I drop to 30 all the way around and mileage stays at 18.75. I have not run it empty since I put stage 1 injectors, T500 pump and CAC in it so I don't know what it will do now. right now I am running stock tune as the edge made my egt's too high.

my '99 6 speed 2WD gets 18.5 - 20 mpg unless towing. 6637 intake 4 inch exhaust. it is heavy and not aerodynamic as it is my service truck with a service body loaded all the time, just under 10,000 lbs. on 1 trip I took it on I ran 80 mph most of the way and was just over 20 mpg.

my 2000 excursion averages 16.5 - 17.5 it has 6637 intake stock exhaust and 80 hp program. if I totally baby the throttle (act like there is an egg between my foot and the pedal) it drops to 13 -14 mpg!
when I drive it I run it hard enough to shift at around 2200 rpm. if it is cruising under 70 the mileage goes up, over 75 goes down fast.

 

Man, I hate you folks that get good mileage! It just keeps me at it. I usually get about 14 mpg around town. I may get 16 on the highway. My wife has health problems that keep us close to home, so, I just don't get much time on the highway. I had a '90 idi 7.3....same thing...many others were getting 20 mpg, I was getting 14. Poured money into it. I just don't understand it...Guess I destined to support the govt. with extra gas tax.

 

14 mpg in town is about right.
I average just over 16 mpg but I do a lot of highway driving.

 

For some odd reason, and I don't know what, our E99 CC LB 4x4 4" on 37s gets 18mpg or better on the highway. Depending on terrain and speed. It weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 8,500lbs.

All we have is a K&N filter, straight pipe exhaust, and a predator economy tune.

Beats me as to why it does this, but I'm not complaining one bit!

 

Well, I've done everything I wanted to do to my truck for now and it starts and runs great. I'm just gonna' be happy for those of you that get that good mileage and keep on keeping on.

 

I have 2000psd, 4x4 CC LB with very little for upgrades......NAPA air filter, EBPV delete, bellowed uppies(Dorman) and a Banks six gun. I get between 18-20.

Depending on what you are going for.....Economy for your wallet, or economy for the environment, this is my 2 cents.........I have a Golden Fuel Systems WVO tank in the bed. There is a little bit of power loss in the cold temps, no power loss in the summer months. WVO is easy to come by, and easy to filter. In 80,000 miles, I have not had a lick of engine trouble other than regular maintenance and problems I have caused myself. In most cases, fuel is free. Last year I pulled a pontoon around the state nearly 14,000 miles and it cost me about one tank of Diesel for start up and shut downs. Take fuel out of your budget once......spend your money on other things...

 

Doesnt the glycerin in WVO cause problems though?

 

I guess I couldn't tell you one way or the other if it does or not.....I know I have nearly 80k on WVO without any fuel related problems other than things I have caused myself....I am sure with certain oils, maybe....but I have burned the same oils from two eateries here and the only issues I've had are common.....HPOP leaking and water in the tank, which wasn't from the oil itself, it was an oversight on my part.....

My rig has 200k on it now, and I know I am not going to change a thing about it. It runs, drives, hauls, pulls and pushes snow better than any truck I have ever owned.....and it gets great mileage for a big truck......and it smells a little better than diesel when I am burning the WVO.....

 

It is all what rpm the engine is at, at highway speeds.
We got 18mpg towing a trailer between AZ and UT, with the my 7.3 Excursion with similar mods as yours with 35"s, we ended up going down to 33" tires on it so my pregnant wife could get in easier, we made a trip from AZ to NV running without the trailer, and got 17mpg. The only difference I could see was that the rpms on the highway were 200 higher at 75 with the 33s then with the 35s. I corrected the speedo with my AE after changing tire sizes.

I can tell you that tires DO make a difference, I had 35" BFG all terrains on my cummins, it got 17mpg around town, I ended up putting the Kumho 35s off my Excursion on it, nothing else changed and it gets 14mpg now, both tires were inflated to the same 50psi.

 

That's true, with our gears, 2000rpm is about 76-77mph. Were running nitto trail grappler mud terrains 37x12.50R20. Inflated to 60psi.