Hey ya'll, Im new around this place. Came over from therangerstaion.com when I picked up my first shiny new diesel about a month ago. Just got me an '07 6.0 FX4 supercab with the short box. So here goes with the easy question: After putting about 1200 miles on it around Denver I had to drive 600 miles back to Texas. I wasn't holding my breath for 18mpg, and the 14 I got doesn't really scare me when the truck has 2k miles on 43-ish hours. The one thing that annoys me is that the fuel guage is ?unreliable? I filled up for the trip home and the guage read full like it should. Then it hit 3/4 after 150 miles, 1/2 after 300.... then droped to 1/4 by 350. Then I got the low fuel warning right around 500. I used to have an '02 4.0 Ranger that had something similar wrong with it. On that thing it would drop through the 3/4 to half in about 10 miles. Just got used to it after 80k miles and never complained. It's not a major performance issue, just thought I'd ask ya'll for your two cents on the issue.

Next question, to avoid making multiple posts on a trivial question:
I've driven an '02 Ranger, and '02 Expedition and an '05 F150 before this, and none of them had manual locking front hubs. Guess I just totally understand the Auto/ Lock idea and how it affects the truck. I haven't had a reason to use the 4x4 yet, so thought I'd ask before I need it.

Not gonna lie to you guys, I love the diesel so far. The Ranger towed my dinky little one-axle trailer in the mountains without any problems, so this truck shouldn't even feel it. I'm looking forward to July and getting a crack at taking my old man's travel trailer up I-70. I'm kinda dreading the MPG pulling any weight at 11,000 ft, but that can't be helped.

 

Welcome to the board and congratulations on your new PSD. Sounds like maybe a float problem in the tank, but since it's an 07' it should be under warranty. You should bring it in and let Ford take care of that for you.

 

The auto locks hubs are junk, but the way they work is by vacuum. When you turn the switch on the dash vacuum locks the hubs. Once locked the axle shafts turn and then the 4 wheel drive is engaged. Manual hubs are the way to go. They lock positive and un-lock positive.

 

Good call on the hubs.

 

just leave the hubs in "auto" all the time, use manual if you ever need to manually lock them in. I use my 4wd everyday and have never had an issue with the ESOF. I don't think failures are nearly as common as some on this message board would lead you to believe

 

[QUOTE=texastech_diesel. I'm looking forward to July and getting a crack at taking my old man's travel trailer up I-70. I'm kinda dreading the MPG pulling any weight at 11,000 ft, but that can't be helped.[/QUOTE]

It will be fun towing I-70 west!!

 

One other note on filling your tank with diesel. If you let the pump shut off automatically, your tank is never really full. Since diesel foams up a good bit, and depending on how fast the pump pumps the diesel, the foam or "head" on the diesel shuts off the pump. I usually slow fill after the pump shuts off and can get at least 3 more gallons into my tank. My gauge is fairly accurate, but I don't expect it to be perfect. Driving style changes during a tank (towing/ not towing) will change your consumption.

 

no comment onthe fuel gauge, but I never had any problems with the auto hubs, I think the main thing is they need to be used regularly to avoid trouble. I could be wrong on that idea.

 

your guage sounds the way mine has always worked bout same milage only I have 38 gal tank and low fuel light about 450

 

Welcome to the diesel world!

I just bought my 03 back in Feb and have already put 11K on it. The truck has 45K on it and I'm getting 14.9 when I'm not towing and 14.6 when I tow @ 6K.

I change oil at 6K using Motorcraft oil.

Enjoy!

 

your towing milage is just a little below my empty milage

I could never run motorcraft oil 3000 miles

 

This will explain a lot for you...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...ml#post4027310

 

Well I think the New shortbed trucks have a 30 gallon tank,,,29x14 = 406 miles,,,so if your getting close to 500 miles on a 30 gallon tank, your doin better then 14 mpg.

My 06 has a 29 gallon, the best I ever got so far was 17.5 mpg,,like 450 miles per tank when the fuel light comes on,,but I usually get about 300 miles per tank around home.

 

OK, there seems to be a little misinformation on this thread. Texastech_Diesel has MANUAL hubs, not automatic hubs. There is no AUTO position. There is LOCK and FREE.

Putting the hubs in LOCK and driving the truck does not hurt anything. This locks the wheels to the front axle, causing the axle and driveshaft to spin while you drive. I do this with mine about once a month (driving about 15 miles or so) just to keep everything lubricated. I get out and lock the hubs if I think I might need 4x4, then all I have to do to engage is put the truck in 4H or 4L, depending on conditions.

The only NO-NO with manual hubs is locking the hubs and putting the truck in 4H or 4L while in dry pavement. This causes bad stress on the transfer case and drivetrain.

 

Ok I swear that I can use a calculator. I just didn't last time. 550 miles on a 29 tank with 4 added in there at some point from a can.. so 550 miles on 33-ish gallons. I know i used it all because I filled it up with 29.5 when I got back. So that makes it about 16.5 mpg... that look better?