Is there any chance of harming my 6.4 250 CC 4X4 3.73 towing a 13k fiver up a sustained grade for 15-20 minutes? I've run Turbo boost steady and strong in Tow/Haul mode up 5 minute long grades with no problems- 60mph with boost gauge 3/4 pegged. I'm going camping next weekend and will need to run the longer duration grade- Anybody got advice?

 

If your vehicle is stock you can run a very long time at full throttle without damaging anything. As an engineer, I have personally experienced the durability tests that these vehicles see at Ford's Proving Grounds in Arizona and the testing is beyond what any consumer will typically do to their vehicle.

Run it hard, you will break it in and make more power and better fuel economy. You bought it for a reason...now enjoy it.

 

That run it hard to break it in seems very true to me right now. I just hauled my Jeep up to Houston, bout a 4 hour trip, non-stop pushing 20 psi the entire time. On the way back I averaged 18.5 mpg empty @ 65 mph, over 1 mpg more than my average a few days before in the same conditions.

 

I've pulled my 28' enclosed trailer weighing in at 10K out of laughlin Nv it's about a 6% grade 19 miles long, 28psi boost,only backed out of it for the corners. It was 115 degrees out and i had no problems.

These trucks aren't pavement pincess's! Drop the hammer.

 

Run it hard off the bat, or follow the break in procedures?

I am picking up my new '08 tomorrow in Austin and bringing it back to Dallas. I have read the debate of DILUSI(drive it like you stole it), vs, slow break in.

Question: What have you 6.4 owners been doing and what are the results, if any?

 

I would follow the break in procedure its either 1000 or 1500 miles before you tow anything. Its important for the motor and drivetrain to start good wear patterns before you put a good load on it. I am not sure if the 6.4 is a pre-stressed engine mabey someone could chim in on that topic.

At 1500 miles i put a small 3000 lbs load, and at 3000 miles i was all in.

Just my .02

 

I have pulled my 18k+ utility trailer up and back between Laughlin and Kingman 3 times in the last week. It was only 110-115 degrees out, but in spite of the cool temps it has ran great with no probs each time.

 

Difinatly follow Fords break in procedure for the first 1000-1500 miles. Then put the motor to work pulling a good load for awhile.

 

Get the differential hot (as in, sustained highway driving for 30-45mins) while driving easy.

Beyond that, drive it easy while the engine is cold. When it is warmed up - really load it up from 100miles.
The better you bed in the piston rings, the better fuel economy you will see.

 

I've got just over 3k miles on my truck and use it for a living delivering tractors that i sell! I had 2 tractors delivered within the first 100miles given i did not push it hard for the first 1k but i did haul this load over the mtns to eastern wa with less than 500 miles! if that is not pushing it!
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/garage.php?do=hall&u=34507

it regened at least every 75 miles for the first two tanks and I have not noticed it in regen sence?

I just wish for better mpg! my last dodge i was getting 17mpg hauling 10k and i can almost get there empty with the ford on hwy no city! Next month i am heading to the oregon dunes with my 35ft 15k loaded fw and will find out how it really tows!

 

I have almost 1000 miles on my 250. I'm not pushing it too hard but once in a while it does see 40 psi lol. On a 400 mile trip it averaged about 15mpg going 75-80mph ('08 F250 Crew Cab 4x4 Short Bed Diesel w/ 20" rims)

It regened about 2 times in the first 400 miles. Both times happened when I was at a red light, rpms stayed at 750 rpms and actually, the truck felt like it had MORE power (getting back up to speed felt easier with less "stress" than before)...not less like everyone says. I was scared anticipating my first regen because I read where it shoots up to 1200 rpms while at a red light and the brakes can't hold it...that hasn't happen and I think the truck knows it's in gear and doesn't kick up the rpms. I pulled into my destination and the rpms shot up to 1200...sometimes up to as much as 1500. It lasted 10 minutes and then RPMs dropped slowly to 600ish.

I feel bad for the mustang that was parked next to me though...I hope the heat didn't mess up the paint LOL or melt something.

Anyway, back on topic, a buddy of mine who is also a service advisor told me that these trucks come from the factory ready for "***** to the wall" use. He also told me that the spreading myth about these trucks being detuned until after a certain mileage was completely false.

 

Actually these trucks won't regen when your foot is on the brake. They only regen when driving or in park. They stop regen when you touch the brake then start again when you release the brake.

 

That's good to know because I know there have been a few threads I have read of people driving the trucks then stopping at a red light or stop sign and then they claim the truck goes into regen (RPMs shoot up to 1200) and the brakes not stopping the vehicle from moving forward.

 

how many of you guys are hitting 40 psi of boost, I tow a lot and have never gotten boost over 30psi! and ive tried! am i not making the power that i could!
my 01 cummins stock was max 24psi and built up i could hit 38psi and that made a huge difference! my truck is a stock 6.4 other than a leveling kit and air bags
thanks

 

18.5!! and u ppl are complaining about the MPG ive never seen a 6.0 do that good!