New Truck Observations

[CATANG MOTORSPORTS]

Well my new 2008 SD arrived last week and I picked it up Friday. Only 105 miles to date but a number of observations already:

Although I have owned an 84 6.9L Diesel and 1990 7.3L Diesel with Gale Banks Turbo, all observations and comparisions are to my most recent truck, a 2006 F350 6.0L Diesel:

1. Extremely quiet from all points of view. Overall exhaust noise is much quieter. Diesel rattle is almost non-existent. and Diesel mechanical noises like the mechanical sound of the injectors just doesn't exist. Cab noise isolation is also better. No funny rattles or squeks.

2. Interior is really plush and elegant looking. I am not really into the bold theme but it comes across as much better quality than the 2006 interior.

3. Engine compartment top looks extremely busy with service items versus seeing the engine. This was also a similar problem with the 6.0. I prefer to see the engine, but in reality you shouldn't really ever need to open the engine up and there are a lot of maintenance items on this engine that you do need to work with. So I guess it makes sense to make them much more accessible, which they are.

4. Grill lifting up with hood is great and provides much better access to the engine compartment. But I don't like the fact that the heat exchangers are not guarded and would suggest that some sort of temporary guard be used when working on the maintenance items and standing on the bumper.

5. Too early to tell about mileage but initial impressions seem to be the same as the 6.0. Highway only miles on fairly level 10 mile stretches with small hills and 65 mph. nets 19 mpg. In town is around 14 mpg. Overall with the 105 miles is 16 mpg. Not bad at all. I did notice that higher speeds on the highway really make the mileage drop. Won't know until May what it will do towing 18K 5th wheel trailer. That will be the real test as towing is what the truck is designed for.

6. More storage available inside the truck.

7. Tail gate step and handle is not a toy. It is really rugged and well worth the cost.

8. Biggest pleasant surprise? The front wide track option. They need to do a better job selling this. I really bought this for only one reason. A stab in the dark hoping that the truck didn't look to narrow. Personally I thought the 2006 looked too narrow up front, even with the SRW. Add the Dually wheels in back and it looked worse. With the new 2008 tall headlights I think the new truck looks even narrower. So even though the description of the wider track didn't say much I figured wider track can only help. Boy was that a great move! Maybe I am the only one that didn't know this, but the wide track option is so wide that they add an additional 3 1/2" body flare to each front wheel well and throw in front mud flaps. This, along with the much lower front air dam makes my 4WD look like a road racer. They don't really show you a front picture of the net result. The truck looks wider than tall. In addition it turns on a dime. I don't think any vehicle I have owned turns as sharp at this! If you have a SRW, I would be worried about how this looks as it would look like you have a Dually set up in front and narrow in the rear. But with the rear Dually, it does a great job of balancing out the front with the wide rear. Nice job. Fender flares are top notch with a great fit! In my opinion this is the one best thing you can get. Ford just needs to do a better job selling it. I would make it standard on all Duallys.

[bookem15]

First let me start by saying well written post. Now my question is can you get the wide track on every model or is it limited? I want to purchase a 2009 harley davidson F350 CC LB 6.4 and I would like to have the wide track option.

[safehaven]

Originally Posted by bookem15

First let me start by saying well written post. Now my question is can you get the wide track on every model or is it limited? I want to purchase a 2009 harley davidson F350 CC LB 6.4 and I would like to have the wide track option.

The wide track is only available on DRW's with 6.4L engine. I will have to say, I LOVE the option. The way the truck turns is AMAZING, plus I think it looks cool. I am so happy that it became an option for the 350's. I was going to buy a 450 just to get the axle. Even better that I could save $3k and get it on a 350. It is very easily one of my most favorite options on my truck (well, I should say the wife's truck).

CATANG, I guessing that with the fuel economy you are stating, you probably have 3.73's and/or a manual transmission?

My truck with 4.30's and an auto on its three tanks of fuel has gotten 10.4, 10.6, 10.9, respectively. I am hoping that it will make it into the 11's. If so, it would put it on par with my '05 6L with 4.30's and an auto that gets consistently between 11-12.

[CATANG MOTORSPORTS]

Sorry about that! I forgot to give the full specs on the truck:2008 Ford F350 Lariat8' BedCrewcab6.4L Diesel4WD6 Speed Manual3.73 GearsDuallyFront Wide Track OptionWhiteGlad to hear that the front wide track option is only available on the Duallys. It would look really weird on the SRW's.

[rmosso1]

I had a 2005 dually and now my 2008. I can swing a U turn in four lanes, instead of 5! I really look forward to driving my truck, and am only restrained by the price of you know what.

You can turn the heated mirrors on with the 08's which is also new, and, I hope you got the back up camera. I was on I - 75 today and thought to myself, wouldn't it be nice to have a camera to see the person behind me, then I woke up.

Congratulations and enjoy. A lot of us get upset when all the nay sayers chime in, but, we each have our opinion.

On edit, remember that the wide track did not come out with job 1 trucks, but an added feature with job 2. As info.

[firehawk198]

Originally Posted by CATANG MOTORSPORTS

Sorry about that! I forgot to give the full specs on the truck:2008 Ford F350 Lariat8' BedCrewcab6.4L Diesel4WD6 Speed Manual3.73 GearsDuallyFront Wide Track OptionWhiteGlad to hear that the front wide track option is only available on the Duallys. It would look really weird on the SRW's.

Congrats, Really looking forward to you mpg towing the 18k and how the manual feels towing it. One big problem I have with mine is when I go from our Escape to my 450 I am always 10 to 15 miles over the speed limit. Just can not feel the speed. Feels like you are sitting in your living room chair. Enjoy

[UGA33]

only on duallies

[DesertRider]

I have also found it MUCH easier to maneuver my trailer back into a camping spot with the wide track. It's a great option

[CATANG MOTORSPORTS]

Only have a couple hundred miles on the truck still, but have driven a lot of different types or roads and hills to see a number of trends.

Regarding mileage and Turbo boost, there have been a number of posts regarding keeping the boost at or below 10 psi. for good mileage and although there is nothing incorrect about this advise, it is misleading and frustratilng to follow.

On my 1990 7.3L with gale Banks Turbo, you would really have to have your foot in it for a while and also a lot of heat buildup before you could even rearch 10psi. On my 6.0, you could drive fairly quickly with no load and stay under 10 psi. With the 6.4 you can't do squat except be in everybodies way if you try to keep it under 10 psi. The reason for this is the turbo design and selection. The 7.3L Turbo was a single large heavy design (large volume low pressure) with a lot of resulting turbo lag. Not much fun around town but decent at towing. The 6.0 was also a single design mediuim sized turbo with minimal lag and fairly high pressure. The 6.4 has a small turbo and a large turbo for the best of both worlds design.

No lag means small turbo is willing to spin up a 5% throttle. You have to acelerate at a crawl to keep it below 10 psi. Once moving it is farly simple to keep it below 10 psi if you are under 65 mph and on level ground. As soon as there is any slight increasse in grade, the small turbo is going to kick in.

Now this is the part where I kind of disagree with the advise out there. Yes, boosting above 10 psi can only be accomplished when putting your foot into the throttle more which is required more at higher constant speeds or faster acceleration. So yes the boost guage is a very very rough indicator of fuel use. But a better indicator is how hard you accelerate and the speedometer. It is not like the secondaries on a 4 barrel carb. In fact it is the opposite for a diesel. For a given level of power needed the more made with boost, the more efficient the Diesel cycle. If you compare the Otto cycle (Gasoline engines) with the Diesel cycle (Diesel engines), the following statements can be made:

Otto cycle (gasoline): Adding a turbo drops the engines efficiency and decreases mileage, raises emmissions, generates more waste heat. You can generate more power, but you pay for that power gain. However if you turbocharge a small 4 cylinder so that it can make equivalent V-8 horsepower, the goal is to net overall better mileage by not needing the power 95% of the time, which offsets the much worse efficiency at full throttle or high power needs which are only needed occasionally.

Diesel cycle: Turbocharging is a win - win with no negative drawbacks, The Diesel cycle is really an inferior cycle unless turbo chaged. It wants and needs turbocharging, which results in more power, less emmissions, less waste heat for the same power level, and obvioulsy more efficient and better mileage.

So as with anything, only use the amount of power you need to use to get the job done. When unloaded go as fast as you can afford. If you want mileage stay at 60 to 65 mpg. 70 to 75 mpg. is going to be about 2 mpg less. just like it is in all vehicles. Accelerate so that you don't have angry drivers around you but no faster. Unless you want top have fun and are willing to pay the price.

In summary, 10psi is not some magical indicator of less efficient fuel use. In my opinion get the job done at the speed you really need and level of acceleratin that is necessary. That will always require many temporary situations where boost is above 10 psi. That is Fords better dual turbo design capturing free power via the small turbo within the dual turbo design. When towing, it is obvious you will never see the turbo below 10 psi except on downhills and and at traffic lights while idling. Keep in mind these trucks are not designed for driving efficiently with no load. That can be done with a ragner if you really need a truck look or better cars, mopeds, etc. They are designed to pull up to 18K in a safe and efficient manner.

[firehawk198]

My experience has been to try to keep it below 20# and 2,000 rpms. If you have to accelerate normally on a grade it is impossible to keep it below 20#. Just have to use your head and do the best you can. Towing I find my boost is 30-40# on steep hills. Wait untill you tow, this is what these trucks are made for. Can't wait to hear how yours tows with the manual.

[CATANG MOTORSPORTS]

Firehawk, you are dead on! Under 2000 rpm and 20 psi and you are probably reasonably limiting yourself with an unloaded to truck to something that is doable.

[Bowie]

Just wonder why the 6.4 is not at powerfull at the other 2 diesels on the market. Also why the ford makes its highest torque at 2000rpms and chevy and dodge are down at 1600rpms. With the 2 turbos you would think that the ford would have better numbers. Not to get off subject.

[origcharger]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Just wonder why the 6.4 is not at powerfull at the other 2 diesels on the market. Also why the ford makes its highest torque at 2000rpms and chevy and dodge are down at 1600rpms. With the 2 turbos you would think that the ford would have better numbers. Not to get off subject.

Ford apparently wants the peak torque at 2,000. The 6.4 and 6.0 V8s both make peak torque below 1500 rpm in their medium duty truck applications.

[firehawk198]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Just wonder why the 6.4 is not at powerfull at the other 2 diesels on the market. Also why the ford makes its highest torque at 2000rpms and chevy and dodge are down at 1600rpms. With the 2 turbos you would think that the ford would have better numbers. Not to get off subject.

It seems all manufactures and engineers have a different idea how to make power. ( Not just diesel trucks but all other motor applications.) All three tow the same weight say 10,000# pretty much the same time. The Fords are usually a thousand pounds heavier to begin with. Haven’t been any tests that I have seen of all three towing 17K I would think this is where the Ford 6.4 would be most beneficial. I remember reading a 450 with 4.88s towing 20K and it was about as fast as the other 3 times.

[Champ198]

Great write-up Catang! Agree with you on the protection for the air-charger grill when you lift the hood. Tips of boots could bend the cooling fins in.