2006 6.0L Milage

[Ford 4 Ever]

I have a 2006 F-250, 6.0L diesel engine.
It is totaly stock and gets 14.2 MPG.
Looking to improve my fuel milage, any help?

FX4, extended cab.

[Maxium4x4]

Moved from General Diesel, Welcome to FTE Ford 4 Ever

[bismic]

Areas that helped me:

#1 - (NO DOUBT) - driving style, habits, highway speed, slow take-offs, coasting stops, etc.

#2 - MINIMIZE IDLING (I still do SOME on VERY cold mornings and days). This helps in a lot of areas!

#3 - tire pressure - maximize it.

#4 - fuel additives and synthetic oil (MY OPINION HERE, many feel differently)

#5 - I got the most recent flash - I LOVE it! I think it adds .5 mpg at least.

#6 - I was recently talked into a power elbow - maybe makes a tenth or two tenths mpg improvement.

Things that others have said will help

#1 - Smaller, lighter, narrower tires - definite help

#2 - Tonneau cover - most say it helps

#3 - tuner - probably will help - if you can still drive sensibly - takes willpower!

#4 - open up the exhaust - probably will help VERY LITTLE and is a "high dollar per improvement gained" mod in my opinion. The real reason for the exhaust mod is to lower EGT's.

#5 - Zoodad - probably not much help, but easy

Expensive (pay out is over 5 years), but some say they are good:
Gear Vendors under/overdrive transmissions the most awarded auxiliary transmissions.

[bismic]

Ford's Broadcast Message

6.0/6.4 Fuel Economy:
Ford vehicles equipped with the 6.0 PowerStroke diesel are not rated for fuel economy by the EPA. If economy is in question, a boost test should be performed. If boost reaches 22-25 PSI in third gear, wide open throttle under load, then the engine is operating normally and no economy related repairs need to be performed. If not in specs, then the engine will need to be diagnosed--check sensor reading, VGT and EGR operation, fuel pressure and quality, crankcase pressure, intake or exhaust restriction, exhaust or CAC leaks.
Fuel economy will be affected by many factors, including: excessive idle time (one hour equals approximately 33 miles of driving), fuel quality and blend, ambient temperature, driving habits, vehicle use, towing, loads, add-on accessories. Broadcast Message 1271, 4450, 6989

[bismic]

I have wondered for awhile whether or not you could save fuel costs by warming your truck block on cold mornings (or on all mornings) with a block and/or oil heater before driving. It really is pretty cheap to do so. Clearly I get to peak fuel economy a whole lot quicker in the afternoon than in the morning. It really is simple - get to design operating temperature and you will be more efficient. The question is "Does it offer MEASUREABLE benefits?".

I found a thread on another forum that mentioned it:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forum/general-6-0l-discussion/43930-if-you-still-thinking-going-diesel-your-nuts-3.html

Problem with this post is that he idled for 5-6 minutes on the cool mornings. Unless it is in the teens, I would idle for no more than 1 minute - when the temps are in the 60's I only idle a few seconds. I do take it easy on acceleration until the engine warms up. IF you are saving a dollar a day or so - this can save several hundred dollars a year which is like a 1 mpg average improvement or so.

Bottom Line:

[dc3655]

bismic covered it all pretty well.
My own experience has been that you can see a nice improvement by having good driving styles...especially since the 6L doesn't have great low-end power and so most drivers power up to the higher rpms. I added a tuner which helps add low-end power so I don't have any need to get into it since there is more power available off idle. I also use synthetic oils in the engine and powertrain and that can't hurt. I had to do all this to make up for the loss of mpg after I went to bigger rims and tires. Anyways, last weekend I filled up at 16.3 mpg (hand-calculated) and that was purely driving to work and the grocery store. My last roadtrips returned 18.6 and 19.3 mpg. Now I must admit that it is hard to keep from getting on it since the power is awesome! Before adding the tuner, I was getting anywhere from 11-14 mpg driving to work and around town....so I'm happy with the results.

[bismic]

BTW -

I am averaging about 16.5 after 28,000 miles. The last 1000 I am averaging 17.5 mpg.

I average about 18 to and from work - quite a bit highway and few stops.

If I get a big wind pushing me, I will be in the 20's.

If I get a big wind in front of me, I will be in the 15 range.

All numbers are hand calculated.

[Sarge261]

I average about 13-15 but I do mostly city driving. I agree with above posts that you need to keep idle time down. I do plug mine in in the winter time when temps get in the teens. I am fortunate that I do get to keep it in a heated garage in the winter so it rarely sees cold cold days up here. I also have a tuner on mine with a power elbow and bigger exhaust. I do have the Cat Converter installed still too.

Sarge

P.S. Welcome aboard, this is a great site with great people here with a lot of info...thanks Bismic .

[big yeller]

Sarge621,
Just reading thru the thread and noticed, you are running the Banks six gun
and exhaust. In reading other threads, alot of members bashing Bank stuff.
How long have you been running it? Any problems? And are the dealers giving you
trouble with add-ons?
I have an 04F250 and an 06 F350 on its way, and wanting to do some upgrades,
nothing crazy. Just about what youve done.
Thanks , Howard

[Sarge261]

I bought the truck used and it had all this stuff on it. I know they guy who owned this truck and he used it to pull a goose neck cross country. He trades every 2 years and he traded this one for a 08 f-450 KR. He calls me and tells me he wished he kept mine...but anyway the Banks has been in it fir about 45,000 miles and neither one of us has had any troble with it. Neither one of us has run it above level 4 and neither one of us expected to turn the truck into a race car.

With that being said there are better tuners out there SCT with a custom tune seems to be the favorite around here. My therory is that if you dont beat the poopie out of the truck it will be good to you. Like I said its been there for 45,000 miles and he installed it so it was no cost to me.

I have not had any problems with my dealer they have been great and have covered waranty repairs..and they fixed it right the first time. I would recommend it but thats up to you. I have the PDA which is real nice and the guages are nice too. Someday I will upgrade to a SCT or Matts tuner but for right now it works.

Yes people bash it but like I said if you play and you beat the crap out of your truck and run it on extreme tunes with stock head bolts they will all break. I am a fanatic with maintence and I am pretty anal about my truck. My theroy is if I treat it well I will get many great years of service out of it. Plus its a big investment so I dont want to turn it into a race car just a little xtra power for towing my race car.

Like I said I like it but will someay get an SCT.

Sarge

[dfooch]

I was getting about the same mpgs (14.5) when I bought my used 06 with 29k miles. I do mostly city driving. The only changes I made were deleting the muffler and I switched to synthetic oil. I now average 15.3 mpg. About a month ago, I actually got 21 mpg on a drive up to SC...tucked behind an 18 wheeler. Typically, on the highway, I usually get around 18 mpg...It should be noted that I drive it like an old lady!