I have a 2000 F-250 XLT 4x4 7.3 PSD and I have a few questions about towing mileage...
I have finally got the rig tweaked to where my non-towing milage yields me at least 600 miles highway off of one topped-off 29 gal tank of fuel. The mods used are 4" turbo-back exhaust, Lucas Fuel Treatment, K&N cold-air intake, and Bullydog Power-pup programmer set at the 120 hp setting...

Here's where things don't make sense...I made my first long distance trip pulling my Jayco 293RKS fifth-wheel camper 200 miles. I thought 3/4 tank of fuel would get me the 200 miles easily but I had to fuel up after 150 miles !
So, on the way back I filled her up and took a different route to where I could use cruise control and less traffic, etc. I was able to go 215 miles home and the truck is on absolute EMPTY

Is there anything I can do to increase towing mileage ? I find it hard to believe that my mileage itowing is 1/3 of my non-towing mileage ! What mileage are you all getting while towing ? What am I doing wrong ? Do I try another setting on the programmer ? (50hp, 75hp, or 120hp are the choices)

Any and all input is greatly appreciated !

Thanks !

Scott

 

I get a solid 15 regularly, perfectly stock and slightly taller than normal.

I get 13.xx towing anywhere from a car trailer to a car hauler.

You should be getting much better than that towing. The 7.3 doesn't drop off that badly when loaded. it's the main advantage left for having a diesel.

Hmmm, looks like I should try your combo, that is very close to 20mpg unloaded! I could stand a few extra mpg's for sure.

 

I'd like to get 20mpg empty as well!
I can't help you much, but here's what I do know- no trailer with a dirt bike in the bed I got average 15.5 mpg in my truck- this was running 80mph/2200 rpm freeway and 65mph/1900rpm highway with a few passes on the highway stretch. I don't check mileage often since my tank is around 55 gallons.

 

Less traffic and cruise control (steady pace) meant more MPG.

As for getting more while towing, your Power Stroke basically makes about 275 HP @ 2800 RPM. To maximize your mileage, you need to keep the tachometer at or below that 2800 RPM figure. This is where your engine makes the best power and gets the best volumetric efficiency.

 

I'm not familiar with the chip you are running, but you didn't say how fast you were driving. I do know your mileage will drop when you push it over 60mph, and really drop if pushing it over 70mph. Also, if the chip you use is anything like a DP chip, towing in the highest setting could be dangerous. Do you have a set of gauges? If so, how hot were the exhaust temps going up hill? A set of gauges is vital if you are towing with a chip. Boost, tranny temperature, and exhaust temperatures, (most important) are important to monitor.

 

FWIW- I have a 2000 F350 PSD myself. It has the 6 speed, is stock, and I get 18 MPG in the city, and about 13 to 15 towing my 31' Wildcat. I guess this is about normal.

Have a 2009 6.4 liter coming in November... nice truck, but I'm scared of the milage I might get in that.

 

The manual tranny trucks always do better on mieage. As for the 6.4, the ones that aren't having any problems with them, love'em. There is a thread out there right now asking for positive opinions about the 6.4. It's quite active with a lot of good comments. Fuel mileage is the only complaint I have read off that thread. I'll see if I can find it and post it here for you.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...the-6-4-a.html

Here's the thread.

 

Thanks CSJohn! I'll be sure to post when I receive it. I can't wait!

 

That is pretty low mileage. Do you have any gauges installed? Are you towing in the 120 setting?

 

Anything over 2K RPM in a PSD and fuel economy starts heading toward the toilet. You guys getting 18 empty are making me jealous.

 

my truck is a 97 psd, so its a little different than the superduty 7.3. but i was looking at some bully dog chips for mine a while back and it had a 50, 75 and 120 horsepower setting. they had a downloadable instruction manual online and it said for towing heavy loads use the 50 hp mode. for towing light loads under 5k lbs or for mild performance gains use the 75 hp mode. and for performance only(absolutely no towing) use the 120 hp mode. so that could be your problem there. personally i would just run it in stock mode until i hit a big hill and then flip it over to the 50 hp setting until i reached the top. then back to stock mode.

 

oh yeah. my mileage is 21-23 mpg at 55 mph empty(xl, reg cab, no power anything, 5 speed) and around 19-20 mpg if i run 65. my most recent trip i towed 8k lbs from tennessee to ohio and got 18 mpg running 65 mph the entire trip. im not sure what your trailer weighs, but thats a huge drop in your mpg's. way more than normal.

 

Gearing could have a lot to do with it too. A shorter ratio rear-end will cause higher engine RPM at a given speed.

 

It's a fifth-wheel, could the aerodynamics have that much to do with it?

Also, like others already said, are you towing in the high-performance setting on that chip?