Just picked up a 7.3l F350 DRW and I'm getting 25mpg!
... but I have to drive my Honda to get that type of fuel economy. The F350 is "a little off" that mileage.
My truck, a 94, came with a log of odometer and fuel intake for every fill since the truck was new. The truck has seen most of North America in front of a 5th wheel travel trailer (it's sole purpose in life previous to my ownership).
In the 220K kms on the odometer, the truck clocked 11.5~16.1 mpg (Imperial mpg). I expect roughly 100% of that was towing.
yeah i have a 7.3l f-350 DRW and haven't got over 20 yet usually between 13-16 mpg around town and 18 hwy, saw the title and wanted to know how in the world you were getting 25mpg, lol
Your 95 is a PSD. Mine is a 94 7.3l turbo IDI. I would imagine you get better fuel economy than I do.
Also, mine is a 5 speed. It feels like I need another gear for the highway because it hums along at 2350 RPM at 62.1 mph. That's gas engine revs. I would imagine a 6 speed would bring the revs down a bit and improve the mileage.
I've read a few posts on this site of people citing 25 mpg in a PSD SD. One of the sellers of trucks I was looking at, a 2000 PSD 6 speed, was citing 22~23 mpg empty in his F250.
A buddy claims to have gotten 26 mpg in his 05 Duramax doing 85 mph on the freeway from Vegas to San Diego. Seems hard to believe.
I just disregarded that stuff when I was shopping.
Still, I'm pleased with the power my truck has and I'm happy enough with the fuel economy. Considering the work it can do, the fuel cost is surprisingly reasonable.
Tom- any idea what gears that truck has in it? That doesn't sound right, as your average 5 speed IDI, even with 4.10 gears, should be turning right at 2000 RPM at 65 mph.
I wonder if someone put 4.30 gears in that truck?
__________________ 1994 F250 XLT-Reg cab, 4x4, 5 speed, 7.3 IDI Turbo, manual hubs. 4" intake tube, ATS upgrade, 4" exhaust w/ Walker 21172, boost & pyro on pillar, Autodim mirror, 16x8 MB Razor wheels w/285/75R16 "MT-R's" 1987 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe-Lots of fun stuff to make it go fast & take corners 2008 V-Star 1100 Midnight Custom-Just Cobra slip-on drag pipes for now
No idea on the gears. I really appreciate the comment because I was asking about the gear ratio earlier. If the tach is accurate, I'm hitting 2350~2400 RPM at 62.1 mph (100 kph).
I'll see if the rear end has a legible tag the next time I'm there.
Didn't those trucks come with different rear end ratios? Is it possible the truck came with 4.3:1 gears from factory? I'd really like to get the revs down to save fuel and I certainly don't need the power.
From the factory I don't believe anything was installed behind a diesel except the 3.55 or 4.10. Even the later trucks had 4.30's available behind the 5.4 and V10, but you couldn't get them with the diesel.
Another question- what size tires are on the truck?
It's possible someone decided the 7.3 didn't have enough grunt at some point and put in 4.30's...but I kinda doubt that. I'm wondering now if maybe the tires are just too short.
__________________ 1994 F250 XLT-Reg cab, 4x4, 5 speed, 7.3 IDI Turbo, manual hubs. 4" intake tube, ATS upgrade, 4" exhaust w/ Walker 21172, boost & pyro on pillar, Autodim mirror, 16x8 MB Razor wheels w/285/75R16 "MT-R's" 1987 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe-Lots of fun stuff to make it go fast & take corners 2008 V-Star 1100 Midnight Custom-Just Cobra slip-on drag pipes for now
If you are running 215/85R16 rubber there is your problem right there. Try squeeze some 235/85R16s on the wheels. They will be close on the back so keep them aired up to 70 PSI.
The truck probably has 4:10 gears I can't see it having anything lower. Only the F-Superduty in that year had 4:63 and 5:13 gears.
I had a F-Superduty IDI N/A with 5:13 gears the truck did about 100km/h at 3000 rpms. The most comfortable speed the truck would do would be 80km/h truck got 11-12 mpg loaded or empty didn't matter.
Also, mine is a 5 speed. It feels like I need another gear for the highway because it hums along at 2350 RPM at 62.1 mph. That's gas engine revs. I would imagine a 6 speed would bring the revs down a bit and improve the mileage.
It sounds like you have 4.11 gears, and a little lower 5th gear ratio than the 5 speed automatic on my '06 F350 w/ 6.0L powerstroke. I'm turning about 1800 RPM at 62 mph.
It sounds like you got a damned nice truck, from the numbers the previous owner was getting pulling the 5th wheel.
From what I understand, the 7.3 IDI is a simple durable motor that will last a long long time with proper maintenance.
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