Just got my 2000 f250 7.3 diesel Lariat on it's first roadtrip. I bought it salvaged and did some repairs to get it on the road (bumper, fender, etc). The air box had been pushed into the brake master cyl and busted a hole in the airbox. I replaced the airbox and took out the little sensor and put it in the new one.

I just did a 250 mile road trip from sea level to 6000 feet and back again (Sac to Tahoe for those of you in NorCal). The truck only got 12 mpg in town, 13 on the hiway uphill, and then 16 mpg back down hill on the way home. All this based on the overhead "mpg/air temp/miles til empty" display. (I set it when I filled up, before I left, and have not reset it yet). I haven't refilled the truck to check actual mileage, but i'm at under 1/2 tank, which seems to correlate with the overhead display.

I checked the codes with a $30 code reader i've got an it read PO113. The little research i've done says this is an "intake air temp" code. Could the sensor for this be that little sensor that pops into the airbox by the master cyl? Could that sensor cause the poor gas mileage? I've also read that cracks in the intake, or turbo intake, or something like that could cause bad gas mileage. Finally, the truck doesn't seem to have as much power as I expected.

I was under the impression i'd get close to 16 mpg in town and 20 or more on the freeway. Truck is 4wd and has 144k miles. Prior owner said he averaged 16 mpg around town. This trip was with an empty bed, averaging 60-70 mpg.

Thanks for any input.

 

it is the sensor in the air intake box.i dont think it would affet the milage that bad.fuel economy is always going to be differant from driver to drive because of there driving habbits.you give a vehicle to a old lady and it does great,you give it to a teenager and it will get crappy milage.after you go threw a few tanks you will know what to exspect out of the truck.