I'm not stupid but seeking info. What kinda mileage with 4:30s? I have found an 03 but this is the only drawback. I wont pull that much so I don't need those low gears, With only 64000 miles and make offer on 17900, i think it might be a fair deal if i could get it for less.

 

Not enough difference in MPG to really matter over the 3.73 if you're not towing plus you get a vehicle that is more capable if you ever need to tow something.

Give you a different example. I know it's a different motor and different vehicle but same principle.
I regeared my 2000 Durango (5.9L V8) from the stock 3.55:1 to 4.56:1 and saw NO drop in in-town mileage and towing mileage actually went up. Did lose about 1-2 on the hwy but that big V8 hates to rev unlike the V10 Ford.

 

You could always buy it and trade me for my 4:10's!!

 

What kinda pen to paper numbers you guys getting. I know this probably gets aked alot just as in the PSD forums but am curios. Please note your gears too.

 

I just got back from a 600 mile road trip. My Excursion averaged 13.5 mpg driving between 70 and 80 mph. In town it gets 11.5 mpg. It's a '02 2wd with V10 and 3.73 gears.

 

yea 70-80 is a massive mpg killer. Any vehicle I've driven that fast suffers 2-3 mpg even my honda civic, or the motorcyles I've owned. That 70mph barrier is a big one, you start pushing so much air it takes HP to do it.

 

I avg about 11-12 mpg on my 02 2WD V10 with 4.30 not towing. Towing gets me around 8 mpg.

 

Pretty close to the same here. Mine's an 01 4wd.

 

I track my mileage on fuelly.com. I bought my 2003 4x4 with 4.30's in April of 2009. My observations so far.

Worse towing mileage than expected. I am averaging about 8.2 mpg towing a 6,000lb TT. My 1994 1500 suburban averaged just over 10 mpg when towing on flat terrain.

Better freeway mileage than expected. I have hit as high as 13.6 mpg on the freeway while driving 75 mph.

My longest freeway trip was about 200 miles round trip which included some city driving. I would like to take a 400 mile trip to see if I could hit 14 mpg's.

My overall average is 10.9 mpg. This includes a 60/40 highway/city mix as well as pulling my travel trailer 10-15% of those miles.

 

I changed from 3.73s to 4.30s in my '03 and it didn't affect the mileage much. Keep in mind though, I have 35" tires so my RPM's aren't getting as high as stock tires would. Lower gears will help your town mileage and hurt your city mileage, especially if you spend a lot of time above 65-70. Limit in Oregon is 65, which puts me at 2000 rpm with 4.30s and 35" tires. With that said, I have the stock 3.73s out of my '03 I would trade for your 4.30s if you're interested.

 

 

My 00 Excursion 4x4 with 4.30's would get 14-15 on the expressway with the cruise set at 65 mph empty. If I would slow down to around 60 sometimes it would get 16 mpg. Around town it was much lower IIRC around 11-12 mpg and towing my 9K TT it would be 7 mpg (hills) to 9 mpg even dipping lower if going 70 mph or mountains.

 

I don't see 4:30's as a drawback but as a plus.


As far a mpg's I see 13 to 14 on highway with my normal driving, if I drive slower and baby it could get a little better, but oh well.

City mpg's would be 10 to 11.

These are non-towing numbers.

 

My mileage is exactly the same!

 

BIG difference in optimal gearing between the V10 and 6.0L diesel. The V10 SHOULD have 4.10s or 4.30s stock, whereas the 6.0L does well with the 3.73s and lower gears with stock tires end up hurting your mileage due to over-revving. You really cannot compare the gasser and diesel in gearing, the power bands are completely different.