Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

Howdy,

Just a question for you 7.3L power stroke guys:

I average 14.33 mpg in my 1993 F250 4X4 Ext Cab long bed, stock 235x85x16" tires, 4.10 rear end, manual tranny. It boils out to generally about:
12-13 with a cabover camper on not pushing it too hard...
10-11 pushing it with the camper...
14-15 mpg @ 75mph freeway w/ campershell & lite or no load...
15-17 mpg 55-65 mph highway driving with no load.

I had a guy with a PS F250 4x4 tell me tonight he gets 25 mpg with that rig and he gets 12 mpg empty or full with his other F250 with a 460 gas & auto transmission. I told him I didn't know the Powerstroke got anywhere near that... and I was amazed to learn he got 12 with the 460...

Is he full of Bone Spurs or is such mpg possible?

Gracias for all replies...

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

I have a stock PSD and get 17MPG at 65MPH everyday driving. The best I ever saw was 20MPG on a trip and that only happened once.

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

I just did a road trip last weekend of about 800 miles. I got 20.04 mpg with a 4 wheeler, dirtbike, heavy toolbox, cab full of gear, and a passenger. 254,000 miles on the engine. 21.5 unloaded. Course I keep it at about 1850rpms. Somewhere above 1900 the turbo really kicks in and your milage takes a dump. (no boost guage yet, waiting for engine to break in first) My milage went up when I straight piped it a month ago. From the DP back.

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

and I have a F350 crewcab,4wd, with abnks exhaust power chip and trans command, tymar intake and only get 13.5 empty! could have swore I got better than that when it was stock!!!

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

17.5 at 75 mpg. Been slowing down the last few weeks, keeping the rpm's under 2000.Got 19 or so the last few weeks but like I said I've been slowing it down. This is also empty. Don't know if you're interested but it does drop down to 14 or 15 in the winter with the winter fuel.

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

Sounds like 25 is an exaggeration, then, unless it was downhill with a tail wind. It DOES sound like the Power stroke diesel gets somewhat better mileage then the old 7.3 IDI engines. Mine would probably get better mileage if it had the higher speed rear end gearing. It runs up to about 2500 rpm at 75 mph. If I hold it under 2200 rpm it gets better mileage. You pay for that higher speed.

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

My 97 with manual & 4:10 rear gets 17 mpg @ 72 mph (2600 rpm) on a long generally flat trip.


What mileage can be expected of a 4x2 with an automatic and better rear end ratio?

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

I have averaged 21-22 mpg but I keep the speed under 60, at the 2000 rpm torque peak of 58mph.

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

Thank you Grinch.

Besides keeping the speed & rpm's down do you attribute any of your modifications to your good fuel numbers?

If I drove under 60 mph here I'd get rear ended by the first VW camper to come up behind me.

My brother had a vw camper diesel. Boy, would I love to have that van today.

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

The K&N and the round downpipe out of the turbo help the motor breath easier. The original was a pancaked pipe out of the turbo which definitely restricted the exhaust. Yours is probably the same. It was made that way so the whole motor and exhaust, up to the catalytic, could be installed at one time. Good for saving money and time on the install, not good for exhaust flow. The pancaked pipe caused backpressure to build and kept the turbo from freely spinning up. Which reduces efficiency. Not sure it makes a big difference unless you are under heavy boost a lot.

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

I can get around 20 MPG on my 2002 when empty and that's with the Superchips MT installed. Highway driving without stopping and idling. Also cooler weather helps. Fresh oil change and proper tire inflation too.

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

With my new camper onboard, I am getting about 15mpg with the '96. That is with driving over 70mph, and not easing up much.. If I were to drive it like a blue hair, I probably would get about 18mpg.

But that ain't likely...

Theo

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

Theologian

Are your RPMs around 2100 at 75 MPH in your 2002?

That is, when empty or not towing.

Fuel Economy in 7.3 IDI vs. Powerstroke
 

my 00 6pd regularly gets 23.5-24mpg empty. I have had it as high as 25.3 on extended trips. 80hp SuperChip, K&N and no muffler. If I drive sanely, it still gets 17-18mpg with an 8.5" camper, 16ft car trailer and a 4500lb LandCruiser on it.

I just bought a 2000 F350 PSD, and it didn't come with anything that said what gear ratio I have. I have tried looking on the pumpkin itself, but haven't found anything yet.

From what others have said, I think I have something a bit taller than 4.10, since I am pretty much dialed in at 2000 rpms at 65 mph. What would this equate to? Does anyone else match those numbers that knows what their ratio is?

Also, I'm curious if anyone else has tried the tailgate up or down thing. Which seems to give better milage? I was considering getting one of those tailgate nets that have a few holes in them, which close up when you aren't moving, but offer plenty of flow at higher speeds...any thoughts?