goodbye spartan
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 26
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From: utopia, tx
goodbye spartan
so, after trying everything possible to get my spartan to anything beyond 16 mpgs, i removed it and its up for sale. i began by calling spartan to ask if there were any reoccurring issues that they new about and the answer was NO u should be happy to be getting 16 mpgs. so i called the truck shop i bought it from he told me there defenitly is a problem cause most of his customers are getting 18-20mpgs, but he was willing to work with me to get it figured out. he gave me the name of an additive called optilube to try, which i did. still 16 mpgs. thats when i said to heck with it and went and bought an edge evo cs, and right away am getting 20 mpgs on the flats at 75 mpg, at that speed with the spartan i would get 14. now im not trying to bad mouth spartan cause i think the tune for power only was great, but it seems like the overall focus has been twisted into going fast instead of getting more out of a tank. in my experience if u want to race your truck get a spartan, but if u want mpgs get an edge.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
gotta ask. is that Lie-meter 20 mpg, or hand calculated?
please tell more about your truck..
I have a DRW 4.10 rear and don't think there is ANY way to get 18
(get 14.5 on the highway empty at 65)
Sam
please tell more about your truck..
I have a DRW 4.10 rear and don't think there is ANY way to get 18
(get 14.5 on the highway empty at 65)
Sam
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 26
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From: utopia, tx
all hand calculated. my truck is 08, 250 crew, 4x4, 3.73 rear michelin ltx tires. and my mileage with a trailer went from 10 at 65 to 12.5 at 70. and all that on the number 4 tune with no dpf.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2009
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Don't know how much weight you are towing, but I would kiss a witch to get that kind of MPG while towing my 5er. Even a Tea Party witch! 
It still sounds like you are sold on tuning, I'm still thinking about it but my warranty is two years away from expiring, not to mention drive train warranty. Anyway, good luck with the new tuner.
It still sounds like you are sold on tuning, I'm still thinking about it but my warranty is two years away from expiring, not to mention drive train warranty. Anyway, good luck with the new tuner.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 26
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From: utopia, tx
im prolly gona sell it for 800. and the 12.5 im getting now is with a 6000lb work trailer, but empty im getting 20. all without a dpf.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Georgia
mines a 4.30 and you and I can just about forget getting much mileage. Even if we had the tuner you can't tow in those high tunes. At least I wouldn't do it even with a good read on all the temps. just to easy to tear something up. I just view it the way I did when I drove corvettes. Don't measure the mileage and if anyone ask about it just look smug and say "if ya gotta ask, you can't afford it". LOL, that shuts em up. They think you're stupid, but it shuts em up.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
mines a 4.30 and you and I can just about forget getting much mileage. Even if we had the tuner you can't tow in those high tunes. At least I wouldn't do it even with a good read on all the temps. just to easy to tear something up. I just view it the way I did when I drove corvettes. Don't measure the mileage and if anyone ask about it just look smug and say "if ya gotta ask, you can't afford it". LOL, that shuts em up. They think you're stupid, but it shuts em up.
but its the rest of the time. I tow less than 20% of the time.
Diesel is back up 20% here ($3 vs 2.50). and any trip around here is 40 miles round trip minimum. We looked at our monthly fuel bill and bought a Prius for all our local travel and cut our bill by 2/3s over driving the suburban and dually. Pays for the prius and insurance for another vehicle.
I haven't seen any regular reports of mileage for the 6.7s with DRW..
Sam
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,375
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From: Frederick, MD
towing closer to stock is certainly recommened imho for anything of real weight. I run the banks usually on a 25-30% power increase, but when towing I am back down to stock.
You want to preserve your motor/drivetrain, no kill it.
I too have a car for in-town use....but mine is a Buick..
You want to preserve your motor/drivetrain, no kill it.
I too have a car for in-town use....but mine is a Buick..
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,787
Likes: 102
From: Georgia
I agree.. I wouldn't tow with a tune. Doesn't seem to make THAT much difference anyhow, MAYBE we could get 10 from 9..
but its the rest of the time. I tow less than 20% of the time.
Diesel is back up 20% here ($3 vs 2.50). and any trip around here is 40 miles round trip minimum. We looked at our monthly fuel bill and bought a Prius for all our local travel and cut our bill by 2/3s over driving the suburban and dually. Pays for the prius and insurance for another vehicle.
I haven't seen any regular reports of mileage for the 6.7s with DRW..
Sam
but its the rest of the time. I tow less than 20% of the time.
Diesel is back up 20% here ($3 vs 2.50). and any trip around here is 40 miles round trip minimum. We looked at our monthly fuel bill and bought a Prius for all our local travel and cut our bill by 2/3s over driving the suburban and dually. Pays for the prius and insurance for another vehicle.
I haven't seen any regular reports of mileage for the 6.7s with DRW..
Sam
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 216
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I think some people have the wrong idea about Spartan tuners. No where does spartan have an economy tune. They are horsepower tunes. Designed to improve power. This topic has been discussed a lot over on the spartan forums. Increase in fuel milage is a by product of the tunes. I dd with the 250 tune and see around 16-18 on the highway. Cant tell you how happy I am to get that. I figure Ive paid for my tuner all ready in fuel, but I dont check every tank of gas hoping to avg 20. The idea of getting 20mpg out of these trucks is pretty ambitious. If you want a 20mpg vehicle buy a hybrid.
As far as towing I dont think it matters what tune you are using. Ive tried a few different tunes towing my 12k lb 5er and avg around 10-11 with all the ones Ive tried. Ended up just picking a low hp tune and forgetting about it. PLus I have 3.55 gears which dont help with the overall power out of the whole.
Sorry you were unhappy with your Spartan and good luck with the edge.
STM
As far as towing I dont think it matters what tune you are using. Ive tried a few different tunes towing my 12k lb 5er and avg around 10-11 with all the ones Ive tried. Ended up just picking a low hp tune and forgetting about it. PLus I have 3.55 gears which dont help with the overall power out of the whole.
Sorry you were unhappy with your Spartan and good luck with the edge.
STM