Just returned from a trip from home (Maryland) up through PA into NY (Ithaca) - then to NE NY - (Cambridge). Up into VT (S. Hero) - then thru NH to the Concord, MA area and return via MA, CT,NY,NJ,PA,MD. The 6.0 did great going thru the upstate VT mountains and into NH. Highest temps I saw were (using the Scan Gauge) was 230 (once) oil, tranny never went over 180! Coolant never went over 225.

Guess Ford (Apple Ford in Columbia) did a great job of replacing the engine and oil coolers, and head gaskets!

I was surprised at mileage too...used 163 gallons of diesel and went 1,754 miles!!! Yup- that's over 10 miles per gallon. I used the tow tune in the SCT with Eric at Innovative tunes the whole trip. Some of those mountain passes were dillies! I also used the tow/haul feature and stayed mostly in cruise control. Yeah, it surprised me too! That 6 speed auto transmission is really strong......

Reminds me, about time for a fluid flush.

Oh yes, want to add the the delta temps (coolant vs oil) also never exceeded the recommended 15*. It did a few times going up/down the mountain passes, but that don't count..... when I got back down to a few miles of level ground, it usually stayed within 7-12*. Perfect!

 

Bud,

that is some good results. Wish I could get that kind of MPG's. Sure is some pretty country up there in VT/NH.

 

I never did that good in mileage before Scott.....the tow tune must help it a lot! In stock tune on previous trips I ALWAYS got between 7.5 and 8.5. Rather amazing. Wonder how good it would do on a long trip in the south/midwest on level roads?

 

That is a big improvement. I would think maybe 11 is within view in Kansas, IL, IN, OH.

 

Even I-81 from PA/MD line to TN! That's about 1 tank of fuel (or more!).

 

Great mileage. You prolly drove right past my house offa I-84 in Western CT. I hope ya waved!

 

I prob did....had to stop just before getting in to NY to re-fuel so I wouldn't have to pay NY's crummy big fuel tax! CT's signage for fuel sux tho...can't tell if an exit has diesel or not!

 

Never buy your fuel in CT if you have to. Our fine...(cough)...governor recently bumped the diesel surtax another .03 per gal. Whenever I travel 84 thru NY towards NJ or PA, I'll hop off on exit 1 in NJ (Port Jervis) for diesel. It's typically .50 gal cheaper than us.

 

I couldn't get that far with what I had left.... got that tank on prev Monday in Concord, NH @ $3.97, so after running around in MA all week, by the time I got that far it was getting quite low. But VT has done much the same thing!! ALL diesel in New England is expensive! NH was the lowest tho.

Nice to see the NJ and MD prices at $3.77 (NJ) and MD is $3.85. PA, NY and VT was all over $4.00.

 

I hear ya. ID diesel is in the $3.95 to $4.10 range. It's getting ridiculous. Sounds like you had a good, Bud.

 

Twas a good vacation...thanks!

 

Hey Bud, When we came back from NC, we stopped at a fantastic KOA in MD. It was the Hagerstown\Antietam campground. What a perty place right on a slow moving river. I plan on going back next season....just for the helluvit. You ever been there?
Mike

 

I HAVE been there - a few times - at this point, I'm a little miffed at all KOA's...their prices do NOT reflect our lean times and I am directing my $ to campgrounds that don't try to remove ALL my Social Security income!

 

They are a bit pricey, but for some of the crap holes i've been in at say...$10-15 less per night, I paid their price. I guess we gotta get out of the northest to get real value.

 

I stayed at an Air Force base campground while in MA..... was great for $13.00 a night!! ( Full hookup) Even had a cement pad ! Of course, I did pay 20 years of my life for it! LOL