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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 06:01 PM
  #1  
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Rob

A lot of people I know with the 7.3 powerstrokes are telling me that they get 18+ miles per gallon. My truck was purchased with 132000 km's on it and has never gotten better than about 14mpg. Maybe I purchased a lemon or maybe I've been listening to a bunch of bs. Does anyone know how I can get better mileage with my bone stock 2003 7.3 powerstroke?
 
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 06:05 PM
  #2  
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Miles or km?? Average seems to be 16ish MPG empty
 
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 06:13 PM
  #3  
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I can take it really easy with my Excursion and don't go over 60 mph and get close to 18, but my 2wd f250 6sp I can get 20 again taking it real easy and don't go over 60ish. best mpgs is around 45-50 mph if you are in no hurry haha. For averages it's closer to 14.5 for the Ex and the f250 IDK cause i'm always towing something.
 
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 07:12 PM
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All highway I've gotten 20.7 MPG with just me in it, loaded up with 7 people and luggage I got 18.5 MPG all highway, but driving around locally I'm getting 13-15 MPG
 
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 07:15 PM
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It's mostly all lies and bullcrap.

People who own diesel trucks typically jack up their numbers 1-2 MPG and sometimes round that up a bit to 4-5 MPG just to make their truck look good.

If you need good mileage, stop driving a truck. If you don't need to haul or tow anything, don't complain about the mileage you get empty....enjoy the driving experience and call it happy.
 
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 07:25 PM
  #6  
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Originally Posted by cleatus12r
It's mostly all lies and bullcrap.

People who own diesel trucks typically jack up their numbers 1-2 MPG and sometimes round that up a bit to 4-5 MPG just to make their truck look good.

If you need good mileage, stop driving a truck. If you don't need to haul or tow anything, don't complain about the mileage you get empty....enjoy the driving experience and call it happy.
1-2 mpg?? you must have some honest PSD guys around you.. My dad also talks about 24-25mpg...

Then uses his trustly lie-o-meter to prove his lies..

15-16highway is common.. fix all your leaks and such that you probably have and you can get 17-18 with stock tires.

I get about 630 out of my 38 gallon tank.. use about 34gal.. netting me 18 if I keep it around 75. Usually run 80mph tho and get about 550/tank (16.6mpg)
 
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 09:30 PM
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I get 15 city, 18 highway, hand calculated.

4x4, crewcab short bed, 3.73 with 35" mud tires. Not bad if you ask me.

My biggest improvement came from fixing boost leaks.
 
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 09:42 PM
  #8  
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Originally Posted by cleatus12r
It's mostly all lies and bullcrap.

People who own diesel trucks typically jack up their numbers 1-2 MPG and sometimes round that up a bit to 4-5 MPG just to make their truck look good.

If you need good mileage, stop driving a truck. If you don't need to haul or tow anything, don't complain about the mileage you get empty....enjoy the driving experience and call it happy.
That my friends is an awesome post! Ha!!!
 
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 09:50 PM
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A 6 speed with 3.73's will do better than an automatic. A 2X4 will do better than a 4X4. Make sure you have no leaks on the turbo boost side and the up pipes. Those leaks cost mileage and power. 60mph seems to be the breaking point with regards to mileage. Keep the tires aired up close to the max, if you can tolerate the added roughness. Also, as for the tires, typically the more aggressive the tread, the more it hurts mileage.
 
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 10:00 PM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by cleatus12r
It's mostly all lies and bullcrap.

People who own diesel trucks typically jack up their numbers 1-2 MPG and sometimes round that up a bit to 4-5 MPG just to make their truck look good.

If you need good mileage, stop driving a truck. If you don't need to haul or tow anything, don't complain about the mileage you get empty....enjoy the driving experience and call it happy.

I have to agree.....8000 lb truck 444 cubic inches does not equal good economy..I have a toyata camrey 4 cylinder auto it only gets 24 mpg,..the good thing for me is that my stock motor got 14 mpg, now with all the mods I still get 14 mpg...
 
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Old Feb 14, 2013 | 10:13 PM
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I have averaged 15.9 mpg over 42 fill ups hand calculated as my picture will show. Hoping to improve that with the minor tweaks I have been doing lately.

 
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Old Feb 15, 2013 | 05:40 AM
  #12  
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Oddly enough, I'm **** about getting accurate info on fuel economy.
  1. I checked my odometer multiple times - it's dead-on
  2. I fill to click every time. I don't get highs and lows in my economy from tank to tank because I use the same fuel station, driving habits, and driving route every day. I do get the longer legs on a tank when my CC is set to 65 on the highway for hours on end.




 
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Old Feb 15, 2013 | 07:31 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by Tugly
Oddly enough, I'm **** about getting accurate info on fuel economy.
Welcome to the liars club!
 
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Old Feb 15, 2013 | 07:46 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by cleatus12r
It's mostly all lies and bullcrap.

People who own diesel trucks typically jack up their numbers 1-2 MPG and sometimes round that up a bit to 4-5 MPG just to make their truck look good.

If you need good mileage, stop driving a truck. If you don't need to haul or tow anything, don't complain about the mileage you get empty....enjoy the driving experience and call it happy.

Well said Cody.

If you want good mileage, don't drive a 3/4 to 1 ton truck...
 
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Old Feb 15, 2013 | 08:20 AM
  #15  
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i wish i could get 14 mpg. my 02 7.3 4X4 with 4.10 gears weighs 8900 lbs, and only gets on average 11 mpg. out on the highway cruise set at 60 i will see 19-20 mpg, but i do very little highway driving.
 
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