My 2000 F250 7.3 has about 165k on it. I don't put that many miles on it, maybe 5000/year, and most trips are with my 1500 lb camper on it. Without the camper I seem to get 17-18 mpg at 60 mph. With the camper I get 13-14 mpg at 60 mph. I've installed a cone type air filter, but otherwise the truck is bone stuck. I've got a 1000 mile trip next month, pulling a 6x10 cargo trailer. I'm wondering if it's worth investing some money in maint or mod that will increase my mileage. I've cleaned the EBP tube changed the CPS module with the IH one.

What's the best bang for the buck mod to increase gas mileage? Ideas I've heard/read: remove muffler; run 3" or 4" exhaust with high flow muffler (pretty pricey); change injectors; add a chip.

Thanks for any

ideas!

 

What size are your tires?

Are you at stock ride height?

 

Inspect & clean the EBP tube & sensor.
http://www.guzzle7pt3.com/ebps.php

 

The best bang for your buck is to not pull the trigger on anything!

You're already getting good fuel mileage for one of these truck. Don't try to fix it if it's not broken and obviously by your mileage (hopefully hand calculated) it's not broken.

Leave it alone and drive it.

EDIT: Justin from my personal experience with these trucks tire size is not as big of a deal as a gasser and doesn't impact mileage much. With the truck in my signature I averaged 14 mpg all around driving with a best of 16.5ish at 65-70 with 3:73 gears

 

Stock wheels and tires, stock ride height (with air bag levelers), ebp cleaned in the last 5-10,000 miles, tires at correct pressure.

As my trip to Oregon has just been moved up by a couple weeks, I won't have time to really do anything anyway. I'm not too disappointed by the mileage, just hoping for the magic mod to get an extra mpg or two.

Thanks for the ideas.

 

Your mpg seems to be in the right ballpark for these trucks. The truck in my signature averages 17-19mpg unloaded with the cruise set at 60mph.

What transmission do you have? If you have an automatic, a chip can give you an extra mpg or two by modifying the shift points. But, the cost outweighs the benefit from a mpg standpoint with how few miles you put on each year. It would likely take a few years if not more to recoup the cost of the chip.

Otherwise, the biggest obstacle is aerodynamics with these trucks. There are some small things you can do to help but you are still pushing the surface area of a barn door down the road.

 

I agree with the above posts as well. You are basically right in the sweet spot of the average for someone with 3.73s. I sit right around 17mpg-maybe 17.5mpg highway with the cap and driving "normal".....65-70mph. When towing the horses (2 horse bumper pull) I am around12-14mpg depending on the route and hills.

 

I agree with all the above and would like to add one more option that has worked for me when pulling our racing kart trailer. You see this a lot on big rigs and thats an AIR FOIL......It goes on top of your roof and it deflects the wind over your camper. You should be able to get a new one and maybe a used one from a local trailer shop........

 

With that economy, you've pretty much already peaked out. You can add power pretty easily, but not so much with the MPG thing. Just keep it running at 100% condition and enjoy.


BTW - same truck with a V10 gasser: About 10 MPG empty.

 

I also agree. Keep the filters in good shape, oil changed, and you should get a lot of miles out of that truck.

If/when you want to boost your hp, and have some money to spend, there are plenty of experts here that can help you spend your money!! Spend it in the right areas first to get the best bang for your buck. And you will like the results!

 

That's the spirit! We'll fix you right up with the InstaSlide® kit.

You'll get that camper outta that bed in a jiffy.

 

That is actually some funny chit right there......

 

in looking at the height of the top of camper in travel position and how the windshield will deflect air it looks like to me like the air will be traveling over the camper front edge as it is.

I remember seeing some ford windtunnel videos using smoke guns to show how the air flows over the front of the truck.. it comes up windshield, over bed and drop down behind tailgate area. little resistance from that small a bit up.. now if this was a regular tramper,, oh baby,,, flying brick..

 

Paint that fender! That's obviously robbing your truck of it's dignity and that's why it's not behaving

 

Uhm big problem if you're getting any gas mileage with your diesel engine.