4.30 Axle availability
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,358
Likes: 250
I have no regrets going with the 4.30 gears and I rarely pull anything. Better to have the low gears and not need them then the other way around. Plus, if I choose to upsize the tires down the road the 4.30's will offset the increase.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
For the moment I'm driving a '16 CCLB 6.2L F350 for work. It has 4.30 gears, and while the response is great I don't think I'd make this choice if I were buying one. Fuel economy is abysmal, about 13 on gas and 10.2 on E85.
I don't mind locking out gears while towing or downshifting, but I would mind this kind of unloaded fuel economy if I were paying for the gas. I wouldn't expect more than 1-2 MPG with 3.73s instead, but every little bit helps!
I don't mind locking out gears while towing or downshifting, but I would mind this kind of unloaded fuel economy if I were paying for the gas. I wouldn't expect more than 1-2 MPG with 3.73s instead, but every little bit helps!
More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 688
Likes: 75
From: Kansas City, MO
I know this is old and you probably have a truck by now but wouldn't it be possible/easier/faster to just buy the truck you desire, regardless of gear ratio, then take it to the dealer or drive-line shop and have the 4:30 gears installed? Just seems much easier than traveling all over, shipping trucks between dealers, settling for a color combo/option package you didn't really want just to get a gear you did want?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,824
Likes: 39
From: Boise
I try everything to get the best mpg per tank. I run 33" tires w/3.73. Every 4.30 mpg post does better than me.
The biggest downer is towing with the 3.73. Towing a 7500lb +/- load, many reports of 7-8mpg, and using a lot of 2nd gear.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
Don't expect any better with the 3.73s with 6.2l. My dad has a 3.73 6.2l reg cab at work and his personal truck is a 6.2l CC with 4.30s. MPG average between the two is pretty much nil, though both are used in shorter trips. The 3.73 reg cab will likely beat it in highway mpg by a small amount. With the OD ratio of the 6R140 rpms are really not high at highway speeds with 4.30s and the small stock tires.
Luckily a local dealer had his 4.30 truck equipped close to how he wanted it. It was cheaper for him getting one off the lot than ordering. The dealers really don't know what the difference is between 3.73s and 4.30s. They are quick to say how much better the gas mileage is with 3.73s, always made me laugh.
Luckily a local dealer had his 4.30 truck equipped close to how he wanted it. It was cheaper for him getting one off the lot than ordering. The dealers really don't know what the difference is between 3.73s and 4.30s. They are quick to say how much better the gas mileage is with 3.73s, always made me laugh.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 136
Likes: 5
From: Where the $$$'s at
Don't expect any better with the 3.73s with 6.2l. My dad has a 3.73 6.2l reg cab at work and his personal truck is a 6.2l CC with 4.30s. MPG average between the two is pretty much nil, though both are used in shorter trips. The 3.73 reg cab will likely beat it in highway mpg by a small amount. With the OD ratio of the 6R140 rpms are really not high at highway speeds with 4.30s and the small stock tires.
Luckily a local dealer had his 4.30 truck equipped close to how he wanted it. It was cheaper for him getting one off the lot than ordering. The dealers really don't know what the difference is between 3.73s and 4.30s. They are quick to say how much better the gas mileage is with 3.73s, always made me laugh.
Luckily a local dealer had his 4.30 truck equipped close to how he wanted it. It was cheaper for him getting one off the lot than ordering. The dealers really don't know what the difference is between 3.73s and 4.30s. They are quick to say how much better the gas mileage is with 3.73s, always made me laugh.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
I got a lot of nonsense about gears from salesmen over the past 3 months while looking at trucks. I ended up buying a 3.73 truck yesterday, I'll give them a try, but I expect when it's time for tires I'll take it in and get 4.30s swapped in. No way I'll keep the teeny weeny 245s, or enjoy towing with larger tires and 3.73s. I did enough of that with the V10
My dad still has the dinky 245s on his with 4.30 gears.(he just rolled over 6k miles last week). If memory serves me right he is running under 2200 at 70mph in 6th. My V10 with with 33's and 4.30s will turn more rpms than that in OD at 70mph. A .67 ratio vs .71.
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Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Why do they stock 3.73s? If 4.30s were that much easier to sell, why wouldn't all the dealers order 4.30s?
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
Every time they had the same thing to say "gas mileage". I don't doubt Ford is recommending the 3.73s either for the minut mpg increase to help boost CAFE numbers. They sure have their shift strategies setup to try and squeeze out mpg. Most people buy off the lot and don't know crap about gear ratios. And 9 times out of ten the salesman is the last person you want to depend on for the info, they want to move their stock and are most often next to useless.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,824
Likes: 39
From: Boise
Because they're salesman and have no idea or know any better. They dont understand the math with the current .67 double overdrive tranny. They dont do any research. I deal with this at my dealer and have somewhat educated them on 4.30 and 6.2 stuff.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,824
Likes: 39
From: Boise
Every time they had the same thing to say "gas mileage". I don't doubt Ford is recommending the 3.73s either for the minut mpg increase to help boost CAFE numbers. They sure have their shift strategies setup to try and squeeze out mpg. Most people buy off the lot and don't know crap about gear ratios. And 9 times out of ten the salesman is the last person you want to depend on for the info, they want to move their stock and are most often next to useless.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 585
Likes: 11
From: Upper penninsula
CAFE only applies to vehicles below 8500 lb gvw, so super duty trucks are exempt.
No matter what anecdotal information one reads on the internet, the 3.73 will provide better fuel economy than 4.30s.
The 4.30 will allow higher gvw ratings, , but at a cost in increased fuel consumption.
Ford engineers aren't as stupid as some seem to believe.
No matter what anecdotal information one reads on the internet, the 3.73 will provide better fuel economy than 4.30s.
The 4.30 will allow higher gvw ratings, , but at a cost in increased fuel consumption.
Ford engineers aren't as stupid as some seem to believe.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,824
Likes: 39
From: Boise
CAFE only applies to vehicles below 8500 lb gvw, so super duty trucks are exempt.
No matter what anecdotal information one reads on the internet, the 3.73 will provide better fuel economy than 4.30s.
The 4.30 will allow higher gvw ratings, , but at a cost in increased fuel consumption.
Ford engineers aren't as stupid as some seem to believe.
No matter what anecdotal information one reads on the internet, the 3.73 will provide better fuel economy than 4.30s.
The 4.30 will allow higher gvw ratings, , but at a cost in increased fuel consumption.
Ford engineers aren't as stupid as some seem to believe.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Originally Posted by dkf
Every time they had the same thing to say "gas mileage". I don't doubt Ford is recommending the 3.73s either for the minut mpg increase to help boost CAFE numbers. They sure have their shift strategies setup to try and squeeze out mpg. Most people buy off the lot and don't know crap about gear ratios. And 9 times out of ten the salesman is the last person you want to depend on for the info, they want to move their stock and are most often next to useless.