7.3 Gas
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 192
From: Livingston Tx
7.3 Gas
Anybody with a F350 dually with 4.30 gears give me a real world mpg truck by itself and loaded. Yes I know they wont both be great I have a F350 with the 6.2 and its lifetime average is 9.7 and most of that is towing something. Ordering a 7.3 and was curious on real world numbers.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 148
Likes: 35
I have a 250 7.3 4x4 CCSB XLT with 4.30 it’s not a DRW but I think it will be close given the gear ratio.
I *roughly* get 10 around town (lots of stop go at every light)
I took it out on the freeway last night with open roads. I set cruise at speed and reset mpg calculator on screen. I did 16 mile runs with one exit and turn around, so a little hit to mpg there.
75 showed 13 mpg
70 showed 14.1 mpg
65 showed 15.3 mpg
*I just got 8.7 mpg hand calculated 60 miles. No towing, 100% in town (lots and lots of red lights), LOTS of idling and warming up. Outside of intentionally trying to push it down more; I believe this number is the bare bottom of MPG for the 7.3/4.30.
Something to think about; the 4.30 only effect MPG in 10th gear. Otherwise the transmission just shifts up to lower RPMs. I do think the 4.30’s provide a mechanical advantage that helps MPG during acceleration and/or pulling, probably not much. It’s like being in a lower gear on your bike; it’s easier to start from a stop than being in a higher gear.
I *roughly* get 10 around town (lots of stop go at every light)
I took it out on the freeway last night with open roads. I set cruise at speed and reset mpg calculator on screen. I did 16 mile runs with one exit and turn around, so a little hit to mpg there.
75 showed 13 mpg
70 showed 14.1 mpg
65 showed 15.3 mpg
*I just got 8.7 mpg hand calculated 60 miles. No towing, 100% in town (lots and lots of red lights), LOTS of idling and warming up. Outside of intentionally trying to push it down more; I believe this number is the bare bottom of MPG for the 7.3/4.30.
Something to think about; the 4.30 only effect MPG in 10th gear. Otherwise the transmission just shifts up to lower RPMs. I do think the 4.30’s provide a mechanical advantage that helps MPG during acceleration and/or pulling, probably not much. It’s like being in a lower gear on your bike; it’s easier to start from a stop than being in a higher gear.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 162
Likes: 159
From: Minnesota
I have a 250 7.3 4x4 CCSB XLT with 4.30 it’s not a DRW but I think it will be close given the gear ratio.
I *roughly* get 10 around tow (lots of stop go at every light)
I took it out on the freeway last night with open roads. I set cruise at speed and reset mpg calculator on screen. I did 16 mile runs with one exit and turn around, so a little hit to mpg there.
75 showed 13 mpg
70 showed 14.1 mpg
65 showed 15.3 mpg
I *roughly* get 10 around tow (lots of stop go at every light)
I took it out on the freeway last night with open roads. I set cruise at speed and reset mpg calculator on screen. I did 16 mile runs with one exit and turn around, so a little hit to mpg there.
75 showed 13 mpg
70 showed 14.1 mpg
65 showed 15.3 mpg
New User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
I have the 7.3 with the 4.30 rear end and I carry a truck camper 100% of the time, my GVW is right at 14,000lbs. I average 9 to 9.1 on the freeway cruise control at 65. Around town mileage drops to 8.6.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,627
Likes: 76
From: South Carolina
have a couple different duallys with 7.3L about 7-8 towing and maybe 11-12 hwy 60-70 mph.. BTW just curious what cab configuration did you order? std cab ? those are cool.
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 192
From: Livingston Tx
its a crew cab my 6.2 is a regular cab.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,421
Likes: 696
From: Minnesota
14 MPG unloaded everyday driving; lots of cold starts and below zero weather.
9 MPG pulling an 11K fifth wheel
Just last week it warmed up to 35 degrees and I got 16 MPG on a 70 mile highway trip; 65 mph.
9 MPG pulling an 11K fifth wheel
Just last week it warmed up to 35 degrees and I got 16 MPG on a 70 mile highway trip; 65 mph.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 2,969
Likes: 2,407
From: Ridgway, CO
Check 5 Star Tunings site, the dyno charts are there. Even the conservative tune picks up almost 40 lb/ft of torque right in the meat of the power band.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,250
Likes: 192
From: Livingston Tx
It wakes the truck up for sure. Its mostly tranny tuning but it makes a huge difference. My wife thought it was dumb that didn’t do anything. Well she drives it a lot when Im at work so one day after about a year I loaded the stock tune back on it knowing she was driving it the next day. She comes home from work and ask whats wrong with your truck I ssid nothing she said something is wrong with it thing acts like it don’t have any power or something. Then I told her what I did and after that she is like well I guess tuning does do something.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,421
Likes: 696
From: Minnesota
I'm not so sure it's more power that you can actually feel as it is a more aggressive drive by wire response to your throttle input.
It would be interesting to leave all of a tune in place but pull the drive by wire programming changes and then see how it feels.
It would be interesting to leave all of a tune in place but pull the drive by wire programming changes and then see how it feels.
