Kinda side with you on the mileage thing 99f350sd. If your really concerned with just a couple mpg's Lookin4a250, maybe you should really consider something else. If you're buying a SD for the looks or status, paying bucks for gas is just part of the game. And a game it is, right? I don't think anyone in this forum really needs the truck they've got, they just wanted it and were prepared to pay the price, gas and all. I just filled up tonight; $80.50 for 36.1 gallons, That's $2.229 a gallon for 87 octane in SoCal. 91 octane is $.20 more. I'll grumble a little about the gas prices right now, not the gas mileage.

 

Lookin4a250,

I stand corrected, i had not looked at the FMC page in a couple of weeks and they changed it on tuesday the 24 of Feb. It did end at March 31. They raised the dollar amount for a week Sorry for the confusion.

But still go and read 1956MarkII posts, he is very helpful and honest. He is on vacation this week and will be back Monday March 1.

 

Ok, I may be the guy to answer your questions or I may be just another jerk sharing my $0.02. I just traded my '01 F-250 5.4 Crew Cab for an '04 F-350 PSD SC. The 5.4 got 13.7 mpg before I put an intake and chip on it, then it got 13.9 mpg. This is over 45k miles and I log every ounce of gas and every mile. MY 6.0 gets 15.0 mpg and it only has 4k on the engine. It may get as high as 17. Both trucks are manuals. I haven't done the math yet but I'm sure the PSD will turn out to be a better savings after 60 or 70k miles since oil costs less then gas and the truck will still have a higher resale. So if you can, put the money into it now and you should get it out when you sell. If money up front is the issue, buy the 5.4 and have fun......

 

Not trying to upset anyone but like I said its a pretty simple situation....And by the way there is nothing you can do to up the mileage, to answer your question. But an f150 would be better..

 

alfie623-

Thanks- that is exactly the kind of info I've been looking for. If i'm understanding right, the mpg gets better after the truck has more miles on it? I dont really want to ask this question, but I'm curious as to why it would work this way? Does the engine just get 'broke in' and therefore, run better?? I plan to keep this thing til the wheels fall off so the life of the truck is of interest to me. I get 13.2 mpg or so with my current truck. I've heard higher and lower mpg with the f250 5.4L. If i lose a couple mpg, I believe i'd enjoy the truck enough to more than make up for it.

Thanks to everyone for the input- I guess the only thing to decide now is how to find another $5k for the dsl.

And in answer to the f150 suggestions- I did look at them. I just wasn't impressed with the int or ext of the '04. I really do like the look and size of the f250 crew cab. It's a whole lotta truck.

 

I also traded a Supercrew 4x4 F150 (2001) for a 2003 4x4 6.0PSD crewcab. I average 16-17 mpg combined with a 7800# truck. My F150 got about 14.5 mpg combined. I've got 25,000 on the F250, and had 36,000 on the F150, the mileage was never going to get any better. As far as service, expect to pay more for an oil change, but you only change it every 7500 mi on the PSD vs 3000 on the gas. (although most of us change at 5000. I know you say you are a single mom, and I don't want to sound sexist, but changing the oil and filter on the PSD is easier than changing a lightbulb. All you need is a wrench and a 5 gallon bucket. Honest. The diesel also has a 100,000 mile warranty on the motor. Good Luck.

 

Yes, both engines have a break in period. Eventually the parts wear in enough to allow less friction and that results in less drag and better fuel economy. I've got two very informative spreadhsheets with more info then anyone could possibly need to make a good comparison. In layman's terms: Buy the PSD, it's worth the money and the overall strongest engine on the market today. MAKE SURE YOU GET 3.73 GEARS!!!!

Let me know if you have any other questions....

 

Hjudge49: Are you sure about that oil change interval at 7,500 miles for diesel and 3,000 for gas? The Ford maintenance guide that came with my '01 SD says 5,000 miles for both diesel and gas. Has Ford reduced the oil change interval for gas and increased it for diesel since '01?
Not intending to start the diesel versus gas debate again here but some of you guys with diesels tend to stretch the truth sometimes about about the merits of diesel and how great it is. OK, I'll be fair and say that us gassers do the same.
I did my own calculations and comparison and bought a V10 because that's what worked best for me - You diesel guys bought a PSD because that's what you concluded was best for you. Let's leave it at that.
Look at the question that started this post, a single mom wanting something larger than her Cheb to haul people and play in...."almost no towing, some 4 wheeling at the beach, and almost all city miles". Just my opinion but..."almost no towing and all city miles" does not ring diesel to me, but that's just my opinion. She seems pretty intellegent regarding truck issues and obviously she's done alot of research. Let's give her the straight and honest facts and let her come to her own conclusion.

 

I would add that romping around in the sand is not something a diesel is very good at due to the considerable weight on the front axle. They bury themselves pretty quickly . . . don't ask me how I know this.

 

Guys-
Just wanted to say thanks to all for answering my questions. Even the back and forth amongst yourselves has been enlightening, though it does raise other questions for me. It looks like i'll be hanging around here quite a bit picking your brains.

I had thought dsl was gonna be the way to go, but the price upfront is holding me back. I have a dealer in houston promising to beat my xplan price, so if that's the case i'm looking at about $33k on the 5.4L f250 crew fx4 less about $3k in rebates. I'll be ordering the truck w/everything I like in it instead of picking from whats on the lot-- it sounds like a good price to me--any input on that?

Also, does anyone know where I can find a picture of a black '04 250 with the xlt sports pkg? There's none on the lots and the brochures only show a 350 dually in black. I like the blackout look, but i also like chrome...

...so many decisions...

 

The FX4 option is a waste of money IMO. If you need the skid plates buy them separate (doesn't sound like you do) otherwise you are paying $240 for lousy shocks and a decal. If you like the blackout look but want some chrome just get a black XLT and add the black sport grille later, just saved you another $800 (unless you have to have the special sport two tone cloth seats then buy the sport). With the 5.4 be sure to get the 4.30 axle.

 

Well, I know that a 1500 z71 isn't the best in the sand. Or rather, isnt the best in loose sand. I buried mine the first day I had it. And yes, it was a ford that pulled me out...soon, i'll no longer have to hang my head in shame.

 

Ahhhh.....your paying more than that....another 250 for OWS tires too...that gets added when you pick the offroad option.

 

You forgot the steering damper. How important or beneficial is that IYO?

 

Hey alfie, is there any other option BUT 3.73s w/a PSD?....did you mean LS?