I love this truck, the ride and quality is amazing. (Although it does not fit in the oversize garage in the new ski condo.) However, I do have some issues with it.

While pulling a pass with it basically empty @1300 miles, the truck kicked into passing gear @65-70 mph, and would not come out. This occurred while on cruise control. I tapped brake to turn off cruise, and then tried to accelerate, and truck would NOT. This is on the interstate hwy, where the grade is about 5%. I brought the truck to the dealership, and they could not get it to repeat the feat. Last night, returning home, on the same pass, in the same location, with about 1600 miles on odometer, the truck started to jerk. Acted like the engine would cut out and back in repeatedly. I was controlling speed manually, and I floored truck and after about 10 seconds released the accellerator. The bucking was gone, but the truck never did take off up the hill like my 03 would have. For supposedly having more power, this particular engine is a dog. Truck goes back in tomorrow for a look see. Afraid since it quite doing it, they will again be unable to diagnose the problem.

Anyone else have similiar problems?

Also, fuel mileage is about 60% of the 03 truck. This truck feels like it is dragging, not rolling free. Coming down the passes, I would usually need to use the tow-haul to control speed in the 03 truck. In this one, I actually need to apply the go pedal in order to keep the speed. Tow-haul does decelerate quicker, but not by much.

This may seem like a dumb question, but has anyone noticed if the engine ever goes to idle rpm while desending a hill, and no fuel is being applied? i.e. idling? I can't remember if the 03 would free wheel the truck, or if the engine would rev when coasting down hill. In the 05, the engine is reving, so the tranny is not free wheeling.

BTW, temps are right around freezing, I run a fuel conditioner and tank was half full for both episodes. Let me know if you need more info.

 

Others here have had a turbo burp or two while climbing passes under load. My 05 has burped one time under load and never did it again. They say there is another flash for the issue?

 

The only time mine has burped is when I back off real fast from flooring it.

 

Now that I have driven about 2000 miles I have noticed that the milage is not what I think it should be. I have yet to get it over 16.4 no matter what I do. That being said, I have averaged about 15 @ 75mph unloaded.

 

That sure beats Dodge....

 

15mpg unloaded at 75mph is maybe a little low.... but at 75mph, not bad either!!!

Hell, what do you want... a sports car with great mileage too??

I'll look for the article, but somewhere I read that for every mph over 60, the mileage drops by 25% or something like that... meaning at 60mph, you would or could see 18 mpg and at 75mph you would get 15 - 16mpg...

Even though it is not 100% accurate, set your cruise at 60mph on the highway, reset your overhead meter and let it settle or recalculate (mine would say 18mpg after being warmed up...

Now run your speed up to 75mph and level off, and you'll see it drop (not sure what, but it will drop). Mine will level off at 17mpg or so (depending on weather and wind).

Ford does not rate the Super Duty's mileage, nor does the governent mandate. Due to the precision electronics on these motors, a bad sensor can cause problems as well.

Causes for decreased mileage:

1) Water in fuel?

2) Poor or low cetane level diesel fuel (less energy & power).

3) Winterized diesel (mixing #1D and #2D) - lower cetane - see above.

4) Low tire pressure?

5) Larger tires and raised suspensions?

6) Pick-ups have more wind resistance in bed area than my Excursion?

7) Maybe you need an updated computer flash for your truck?

8) Double check type, weight, brand of oil your using - it makes a difference?

9) Are you running with your A/C on (off saves fuel)?


AND THE NUMBER ONE THING TO CHECK...

10) Is your girl friend too fat (carrying extra weight) - get rid of her!!!


Good luck (with the girlfriend),

Jeff

 

Jeff:

My 03 would give me somewhere between 20 and 23 mpg going from my home to my ski home and back again. I did the trip a dozen times, and it never varied. Only thing that really varied it if I stopped in town and drove around at all, then mileage would drop. This 05 truck, under ideal conditions, has given me 15 mpg.

I have played with the trip meter on the 03, and my best mileage empty was at about 73-75 mph. The 05 dosn't have enough time on it to do that yet, but I do notice, this truck is quite a bit "stiffer" than the 03. By that I mean, the truck decelerates rapidly if you leave off the fuel. In fact, with the 03, on long steep descents from some of the passes, I needed to use tow/haul to control speed. On this truck, I actually need to give it fuel to keep it up to speed. I have relayed this info to the service manager also.

BTW, I do not expect as good of fuel mileage from this truck as the 03, this is a crew cab, the 03 was a club cab. The extra weight is expected to take a 5-10% hit in mileage.

 

Hopefully, there is a way to check the transmission, axles and differentials for ease of use, rollings resistance and the like.

Not sure if the stricter EPA mandates play a roll with the motor, but it does sound like something is not "free-wheeling" properly.

It would appear that your only recouse would be to have the Service Manager and you test-drive another new truck on the lot and compare on the same road... this wold appear to be the only way to hopefully prove that your truck has a problem (even if they can't find it... and it wouldn't be the first time).

Good luck,

Jeff

 

if you think the downshifting is bad empty,, try hanging 13,000 on the backside of the truck,,

we just finished a 6500 mile trip with the new 05 F350 KR and even on the smallest of hills the 6.0 will downshift,, my old 2003 F250 7.3 would just chug on over em,,

drove the same route with the 2003 when breaking it in and received 2 MPG better fuel milage,,

cruise when towing with the 05 has about a 5+ mph window of hunting especially when downshifting is involved over a hill,, set at 65 the window was from 63 to just at 70 before allowing the engine back to normal,,

some times the engine would start to caugh and baulk in need of a down shift before actually downshifting,,

think the 7.3 was a better towing engine,,

enjoy,,

 

Beach, the reason that I think the milage is off a bit is the other '05 that I had got18 mpg almost always, in fact I had to really lay into it to get worse, not to mention that several posts here state better milage. As for your questions:

1) Water in fuel?
No

2) Poor or low cetane level diesel fuel (less energy & power).
Maybe, except I fueled all accross the country.

3) Winterized diesel (mixing #1D and #2D) - lower cetane - see above.
none, reg fuel

4) Low tire pressure?
Nope checked it.

5) Largerand raised suspensions?
Stock

6) Pick-ups have more wind resistance in bed area than my Excursion?
possibly

7) Maybe you need an updated computer flash for your truck?
don't think one is out yet.

8) Double check type, weight, brand of oil your using - it makes a difference?
Ford oil, just changed.

9) Are you running with your A/C on (off saves fuel)?
Nope, too cold for that.


AND THE NUMBER ONE THING TO CHECK...

10) Is your girl friend too fat (carrying extra weight) - get rid of her!!!
Naw, she drove her own truck.


Good luck (with the girlfriend),

 

My wife only weighs 118 lbs and I still get crappy mileage. But if I got rid of her, it would not be an issue, I would have a lot more money.