Just bought an 05 F250 with the PSD and a co worker is looking at buying an F250 as well. He is curious in the fuel mileage difference with the 5.4 vs. 6.0 as well as the 6.8 vs. 6.0. Can anyone help answer this?

 

Hi 93-331-29PSI,

WELCOME to the site, please read the Guidelines. Check out the list of forums and make sure you read the headings and Read First: notices in each forum.

You'll find lots of great reading on the topic by using the search function. Mileage varies by truck and user but many 6.0 PSD owners report highway mileage in the 17-19 MPG range. City and towing mileage vary depending upon your particular habits, terrain, load, etc.

Be sure to check out the 6.0 Bible...great reading
http://dan.prxy.org/Truck/6L_bible_html/html/TOC.html <https://www.ford-trucks.com/lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://dan.prxy.org/Truck/6L_bible_html/html/TOC.html>
http://www.backglass.org/duncan/ps60_manual/ <https://www.ford-trucks.com/lc/lc.php?action=do&link=http://www.backglass.org/duncan/ps60_manual/>

In the upper right hand corner of your screen check this out PARTS SHOP for all your trucking needs.

Must read
<http://www.clubfte.com/users/monsta/SuperDutyFAQ.html>
<https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303583>
Enjoy FTE

 

'03 PSD, CC, Lariat, FX4 SRW. I'm getting around 21 highway, 17.5 mixed, don't do the city.

 

I dont think comparing mpg is the best way to decide between buying a diesel or a gas engine.

 

If you tow loads above 5000 lbs or so on a regular basis, more than once a month, get the diesel. If not, you really should consider the extra cost of purchase and also the MUCH higher cost of regular maintenance (oil changes, fuel filters$$$, etc. etc.) Look at the details before deciding. I love my PSD, but I only really "use" it about once every other month or so and could have lived with a 5.4L with manual trans., but I didn't want to order and take the chance on rebates and such. Mat

 

Agreed.

But to answer the question... I have driven all 3 engines regularly at some point or another. Driving 100% city, here is what I got:

2003 F-150 5.4L auto = 12 mpg
2000 Excursion 6.8L auto = 9 mpg
2003 F350 6.0L auto = 14 mpg

Now my personal opinion.....there is no comparison between the 6.0L PSD and any of the gassers. The diesel is far superior in every way. It is quicker off the line, faster in accelleration, and will tow double the amount of weight with half of the amount of effort (not quite, but you get the idea). All of this with the factory programming. Reprogram it with a tuner, and it becomes a rocket ship.

I, personally, will never own another truck with a gasoline engine in it.

 

Just about four months ago I bought an 04' PSD 6spd F250xlt 4x4. I've towed with it, and I drive it empty as a daily driver to/from work. I love it.

For the last five years I've driven a Corvette daily. (Lost it to a fire on the freeway) (http://www.cnw.com/~hotrod/vette/VettePhotos.htm)
For the last nine years I've had an 88 F250sc 4x4 (http://www.cnw.com/~hotrod/Toys/Truck.JPG) with a mildly built 460 that I 'use as a truck' and tow my 25' camp trailer on hunting trips and family vacations with. 10mpg or less towing. 11mpg empty. Tops! I have a friend with an 04 F250 with V10 and similar tow load. He can't do better than my old V8's miles per gallon. And I could out run him on the passes. As I could most 7.3's. I out pulled a stock Duramax on Washington Pass last summer with very similar tow loads on our rigs. Against a 5.4 under similar load, there's no contest. It's safer to be able to get out of your own way. And under load the 5.4 won't be all that fuel efficient.

I like how the diesel pulls. The venerable 460 does compare. The V10 is powerful. But the 6.0 wins in my book. If you want to tune it, there's more power there. If that's what's needed. But to compare to the 5.4 is like putting a heavyweight in the ring with a lightweight. It's not fair!

Is the extra $5,500 worth the diesel? Well, that'll sure buy a lot of gas for the V10 over time. But, if taken care of, the diesel should last longer. Much longer. Are the maintenance costs that much more for the oil burner?

Actually, I change the oil in the diesel less often, because it turns less RPM and since there's so much more useable power at the right time -I work it less hard than any gas engine. So let's discount oil changes -so what if there's a couple more or less per year. The 6.0 filter costs about $3.00 more. And it holds a few more quarts. My 460 with oil cooler and deap sump held 9 quarts. Big deal.

Diesel drivers seem to be obsessed with oil analisys. For good reason. We want to make sure there's not fuel in the oil, and other contaminates charicteristic with diesels and turbos. Twenty five bucks a couple times a year should do it.

Fuel filters cost more and need to be changed more regularly on the diesel. A hundred bucks a year or so. I think fuel treatments run about the same cost.

Sure there's other maintenance actions required, but diesel owners are more apt to perform those actions for longevity. The gas engines should be maintained the same, yet most aren't. Taking the diesel engine version out of the equation, the rest of the drive train requires the same maintenance plan as a gas powered truck.

Key is, it'll take longer for the diesel to pay it's way.

If I lived where it's flat and didn't travel through the mountains, then I might have stuck with gas. But there's no question that the turbo powered diesel works better at altitude.

One way or the other, if a guy is set on buying a new truck, then there's a monthly payment. I'd rather pay the payment and get more than 17mpg with ample power than still have the payment and get 11mpg, or be under powered under load, with a bright shiny new truck. All show, and no go doesn't help to keep my blood pressure at manageble levels.

 

The deisel will get the biggest smile. No doubt!

 

Don't forget the resale value in the equation too, when deciding how long it takes to "break even on" the diesel option. I assert that you don't need to "break even" because the value never goes away as the truck ages! Here's an example: the kbb.com private party value on my '97 F250HD with the diesel is about $12,000. If I change nothing on the spec except the engine (to the 460), the value goes down to a little over $8000. I still have the window sticker for this truck and the MSRP for the diesel option was $3755. So while the rest of the truck has depreciated in the 8 years I've owned it, the engine has maintained 100% of its value. Can't beat that!

Duncan

 

Sach394
I am retired and towed a 31' trailer to Ohio and back. First with a modified 460 then a 95 PS.[ Great Truck-Engine ]. 7MPG gas 12.5 diesel .Twice the power with a chip,exhaust,&intercooler. I now own a 04 SD 6.0 PS. It has a lot more power stock.Same mileage. Great truck. Love it.

 

Get the PSD.
Else he'll be another guy coming back here 'I wish I would go the diesel, right off the bat.'

 

I picked up a brochure at one of the Power Stroke demonstrations at a local dealer a couple of months ago.

There was a web-site for the brochure. It really looks like it is for the dealers but anyone (currently) can get in.

There are comparisons between the competition, etc. There is also a neat spreadsheet that will plot a graph comparing diesel vs. gasoline ownership cost and breakeven point. You will need Microsoft Excel.

When you go to the link select the 5th. option for cost comparison between gasoline and diesel; you'll have to accept an agreement and then you can download an Excel file. Modify the parameters for your expected cost of fuel, maintenance intervals, maintenance cost, etc. It will show duration of ownership to break even on the cost.

http://www.psdsalestools.com/

fficeffice" /><O></O>

Frankly, I buy diesels because that is what I want. I can not financially justify the purchase as I don't tow the travel trailer or boat that often; but when I do, I have plenty of truck and power.

Not really in track with this thread since IIRC the choice was F250 with gas vs. diesel..... not F-150 vs. SuperDuty. One thing I haven't heard mentioned; there is a safety factor to consider even for occasional towing. I'll take the frame and brakes of a larger vehicle vs. the 1/2 tons....

Now if you have a SuperDuty with a 5.4 and you're unable to maintain legal speeds when towing you'll probably be backing up traffic, which leads to people passing you. Possibly leading to unsafe passing by irate drivers in no-passing zones if you're stuck on a two lane road.

Isn't it neat how you can rationalize anything with a little thought.

I bought mine simply because I prefer a diesel; that is enough of a reason for me.

Bob

 

Exactly the logic I used on mine Bob....

"I wanted it" and could afford it.... so I got it...

And research even just here and u will see the 5.4 is JUST enough engine to get by with the superduties...
but is NOT enough to pull it with ease... so mileage, performance, and probably longevity will suffer...

Now, knowing what I do about it now,
I will probably NEVER get anything but diesel,
and the sheer SIZE and mass of the diesel Excursion makes me feel better that my lovely wife has a chance of staying that way if an idiot tries to hit her !

Saw a head-on between two pickups the other night - not a pretty sight !
Had to slam on my brakes to keep from being involved...
And the first thing I said, was...
Wow, if we had been there 10 seconds earlier, it would have been us !!!

and my wife saw the damage and agreed the size of the Ex is a big plus because WE won't be doing the hitting... just the defending !

 

I get 14.4 to 15.6 mpg city, 17+ mpg city/highway and 19-20 mpg highway.
I get 12-13 mpg towing my 8000+lb TT. I was on of those " I wished I bought
a diesel first ". As long as I am towing a camper, I will never go back to
gas.