Fuel Mileage
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Fuel Mileage
I just bought a new F-350 SD 4X4 with the Powerstroke engine. I figured my mileage for the first tank full on a 500 mile highway trip and got 16.0 MPG. Is this about average?
P.S. I couldn't be more pleased with the truck, so far.
P.S. I couldn't be more pleased with the truck, so far.
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From: Near DC
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Rocky Mountains
My first tankful after breaking the 10K mile mark was 20.7 mpg, hand calculated!! That's using fuel additive, punching it rarely, and mostly highway miles, but holy crap, I am very pleased. My previous 4-banger 4x4 mini-truck single cab got 16 at most and usually 14.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Watch your RPM's, that seems to be the key for the highest mileage. Get the power
out your system, blow a few doors off. Then drive conservitivly. I have found the highest mileage mpg by keeping the RPM's at 2000 or just under. Good Luck! my
best report so with 3000 on the odometer is 18.93 to 20.6 hand Cal F-250 cc4x4
6.0psd short bed with Leer cap, snow plow package . I'm happy with my Truck and still wearing that PSD grin.
out your system, blow a few doors off. Then drive conservitivly. I have found the highest mileage mpg by keeping the RPM's at 2000 or just under. Good Luck! my
best report so with 3000 on the odometer is 18.93 to 20.6 hand Cal F-250 cc4x4
6.0psd short bed with Leer cap, snow plow package . I'm happy with my Truck and still wearing that PSD grin.
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Brett Foote
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From: Pt. Orchard, WA.
I'm jealous I get a solid 11 mpg towing a 20000# gooseneck or going down the highway empty at 65-70 mph.2005 f-450 6.0 auto super cab with 4.88 rear.Hand calculated .6500 miles on the truck,but thats about 5mpg more than the 92 460ci i just sold.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Gobles, MI
Just got over 15K on the truck and did hit 20mpg by being gentle. Usually get around 18; when towing 11,000 it gets between 11/12. Not bad considering my '71 Ford wagon got 8 mpg. In the long run fuel is now cheaper all the way around.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Wickenburg, AZ
I run my PSD on cross-country trips quite a bit with a trailer, but I do enough local stuff to have numbers for that as well.
With the loaded trailer, I get between 12 and 14 MPG on the highway.
With the empty trailer, I get between 15 and 17 MPG on the highway
Without the trailer, I get 15-17 locally and 18-20 on highways.
Now, I use Diesel Kleen additive and have been for the last 10,000 miles. The truck just rolled over 21,000. I've got a 2004 F-350 CC with a Leer Cap on. On the highways, I keep it between 65 and 75 MPH most of the time.
Your most efficient speed is going to depend on your axle for the highway. I've got the TorqShift with 3.73s on stock tires, and mine is just on the pipe around 1800 RPM. It feels happiest at about 72 MPH. Just my $0.02.
With the loaded trailer, I get between 12 and 14 MPG on the highway.
With the empty trailer, I get between 15 and 17 MPG on the highway
Without the trailer, I get 15-17 locally and 18-20 on highways.
Now, I use Diesel Kleen additive and have been for the last 10,000 miles. The truck just rolled over 21,000. I've got a 2004 F-350 CC with a Leer Cap on. On the highways, I keep it between 65 and 75 MPH most of the time.
Your most efficient speed is going to depend on your axle for the highway. I've got the TorqShift with 3.73s on stock tires, and mine is just on the pipe around 1800 RPM. It feels happiest at about 72 MPH. Just my $0.02.
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How are folks figuring their fuel mileage? I suspect there are different methods being used, so comparing the submitted numbers is difficult. Everyone really should include the method used when reporting mileage, so we can put this in prespective.
For example, the guy who says he gets 18 mpg at 75 mph and 17 mpg at 80 mph. How in the heck was this figured? I imagine it's a guess from readings off the lie-o-meter. Seems we have people guessing all over the place. Of course the only accurate numbers are "hand calculated". I get 13-17 mpg with my 05 F350 DRW cc, lwb, 4.10 4x4, hand calculated. I'm not very heavy on the gas. We also need to know the gear ration, wheel base, 4x4, ect. things that have been shown to significantly afftect fuel consumption.
For example, the guy who says he gets 18 mpg at 75 mph and 17 mpg at 80 mph. How in the heck was this figured? I imagine it's a guess from readings off the lie-o-meter. Seems we have people guessing all over the place. Of course the only accurate numbers are "hand calculated". I get 13-17 mpg with my 05 F350 DRW cc, lwb, 4.10 4x4, hand calculated. I'm not very heavy on the gas. We also need to know the gear ration, wheel base, 4x4, ect. things that have been shown to significantly afftect fuel consumption.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Hattiesburg, MS
IMHO, fuel milage should be taken over at least three tanks of fuel, this will give you a truer calculation, because unless you always fill the tank until you see fuel, your calculations will be skewed just calulation one tank full. The best overall is to calulate ten tank fulls and delete the first and last fill-ups and the milage.
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Originally Posted by toddyw
IMHO, fuel milage should be taken over at least three tanks of fuel, this will give you a truer calculation, because unless you always fill the tank until you see fuel, your calculations will be skewed just calulation one tank full. The best overall is to calulate ten tank fulls and delete the first and last fill-ups and the milage.