Fuel mileage
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Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 170
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From: DFW, TX
Fuel mileage
My dad recently bought a 2003 F350 Crew Cab 7.3L diesel 4x2 with 49k miles. This is his third diesel. The first was an 84 F250 6.9l that he kept for 12 years and 400k miles and the second was a Chevy 2500 that lasted 9 years and 190k miles which still runs good, but the rest of the truck is trashed.
My question is, what kinda of realistic fuel mileage could be gained with a tuner?
He doesn't tow anything but his boat and that's all of 40 yards from where it sits in front of the house to the boat ramp. He drives 120 miles/day almost all highway. He drives 60 where ever he goes...he's never in a hurry. More power and speed are not his thing. With current fuel prices, a 3mpg gain would pay for itself rather quick.
My question is, what kinda of realistic fuel mileage could be gained with a tuner?
He doesn't tow anything but his boat and that's all of 40 yards from where it sits in front of the house to the boat ramp. He drives 120 miles/day almost all highway. He drives 60 where ever he goes...he's never in a hurry. More power and speed are not his thing. With current fuel prices, a 3mpg gain would pay for itself rather quick.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 47
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From: Rochester, NH
See the post "7.3 fuel economy" below. With the addition of a K&N airbox and filter and Superchips programmer I picked up almost 3 mpg. There was also a big improvment in takeoff, as in almost no turbo lag and much less downshifting on long hills.
My friend has a 2002 and also gained 2-3 mpg using a Superchips programmer. He also has a 2004 6.0 and was using a Diablo and had a 2 mpg gain.
Bob
My friend has a 2002 and also gained 2-3 mpg using a Superchips programmer. He also has a 2004 6.0 and was using a Diablo and had a 2 mpg gain.
Bob
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 858
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From: Robbinsville NJ
I removed the muffler, installed a K&N air box and did the super chips. I'm getting 15 - 17 and never have done better then 18. Be leary when people say the chip will increase your mileage, as from where I'm sitting it has more to do with driving style then the chip.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 47
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From: Rochester, NH
Cruise...
...I have found that whenever I use the cruise control I loose 1.5-3 mpg. There are just a lot of hills in the region that I drive and the transmission always downshifts into drive whereas when I am just using the petal it rarely downshifts. If I lived out in the Mid-West flats it would probably be different but on both my van and truck cruise gets much worse mileage.
Bob
Bob
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Junior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 73
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From: magnolia
I find it is all in the foot. I have gotten 13 mpg, trying keep up with friends Trans Am around town. And 20.5 mpg keeping the tach as close to 1500 to 1800 driving into work. My commute is 80 miles a day highway mostly, and houston 610 traffic. I have no mods and stock airfilter. 94k miles on the truck. I waiting till 100k to start doing mods, but I don't haul anything but honey do's on the weekend. My ave mpg is 18 mpg, but i am seeing alot 20 mpg weeks since I am watching the tach more.
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Rochester, NH
Originally Posted by rmilchman
I removed the muffler, installed a K&N air box and did the super chips. I'm getting 15 - 17 and never have done better then 18. Be leary when people say the chip will increase your mileage, as from where I'm sitting it has more to do with driving style then the chip.
Elder User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 858
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From: Robbinsville NJ
Originally Posted by FXDXT
Was wondering what year truck you have, the gear ratio and is it an auto or a standard....Bob
It's an '02 4X4 CC, 3:73 with an automatic, I also have 285's instead of the stock 265's and a 200 lb front bumper.
http://www.milchman.us/rm01216_RT16.jpg
Maybe I would do a little better if I could drive a constant speed, but my commute doesn't allow for it.
Rich
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 47
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From: Rochester, NH
Nice truck...
....and I can see how with that heavy front bumper and larger tires that you would get a little less than stock.
I wanted a bumper like that for my truck but try and find one when the truck is already 6 years old...mine being a 1996 purchesed in 2002. Instead I found a front Class III hitch that solves my problem for a tow point and can also put a carry rack on there for bicycles.
Almost went to the 285s from the Lt235s that were stock but ended up with 265s instead. Initially my mileage went down about 1 mpg but for reasons unknown was back up to close to 20 when I did the changes to the intake and reprogramming. The tag on the rearend translated to 3.55 gears and I didn't want to reduce the RPM any further by going too large. I am right at 60 mph at 1500 rpm in overdrive.
Mileage went from 18.5-20 to 19.9-23.5....I was pleased to say the least.
Bob
I wanted a bumper like that for my truck but try and find one when the truck is already 6 years old...mine being a 1996 purchesed in 2002. Instead I found a front Class III hitch that solves my problem for a tow point and can also put a carry rack on there for bicycles.
Almost went to the 285s from the Lt235s that were stock but ended up with 265s instead. Initially my mileage went down about 1 mpg but for reasons unknown was back up to close to 20 when I did the changes to the intake and reprogramming. The tag on the rearend translated to 3.55 gears and I didn't want to reduce the RPM any further by going too large. I am right at 60 mph at 1500 rpm in overdrive.
Mileage went from 18.5-20 to 19.9-23.5....I was pleased to say the least.
Bob
Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,405
Likes: 2,894
From: Reed Point, MT
I'll post on the "tuner helped my mileage" side of the fence. Without the SCMT on 70HP tune, my 01 CC SB Auto 4x4 gets 16.4 consistently on my 34 mile round trip to work on the interstate (75 MPH). With the tuner on 70HP, I get a consistent 17.5. I drive the same regardless (egg on the "go" pedal) of tune. I have 285's and 3.73 gears. I correct my speed and odometer mathematically as well as the mileage. The error due to the larger tires is 3.6% so my speedometer says aproximately 73 when my actual speed is 75.
I will be going to 255/85-16s when the time comes to get new tires. They're narrower and taller than both the 265s and 285s. To add to that, my speedometer will read 71 when I'm going 75. That equals less RPM.
Cody
I will be going to 255/85-16s when the time comes to get new tires. They're narrower and taller than both the 265s and 285s. To add to that, my speedometer will read 71 when I'm going 75. That equals less RPM.
Cody
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,582
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From: 21791
i was at 15.7 MPG (lieometer) with a MBRP 4'' TB exhaust, and a KWIK filter. i went to the edge juice with attitude chip, and it (lieometer) rose to 18.8 mpg by resetting it, with mostly backroads/hills driving. now that was on the #3 setting, which is "drive", and there is a "mileage" setting, #1. now i know that it is not accurate, but i will run this tank down, and then calculate the mileage by hand next time to see what comes out. i bet it's pretty close because the "miles to empty" on the overhead is usually pretty accurate.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 121
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Don't wait for 100,000k.
Originally Posted by robr0924
I find it is all in the foot. I have gotten 13 mpg, trying keep up with friends Trans Am around town. And 20.5 mpg keeping the tach as close to 1500 to 1800 driving into work. My commute is 80 miles a day highway mostly, and houston 610 traffic. I have no mods and stock airfilter. 94k miles on the truck. I waiting till 100k to start doing mods, but I don't haul anything but honey do's on the weekend. My ave mpg is 18 mpg, but i am seeing alot 20 mpg weeks since I am watching the tach more.