Disappointing MPG
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New User
Joined: Aug 2005
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Disappointing MPG
Hi,
I recently purchased a 03 350XLT 6.0L PSD. This truck is a beast and I love it. However I had Hi hope going from a F250 5.4L that I would be seeing a decent increase in fuel Economy. However I am getting just under 14MPG empty. Is this normal? I have seen others that have stated that they are getting 18 MPG or better.
What could be causing the low mileage?
Thanks,
Brian
I recently purchased a 03 350XLT 6.0L PSD. This truck is a beast and I love it. However I had Hi hope going from a F250 5.4L that I would be seeing a decent increase in fuel Economy. However I am getting just under 14MPG empty. Is this normal? I have seen others that have stated that they are getting 18 MPG or better.
What could be causing the low mileage?
Thanks,
Brian
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 249
Likes: 2
From: California
Hello Brian,
I have an 04 Excursion with 6.0 PSD. Just this past weekend I went to a lake which was a 50-60 mile trip. While driving I kept it right under 2K rpm. my averge MPG was 20. on hills it went down to 18 MPG, on flats i set the cruise control at 65 and got a max of 23 MPG. This is with 4 adults, gear, full tank of fuel (44-gallon) and a SeaDoo PWC. I took the reading from the "lie-o-meter", didnt hand calculate it. Have you tried reseting the MPG Meter? Also many people use diesel kleen and say they get better milage. I havent tried it yet, but next fill up I will.
Ruben G
I have an 04 Excursion with 6.0 PSD. Just this past weekend I went to a lake which was a 50-60 mile trip. While driving I kept it right under 2K rpm. my averge MPG was 20. on hills it went down to 18 MPG, on flats i set the cruise control at 65 and got a max of 23 MPG. This is with 4 adults, gear, full tank of fuel (44-gallon) and a SeaDoo PWC. I took the reading from the "lie-o-meter", didnt hand calculate it. Have you tried reseting the MPG Meter? Also many people use diesel kleen and say they get better milage. I havent tried it yet, but next fill up I will.
Ruben G
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 187
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From: North Alabama
Brian,
I am in the same boat. I went from a 1995 GMC (yes a GM) extended cab with a 350 GAS V-8 and got a lot better mileage than I do now. I purchased my 2004 F250 Super Crew Fx4 6.0 Auto about a month ago with high hopes that I would see significantly better mileage than my GM. NOT!!
The Diesel Kleen does help some but not nearly enough.
I am about to do the Zoodad mod in hopes that I will increase my Hwy. mileage.
http://community.webshots.com/album/29503747CLxEtpIVYO
If anyone has any other MPG increasing mods please let us know.
Thanks,
Griffin
I am in the same boat. I went from a 1995 GMC (yes a GM) extended cab with a 350 GAS V-8 and got a lot better mileage than I do now. I purchased my 2004 F250 Super Crew Fx4 6.0 Auto about a month ago with high hopes that I would see significantly better mileage than my GM. NOT!!
The Diesel Kleen does help some but not nearly enough.
I am about to do the Zoodad mod in hopes that I will increase my Hwy. mileage.
http://community.webshots.com/album/29503747CLxEtpIVYO
If anyone has any other MPG increasing mods please let us know.
Thanks,
Griffin
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Originally Posted by westladog
You are naive if you trust the mpg lie-o-meter. The proper way is fill her up full. Drive until the next fillup. Take the distance driven divide by the number of gallons needed to fillup.
Junior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 60
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I also average around 14-15mpg primarily city driving. But I do have a heavy foot and cruise the highways around 70-75mph on average. This is with an Innovative Diesel SCT with their Xtreme tune, which is absolutely an incredible tuner!
I've read that the folks that achieve in the high teens for mpg, are fairly conservative drivers who stay around 60mph on the highway.
I've read that the folks that achieve in the high teens for mpg, are fairly conservative drivers who stay around 60mph on the highway.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2005
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I have found that when I drive easy ( in city ) and try to keep it around 60 to 65 I get about 13.5 mpg. When I get in the throttle at lights ( not too hard ) and run around 70 to 75 I get 14 to 15 mpg. Kind of strange.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 19,098
Likes: 8
From: Great State of Texas
Originally Posted by grif95
If anyone has any other MPG increasing mods please let us know.Thanks, Griffin
Tie it around your right foot. With the other end of the rope in your right hand pull up hard and steady whenever you get the urge to drop the hammer.
Seriously, your Ford is 4 wheel drive and somewhat heavier than your '95 GM...plus, I would guess that it may be geared a little different. And don't forget the TV screens Ford uses for mirrors on the FX4...wind resistance is a drag...
I get 13.5 city....16.5 hywy 75 - 78 MPH. While mileage is my only disappointment with my truck....I likely get about as good as I should expect for my driving style.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 291
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From: Rocky Mountains
I recently moved from a city of a couple million to one with less than 50,000. My MPG went from 18+ mixed highway/city to 14.5 mostly city. This smaller town has many more 4-way stops and I think those have been the cuprit, lots of stop and go w/ a 7,000 pound truck just sucks the fuel down.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 356
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MPG really vary. I have seen a wide spectrum, but on average HWY 16-17, City 13-15.5. Today I pulled a trailer and load that I am guessing weighed about 13k or so plus the truck. Once I got to the interstate I reset the MPG guage and only got 8.7 MPG going about 60-65 MPH for about 35 miles. We have a 1990 F350 460 that will get 9 with that load (260,000 miles and still going). On the other hand you can only go 45 or 50 with 4.10's in the 460. Kind of disapointing, I was hoping for 12-14 MPG. Have seen that before, but this was odd. Last year about this time it seemed as if the MPG's dropped. Temp related??? Who knows, still like the truck. Levi
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 466
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Originally Posted by westladog
You are naive if you trust the mpg lie-o-meter. The proper way is fill her up full. Drive until the next fillup. Take the distance driven divide by the number of gallons needed to fillup.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 911
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From: Mexifornia
I get just under 16mpg avg. around town in my 2004 SB CC 4wd, which is much better than my previous chevy extra cab SB 4wd with a 350; the best that got was about 12.8mpg. This summer I went to Wy from Ca pulling a trailer that weighs about 4K give or take, not including all the gear and four people for a 3 week trip. The worst tank was 10.85 going into Or from Id pulling 5 passes on two lane back roads, the best was from John Day to Bend:23.65mpg and one big pass. I averaged a little over 18 on flat freeways going 65mph. I have noticed no differecne at all with diesel kleen or any other cetane boosters, even at different mix rates. My last tank was 15.84mpg; and that was mountain driving and a lot of creeping along in 4wd; last week of deer season.
