Before anybody has a coronary, I plan to use the truck as a daily driver (to replace my 1990 F150), which 3-4 times a year tows my 65 Mustang (total weight with trailer is 5,800 lbs) and haul up to 500 lbs about 6 times a year for my do-it-yourself projects. The reason for the F250 and not the F150 is due to the poor transmissions, balljoints, brakes and i think it is a better looking truck- I drive in a very sporty manner, most is freeway driving in SoCal.

Here's what I'm looking at....

F250 regular cab 2x4, XLT
5.4 automatic
Handling package
Myself- remove the fan/clutch assembly and replace with an electric unit
Dealer- Install 3.25:1 differential gears
BellTech 3" lowering all 4 corners
Drop the mufflers and run twin pipes from the cat's straight our the back
Superchips mod

I'm figuring the mods & power (torque) at 25 mph + should be more than adequate to accellerate up to 75 mph and with the mods I should get 23-25 miles to the gallon (without the AC on).

I basically did the same thing (except change diff gears to my wifes 97 cougar sport 4.6 and we can get up to 27 mpg)

Thanks in advance.

 

Why not the V-10, with significantly more power to start with?

 

V10....I really hadn't considered the V10 because I really didn't need that much hp/tq, but perhaps that might prove better mileage with even taller gears? looking for thoughts?

 

good luck gettin anywhere close to that out of a 250....i get 10 mpg

 

Yeah, a 5.4L in a ~6500 lb truck probably won't get near 20mpg.

 

you won't get 20 mpg

 

On our 04 listed in signature we get between 15-20 mpg on the 6.0 engine cruising the roads not towing. When towing we get 12.

 

FYI,

I've talked to two F250 owners (2004), both with the 5.4....one auto and one with the 6speed, the auto gets 18 mpg and the stick gets just shy of 20 mpg. Thats why I'm thinking with the mods I should be able to get 23-25 mpg (on a good day)

 

They may get that fuel efficiency going downhill on a steep grade for extended periods of time but not with regular driving. I think these 5.4L folks you spoke with are pulling your chain. You can expect 15-20 mpg with the diesel without towing. My guess on the 5.4L gassser would be in the 11-13 mpg range at best and single digits when towing.

If it's fuel economy that is important to you, the Ranger is the way to go but you won't be able to tow much with it as I'm certain you already know and even then you "might" get 23-25 mpg.

 

I have a 97 150 4x4 SC SB 5.4 Auto 3.55 diff and get 15 mpg cruising highways on long trips 75-80 mph.

 

Well I don't think my friends are too far off.....if a 4x4 auto extended cab can get 15 mpg, a regular cab 2x4 auto...18 mpg isn't that far off. I drive a 300 cid 5 speeed with 3.55 diff gears and with the Cal Clean Air Gas I get 20 mpg highway /17 city.

 

300cid? You mean the 300 I6? One of the most efficient, simplest engines Ford ever made?

The truck's going to look like crap dropped 3 inches (my opinion).

The modular engines are rev-happy... drop the gearing to 3.25 and you're going to strain the hell out of the drivetrain and put the engine way outside of its powerband.

You get 27mpg in the wife's Cougar... a car that weighs easily half of what a Super Duty does and has a miniscule coefficient of drag compared to an SD (a giant box on wheels)... and you want to get 75% of the gas mileage? And driving in the SoCal traffic, especially in a "sporty" (read heavy right foot) manner?

If you want good fuel economy, buy a small car. If you want a truck, buy a Super Duty. But don't expect a good truck with the fuel economy of a small car.

 

Can you get 3.25:1 gears for the rear end? Mine come stock with 3.73:1 which was the standard ratio. As I recall it was also the tallest setup you could get. Options were all geared lower, 4.10:1 if I remember correctly. I think the newer ones may be geared even lower.

I don't intend to be argumentative, but I have a real problem believing that you or anyone else will get anywhere close to 20mpg with a 5.4L V8 in a Superduty. I know my diesel won't do it. I get 14mpg +/- in mixed driving and 17-18 mpg highway driving for extended periods with cruise control. I'm certain that the 5.4L won't come close to matching this.

That 4x4 auto extended cab that can get 15 mpg is an F-150. Same goes for your current truck. Big, big difference between that and a Superduty. The F-250 is not a heavier sprung F-150. It's a mcuh larger and heavier truck.

If you can get 20mpg out of the V8 in an F-250, mcuh less 23-25mpg, please let us know about it. There are many folks on here, including me, that would be very interested in knowing how you did it. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

Myself- remove the fan/clutch assembly and replace with an electric unit
Dealer- Install 3.25:1 differential gears
BellTech 3" lowering all 4 corners



is this thread even serious?? the electric fan swap will net you almost nothing but a loss of cash. the 3.25 gears are a bad idea. it moves the engine way out of its power band so you will make it less efficient. the 3'' lowering, i have no comment on. do not for a single second think you will get 25 mpg in that truck. more like 13 in town. 25 mpg is just not happening.

 

i agree with ford390, this can't be serious. or beechkid knows nothing about a real truck. all the items he listed that he wants to do aren't going to do him any good. besides it's a 2wd, sb, reg cab? shouldn't even carry the name SUPER DUTY. C'MON, LETS BE SERIOUS.