REALLY bad mileage
Thread Starter
|
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,943
Likes: 0
REALLY bad mileage
I recently picked up a 95 250 with an injected 460 and a four speed. Unloaded it gets fair mileage say in the 12-15 range depending on how gentle I am with it. When I hook up my trailer and rock buggy however, it drops to around five. The trailer and buggy combined are only about 5500 lbs.The trip from my house to where I primarily wheel is almost dead flat and straight and still it stays at five. It's not throwing any codes. I gave it a tune up but didn't change the o2 sensor. It has 217k, though, so maybe it's just worn out? Thoughts?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
From: MN
Weight is not your only factor to consider your load on the tow vehicle. Aerodynamics play a role as well. I have pulled a pickup bed on a trailer that was a tremendous airsail, and it cut my milage in half. However, I have hauled heavy loads of wood in the same trailer and only lost 2-3 mpg in comparison with the 7 I lost when towing the bed which only weighed 300-400 pounds.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Cannon Falls, MN
What gear ratio are you running? and what size tire? With higher gears you will get great mpg when unloaded (12-15 is probably considered very good for the 460) but will suck when towing and carried heavy loads.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 726
Likes: 0
From: Silverdale, WA.
I'm leaning towards the gearing as well, I have 4.10's and get a very consistent 9-10 mpg empty and about 8-10 heavily loaded (around 9k worth of trailer and truck usually) The door jamb has the sticker for the axle code, then we can help here with what that code means.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 736
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati
I once pulled a trialer out to St Louis and picked up a vehicle. I was not able to notice a difference between empty and loaded. The gate on the trailer had so much drag that the 2500 pounds didn't make a big difference.
Once you know about your rig mechanically, I would second the notion that the aerodynamics are screwing you.
Mike
Once you know about your rig mechanically, I would second the notion that the aerodynamics are screwing you.
Mike
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
speedking390
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
5
Nov 27, 2011 01:30 AM
