I'm new to the site and impressed with the knowledge shared. Need some help/suggestions for better fuel mileage. I have a 2000 crew powerstroke automatic. Tires are 285s. Currently my mileage ranges around 14-15 mpg and when I pull my 6X12 enclosed trailer(bout 2500 lbs) she drops down to 10-12 mpg. I run about average speeds, 60-65 so I'm certainly not running her hard. I bought the diesel so when I pull my mileage would stay up there. I have considered chipping or going with a complete air intake system. I wanna hear some honest answers from guys who have chipped or intaked theirs and how much did it really increase your mileage. Or am I asking too much of the mileage? I'm not really looking for more power just better mileage. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Randy

 

Sounds like your MPG's a close to normal for a stock truck. I'd recommend opening the exhaust and intake systems and see what that gets you. I haven't done anything yet to my truck and curious of the results. I did change the fuel filter and that netted me 1-1.5 mpg's.

 

Your damn lucky to be getting 14/15 MPG!!!! My 00' F-350 S/C, PSD, LB, DRW is getting 10 empty and around 6 with my trailer.... stock! Ity has been to the dealer, as well as a diesel shop and everybody either calls me crazy, or says that these trucks aren't meant to get that many miles to a gallon of diesel fuel.

Douglas DC-9

 

At 10 Mpg When Running Empty...... Something Is Not Right.

That Is Way Below The Averaged .... Chipped Or Not

 

I also have a 2000 F-350 Supercab, PSD, LB, DRW and I am currently getting 15-16 with no mods. Something is definately wrong.

 

Five O
First welcome to FTE (first post). I don't think there is any magic fix to improve mpg. I've been looking and haven't found it. Most will tell you to properly maintain the truck especially oil changes and fuel filter changes. Then it's stuff like keep the tires properly inflated and try to keep it at or below 2000 rpms (or control your right foot). Some, but not all, have had success with opening up the air intake and enlargeing the exhaust system. You can also get an "economy" custom programmed chip. I'm sure more people will chime in about their experiences and opinions. To add a little humor, here's a summary of what I read on here for a empty truck:

below 12 mpg "Yeah, you might have something wrong."
12 - 15 mpg "That's about right."
15 - 20 mpg "Quite your bitchin', I'm only getting 12."
above 20 "Don't believe that lie-o-meter in the truck"

Personally, I've got an open air intake, a 4" verses stock 3.5" exhaust system and a programmer set to medium level and I get 15 - 18 depending on how much highway or city driving I do. I'm in that "quite your bitchin'." group. LOL (laughing out loud)

Again, welcome to FTE!

edit: This time of year, most of the fuel/gas stations are selling a winter blended diesel fuel to help prevent gelling of the fuel in cold weather. It also negatively impacts your mpg.

 

Five-O,

Also, remember to never trust the "lie-o-meter". It's only relative. Always hand-calculate your milage.

The overhead "milage calculator" will begin reading abnormally high if you begin using a performance chip, leading you to believe that you're getting better miage as a result of the chip.

You're not.

Pop

 

Just to clearify, I manually check the mileage every fill up. I don't have a lie-o-meter, if I do I'm to dumb to figure it out. Thanks a bunch for all your help.
Randy

 

stroker2, i average 19-20 empty and have gotten 24 running the highway. there are so many things to consider for mpg. On 4x4 trucks 15mpg is what i hear from just about everyone with an auto. standards a little better. the weight of your right foot has so much to do with it. i would defenitely start with a KWIK filter mod as that added 2mpg when i first got my truck.

 

Bone stock - dually short bed with 6-speed - 16.4mpg with a about 200 hundred lbs of retriever training equipment. Tire pressure is at 40psi. I noticed the center wearing at a greater rate so I dropped the pressure from 50-40psi.