8.7 mpg
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: TEXAS
8.7 mpg
just got back from a weekend trip to Wichita Falls to pick up our pontoon boat. Left this morning with a full tank of diesel and the boat in tow. Came down 281, which is mostly highway style driving and kept the vehicle around 65 and 1800 rpm's. 219 miles later I was almost completely empty and was still 70 miles from home. 8.7 miles per gallon (25.5 gallons * 219 miles). The boat and trailer weigh approx. 2900 lbs. Is there anything I can do to improve fuel economy? It seems every time I pull something now, I get worse and worse fuel mileage. I am starting to really dislike this truck! Any help would be appreciated.
05 fx4 cc lariat
05 fx4 cc lariat
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 56
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From: TEXAS
it was blowing, but nothing too bad. 2 weeks ago, I hauled a 16 foot flatbed (2500 lbs) up there and back and averaged 9.5 mpg. It just feels like the truck is really straining. turbo stayed at about 20 psi boost for 90% of the trip. you could actually see the fuel gauge steadily dropping. last year I hauled the in-laws 27 ft travel trailer (10k +) to southern Ill. and averaged about 12 mpg. just seems like recently it has gone south.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
Wow sounds like you need help. I get 12 pulling a 9K trailer. I take it you wasn't in the mountains with 6% grades. Have you changed your filters lately? Fuel and air. Also wonder if the fuel might be a problem. I've found that a low cetane fuel will make the mileage go way down.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: TEXAS
yeah, no steep grades... just a rolling hill or two. 29600 miles and changed the fuel filter at 27500 and the air filter at 27k or so. if it is fuel, I must be one unlucky dude, because I am getting bad fuel everywhere I go! I also use power service with every tank. I took the truck in last week because of the same issue, and everything checked out ok... the service rep even said it was way low on the mileage, but then said I must be doing something wrong on my end! could it be that I got a bad fuel filter on my last change? this is about when most of this started.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,082
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From: Illinois
You have something wrong here. I have the same truck '05 F250 PSD CC FX4. I get between 12 and 14 pulling 5K on the highway. How about the air in your tires. I keep mine at 77 PSI. The ride is a little rougher but the mileage is better.
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 695
Likes: 2
From: arizona
fuel avg
I just went from phoenix to campverde up on the rim (from 900ft above sea level to 7300).(out side temp was 102 deg to camp verde).. about 180 miles each way.. avg 9.5 mpg round trip. up grade 6+ % for miles hauling butt 60- 80 mph pulling my 29ft 5th RV (7k plus water ,etc)
I was hoping for better than 9.5 but guess thats not bad, I get 12 with the same load on flat ground 65 mph. I was really pushing hard too on this trip boost kept trying to go over 30-32 psi (with cruise on the hitting a hill) and my post turbo EGT's were around 800 deg , but the weird thing is when I would level off after a hard pull then it would goto 1000-1100 deg and take a while to go down (if i got into the pedel it would pull it back to 800)unless I started down hill. anyway stock tune on this trip for that reason.
all and all I had the power but had to back off some times to keep the boost down.
only mods on truck is air box and muffler and cat delete
one more thing i did have to let of 2 times due to the water temp started to get a little high, did not over heat, but was headed that way, the 2nd time i justs turned off the a/c because we were up above 4000 ft and it cooled off out side and did not need it anymore.
I was hoping for better than 9.5 but guess thats not bad, I get 12 with the same load on flat ground 65 mph. I was really pushing hard too on this trip boost kept trying to go over 30-32 psi (with cruise on the hitting a hill) and my post turbo EGT's were around 800 deg , but the weird thing is when I would level off after a hard pull then it would goto 1000-1100 deg and take a while to go down (if i got into the pedel it would pull it back to 800)unless I started down hill. anyway stock tune on this trip for that reason.
all and all I had the power but had to back off some times to keep the boost down.
only mods on truck is air box and muffler and cat delete
one more thing i did have to let of 2 times due to the water temp started to get a little high, did not over heat, but was headed that way, the 2nd time i justs turned off the a/c because we were up above 4000 ft and it cooled off out side and did not need it anymore.
Last edited by chadjones99; May 21, 2006 at 10:10 PM.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Millersville, MD
Are you sure that the brakes aren't dragging on the trailer? What's the milage running empty? Somethings really wrong.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: TEXAS
thanks for the replies... I don't think it is the fuel... this has happened on the past two pulls of light loads.
the trailer doesn't have brakes... so I don't think that is the prob.
the tire pressure is 70... checked it before I left and then last night.
on the way there, unloaded, I got 18.5 mpg. this thing just doesn't like to pull anything.
the trailer doesn't have brakes... so I don't think that is the prob.
the tire pressure is 70... checked it before I left and then last night.
on the way there, unloaded, I got 18.5 mpg. this thing just doesn't like to pull anything.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 224
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From: Trophy Club Texas
I'm no expert, nor do I play one on TV.....
But, if you are getting 18+ empty, something is wrong with your truck. The 'beauty' of a diesel is that the mileage is not supposed to decrease significantly when towing. Especially towing a fairly 'light' load.
Again, I'm not an expert, but when I pulled my boat or my flatbed (probably about the same weight you are talking about), the mileage didn't change a great deal.
As to what could possibly be wrong....I have no clue. And based on what I have read here, a dealer is going to tell you it is 'normal' unless they find some codes generated or something. But I think a 10 mpg decrease towing a 3k trailer is a sign that 'something' isn't quite right.
Good luck,
dlp
But, if you are getting 18+ empty, something is wrong with your truck. The 'beauty' of a diesel is that the mileage is not supposed to decrease significantly when towing. Especially towing a fairly 'light' load.
Again, I'm not an expert, but when I pulled my boat or my flatbed (probably about the same weight you are talking about), the mileage didn't change a great deal.
As to what could possibly be wrong....I have no clue. And based on what I have read here, a dealer is going to tell you it is 'normal' unless they find some codes generated or something. But I think a 10 mpg decrease towing a 3k trailer is a sign that 'something' isn't quite right.
Good luck,
dlp
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
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I get 20-21 mpg on straight interstate runs, unloaded at 65-70 mph.
Pulling a Travel trailer, 30'8" long and approx 7500# at 60-65mph, I get 10.5-11.0. Sounds like you have a problem somewhere..Maybe you can try another shop..Good Luck...Bob <><
Pulling a Travel trailer, 30'8" long and approx 7500# at 60-65mph, I get 10.5-11.0. Sounds like you have a problem somewhere..Maybe you can try another shop..Good Luck...Bob <><
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 19,098
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From: Great State of Texas
Originally Posted by afrantom
just got back from a weekend trip to Wichita Falls to pick up our pontoon boat. Left this morning with a full tank of diesel and the boat in tow. Came down 281, which is mostly highway style driving and kept the vehicle around 65 and 1800 rpm's. 219 miles later I was almost completely empty and was still 70 miles from home. 8.7 miles per gallon (25.5 gallons * 219 miles). The boat and trailer weigh approx. 2900 lbs. Is there anything I can do to improve fuel economy? It seems every time I pull something now, I get worse and worse fuel mileage. I am starting to really dislike this truck! Any help would be appreciated.
05 fx4 cc lariat
05 fx4 cc lariat
(Sorry, irresistible play on words) ...Keep in mind that many times it is not the weight that kills MPG but, wind drag. Takes a huge toll. I was out in it most of the day yesterday and I would guess that your head wind was a little more than you might imagine. A pontoon boat creates a huge amount of wind drag just by virtue of it's design...especially if it has a hard canopy. I used to have a 30 footer and sometimes it was pretty tough jerking that baby down the highway.HyWy 281 is a good ride so to your point, grade shouldn't have any impact.
Secondary to that, since you sense a power loss and low MPG, you could have a leaky injector. Seen any leaks? Are you "making" oil? Check your oil level.
In any case, you might want to talk to your dealer and see what they think.
Good luck.