HI Everyone!
Can anyone give me some input on what kind of MPG your getting with you Diesel powered vans? Thanks!

 

My 96 and 97 get about 12. but they are loaded all the time to the max.

 

12 city/16hwy

97 Quigley 4X4

Bill

 

I have a 2002 E350 15 passenger van with the V10 in it and I can easily get 14.4 mpg on the interstate at 80 mph. I have over 110,000 miles on it and have checked every tank of gas I have ever put through it. The worse I got is 12 which is in the winter around town. I get 8-9 towing my travel trailer which all up GVCWR 17,250lbs. I see no advantage in spending all the money for a diesel van. I got my V10 brand new with XLT interior for $26,000 and the diesel I found was $40,000 and no breaks in the price. I added it all up and I would break even at 300,000 miles. Thats figuring 17 quarts of oil, etc etc. And that is without one trip with a diesel to the shop. I hate to think what that is going to cost.
I have had not one problem with the V10. I change my plugs every 65,000. I checked them at 105,000 for torque and not one was loose. I have not had one problem with it.
The TSB bulletins on the diesel are scary to read, while the V10 van only had one TSB that I could find.
I am not bashing anyone who bought a diesel but the V10 puts out more power, more torque, its quiet, its cheaper by the gallon and drives like a race car if you choose to MAKE it drink fuel.
Not picking a fight, just wish that Ford could put a diesel in there that was really impressive. If it had the go of the pick up truck it would be great, but its so detuned, and then there are the 6.0 issues.
I talked with a guy on the interstate that was running a 7.3 diesel at 80mph and he said 17mpg was about consistent for his. Thats not much different for all the extra headaches.
So don't by pass the V10 thinking its a gas guts. My V10 does exactly the same fuel mileage as my 1993 E150 half ton van with 385,000 miles on it.
Andrew.

 

andrew, circumstances at the time of a purchase and what is offered make all the difference. My 96 and 97 have a big box on the back. I could only afford used. But I was able to find a 96 with only 60k on it and my 97 only had 70k. My 97 usually weighs about 14k plus the trailer is 12k. I don't think they offered the V10 in the trucks I bought. If I was buying a new passenger van I would probably consider a V10. But a V10 in either of my trucks would not get 14 or better. Gearing has a lot to do with fuel milage. My trucks don't do 80. 60-65 is about it. You can't do gas in a big heavy truck. I bet my 97 would only get about 6 with a V10, if that. Don't you think if people like me could get by with a gas engine, we would? You don't need a diesel but we do. Under the circumstances you did the right thing, but so did I.

 

The tree-hugger types probably will never understand what I am about to write. They'd have us all on Segways.

In reply to both Trike and Andrew:

"Thankfully, we still have CHOICES in our automotive offerings."

Will it reamin so?

 

Amen!! Choice is really important. Imagine trying to tow a trailer with a segway...

 

I think as time goes on, a lot of choices will go away. It depends on how successful people like Gore are. Everything gets blamed on the cars and trucks. No mention of the planes or trains or factory smoke. As fuel gets more expensive, some choices will go away on their own. We just won't have the money for a vehicle with a big engine. And I believe we will see more and more small diesels in cars. Ford, GM, and Dodge all have all had some problems with their diesels, like the 6.0. But there are some out there, made by companies like Mercedes, that are bullet proof. Of course the tree huggers would have us go back to a horse and buggy. But then they would be after the horse emissions.

Edit: Something additional. Ford has the 6.4 coming out. As it stands, it will not fit in the vans at all. they have to be redesigned. They are not wide enough. So anybody who wants one when they finally come out will be getting a new engine (I hope not like the 6.0 nightmare) and a new van style. It could be double good or double bad. Time will tell.

 

Just wanted to let you know that I totally agree; where you have a heavy truck, or a heavy load and its being pulled all the time, then you need a diesel, no way around it. Plus I have noticed that cold weather makes the vehicles drink more fuel and if you live in a colder part of the country then again a diesel makes lots of sense for a bit more economy.
I too am glad that there are options available for us all and I hope they don't go away
Andrew.

 

...why they all go for the V-8 in P/U's, utility trucks, and vans but all the big trucks, tractors and heavy equip. have gone to in-line engines. Especially now with EFI and better turbos that'll make a smaller displacement engine produce bigger h.p.

Heck, I think you could build a screaming big-bore four that'd fit anywhere and easily make 300-400 h.p.!

 

I'm looking at driving a 95 PS E350 from sacramento to Las Vegas. My understanding is that that van has a 38 gal tank. i would expect to drive it unloaded no towing either. Do any of you have any input as to whether or not it would make the 625 mile trip on one tank of fuel?
Thanks everyone!

 

i would doubt it supergordo. mabey with no hills, no traffic to contend with, no potty stops, [if you can go 625 miles with out stopping, you da man!], and a tail wind, mabey. but real world it is doubtful.

i would think you would be about a quarter tank short if you were carefull, but would plan on at least 1 1/2 fillups to get there.

 

It depends on your rear ratio and where you keep your foot. If you have a 3.55 and keep your rpms under 2k or so, it might be a chance. But I think I would have to vote with JimBare. Maybe you could carry a couple of cans with you just in case. Remember it is a problem if you run a diesel out of fuel. You can't just dump some in and start it up.

 

With my 5.4 over 600 miles to a tank is the norm. mine has a 35 gallon tank I get almost 19 mpg on every tank.


Kevin

 

well luckily i know there will be gas stations along the way. And i wont be in such a hurry that i cant take my time. I really mostly curious as to the milage experiences of you longtime diesel users. I was guessing that 625 would be a strech for sure.