Not going to debate you on the "politics" side.

The reason for the FFV or the DoD type systems is for "options". If you give the consumer the "options", then let the consumer make the choices. Right now we cannot even run E85 fuel in our V10's. But...maybe some folks would like that option. Giving the E85 fuel...and the extra money to run it (less mpg) to the local corn grower. That is for the consumer to decide.

All...I am saying...is give the consumer more choices. The E85 might be the future...and if so, then the V10, V8, V6, I4, etc...can keep running without extensive modifications.

Plus...YES...I would not mind having the extra electronic parts for the DoD system. Again...if it helps save fuel...even only sometimes, then it is worth it.

It is all about choices...

OBTW: Might want to take a more current surf over to the FORD website and use the "build it". No such option for the V10...in the FFV.

biz

 

Just to be fair to Ford and the V10...

The 6.0 engine from GM is NOT flex-fuel capable either.

 

sorry I only read the first two posts so if this is covered my bad

What about a program that sequentially or randomly decreases the injector pulse on a schedule to allow just enough fuel to be burnt to overcome that cylinder's drag and compression load but still a measurably lighter load so that cylinder doesn't create a true power pulse... under certain conditions of load and torque the reduction of full duration pluses randomly or in a pattern through every other or third revolution would increase MPG slightly.... this could be done in software

 

What kills DOD for me is just looking at the 5.4L. Super Duties and Excursions equiped with either V8 or V10 get about the same MPG. If you want to try and save some gas with a V10 live on top of a hill and turn the truck off for the drive down, just watch for sharp turns and start trying to stop plenty early.

 

I was thinking something similar MedMedic20. If the 5.4 and 6.8 get ~roughly~ the same mileage, than I think based on the size/weight of the SuperDuty you'll not see any dollar savings. I can see the point that a couple percentage points would be good though (it's better to light a single candle than curse the darkness). I just think it'd be a 10th of a percentage point difference and at that point, the option would have to be free to make it worthwhile to the consumer.

...blah, blah, blah... What I'm getting at is energy savings is important to me, but from what I've read about the size and weight of these vehicles I don't think there would be a benefit from have a DOD system. However, if there were a benefit (not necessarily monetary), and it was offered, I'd buy it, and pay more to buy it.

If someone has had the opportunity to try it, please post about it. It might be worthwhile to rig up your own system. Tie it into the upfitter switches, on-off-on-off, as needed

 

SCT has a program on my tuner I have for my 04' called "Economy Mode". It is supposed to save fuel by leaning out the mixture during off throttle or light throttle situations such as down hill, braking and etc. I haven't tried it, however in one of my issues of Ford performance trucks they did show fuel savings on the 5.4l they tested it on.

 

Got a link to the software manufacturer's site?

 

Please correct me if I am wrong, but doesn't letting up on the gas peddle stop fuel from squirting in all 10 cylinders evenly? So, when going downhill, and the load starts pushing you rather than you pulling it, by letting up on the peddle, you are cutting off fuel and increasing mileage--right? Maybe that is the problem here. We don't need sequentially deactivating cylinders, just a brain connected to our right foot. And when the desire for fuel economy enters the mind, let the right foot respond to the brain's desire, without having any extra cost doo-dads kick in and electromechanically take over.

But, I would trade up for a FFV V-10 SD, and real quick. We're getting a lot of E-85 stations around here now, and all are priced 30-40 cents less than regular E-10. And, I really havn't a clue what regular dino fuel sells for it has been so long since I burned it.

 

I've been saying this every time one of these threads comes up, but figured I was repeating myself so much I was at risk of being ignored Thanks for bringing this up.

Here's my premise:

Figure a 5.4 V8 gets 16MPG on the highway, and the same exact truck with a V10 gets 15 (and this is disputable, but let's use it as an example). That's 2 cylinders completely missing getting you a 6.6% increase in MPGs.

So, if we drop FIVE cylinders, that's a 16.5% increase in MPGs. That brings the V10 from 15 up to 17.4 ... Sounds good, right?

The only problem with this is... wait for it... The MPG increase is because you just removed 5 cylinder's worth of drag - piston/rings, bearings, valves, you name it, as well as the fuel required to run those extra cylinders.

Well, DOD doesn't magically cut a motor in half with a large band-saw. Those extra cylinders are still generating friction via bearings/pistons/rings/valves.

So, that 17.4 is going to get cut - WAY cut. I'd think 50% would be a good number.

So, do we take a V10, engineer all this stuff into it for DOD, for a 8.25% increase in MPGs?

And you KNOW that's not going to happen with a heavy load. It'll only give you that increase when you're completely empty.

No, REALLY?!?!?!?!!?!

 

Oh, and that 8.25% savings is ONLY on the highway... doesn't do a thing for stop-and-go...

So it's not an OVERALL savings of 8.25%. It'll be half that, or a quarter that, depending on your driving.

So, 15 MPG will go up to a MAX of 16.2MPG, or more likely, 15.6MPG (4% improvement).

 

emptyd, the site www.sctflash.com I have SF for my 04' and I am very happy with it. It is a very versatile tuner.

4wd, I see where the FFV would benefit you due to your location. Right now I'm paying $2.55 for 87 gas here in SE Pa. If I could get E85 for 30-40 cent a gallon cheaper and it was widely available here I would use it. I'm sure ford will expand there FFV line-up in the near future.

The only problem I forsee with E85 is if the demand rises to a certain extent we will quickly expend the capabilities of the domestic crop growers and have to look for outside sources for ethanol.

 

I went out to their sight but can't find one that supports the 01 Excusion w/ V-10 (or simlar F series truck). I'm probably just being dumb, but can you give me a bit more direction?

 

No, your right they do not have your vechicle listed. I didn't know what year you had.

Being that you have an 01' you may have to look at the Superchips tuners www.superchips.com however I am not 100% sure if superchips will have the Fuel Economy prog. in the Superchips 1715 that is for your 01'.

You could shoot SCT an E-Mail and ask them whats available for your truck.
I know an SCT dealer could make programs for you off of dyno runs but best contact SCT By the way SCT and Superchips are the same company.