Better fuel mileage
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Better fuel mileage
I have a 95 f 350 crew cab 4x4 with 257 k miles. For the past 6 months the fuel mileage has been 4.5 to 7 per gallon. Had exhaust manifold leak due to broken exhaust manifold bolts.
Well my son and I bit the bullet and tackled the exhaust leaks. We removed the fender liners and shock towers drilled out the broken bolts ( had to raise the motor on one side and make a drill extender to get to one side) and replaced with studs and nuts. We used ARP hardware.
Lots of work but the mileage is now 13 mpg on the highway at a steady 80 mph !!! (it is nice driving in Montana and Wyoming )
We were forced into this because he had to take the truck 600 miles away from home for a summer intern job so he needed better mileage.
While under there we also did cab mounts and spring rubbers on the front springs. The cab mounts were beyond shot and hard to do but the ride improvement is worth the work.
so go fix those exhaust leaks.
JOHN
Well my son and I bit the bullet and tackled the exhaust leaks. We removed the fender liners and shock towers drilled out the broken bolts ( had to raise the motor on one side and make a drill extender to get to one side) and replaced with studs and nuts. We used ARP hardware.
Lots of work but the mileage is now 13 mpg on the highway at a steady 80 mph !!! (it is nice driving in Montana and Wyoming )
We were forced into this because he had to take the truck 600 miles away from home for a summer intern job so he needed better mileage.
While under there we also did cab mounts and spring rubbers on the front springs. The cab mounts were beyond shot and hard to do but the ride improvement is worth the work.
so go fix those exhaust leaks.
JOHN
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 400
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From: Saskatchewan
I get similar milage with my 88 F150, S/C, LB, 4X4 W/ 5.0l, 5 spd as indicated at the start of the post. Somewhere around 7 MPG. I had the shop check the computer for trouble codes one time and they couls not get past exhaust error codes. I had the exhaust system repaired last fall, but it has not made any difference in fuel consumption. My temperature gauge nevers gets past the "N" in normal. I have always wondered if the computer is thinking it is running cold and is dumping additonal fuel as for cold starting? Do those temp gauges just read low, or could that be something fooling the computer? Would a new water temp sensor be the answer?
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94zr580: fry - my temp gauge reads around the "R" or "M"
MADSEN: how would i tell if i have a exhaust leak? sound? it sounds fine to me and i assume i am getting pretty good mps so I think I'm good, but it'd just be nice to know the best way to tell.
also, as my signature says, I hate to nit-pick about subject lines, but if you can it might not hurt to add something to the subject about exhaust leaks too. based on the subject, most people (like me) will think you're another person looking for more mpgs from a heavy truck. again, sorry to nit-pick
MADSEN: how would i tell if i have a exhaust leak? sound? it sounds fine to me and i assume i am getting pretty good mps so I think I'm good, but it'd just be nice to know the best way to tell.
also, as my signature says, I hate to nit-pick about subject lines, but if you can it might not hurt to add something to the subject about exhaust leaks too. based on the subject, most people (like me) will think you're another person looking for more mpgs from a heavy truck. again, sorry to nit-pick
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Rochester, MN
Originally Posted by tomtoc
MADSEN: how would i tell if i have a exhaust leak? sound? it sounds fine to me and i assume i am getting pretty good mps so I think I'm good, but it'd just be nice to know the best way to tell.
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I just did a similar job on my '94 F250. I lucked out and all my exhaust bolts came out easy 
. I replaced the stock manifold with a set of Ford racing shorties and have been very pleased with the results.
Usually you will get an audible sound from any significant leak. But other than that stress' solution will work, although I'd only try it on a cold engine. It's less likely to burn your fingers and you may catch a leak that "heals" itself when the manifold expands as it heats up.
. I replaced the stock manifold with a set of Ford racing shorties and have been very pleased with the results.
Originally Posted by tomtoc
how would i tell if i have a exhaust leak? sound?
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Originally Posted by 94ZR580
My temperature gauge nevers gets past the "N" in normal. I have always wondered if the computer is thinking it is running cold and is dumping additonal fuel as for cold starting? Do those temp gauges just read low, or could that be something fooling the computer? Would a new water temp sensor be the answer?
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 400
Likes: 57
From: Saskatchewan
Originally Posted by DJdemon6696
my temp gauge also never gets passed the N or normal... and i too get a 7 to 9 mpgs.. somethimes 10 mpg
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
If the temp gauge is reading on the "N" you likely have a bad sending unit. There are two, one is a variable resistor for the gauge the other is just switch for the computer. If the switch goes bad the computer will never come out of open loop mode.
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Posting Guru
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me to i think it could do better on gas
so were do we begin? what should we chek?
btw my truck show no codes for nothing for that has to do with temp sensor or anything else..
and to " PFOGLE " were are these things you mention.
so were do we begin? what should we chek?
btw my truck show no codes for nothing for that has to do with temp sensor or anything else..
and to " PFOGLE " were are these things you mention.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,140
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
It's not likely to throw a code, if the switch is in range resistance wise the computer thinks it's fine. If it's not switching the computer doesn't know that, so it doesn't set a code. Usually it sets a bunch of other codes related to running cold.
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From: Hancock, ME
Originally Posted by 94ZR580
We appear to have the same problem, or maybe our gauge readings are "Normal". Mine has been a pig on fuel for the few years that I've had it, but I think it should do better than it is.
