I just got back from vacation; this was the first "mountainous" travel that I had done with the V10 pulling my ~10K TT... WOW! This thing pulls like there's no tomorrow.

We went from Charlotte, NC to Sandusky, OH; that put us running stright up I77, through Fancy Gap in Va. From ~900ft to over 3200ft of elevation - it clibmed right up there without any problems.

On the way back, I even passed a few diesels going up hill ... One was pulling an enclosed car trailer, so I don't know what he had it. Another was pulling a 5'er. Not that we were racing or anything, it just felt good to pull past them.

With the 3.73 rear, I did run some hi RPMs - but it sure felt good. I'm considering the 4.30s to solve that little problem.

THe MPGs could have been a little better, up the mountain I averaged 7.4. Once we got in to Ohio and it leveled out a little, it went up to 8.6. I generally ran 65 mph - even up the mountains.

I also found that the trip computer is pretty accuate. Everytime I checked mileage, it was with in 0.2 mpg of what I calculated. After thinking it over, it was probably more accurate since each fillup was from a different gas pump, which could have "clicked" off sooner.

We also did a day trip to Niagara from Erie - we got 16.2 on that round trip (no towing).

Overall, I love this engine more everyday.

 

nice! how many miles does it have, im assuming its the ex in ur profile

 

MarkMoore,

Congrats on the V10, great engine. Just an FYI, the 4:30 rear end will defineately increase engine rpms vs speed traveled when compared to the 3.73.

On the flip side, the 4.30 will certainly pull better than the 3.73 when pulling the same load up the same mountain as you were before.

Great truck, enjoy,
RustyFuryIII

 

yeah i keep beating myself for not getting the v10...my sisters b/f actually just traveled through the mountaing of west virginia using my 3v 5.4 with 3.73 gears....leaving ohio he was really impressed with the power of the v8...he has a 7.3 and expected the 5.4 to be a complete pig...well he said the 5.4 with the tow/haul was actaully pretty good at towing...well that was untill he called me after getting to their destination and expirienced the mountains for the first time...he saiid it got the job done but just very slowly...lol...o well...im in the same boat as you with wanting some 4.30's...i dont tow but im going to a larger tire and i want the added help....congrats on the expirience and always remember...SUCKIN GAS AND HAULIN AS$

 

I rolled over and beyond 133k on this trip. The trip total was 1,866 miles.

 

16.2 MPG empty WOW !!!! Do you guys out east have the ethanol mandate on your fuel? here in Minnesota we have min 10% ethanol and all I can get on my 2002 Excursion V10 is 13MPG. I am completely stock and could use some better economy if it didn't cost an arm or a leg. Just curious thanks, Rich.

 

No Ethanol requirements here. That 16.2 was at ~68 mph (~2000 rpm), with cruise, and on a relitively flat, long, highway (I90 between Erie, PA and Buffalo, NY - round trip). That was according to the trip computer - as stated earlier, I found it to be within 0.02 mpg from previous hand calculations, so I have no real reason to disbelieve it. My truck is bone stock, except for a K&N drop in filter with about 2k on it (since new).

BTW - I saw something for the first time on this trip. in Ohio, I stopped and got gas and they had 5 flavors of unleaded - 87,88,89,91 & 93... why so many?

 

What brand gass station was that? Here in Vermont we usally have three octane grades. But sunoco carries four different octanes for some reason. I use to get 94 octane for my sportscar there. But now they offer 87, 89, 91 & 93.

 

I think it was at a Citgo station in Girard, PA

 

I went to school in Youngstown, OH and you would see stations down in that general area that offered 102-105 octane. I had a few friends with cars that required ~104 octane since they were running super high compression. I've never seen that kind of octane rating readily available anywhere else in the eastern half of the US.

 

yeah down by my work they have torco racing fuel at the pumps that is 100+ octane...im also from y town

 

yeah down by my work they have torco racing fuel at the pumps that is 100+ octane...im also from y town

 

Yeah, we have a few dirt tracks around and the local stations sell 105 octane - but it aint cheap.