The new SD is ten days old now and has hit the 1200 mile mark. I must say that everytime in start up and drive off I'm amazed at the difference in the 03 and the 2000 it replaced. The 03 is everybit as smooth and quiet as my 460s that had EFI. I had the opportunity to tow a piece of excavation equipment, a roller that is used for compacting dirt. With the trailer it probably would tip the scales at 7500 lb. The 03 whisked it down the road with quiet ease. I can tell that the 03 has as much power as the 2000, which is a relief after seeing the weird y pipe setup. The economy of the 03 is a bit lower. The average over the last three tanks of gas is 12.9 vs 13.5 on the 2000, driving conditions being the same. For those that have put the banks exhaust on I have a couple of questions. Does it make the vehicle much louder, does it boost the power and I assume that it doesn't reintroduce the flutter. I think that flutter must have been what I didn't like about the 2000 all along.

Paul

 

>The new SD is ten days old now and has hit the 1200 mile
>mark... The economy of the 03 is a bit lower. The average over the >last three tanks of gas is 12.9 vs 13.5 on the 2000, driving >conditions being the same.

Some folks have claimed decent gains in mileage as the engine breaks in, so the mileage situation may change. Also, an average of 0.6 mpg over only 1200 miles really isn't a difference at all when you are feeding 415 cubes of V10.

Matt

2002, F250 SD, SC, 8' Bed, V10, 3.73 LS, Arizona Beige, ICI Stainless Step Bars, Truxedo Tonneau, Prodigy Brake Control, Flowmaster 40

 

On the subject of economy, there are a few possible reasons: First is that the '03 isn't "broken in". Second could be that "winter" blended fuel has been introduced to your area. Third is that you are hot-rodding the '03 while it's new- testing power, etc.

The Banks exhaust note is louder than stock; but only on the outside of the truck. There was no noticeable increase in cab noise as a result of the higher flowing muffler. However, the thin-walled tubes of the headers don't suppress the noise as well as the cast manifolds. And, since they run just under the firewall/floorboard junction, you will hear more "noise" in the cab. Flutter is completely eliminated along with the horribly designed Y-pipe (more like a "T"-pipe).

See my installation page here: http://www.candle-creator.com/nomo/f350/banks/banks.html

 

>On the subject of economy, there are a few possible reasons:
> First is that the '03 isn't "broken in". Second could be
>that "winter" blended fuel has been introduced to your area.

Nomo, tell me more about winter blended fuel. I noticed about a 1 mile per gallon drop from my usuall average around the first of Sept. This was not related to a temperature drop. I suspected a fuel change. Do all the stations change at a mandated time? Is the fuel that much worse?

Matt

2002, F250 SD, SC, 8' Bed, V10, 3.73 LS, Arizona Beige, ICI Stainless Step Bars, Truxedo Tonneau, Prodigy Brake Control, Flowmaster 40

 

Yes - winter fuel is gvt mandated in certain areas and hurts
mileage and power. I don't remember what it is but 10% ethanol
comes to mind.

-Jim
2001 E-450 V-10 Superduty

 

>Yes - winter fuel is gvt mandated in certain areas and hurts
>mileage and power. I don't remember what it is but 10%
>ethanol
>comes to mind.
>
>-Jim
>2001 E-450 V-10 Superduty


It must be more than just ethanol. It is getting hard to find fuel without 10% ethanol around here (central Illinois).

Matt

2002, F250 SD, SC, 8' Bed, V10, 3.73 LS, Arizona Beige, ICI Stainless Step Bars, Truxedo Tonneau, Prodigy Brake Control, Flowmaster 40

 

Funny I just noticed this thread after checking my mpg after the first bad week of winter weather here. I was averaging about 11 to 12 mpg with my V10, but I just filled up after doing alot of driving with the front axle engaged and some idling due to the cold weather(I like to warm up the cab for my 7 month old son) and found out the mileage is now about 9!
Ouch!

 

 

Wow, and I thought I was having a bad dream - I've noticed my mileage dropped from about 10.5 to just over 9 around town right around the end of October - I couldn't figure it out.

Don't think it's ethanol, most all stations here have 10% ethanol in all their fuel, but this "winter blend" thing might be the scape goat I'm looking for!! instead of giving Ford a call...

 

IMO,fuel economy drops a fair amount when the temps.outside are cooler.Colder denser air needs just that much more fuel to go with it.

 

>IMO,fuel economy drops a fair amount when the temps.outside
>are cooler.Colder denser air needs just that much more fuel
>to go with it.

4x4x4x4, Well yes and no. I too have observed a change in MPG in the Nov./Dec. timeframe (decrease) and then in Mar./Apr. timeframe (increase) over the last 4 years, or so.

When I looked in to this issues last year (yes, I am slow), this is what I have found out:

By region (sometime as small as a county), the refineries are mandated by the gov. to change the formulation in order to reduce polution (primarily green house gases). The fuel in the winter has more oxygen based components (sorry, forgot what they were called) blended in.

This has the affect of making the fuel 'Lean' when compared to the previous 'summer' blend. Therefore you will use more fuel. This action does get compounded by the cooler, denser winter air, thus having the affect of needing that much more fuel.

The magnitude of this affect is governed by the weather, you don't notice it as much when it stays warmer, longer.

Also, one of the side issues when refineries do this change, is the seasonal uptick in fuel cost, followed by a slow decline in fuel costs. This happens when the refineries change blends (Winter/Summer).

There are write-ups on both the EPA and the NHTSA (?) web sites, just to name 2.

HarryO (this took so long for me to write, that something will had changed)

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-Dec-02 AT 10:17 PM (EST)]To accelerate at the same rate takes the same amount of fuel in any temp (if fuel type stays constant), but the cooler air will let you burn more fuel at WOT or if accelerating harder.

Winter formulation has less energy per gallon because of the junk they put into it. The lower energy does roughly balance the cooler temps so you accelerate about the same with the bad fuel, you just burn more.

Thank you EPA.

-Jim
2001 E-450 V-10 Superduty