V10 Enhancements
Awesome truck- Pulled my 25' Travel trailer for first time.
Couple of questions:
1. Recommend to tow in overdrive? Why or why not?
2. I hear a lot of talk about KN filters?- Is this recommended to install one and what kind of performance boost do I get with it?
Thanks
K&N filters are great, and will give you a little boost of HP. Just be sure you don't over oil it. As it tends to (the oil) stick to the wires on the MAF. K&N, Holley and MacPerformance, among others, make a complete kit for the F series trucks that help alot. You get a gauze air filter, a new relocated tube and some sort of redesigned airbox. They really make a difference. Ken
I own the same truck as you: 2001 F-250 Crew Cab, 4x4, V-10 auto, 4.30 limited slip rear, long bed plus the full K&N fuel injection performance kit (FIPK)... Great ride! I just pulled my 28' travel trailer for the first time during Memorial Day weekend and it did a superb job. We've got a few hills here in Alaska and on the way up to Denali from Anchorage I used 3 different techniques for pulling: 1) I kept it in overdrive/cruise on the flats; 2) I turned the cruise off/overdrive on in the hills and by using good throttle management I was able to keep it from hunting; and 3) On the big hills I ran it with overdrive off.
It pulled great. For the trip out I ran at 55-60 mph and got 9.3 mpg. When I push it up to 65-70 mph (on the straight smooth stretches) for the return trip it netted me 9.0 mpg. Pretty much a wash... It actually seemed to have better throttle response at the higher speeds. Maybe the slightly higher RPMs of the faster speed put the motor more in it's "power band"??? Running around the park after dropping the trailer my truck felt like a sports car ready to crush any little skateboard cars!
Regardless, it pulled great. The K&N FIPK gives a little better throttle response, but it will not be a dramatic increase in power. I installed mine because I wanted it and I rarely run this truck in dusty environments. Although they say it works fine in the dust, I would have kept the stock filter setup if I planned to run it offroad a lot. My offroad work is done with my Jeep and my 4 wheeler.
Edmo






