Chevy 8.1
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 495
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Originally Posted by dkf
Your saying pulling the same trailer the 8.1l gasser and the PSD got 10mpg. Sorry your towing mpg #s don't sound right at all.
What non-warranty voiding solution would you suggest?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,741
Likes: 3
Only two things will work reliably:
1) dump weight
2) slow down
I'm being slightly facetious, but really, those are the only two honest ways to increase mileage. Everything else will either give unpredictable/unreliable (or no) results, or will void Ford's overprotective warranty.
Yeah, I realize that "slowing down" in Dallas/Fort-Worth traffic is something of a non-starter, but what else can ya do?
-blaine
1) dump weight
2) slow down
I'm being slightly facetious, but really, those are the only two honest ways to increase mileage. Everything else will either give unpredictable/unreliable (or no) results, or will void Ford's overprotective warranty.
Yeah, I realize that "slowing down" in Dallas/Fort-Worth traffic is something of a non-starter, but what else can ya do?
-blaine
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
Originally Posted by mitchntx
Yes ... essentially the same mpg.
What non-warranty voiding solution would you suggest?
What non-warranty voiding solution would you suggest?
10-11mpg while pulling 10k lbs with a diesel is decent mpg whether it be a PSD, Cummins or Duramax. No way you are going to match any of those diesels in mpg with the 8.1l gasser or 6.8l gasser pulling the same load, in the same conditions. Thats the main reason guys go with the diesels over the gassers.
Last edited by dkf; Feb 16, 2008 at 12:04 PM.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 335
Likes: 5
From: Las Vegas
I have had the 8.1 Chevy Gasser and it was a great truck, the mileage I got was about 10 empty and 7 to 8 loaded with a 4 horse gooseneck trailer. The allison 5 speed is far and away better than the 5 speed ford trans I have now.
I like both trucks the Ford has some better points and the 8.1 Chevy has some great points.
You can make that Chevy motor make crazy horsepower when if you want to run it in Marine trim, check out the offshore powerboat racers they love that thing
I like both trucks the Ford has some better points and the 8.1 Chevy has some great points.
You can make that Chevy motor make crazy horsepower when if you want to run it in Marine trim, check out the offshore powerboat racers they love that thing
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,679
From: Stephensville WI
Originally Posted by jake00
my mom rolls in a 8.1 powered burb. I think its got more power than my truck
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Hard to believe you could get the same mpg towing 10k with the 8.1 or the psd.The one and only 8.1 I ever drove was a 3500 with a heavy service body on it from western NY to caribou Maine and averaged 6.5-7.5 mpg hwy.We had to stop for gas every 2.5-3 hrs both ways.I have to admit the motor was pretty strong but burned 2 quarts of oil one way and just came back from the dealer for 1500 dollars in new brakes all with 40k miles
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,548
Likes: 46
From: Kemmerer, Wyoming
Originally Posted by DOHCmarauder
the current 6.0 GM is more than a match for the V10 when empty!!!
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Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,074
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas
Originally Posted by swann79
I hope you're talking newer than 2003... I test drove a 2003 GMC 2500 w/ a 6.0 and it was a DOG... 3v 5.4 runs better than that! I have heard that the "newer" 6.0s run better, not sure what exactly "newer" means though...
Ummmm.....I wrote "current" and linked the test in post #19.
Try to keep up.
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by dkf
Its just hard to believe a gasser with more than 490 ci is going to get 10mpg pulling 10k lbs. Maybe downhill with a 50mph tailwind.
10-11mpg while pulling 10k lbs with a diesel is decent mpg whether it be a PSD, Cummins or Duramax. No way you are going to match any of those diesels in mpg with the 8.1l gasser or 6.8l gasser pulling the same load, in the same conditions. Thats the main reason guys go with the diesels over the gassers.
10-11mpg while pulling 10k lbs with a diesel is decent mpg whether it be a PSD, Cummins or Duramax. No way you are going to match any of those diesels in mpg with the 8.1l gasser or 6.8l gasser pulling the same load, in the same conditions. Thats the main reason guys go with the diesels over the gassers.
I pull at about 65. The HD had a 4.10 gear and remained in OD, turning about 2K rpm and just motored down the road.
At 65 in my 3.73 geared PSD, the trans is constantly shifting down and will stay there for long periods of time, running the rpms up towards 3K.
The other thing is the HD was a 2WD and the PSD is a 4WD. Less weight and less parasitic drag.
Things change dramatically if I pulled the load at 75 ...
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
Originally Posted by mitchntx
Imagine my surprise as well. In all honsety, I think the difference is in the gearing.
I pull at about 65. The HD had a 4.10 gear and remained in OD, turning about 2K rpm and just motored down the road.
At 65 in my 3.73 geared PSD, the trans is constantly shifting down and will stay there for long periods of time, running the rpms up towards 3K.
The other thing is the HD was a 2WD and the PSD is a 4WD. Less weight and less parasitic drag.
Things change dramatically if I pulled the load at 75 ...
I pull at about 65. The HD had a 4.10 gear and remained in OD, turning about 2K rpm and just motored down the road.
At 65 in my 3.73 geared PSD, the trans is constantly shifting down and will stay there for long periods of time, running the rpms up towards 3K.
The other thing is the HD was a 2WD and the PSD is a 4WD. Less weight and less parasitic drag.
Things change dramatically if I pulled the load at 75 ...
A good cat-back exhaust and a cat delete on your 6.0l should help improve mpg without affecting your warrenty at all. Will make it look and sound better too.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,135
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From: Brinklow Md
A guy I know has a 8.1 and give me crap for it all the time since my trucks got 7.3 liters and hes got more....Ive driven the truck and its geared really really low, might just be the rearend. I do know he had to use a 250 v-10 to pull a skid loader home since his 2500 couldnt do it.