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6.4L Power Stroke Diesel Engine fitted to 2008 - 2010 F250, F350 and F450 pickup trucks and F350 + Cab Chassis

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Old Feb 18, 2008 | 05:50 PM
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altitude

does altitude ie 4000 in el Paso tx vs sea level la, have anything to do with mileage and boost psi. seems like a sea level this week the boost is high and the mileage really bad.
 

Last edited by IB Tim; Feb 18, 2008 at 07:31 PM.
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Old Feb 18, 2008 | 06:54 PM
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There has been quite a bit of altitude discussion at the FTE in various forums... The general consensus is that a normally aspirated gasoline engine loses about 5% of it's power for every 1,000 feet above sea level. A turbocharged diesel engine loses about 3% per 1,000 feet in elevation.

FWIW fuel mileage is usually better at lower elevation although maybe your right foot was enjoying the new found power
 
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Old Feb 18, 2008 | 07:13 PM
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Your mileage and boost are probably higher because you have to push on the go pedal when your higher up, so you just aren't used to being down low. The closer you are to see level, the more dense and more oxygen there is in the air, letting you have more power
 
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Old Feb 18, 2008 | 11:38 PM
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I live in utah at 5000 feet and today I'm in LA. I saw mpg increase about 20% and this truck absolutely flies. I saw similar results from my 06 ford.
 
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Old Feb 18, 2008 | 11:39 PM
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utahtom where do you live? I'm in river heights(logan).
 
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Old Feb 19, 2008 | 07:43 AM
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Originally Posted by brandon4
utahtom where do you live? I'm in river heights(logan).
Logan huh? You're very close to one of my test fleets, Miller Bros. Co. Inc.


Ford could be employing some altitude derate strategies to protect the turbos from overspeed. This is common on big bore diesels.
 
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Old Feb 19, 2008 | 06:49 PM
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lets try this again.... at 4000 ft asl i ave 15 mpg, towing about 13.4, at sea leval i'm lucky to get 11.4 same weights same everything. problem with truck or normal? f250 6.4 is the tow veh
 
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Old Feb 19, 2008 | 09:10 PM
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Your mileage should be higher, the problem is that subconciously your foot is pushing the pedal down more then you need to, since your truck has more power now.

My dad once borrowed an international box truck with air brakes from work once. When we got back into regular SUV, for the first few miles, it was pushing us back into the seat, and nearly slamming us through the windshield, because he was so used to the lack of acceleration and braking power on the box truck
 
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Old Feb 20, 2008 | 03:57 PM
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leadhead, running 62 mph on cruise control. getting concerned a turbo may be gone, don't know anything about diesals, not stuck in regen, idle about 700, really thought pulling 7-8000 # would have better mileage.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2008 | 05:21 PM
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Cruise control is probably your culprit, some experience my family has had, it isn't the best on mileage, unless it has improved. Anyways, if your one your turbos were gone, you would REALLY know it, complete lack of power, regens very often because of lack of air causing excess soot.
 
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