Hey what's up guys this is my first post, I've got tons of questions I'll try to stagger them out so I don't get confused. I just bought my first diesel an '02 F350 Lariat 4x4 4dr short box, 5th wheel hide-away hitch, ranch hand bumpers and tool box. I'm not gonna lift it or anything I like the ride as it is right now. She just rolled over 87k miles and I got the itch to do some stuff to it.

I got it for 18,000 I thought it was a great deal given my area (Forth Worth) wanting a left nut for the 7.3's. Before I get into modding it I was just curious about my gas mileage. Completely stock I'm getting 13-15 mpg almost exclusively around town mileage with a little towing the boat in there. I'm guessing that's pretty good and I haven't had a chance to run a tank through with only highway in it but when I bought it he had been getting around 16-17. I've made a few road trips on the highway but my mileage stays between 13-15.

I've changed the oil, replaced the craptastic stock air filter (with another stock just to get a clean one in it) and was gonna do my fuel filter since neither he nor the previous owner had ever done it. I also need to clean that backpressure valve thing? can anyone link the procedure for that i can't even remember what it's called. I'm a complete friggin newb to diesels so anyone who responds please dumb it down a few notches for me to get what you mean.

If you could give me a list of stuff to do or some advice on

1) good aftermarket air filter
2) should I go 4" exhaust (and ditch the kitty)
3) don't have the money for DP tuner yet but will soon. On the tuner does it just come with a few different settings on it for towing, mileage etc???
4) gauges

Also if I go doing these mods will my mileage go down? I've always been under the impression that more air = more fuel = more HP. Or is it the opposite that improving HP will allow me to use less throttle to get up to speed thus increasing mpg. I currently tow a 20ft bass boat but want to get it good to go for my old man's 34ft 5th wheel.

Oh the computer deal on my visor that displays mpg/temp/etc is a pile of crap. It's wrong about almost everything exept directions. I drive by the bank and their temp and the outside temp I'm reading is usually 5 degree's off and my mileage says 12.6 mpg but when I do it long hand (I fill up at the same pump every time) i'm coming up with higher #'s. Is that normal ?

really sorry about the novel

 

Read the link in my signature. It will answer a boat load of questions for you. It will cause you to have a boat load more questions after that, and we will be more than happy to clarify anything.

Welcome to FTE. You are absolutely going to love it. It sounds like you have a great truck, and got it for a fantastic deal.

 

Welcome to FTE. Sounds like a nice truck.

87,000 on the stock fuel filter is about five times as long as you should run it. You might pick up a mile to the gallon from that.

None of the mods you listed will hurt your MPG.....probably help it in fact.

 

The DP can come with as few tunes as you would like or up to 16 tunes. Most of them are $45 dollars a few exceptions like stock, no start and I believe High Idle are cheaper/free depending. With 5 tunes(1 being stock) delivered to my door the DP was $426 last year this time, I believe if memory serves. I have added a few since then.

 

Welcome to FTE.

You picked the right forum to come to, great people with lots of knowledge.

6637 for the air in.

ISSPRO gauges from DIESEL MANOR to monitor your trucks vitals.

MBRP from DIESLE MANOR for the air out.

DP-TUNER for power and grin.

BTS-VB to make your trans last longer and shift better.

 

Welcome to FTE. Don't worry about the questions. We were all new once. The instructions you were asking about for the back pressure thingy (EBP = Exhaust Back Pressure sensor and tube) are here Welcome to guzzle's Exhaust Backpressure Sensor Cleaning Maintenance Web Page

For intake, many of us use the 6637 filter (BIG). The cheapest place to get it is fleetfilter.com You can enter 46637 in the search box on their site.

If you enter 6637 in the search box here you'll see tons of pictures and threads about it. Of course if you read all the threads in Jason's 7point3 link you'll be busy for a while.

 

Here is what the 6637 looks like in my truck. I have it wraped with one of Pete's pre-filter covers.

 

Yeah, I know.


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Welcome to FTE, great bunch of guys (and gals) on here with LOTS of great info. My suggestion would be to get the rig to someone that can read Ford Truck specific codes and have them read, it may give ya some insight to anything that is happening or has happened in the past that threw a code, I always find that helpfull when I'm dealing with a new truck. Read the codes then clear them so in the future you don't have to guess weather or not a code was thrown before you got the rig or since you've had it. That's all I can add, good luck and have fun with it!

 

Right on thanks alot for all the tips. I always do intake/exhaust at the same time so that will most likely be my first switch. Seems like everyone was pretty much on board with the 6637 intake but is their a hung jury on the exhaust or is everyone happy with MBRP from DIESLE MANOR for the air out.

 

Oh one more thing is it hard to change the fuel filter by yourself? Nevermind just found it on the 7point3 link.......bear with me and thanks for the link it's awesome.

 

No. It's not even a 1 beer job. Welcome to guzzle's PSD Fuel Filter Change Web Page

 

I like 1 beer jobs but I'm sure for my first time I'll have to get a 6'er. Now that I think about it I don't do anything that just takes a lone soldier they always keep marchin into my hand. Hey are you still in the military? I live in Ft Worth there's a Joint Reserve Base right down the road from me.

 

No, I got out about 20 years ago. I'm familiar with Carswell. I live half way between Cowtown and Hillsboro.

 

welcome Duece45 to FTE id go with ATS for the gauges they are good quality for the price (about 1/2 the price of ISSPRO gauges) the website is
www.atsdiesel.com the guys on the 7.3 liter forum are about some of the nicest guys on FTE.