rmosso1 you are probably right about my expectations. I am really Pi$$ed off at ford for forcing me in to the heavier truck. With out all the needless wieght I'd be well in weight for a 350. No one would put the body I wanted on a 350 chassis. It will be " too heavy", Yeah show me now how that works. I got the 550 because everyone said there are no difference in the powertrain between the 350-550's (other than rear options and you can get 4.30's in 350-550's) and I saved $4000 over the cost of a 350 because that's what the body co. stocked compared to local dealers. Hey why not get a heavier truck if "everything else is the same" and it's significantly cheaper (let alone you can't get what you want)?

As far as mpgs the only guides I had was, my 00 7.3 4x4 which could care less if I run it at 9K empty or 11.5K with 1000 lb of fuel in the aux tank, and 2k of stone in the bed. The mpgs stayed the same, only thing is that if you run long dist at highway speed you get better mpgs (duh). My buddy runs an 02 f550 4x4 service truck with 4.88's at 17.5K at 13mpg, it is chipped however. I have another buddy with on 04 Kenworth triaxle that gets 8-9mpg at 80K (not that its a good comparison, just shows weight and wind resistance don't have to kill your mpgs). I have reports saying 10-12 on 450's that come very close to what I have in new 08 6.4's and a report from one with a 350 with 4.3's that empty at 9.5 he gets 16, towing a 5th wheel camper at 23.5K+ 7-8 or 8-9 IIRC. That's 2x my weight + and still getting my best mpgs with matching rears/smaller dia tires.

I have had one ford dealer tell me I should have gotten a 650-750 as the Cat's are getting 11-12mpg. Yeah I needed to go to a HEAVIER truck to carry my 1500 lb's of tools! Oh with MORE wind resistance, lower rears, more rolling resistance....

As far as the tranny, That was one of my first thoughts of what might be different. I looked into seeing if I could swap it out. According to the ford tech I spoke with, he said there is only one auto trans listed for the 350, 450, 550's and it looks like they have all the same parts. (take that for what its worth, however he seemed to be one of the most knowledgeable I have spoken with.) There does seem to be a different part # for the engine itself for a 250-350 vs a 450, 450-550, but no one seems to know just WHAT makes them different. I suspect it's the programing but have been unable to confirm it.

Sorry for the rant this just Pi$$es me off.

 

DSW:
Your ranting is justifiable in that FORD really does not put enough educated sales people in their dealerships. I know when I bot my truck, nothing was said about 15 ppm diesel fuel. The term REGENS was non existant. And my sales rep said the airpressure was checked in my tires, and the sensors were all ok. Problem, FORD doesn't put air pressure sensors in dually's.

With that said. I have posted elsewhere about a dealer I found, that just does TRUCKS. They are dual FORD and MACK. They mount truck bodies, and all the mechanics are mechanics. Yep and they are mechanics that can operate as a technician.

With that said, I would recommend you call a fellow by the name of Matt Butterworth, Service Manager at nextrancorp in Macon, GA. toll free 800.284.3104 He came up thru the ranks, spinning wrenches and been at it for 25 years and still not 50.

I will buy my next truck from them, even if more money, because I am tired of the lies I have heard from CAR dealerships, selling TRUCKS.

Good luck,

 

Thanks, I'll give him a call early next week and see if he can offer any suggestions, I'll pass along the good word you put in for him.



Yeah I agree 100% with you. I even made a point of walking into "truck" dealers and asking to speak with someone knolegeble in heavy trucks. Some of the answers to questions made me just get up and walk out the door. (supposedly I can't mount a plow on my 550 4x4 6.4 because the front axle is only rated to 5200 lb., but they have 250's on the lot with them ) Honestly I doubt I'd get another ford. I'll look at Mack or some other real truck in the future. Heck if I'm going to have all the disadvantages of a big truck, weight, tire costs, poor mpgs etc. I might as well have the body armor that they come with and the extra capasity. My buddies Kwopper drives nicer than my new ford and still gets what I do in mpgs. I could care less if my DD is a Mack, can't be any worse than I have now.

 

Before I bot my 2008 in December of 2007 I looked at the International pickup trucks. It had the 6.0. You only got a 3yr/36,000 mile warranty from International and they wanted a little more than $82,000. -- FIRM. Oh, and no trade. they had four on the lot at LJL truck center, which is now nextrancorp. They no longer sell Internationals.

 

I think rmosso1 has already hit the nail on the head. As you compare the other vehicles to your 550 consider whether those trucks have the 2008 emissions equipment on them. Also make sure you are comparing apples to apples because this time of year we all see a drop in mpg. I have a SRW with 3.73 gears and 34 inch tall tires and right now I am only seeing 11 mpg. The activity of your regen is also affected by your driving style. What I mean by that is to consider when a diesel smokes the most. Sudden throttle or quick acceleration will make a non DPF diesel smoke heavily. These same situations take place on a 6.4 but you dont see the smoke, its just collecting in your DPF and causing more regens. I have learned to adjust my driving style for this truck. Doesnt seem like we should have to do that but these new trucks are very sensative to driving style.

 

I have an 08 F-550 with 4.88 rears and a 12 steel dump body on it. Empty it is around 10,000 on the scales. As of now it has 8,600 miles on it. From the beginining I was getting 8-9 mpg with mix loads/towing. Then the DPF cracked and I was getting 6mpg for a tank or so. Now they replaced it and I am back up to 8-9mpg. I also had a 06 F-650 with the CAT 210hp and it only got 9mpg with a 7speed tranny. I traded it in on an 09 peterbilt with a 330hp Paccar. Now I am getting 8-9 mpg with that emissions truck. I think the fuel milage is low, but not too much to change it.
Alex

 

Regarding your 330 hp Paccar. Paccar, aka, Pacific Car & Foundry mfrs. Kw's and Pete's but no engine. What engine is the 330 HP you speak of? Thanks for info.

 

Paccar is coming out with an engine but I didn't think it was till 2010

 

origcharger:

I would not hold my breath. An icon in engine manufacture decide to discontinue on road diesel engines in 2010. If Caterpillar Tractor Company, aka CAT cannot make an engine to meet EPA specs., how would you expect a newbie mfr. like PACCAR to do it. Please post any reference you have to that engine or the 330 hp PACCAR engine. I just do not believe it.

 

Als03FX4 Your 08 550 is probably a good example to compare against mine. Even with your steeper rears, seems you get better mpgs than I do and in THEORY you shoud do about 10% less than I do with the 4.30's. You probably are close on wind resistance with that headache board and 12' body also. I'm a bit heavier than you list, but if you have a light load we probably scale close.

I've tried to drive every way I can from jumping hard on the pedal at every light and trying to get as poor mpgs as I can with a lead foot to driving like I got an egg between my foot and the pedal, doesn't seem to make a difference ( full tank tests, 200miles). Last tank hand calculated at 7.2mpg. Thats pretty average. Fuel doesn't seem to matter either. I have 180gal of fuel left from this past summer with cetane booster/antigel in it and I get the same mpg's with it now, as I do fuel from I buy at the stations now. The truck has seemed to get a bit better mpg's if I have a bit of a load on, but I don't do that frequently enough to be able to tell if it's a pattern or an anomoly. I am not going to go out and buy block or something to just weight the truck to test if I get better mpg's with 4k more weight on.

The DPF cracking issue is some what of a concern as it's a bit tough to tell now with all the crap on the roads if the dirt from the pipes is just dirt or the start of something else. I know the truck build date seems to be close to those that seem to have had issues ( nov-dec 07 I believe is the build date ). How did you know you had a cracked DPF? Was it the black tailpipe or something else? Any idea of your 08's build date?

Thanks guys.

 

Go get a Freightliner SportChassis.

 

Paccar was Caterpillars largest on highway engine customer, Paccar coming out with their own engine played a big role in Caterpillars decision to leave the on highway engine market.
I will see what I can find but word was the Paccar engine has European roots.

 

PACCAR Inc :: PACCAR Engines

 

Once again, I am dead a$$ WRONG! I never, never thought that Paccar would make an engine, and not one, but one for every on road application. I found the following article. THE PX-8 will make the 330 HP shown above.

UNBELIEVABLE to me, BUT TRUE:

PACCAR Begins Construction of Mississippi Engine Plant


July 17, 2007, Bellevue, Washington – PACCAR held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new engine plant near Columbus, Mississippi today. The ceremony, led by PACCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mark Pigott and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, was attended by state and local officials, business and educational leaders.

“This is the official launch of an exciting and strategically significant development for PACCAR,” said Mark Pigott. “Our dealers, customers and suppliers have positively embraced this initiative, which will result in the highest-quality vehicles in the marketplace. This leading-edge facility will enhance PACCAR’s integration of technology in design, engineering, and manufacturing. It is our goal that this facility will be the most technologically advanced and environmentally friendly commercial vehicle diesel engine facility in North America. The engines produced in Mississippi will complement DAF’s excellent engine factory in the Netherlands.” The $400 million facility will include a 420,000-square- foot engine plant and technology center on a 400-acre site in Columbus, Mississippi. Construction will begin immediately and is due to be completed in 2009. “This is a superb location, close to many of our North American truck assembly facilities, customers and supplier partners,” added Pigott.

Blink today, and you get technologically BURIED.

I can't wait. Hopefully FORD will offer as an option.

 

I have been studying those Paccar medium duty engines, thought they looked familiar and have come to the conclusion that the PX-6 is a rebadged Cummins ISB engine and the PX-8 is a rebadged Cummins ISC.