Gas vs PSD
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
Looks familiar. I see that only about every day while driving to work.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 1
From: Alberta, Canada
Well I placed an order for a new truck today. I am going back to gas. Miss my old V10, I had the 7.3 back in MY96 and the 6.0 and now the 6.4. I hate the little problems with it and I keep wondering about outrageous repair bills down the road. That and dealing with them in the winter and regens. Finally decided I don't want to deal with the problems any more. I am getting a new 6.2. I only tow our 10,500lb fiver about 1000 miles or so a year and we are in mainly flat land with some rolling hills. I just need to decided between 3.73's and 4.30's before in gets built. The 4.30's would be nicer for towing, but that is such a small percentage of the time. I am thinking of the 3.73's as they seem to be getting about 1 mpg more with them overall. The 3.73's are rated for 12,200 or something like that. She'll be a bit slower in the hills but it should do the job.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 11
Well I placed an order for a new truck today. I am going back to gas. Miss my old V10, I had the 7.3 back in MY96 and the 6.0 and now the 6.4. I hate the little problems with it and I keep wondering about outrageous repair bills down the road. That and dealing with them in the winter and regens. Finally decided I don't want to deal with the problems any more. I am getting a new 6.2. I only tow our 10,500lb fiver about 1000 miles or so a year and we are in mainly flat land with some rolling hills. I just need to decided between 3.73's and 4.30's before in gets built. The 4.30's would be nicer for towing, but that is such a small percentage of the time. I am thinking of the 3.73's as they seem to be getting about 1 mpg more with them overall. The 3.73's are rated for 12,200 or something like that. She'll be a bit slower in the hills but it should do the job.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 1
From: Alberta, Canada
exiled
I can remember you from other threads from way back. What do you think your wife's getting for mpg highway with hers? What speed and what style is it cc 4x4? Why I was thinking the 3.73 would work is I had the old 4.6 and 5.4 and they pulled a 7500lb trailer with ease and they had 3.55's.
Thanks
Doug
I kind of rushed into this and don't have much time to decide. The order has to be firm by May 2 to take advantage of 7k in rebates on up here with Ford. The MY11 order bank closes on the 6th.
I can remember you from other threads from way back. What do you think your wife's getting for mpg highway with hers? What speed and what style is it cc 4x4? Why I was thinking the 3.73 would work is I had the old 4.6 and 5.4 and they pulled a 7500lb trailer with ease and they had 3.55's.
Thanks
Doug
I kind of rushed into this and don't have much time to decide. The order has to be firm by May 2 to take advantage of 7k in rebates on up here with Ford. The MY11 order bank closes on the 6th.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
Well I placed an order for a new truck today. I am going back to gas. Miss my old V10, I had the 7.3 back in MY96 and the 6.0 and now the 6.4. I hate the little problems with it and I keep wondering about outrageous repair bills down the road. That and dealing with them in the winter and regens. Finally decided I don't want to deal with the problems any more. I am getting a new 6.2. I only tow our 10,500lb fiver about 1000 miles or so a year and we are in mainly flat land with some rolling hills. I just need to decided between 3.73's and 4.30's before in gets built. The 4.30's would be nicer for towing, but that is such a small percentage of the time. I am thinking of the 3.73's as they seem to be getting about 1 mpg more with them overall. The 3.73's are rated for 12,200 or something like that. She'll be a bit slower in the hills but it should do the job.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 336
Likes: 1
No prob. I just jumped from 3.73 to 4.88 in my truck. Loving it so far.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 7
From: Circle City
go with the 3.73's
1K mi. year towing 10k?
Flat ground w/ rolling hills?
I would choose the taller gears.
I had the same senario.
My first Ford came with a manual trans and 4.10's. I was always looking for another gear, so I changed them out with 3.55's and found a real fun factor out of the combination based on the same topography. Yea, it was a little tall, but it was always running empty with a ton of diesel torque.
With your 3.73's you'll will be giving each gear more to work with. I think you'll also find there's more than 1 mpg to gain.
However, the change will put you to work when you start towing in mountain twisties.
But if you plan on ginormous tires, stay with the lower gears.
Flat ground w/ rolling hills?
I would choose the taller gears.
I had the same senario.
My first Ford came with a manual trans and 4.10's. I was always looking for another gear, so I changed them out with 3.55's and found a real fun factor out of the combination based on the same topography. Yea, it was a little tall, but it was always running empty with a ton of diesel torque.
With your 3.73's you'll will be giving each gear more to work with. I think you'll also find there's more than 1 mpg to gain.
However, the change will put you to work when you start towing in mountain twisties.
But if you plan on ginormous tires, stay with the lower gears.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,413
Likes: 11
4:30 will take stress off the drive train. True the 4:30 will have "slightly" higher rpm at cruise speed. We're talking maybe 200 rpm. The 4:30 will actual get the truck moveing alittle smoothier. I was going to take pictures but we've been battleing storms all morning. Her truck is cc 4x4 larait. She drives 65-75 hwy avg 2000 rpm and we've hand figured 16.7-17.4 mpg. We haven't put a trailer on it yet. I don't put a trailer on a truck under 3k miles. Just me.
You should go test drive both gears. I promise you, you'll see a big difference. We where really disappointed in the 6.2s untell we drove one w/ the 4:30.
Mind you that these trucks has the 6.2l w/ 320 hp and 400 ftlp tq. Its the f450+ that has the 385 hp. Your twisting this engine up pretty good. The 6.0 does good w/ the 3.73s but that's 150 ft tq more and 15 more horsepower @ 1/2-1/3 the rpms.
Your 5.4 didn't get north of 15 mpg empty.
You should go test drive both gears. I promise you, you'll see a big difference. We where really disappointed in the 6.2s untell we drove one w/ the 4:30.
Mind you that these trucks has the 6.2l w/ 320 hp and 400 ftlp tq. Its the f450+ that has the 385 hp. Your twisting this engine up pretty good. The 6.0 does good w/ the 3.73s but that's 150 ft tq more and 15 more horsepower @ 1/2-1/3 the rpms.
Your 5.4 didn't get north of 15 mpg empty.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
So you have 60 horsepower LESS than her new 6.2L truck. Still 150 more ft-lbs though.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 2
From: West Bloomfield, MI
I am at this crossroad right now...which engine to go with. I recently purchased a travel trailer, ~7500lb loaded, and currently tow it with my '07 Expedition. I went to FL from MI a few weeks ago for our first trip with the new gear. The Expy did OK, but really struggled in the mountains through the NC-WV area. I averaged 9.5MPG for the 2700 mile trip. The wife drives the Expy and is looking to downsize to something smaller like a Volvo V60 or similar. This means I have to get a truck to do our hauling. I'm trying to stay around 10-12K. We are trying to get the Expy's value to cover as much as possible on the new vehicles. We owe nothing on the Expy and our local dealer said he would give us 23K as a trade. We just gotta find the vehicles now.
I also tow a 2 place snowmobile trailer, 2500lb, every other weekend all winter long, 20-30 trips typically. Most trips are 210 miles each way, but one or twice a season, I go to our spot that is 350 miles each way. The Expy was fine last winter with this, but I wouldn't mind having a truck again.
I also tow a 2 place snowmobile trailer, 2500lb, every other weekend all winter long, 20-30 trips typically. Most trips are 210 miles each way, but one or twice a season, I go to our spot that is 350 miles each way. The Expy was fine last winter with this, but I wouldn't mind having a truck again.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
That's going to be a tough one... At 7500lbs, the V10 will handle it just fine, and if you get 4.30 gears, it'll be very happy pulling that.
But 9.5MPGs, well, you're probably going to be around the same, MAYBE slightly better, with the V10.
The diesel, of course, will do better on fuel, but will hit you in the pocket on the upfront costs. $23K would get you into a fully-loaded, slightly-used, V10. $23K might get you into an older diesel. It all depends on what your dealer can do for you.
But 9.5MPGs, well, you're probably going to be around the same, MAYBE slightly better, with the V10.
The diesel, of course, will do better on fuel, but will hit you in the pocket on the upfront costs. $23K would get you into a fully-loaded, slightly-used, V10. $23K might get you into an older diesel. It all depends on what your dealer can do for you.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 2
From: West Bloomfield, MI
That's going to be a tough one... At 7500lbs, the V10 will handle it just fine, and if you get 4.30 gears, it'll be very happy pulling that.
But 9.5MPGs, well, you're probably going to be around the same, MAYBE slightly better, with the V10.
The diesel, of course, will do better on fuel, but will hit you in the pocket on the upfront costs. $23K would get you into a fully-loaded, slightly-used, V10. $23K might get you into an older diesel. It all depends on what your dealer can do for you.
But 9.5MPGs, well, you're probably going to be around the same, MAYBE slightly better, with the V10.
The diesel, of course, will do better on fuel, but will hit you in the pocket on the upfront costs. $23K would get you into a fully-loaded, slightly-used, V10. $23K might get you into an older diesel. It all depends on what your dealer can do for you.