Mileage Help?
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Joined: Sep 2009
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Mileage Help?
My name is Gary, and I'm new here, always owned Fords in the past, but finally moved up to an F350 DRW 2wd. Its an '05 crew cab, lariat, with the 6.0. I was expecting a little better mileage than I have been getting, so I had the dealer pull up the specs by vin# and check the gearing ratio. Yep, the 4:30. Told me to switch it out to the 3:73 and my mileage would improve drastically. Does this sound right? I am by no means savy in this department. This is a daily driver for me, and will be pulling my boat and camper few times a month. Any help anyone can provide would be great, plus any other mileage earning ideas you all may have to share. Thanks again, and glad I found the site!
Gary
Gary
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 812
Likes: 1
From: Northwest Florida
Gary, Welcome to the site. I hear mixed reports about how much gearing helps mileage. Although your engine will be turning slower, it takes a little more power to turn at that gearing. Hope somebody else with experience jumps in. Have you tried to search the forums? (I don't have real good luck with reguar search, use advanced).
Good luck!
Good luck!
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 76
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From: San Diego, CA
Gary, I have a f450 CC DRW with the 4:30 gears. The previous owner installed a gear vendor overdrive on the truck. At 70 mph the rpm is between 2500 and 2800, when I turn on the gear vendor the rpm drops to 2000 rpm. Better fuel economy. You can change out your gears but you will also lower your towing capacity, this might not be a problem with the weight you are towing. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable will confirm this. A gear change is probably cheaper then a gear vendor.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Gary, what kind of mileage are you getting? What were you expecting?
I think your dealer gave you good info. Those 4:30 gears make the truck a pulling beast, ideal for really big 5th wheels for example. But they do hurt the mileage when running empty. Most people think the 3:73 are ideal for a 6.0 motor. They put the RPM's right around 2,000 at highway speeds of 65-70, which is right in the torque sweet spot for that motor. But you'll find you still have good pulling power right up to the towing rating of the truck. I believe you will like the 3:73 much better.
However, regearing will run you $750-$1,000 for a 2WD, so you have to have realistic expectations and decide whether spending that kind of money is a good choice for you. It might never pay for itself in fuel saved, depending on how long you own the truck, but it might also improve your overall driving experience.
The best you can expect is 16-18 mpg running empty at highway speeds in a stock truck.
I think your dealer gave you good info. Those 4:30 gears make the truck a pulling beast, ideal for really big 5th wheels for example. But they do hurt the mileage when running empty. Most people think the 3:73 are ideal for a 6.0 motor. They put the RPM's right around 2,000 at highway speeds of 65-70, which is right in the torque sweet spot for that motor. But you'll find you still have good pulling power right up to the towing rating of the truck. I believe you will like the 3:73 much better.
However, regearing will run you $750-$1,000 for a 2WD, so you have to have realistic expectations and decide whether spending that kind of money is a good choice for you. It might never pay for itself in fuel saved, depending on how long you own the truck, but it might also improve your overall driving experience.
The best you can expect is 16-18 mpg running empty at highway speeds in a stock truck.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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hello big truck men lol my father just bought a used 2008 king ranch f-450 dual wheel truck and he was curious if he added a k&n air filter, would the gas mileage improve? this diesel engine has a turbo so i know air is important. he has always owned ford big trucks ex 1989 ford f-350 lariat dual whl,gas-460 2004 f-350 lariat dual whl, 6.4 diesel amd the present truck. i appreciate advice from everybody. bobby
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
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I have learned, threw actual real world driving, between friends, 6.0 engines dont get the fuel economy people claim they do... Infact The 6.0 as it goes to my experience will get around 14 or so normal all around driving, and around 11 or 12 towing...
That being said, The numbers are rough, but close. And towing figures will depend on conditions, and towed vehicle.
My tests are a result of many miles, My 06 in my signature, and a friends 06 F350 SuperCrew. Both towing, 24 ft enclosed trailers weighing around 12000 lbs. His is heavier, being a crew, and mine is an ext, not to mention the diesel... But they are both stock, and both have very simialar MPG. The older 7.3 got better... It was in the neighbor hood of 18 to 20 not towing...
I have heard alot of complaints about the stock 6.4 but I have no comparisons, other then people complaining at the track.
That being said, The numbers are rough, but close. And towing figures will depend on conditions, and towed vehicle.
My tests are a result of many miles, My 06 in my signature, and a friends 06 F350 SuperCrew. Both towing, 24 ft enclosed trailers weighing around 12000 lbs. His is heavier, being a crew, and mine is an ext, not to mention the diesel... But they are both stock, and both have very simialar MPG. The older 7.3 got better... It was in the neighbor hood of 18 to 20 not towing...
I have heard alot of complaints about the stock 6.4 but I have no comparisons, other then people complaining at the track.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
hello big truck men lol my father just bought a used 2008 king ranch f-450 dual wheel truck and he was curious if he added a k&n air filter, would the gas mileage improve? this diesel engine has a turbo so i know air is important. he has always owned ford big trucks ex 1989 ford f-350 lariat dual whl,gas-460 2004 f-350 lariat dual whl, 6.4 diesel amd the present truck. i appreciate advice from everybody. bobby
1. The stock air filter is excellent and there is no need for improvement.
2. If you touch just about anything on that motor, Ford will void your warranty. Especially intakes and exhaust.
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Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
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From: Whittier, CA
On the other hand, I have logged every drop of fuel, and every mile driven, in a spreadsheet.
I know what my averages are, exactly.
Non-towing average, combined city and highway = 12.87
Best ever on the highway = 18.38
Worst ever, all city = 10.31
Towing 5,000# average = 11.22
Overall average, every mile divided by every gallon = 12.05
Keep in mind that most of my highway miles are towing. I rarely go very far without the travel trailer. And therefore most of my non-towing miles are city, and that slants my averages downward.
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Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 812
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From: Northwest Florida
Like Bill, I'm obsessive about recording my actual miles/gallons. Not that gears won't help, but you didn't say how you drive. When I washed away all the BS, I just couldn't find any GOOD reason to always be in a hurry. My average MPG while towing heavy goes from around 10 to 12 by driving 65 instead of 70! It takes me 3 minutes longer to travel 25 miles (do the math), often pulling into the rest stop right behind the guys who blew by me. It's cheaper, safer, and I arrive feeling less stressed, more energy to enjoy where I was going. 
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
For me it's more than just being able to quote mileage numbers. Fuel mileage is a window into the health of the engine system. Knowing your mileage, and then seeing an unexplained change, can be an early warning system that something is wrong. Bunky is right about slowing down. Enjoy the trip - sometimes it's the best part.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2007
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You could say that about just about every truck. People tend to quote the best they ever got, rather than real averages.
On the other hand, I have logged every drop of fuel, and every mile driven, in a spreadsheet.
I know what my averages are, exactly.
Non-towing average, combined city and highway = 12.87
Best ever on the highway = 18.38
Worst ever, all city = 10.31
Towing 5,000# average = 11.22
Overall average, every mile divided by every gallon = 12.05
Keep in mind that most of my highway miles are towing. I rarely go very far without the travel trailer. And therefore most of my non-towing miles are city, and that slants my averages downward.
On the other hand, I have logged every drop of fuel, and every mile driven, in a spreadsheet.
I know what my averages are, exactly.
Non-towing average, combined city and highway = 12.87
Best ever on the highway = 18.38
Worst ever, all city = 10.31
Towing 5,000# average = 11.22
Overall average, every mile divided by every gallon = 12.05
Keep in mind that most of my highway miles are towing. I rarely go very far without the travel trailer. And therefore most of my non-towing miles are city, and that slants my averages downward.
I think we are in agreement on that... People do tend to exagurate, but your actual, and my average are pretty darn close... Glad to know I wasnt the only one thinking that way...