Better mpg
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
My 04 250SD is perfectly maintained with 105K on it. All I ever get is 15.0 highway (if you keep it under 2000RPM). I bumped up my front tire air psi and knocked the honey comb out of the CC last week. So we'll see how I do when traveling this weekend. This milage # is not towing. Towing my boat it's 13.0. Love the power though!
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
I wouldn't go by what you read on here. MPGs are way to individual and I have yet to get the average mpg readings that people post on here for this vehicle or any of my other ones. You don't know several things about how they are coming up with those numbers(you don't even know if those numbers are truly accurate).
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
My average highway mileage running 65-70 (2000-2200 rpm) is around 16-16.5. Highest I've ever gotten was just under 18, all hand calculated and corrected for tire size. This is with 4" lift, 35s, 4.30 gears, stock engine, and an early '03 flash.. If you average 15mpg with a stock truck that's pretty poor. Either your driving habits are not economical, or you have one of the newer flashes that kill economy. You could look into getting your FICM tuned to get some MPGs back.
On to driving style, when I got almost 18mpg I went no faster than 65mph, accelerated slowly, sped up on downhills before uphills to hit them with more speed. Didn't crowd it on hills, sometimes crested the top of the hill 50-55 watching my EGT gauge and trying to keep it under 900 degrees max. An EGT gauge is a great way to make sure you're using a light foot.
On to driving style, when I got almost 18mpg I went no faster than 65mph, accelerated slowly, sped up on downhills before uphills to hit them with more speed. Didn't crowd it on hills, sometimes crested the top of the hill 50-55 watching my EGT gauge and trying to keep it under 900 degrees max. An EGT gauge is a great way to make sure you're using a light foot.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
I disagree and the reason that I disagree is without knowing what exactly he has to deal with and how his truck is configured, you can't really say that it is truly poor or not. Or rather or not it's his driving habits. We know very little about what's going on with his truck other then it's bone stock.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,757
Likes: 5
From: Corvallis, OR
I disagree and the reason that I disagree is without knowing what exactly he has to deal with and how his truck is configured, you can't really say that it is truly poor or not. Or rather or not it's his driving habits. We know very little about what's going on with his truck other then it's bone stock.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
I could agree to that(if environmental conditions are fairly close as well, not to mention quality of the fuel, truck is working properly etc). I know it seems like I'm being a pain in the ***, something that I'm sure alot of y'all think I've very well adapt at, but these mpg claim threads always get me in a twist(on both sides of the fence).
This is one of those things that is extremely individual and depending on a variety of factors that aren't always easy to identify.
I think I've hit 16.1 once, other then that I'm in the 13s and I was actually less then that when she was stock, so I've seen an improvement in mpg, and I got that 16.1 after everything was all done. More often then not I'm not a speed demon(which is ironic considering what all I've done to the truck), so on average I'm probably where it's going to be as good as it gets for me and I do keep it at 2000 or below, even though my peak TQ range is higher now(2300).
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
In regard to latest flash...(possibly this this question should be on another thread). I bought my truck used about 6 mths ago. So far it has been perfect. Just completed going through complete maintenance of it. After reading many posts on FTE it makes me wonder what flash my truck has or should have??? I can say it does make the oil or fuel pump running noise after I shut it down. It does this for about 20 seconds or so. No mods to mine either. 2004 F250 with 105K on her. Any info in regard to a flash that may improve performance or economy without sacrificing anything?
Thanks,
Thanks,
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,315
Likes: 9
From: Mid Atlantic
I agree since we don't know how the stock truck is set up the mileage claims can be all over the map.
My everyday average MPG is 16.7 which I think is pretty good for an 8K 4x4 truck.
I have gotten 20.1 on a mileage run I did going down to the beach (~350 mi). I used the cruise control as much as possible and kept the speed between 55 and 60 MPH.
When I tow my race car in a 24' enclosed trailer I usually get between 12 and 13 MPG (19,860 # GVW).
The 4 things I've done that have combined to get me the mileage I get are:
1. Run the tire pressures higher (75/80 PSI)
2. Use a tonneau cover
3. Use synthetic oil (5W-40 Rotella)
4. I run Diesel Kleen in my fuel
Hope this helps.
My everyday average MPG is 16.7 which I think is pretty good for an 8K 4x4 truck.
I have gotten 20.1 on a mileage run I did going down to the beach (~350 mi). I used the cruise control as much as possible and kept the speed between 55 and 60 MPH.
When I tow my race car in a 24' enclosed trailer I usually get between 12 and 13 MPG (19,860 # GVW).
The 4 things I've done that have combined to get me the mileage I get are:
1. Run the tire pressures higher (75/80 PSI)
2. Use a tonneau cover
3. Use synthetic oil (5W-40 Rotella)
4. I run Diesel Kleen in my fuel
Hope this helps.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
I have owned mine since new, and have documented my mpgs religiously (hand calculated). The best was around 19.5 mpg, lightfooted, mostly freeway (max 65), tire pressure 75, and with a solid bed cover. I tend to drive like a madman, so mostly I am at 16-18 mpg not towing. Use Diesel Kleen gray every fillup, good fuel and I can document the bed cover has an impact no matter what Mythbusters says. I am going to full synthetic next oil change at 95,000 miles, we'll see if that does anything.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
I have a 2004 F350 crewcab long bed dually. I have a log book of every fillup the truck has ever had. I fill out the log book every time that I drive the truck. Unladen highway 17 mpg with a tonneau cover. I took a trip last year of about ten hours each way. I was hauling a power hammer for a friend in north Georgia. I had to take the tailgate off for the haul. I averaged just a bit over 20 mpg for the trip up and back. The only difference was the missing tailgate. The trip up with the 2000+ pound power hammer in the back and empty on the way back. Sixty five mph. 3.73 gear completely stock truck. The only time that it has gotten more than 17 mpg.
I have since put a topper on and lost mileage down to the 16+ mpg range.
I have since put a topper on and lost mileage down to the 16+ mpg range.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: hamilton
Ill chime in,my truck must be roke.Ive had it for 32k and it get maybe 14 in the city,and maybe 17 on the highway,and thats being easy on the truck.It is a 04 350 DRW with 3.73 gears.I think the fuel mileage sucks!I love the truck but i have a friend that has a 00 DRW with a 7.3 manual and it gets close to 20 in town.Wtf! I have a edge juicde with attiude(i know i need an SCt) But the truck has had the same fuel milreage before the edge.God i love my truck but this fuel mileage is f-ing ridiculous!I dont want to buy a D--ge but they sure do get better mileage!Sorry for the rant.Ryan.