I have a 2006 f350 6.0l my mpg was around 15.5 to 17.0 now my mpg stays in the high and low 14's! Any ideas why this is happening Thanks

 

Where are you located? Could well be the blended fuel used in the winter in colder climates.

 

I live in alabama

 

Be Thankful

 

Why is that?

 

Here in utah my 03 f350 get 13-13.5 on the winter blend. Mixed city/highway miles.

 

Is the gas blend the only thing it could be or could there be something else. I'm taking it to ford friday to have them look at it (maybe) I just dont want to get the shaft from ford when they look at it!

 

Well, no it could be other things, but since the only thing that you mentioned was mileage drop and nothing else, winter blend fuel is the most likely culprit. Now if you were getting some other symptom or quirk from the truck, depending on what it was, it could be related to fuel mpg drop or not related at all, but since you only mentioned mileage drop, that's the most likely scenerio.

 

Thanks! Thats all just the mpg drop other than that I could not ask for a better truck. Is a banks 6 gun programmer good for mpg and do i need to open my exhaust when i put it on!

 

I usually get 16.5 mpg rural driving in warm weather, but come winter I get no better then 14. Last few weeks in SE Pa. it's only been going up to high 20's and I filled up yesterday and I got 13mpg.

 

Well, programmers really aren't good for mpg in the first place. They are performance enhancers first and foremost. If you get better mpg, then great, enjoy that, but don't expect it.

I wouldn't put banks on my truck, because they really aren't good for the 6.0. They really don't tune the truck(which isn't good for the engine and the tranny), how they increase power also increases, needlessly, cylinder pressure, and the programs that are on it in the first place aren't that great unless you are one of the happy few whose driving style matches with it's programming. It's like stock programming in that one, it's one size fits all. Your best bet at having good safe power and better chances of eecking out more mpg is with custom tuning. Now that only get's you so far, it also depends on how you drive it as well, but it would be a good start.


I would open up your exhaust rather or not you put a tuner on there. Don't go higher then 4" though as that would actually start having a reverse effect then what you are trying to get.

Also, do not, I repeat, do not, put an a/m intake on this truck if the only thing you are thinking about doing is adding a tuner to your truck. They do not flow more then the stock filter until you are outside the usuable range of the engine even tuned and they do not filter as good as the stock filter as well. They actually got this stock piece of equipment right the first time. There are people that are pushing ~550hp and still using the stock filters. I'm pushing 508. Your not going to get there with just tuning alone.

 

Something else, with the colder weather...are you letting the truck idle more before leaving? Are you hand calculating the mileage or are you using the console display? The one in my truck is routinely off .8 to 1.2 mpg compared to hand calculations. Not to brag...but my 2WD gets 18-ish:



The 4WD do get a little worse than the 2WD guys...but it's not worth crowing about. Tex is right...if you plan on keeping this truck for any length of time....ditch the Banks. They have a less than positive re-pore considering what's happening to the engine (injector, head bolts, egt) and the tranny. If you want to "open" your exhaust without dumping allot of money into the truck right away:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ete-sorta.html
(yeah, I just plugged my own thread)

 

Banks offers a three different settings! mpg, power and hauling? is there anything i can do to get power without hurting my motor

 

Custom tunes, those are your best bets for getting more power without sacrificing as much reliability. I say "as much", because there is always a risk with this stuff. You have to realize that and accept it, otherwise, leave it stock. I would suggest though along with the exhaust, get some good gauges(don't cheap out on this, you get what you pay for) to watch your trucks vitals. Even in stock form you can hurt your motor. Get them especially if you tune the vehicle. But reconsider getting stuff from Banks, Edge, BullyDog, and others like them. They don't do much for your truck in the long run.

I can go into detail if you want me to, but it'll be a fairly long post as to why it's best not to go that route with those types of tuners and why you should get a custom tune(s).

 

Thanks! It sounds like i need to just leave it stock! Can anyone answer one more question for me can a blocker heater save my glow plugs and injecters! I heard it can but not really sure!