fuel mileage
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
I got 13.7MPG in my 6.9 Motorhome but ONLY on the coasts. This summer I got that 13.7 on the coast of California. 5 years ago on the east coast I also got a lil over 13MPG.
But around where I am I usually get around 11-12 MPG.
C6, 3.55's, 11,000 pound camper, wind load, cruise control 60mph.
7.3 got around the same, but needs injectors, has original IP with 377k miles, so not much power and sucks it's fuel and smells horrible out the exhaust.
But around where I am I usually get around 11-12 MPG.
C6, 3.55's, 11,000 pound camper, wind load, cruise control 60mph.
7.3 got around the same, but needs injectors, has original IP with 377k miles, so not much power and sucks it's fuel and smells horrible out the exhaust.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,554
Likes: 7
From: Northern Arizona
I noticed the same thing. I stayed in CA for about 8 months back in 2006 and the diesel fuel was fantastic compared to AZ... but not worth living there for the good fuel!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
You can say that again! No body can PAY me enough to live there! Way to many rules/regulations and silly laws like honestlly, you'd think sometimes they take the public to be complete idiots!
For the higher MPG in California, I'd say that's caused by the cool coastal winds. More air, cool air, less smoke, way more power! Same as for the Atlantic coast, I got a lil over 13MPG on the East coast as well as more power and less smoke.
But wow that old 6.9 is a completelly different beast along the coast compared to 110* weather in the middle of the desert! lol
For the higher MPG in California, I'd say that's caused by the cool coastal winds. More air, cool air, less smoke, way more power! Same as for the Atlantic coast, I got a lil over 13MPG on the East coast as well as more power and less smoke.
But wow that old 6.9 is a completelly different beast along the coast compared to 110* weather in the middle of the desert! lol
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,554
Likes: 7
From: Northern Arizona
Ha! I've only driven mine in the desert a few times... I live at a cool 7,000 feet in the pine trees so when my 6.9L smokes like crazy and runs like crap it's because the air is thin from altitude instead of heat! I guess I am extra lucky that my set up gets 17 mpg, as I am seeing a lot of lower numbers from the rest of you folks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, Ontario
You can say that again! Highest elevation I been in this year was 8400ft. and I could only give it half throttle before seing huge thick dark black smoke. So I was creeping up some hills, at some point doing 25mph in 1st gear, riding the govornor non stop for over 10 min. Couldn't give it more than half throttle, I didn't wanna melt something in the engine....
One thing I can be proud of, pasted right by many overheated cars/trucks and other campers at vista points and brake check areas all along in the Rockies and us just ROARIN' slowlly up the hills, never overheated onces, I put in a new real temp* gauge this year, never went past 210*! My new fan clutch also did the trick. It was locked in for ever in the mountains.
Finally on the ways down, going down all the time, plus it's cold, temp* got down below 130* in no time.
One thing I can be proud of, pasted right by many overheated cars/trucks and other campers at vista points and brake check areas all along in the Rockies and us just ROARIN' slowlly up the hills, never overheated onces, I put in a new real temp* gauge this year, never went past 210*! My new fan clutch also did the trick. It was locked in for ever in the mountains.
Finally on the ways down, going down all the time, plus it's cold, temp* got down below 130* in no time.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: lafayette tn
Bought two "scooba steve" specials in round rock texas. 1992 E350s, 3.55 rear end, both averaged 18 mpg and had sat for 3 years. Little bit of rodent/wire repair, 30 gallons of fresh go juice and almost made it home (close to 640 miles) and that was running on dry rot tires and with some E4OD electrical issues. The look alone is worth 3mpg 
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,006
Likes: 2
From: CASA GRANDE AZ
my one truck ( 90 f-250 4x4 extend a cab ) gets around 15 mpg and thats driving at 40 mph and pulling 1200 gal of water , where im at i have haul are water ( wife hates it when she runs out of water in the middle of a shower )
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,554
Likes: 7
From: Northern Arizona
I feel your pain. I haul my water too, and out cistern is only 1,000 gallons, so it's pretty much a daily thing. Running out SUCKS! Where do you live? I'm west of Flagstaff AZ (Parks).
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,227
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
i hit 25 MPG this past week in my 94 IDI 3.55 rear end and a ZF5 trans... its about 75 during the day im not really sure how it happened but i did the calculation at the pump right after i filled it up.... i always do ive stayed around 18-20.5 pretty much constantly but i changed my coolant to the cool gard and changed the transmission and transfer case to Valvoline mercron 5 filled it up on monday and did the calculation at the pump when i filled up this past sunday.... this is the first week we've been consistantly down to the 75ish during the day
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Ok this is a little off but I'm having trouble finding the answer if someone can even point me to a thread I've been looking for a few days now, I am looking for a set of 3.31 gears to put in my f250 with a Dana 50 ttb the rear axle is a d60 sf I know I will have to swap that for a d61 or 70
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,227
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
im thinkin the dana 61's are rare ive heard of them but not to often. also a dana 70 came in the 450's didn't they (they would be 3.73+ i think) i could be wrong but can i ask why you want 3.31's??? you don't pull anything do you? if you do you'll want 3.55's thats about the best area to be in for moderate pulling. and good fuel economy. lowering the gears below 3.55's can have negative effects on fuel economy by lugging the engine hell im cruising about 1800 rpm at 60 mph 2000 ish at 70 thats where ya wanna be
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
I'm looking to run a np435 and a gear splitter to give me a low gear with a final drive ratio lower than that of a zf 5 speed with 373 gears and an overdrive gear that will put me at 1600rpms at 65mph when unloaded. I have an '83 F-250 with 354 gears right now.