Hey guys, currently looking at sealing the deal on a new 2017 f250 6.2 xlt fx4. I took it out on a test drive and the best I saw was 12 mpg at 70mph. It has 3.73 gears. I figured at least 15 or so. I dont expect much but more than 12. Am I going to be disappointed with this purchase, thats pretty low even for a 3/4 ton gas. Assuming they have a break in period? Otherwise my other option is a 2500 cummins for the same price. With substantially better fuel economy but owning a diesel comes at a price which I know. Just curious what you guys think/recommend.

I am a traveling lineman and pull my 5800 lb camper behind my 03 f150 right now (7000 fully loaded including bed) which it does fine but its time for something new. I dont pull it everyday or even every month but I dont want to get this 6.2 and have it be a huge mistake. Are you guys happy with yours?

I have even considered a 3.5 ecoboost to get the best of both worlds but feel for what I do its just 3/4 ton range since I plan on getting a ultra lite fifth wheel in the next few years.

Looking forward to your input!

 

If you can get a comparable 2500 Cummins for the same price, that's what I'd be doing...

That said, the highest I ever saw on a long trip averaging about 50 mph was 16.4mpg...on my 2012 6.2L.

Lifetime average on my 2015 6.2 was 10.9mpg. Unfortunately, 12 or 13 sounds about right at 70mph.

 

I have a 6.2 with a 4.30 rear end. I get 12 mpg on a good day and pulling my 14000 lb travel trailer I get 7 mpg's. I have a little over 4500 miles on the truck. I am disappointed with the gas mileage but that's about it. Even with a heavy trailer that would require a diesel to pull with most other manufacturers this gasser pulls my trailer no problem. I looked at the Cummins as well before pulling the trigger on the Ford. Both seem to be nice trucks. I think you'll be happy either way but you'll probably spend less maintenance money over time on the 6.2.

 

Thanks for the replies! Thats too bad about 12-13 seeming right at 70. I really am a ford guy at heart so this cummins would be hard to muster however it beats paying an additional 10k for a ford diesel. I have also thought about how less maintenance would be cost saving. No 100 dollar oil changes def and all the other happy crap that comes with these newer diesels. I guess its just something ill have to keep mulling over until tomorrow.

 

I just purchased a 2017 F-350 with the 6.2. I came out of a 2013 F150 with an ecoboost. I am very happy with the 6.2. It isn't as good as the ecoboost on fuel but i pull a 20' car hauler and it does the job much better.
I also had the pleasure of owning a 2005 Dodge 2500 with the Cummins. It cost a fortune in maintenance to keep it on the road. The engine was the cheapest part. I have all the bills to prove it. LOL

Gas engines are much cheaper to maintain than diesel by far when the warranty runs out. It may cost more at the pump but that is the trade off between the 2 choices. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Im not going to be the guy with the snarky remarks about fuel mileage a full size trucks. But I will tell you that with both the 6.2s I have owed, I never got any better than 15 on the highway unloaded with a tail wind. Never saw anything better than 9-10 towing my 9k camper.

 

I haven't owned my truck long enough to refuel it yet.
But my Excursion with the 5.4 only got around 12 around town. I would be shocked if I got much better than that.

 

I own that exact truck, mixed driving the fuel computer reports 12-13 although I am not the slowest driver. I pulled a 5000 lb car trailer the other day and I was really impressed, you could hardly tell the trailer was there! My thoughts are avoid diesel unless you have lots of disposable income or you truly need the power of it on a regular basis but thats just my opinion

 

Thank you all for your opinions!

Would you go with the 3.5 eco max tow f150 if you dont plan on exceeding 8-9000lbs? I have no need/want for that large of a fifth wheel. I hear those guys get awesome mileage towing and unloaded. And their trucks dont scream at 4000 rpms from the slightest incline.

I just love the stability of a 3/4 ton truck (brakes chassis the whole 9 yards) Id hate to get a new 1/2 ton and have it not feel as if its a solid foundation with whatever is back there. However I assume If my 03 handles it the new 17 1/2 ton should feel so much better.

 

I'd suggest taking it out on another test drive, but resetting the "Fuel Economy" display (OM page 117) after the engine warms up. This will clear old data (including historical average fuel economy), cancel any cold engine/rich mix effect, and will allow you to better gauge fuel economy under specific/target operating conditions.

HTH,
Jim / crewzer

 

You can tow that weight but forget putting anything in the bed of the truck at the same time. It's one or the other with the 1/2 tons and why I'm upgrading to a 1 ton. My F150 has done a great job towing across the country several times but last year i took it over the scales and was at the max for the rear axle with stuff in the bed (tools/parts etc)

 

I'm gonna add some to my previous post. Tonight I took a long drive, about 1:15 with no traffic, I think its somewhere around 70 miles. I reset the fuel economy meter upon leaving my house, this is a mostly highway drive, maybe 1 hr highway, 15 min local. I had the cruise set at 72 mph with the A/C on for the majority of the drive, when I reached my destination it was saying 14.9 mpg. For the drive home I hit lots of traffic, it probably took be 1:45 min and I still was showing 14.8 mph when I pulled into my driveway. I wasn't driving like I had an egg under the pedal but I was trying to be somewhat moderate. For how large and capable this truck is I guess I can't really complain about that.

 

I have been running a 2012 6.2 for about 260,000km or 160k miles. It runs 15 mpg Canadian gallons. It has 4.30 gears, 35s, rouche intake, turbo style muffler and a superchip tuner. All 3 upgrades gave me a .5 mpg increase.

 

Picked up my new truck Thursday night.
Ran 200 miles of so of highway today. Per the dashboard, 13.6 mpg, averaging 70 mph. I am happy with this as the truck only has 500 miles on the clock at this point. Things should Improve over the break in period. See my signature for truck details.

 

I averaged 16 mpg over my last 164 miles commute with the cruise set at 60 mpg. At 70 mpg, I am usually averaging around 14 mpg. Hauling a 9,000 lbs load, I'm down to 10 mpg. I prefer the Ford over the Ram for a variety of reasons. If I could have bought a Cummins powered truck for the same price as mine, I'm not sure if I wouldn't be driving a diesel right now.