17 F250 6.2 V8 fuel economy

[davidrrand]

Know there are few out there towing with late model 6.2 f250s and would like to hear your mpgs towing and non-towing numbers. Is GiAnt Futon out there? Thanks!!!

[mattskav]

Originally Posted by davidrrand

Know there are few out there towing with late model 6.2 f250s and would like to hear your mpgs towing and non-towing numbers. Is GiAnt Futon out there? Thanks!!!

I literally just got mine last Friday (250 6.2 Screw 4X4) it's not fully broken in just yet (720mi). I can tell you it's not good empty, I got 13.2 highway varying between 55-72 MPH Boston to Montreal via Vermont. Babying it this week, all back roads it's giving me 14.2 indicated which is probably 13.8 actual. My 2016 F150 2.7 driven the same way was giving me 21.2 indicated / 20 actual. My sincere hope is it can achieve 15MPG when driven carefully, but that's looking bleak.

Plan on 10-11 towing, in mixed terrain. I'd guess 12.5 in better than ideal conditions.

Still, the diesel has a hefty upfront cost, and with DEF and maintenance over 50K the 6.2 is the economic choice. If my buddies miserable experience w/ a 6.7 is common (1X limp mode, 1X stranded w/ a new $3800DPF required) the 6.2 is also the choice when it comes to reliability.

[slowmover]

If the concern is for trip-planning, then use 10-mpg at 80% fuel capacity to plan a fuel stop with a 62-mph set speed.

Be consistent until 3000+ miles have accumulated. Use cruise control. Find the “real” 80% mark and use it. Get a valid number. Highway towing mpg is for prediction.

The comparison test between solo & towing is over the same route at the same speed. Solo vs towing. Truck carrying same load sans trailer. 40% penalty is the expectation at a speed below 62 or so. Start and stop from the same fuel pump. End delivery at first auto-stop.

Solo loaded vs empty is the other one. Gas engines are weight sensitive. Can’t skip the first test as it highlights hitch lash-up and other problems.

The percentage difference in these is what matters.

1). A pickup is a farm/ranch vehicle expected to do work at up to 55-65/mph. As it fails any test of handling above sixty, be more reasonable in its use. 60-mph is the aerodynamic barrier as well, the curve tends skyward at that point.

2). If the pickup runs around empty while solo, then it wasn’t a very good choice. Basic vehicle spec was the main fuel cost determinant (not engine choice), so records, discipline and best maintenance practices are now incumbent. A pickup is both higher risk and higher cost.

To maximize mpg, record all fuel consumed. Fuelly, or a similar app. Find the annual average mpg. That’s the number that matters. Changes in solo driving (fewer cold starts/combining trips, etc) can offset some of the towing penalty, indeed, even underwrite some vacation travel. A percentage decrease in the annual average fuel bill is that game.

Improvements to towing mpg are correct tire pressure for both vehicles, axle alignment on each, brake drag, and TT bearing preset on the TT. Verify, don’t assume.

Highway-rib, closed-shoulder, commercial-service tires on the TV. This is worth as much as 2-mpg to the annual average. No other changes will compare.

Hitch lash-up is big. And a VPP hitch adds a percentage. Minimization of steering corrections per 100-miles of travel is a concern (valid metric) as live axle pickups are notoriously bad. Better shocks mean better tracking. Entry level Bilstein a minimum.

On highway one uses vehicle spacing of several hundred feet as a control for safety. Traffic volume determines average speed (set speed fairly irrelevant for determining arrivals; 50-mph is a standard industry plan tool for all miles that day), and smoothest operation wins.

Cancelling cruise when necessary and backing off is the expectation, whereas lane-changing, use of brakes, etc, to get down a rural highway is evidence of poor driving skill. Smooth operation tracks both safety and fuel economy.

Chasing cheaper fuel prices is counter-productive while en route. One has covered that margin by better vehicle use & operation (discipline) when solo. Let the refuel point fall where it may on the map and choose via ingress/egress difficulty. At stations already ON the main route.

Consistent results are expressed as a fuel cents-per-mile number. The inclusive cost on a one ton series 4WD driven 15k annually and kept five years will be $1.00-per mile or close to it. Fuel is less than half the real cost of ownership and operation.

At current diesel prices I know from long experience that I can trip plan for fuel at .15-cpm. (The variable is the number of solo miles on a trip; that cpm will decrease; though cold starts and short miles can increase it). A 2,500-mile trip is thus $375 fuel cost for planning purposes.

80% of 35-gals is 28, so a fuel stop every 400-425/miles, works with my 17k rig. On a typical RV travel day of about 300-miles it means filling daily per my preference. So, at about the four hour driving mark (not including any stop time; as a break every two hours is optimal), or 200-miles, I advance-plan that fuel stop to also take a one hour break. Fuel and lunch within a short distance of each other.

As you can see, the likelihood of covering 200-miles between daily fuel stops with any TV is high. Therefore, travel mpg is of low concern (except as a way of determining vehicle health). With consistentcy, it doesn’t change much at all (test to be sure all is right from the beginning). It’s just a detail, after all.


Good luck

.

[Countryboy59]

Mine is the steel body 6.2 (F350) and gets 12.9 average. About 11 towing our 27' on flat roads; just got the 27' so not a lot of data yet Probably will be worse in the hills as would any truck. The more horsepower required the more fuel will need to be burned, period

This is my first gas engine in the last 4 trucks and is at 112,000 miles.

[AlanMcD]

2017 XLT F250 gas 6.2. I have 4,700 miles on it right now. 15 mpg not towing, 9 mpg towing.

[m.hony]

Hmm...
My Tundra only gets about 15 mpg empty, but 12 mpg towing the trailer at 60-65 mph.
Seems like diesels get the same mileage towing, but better than 15 mpg empty.
Hope an F250 6.2 has a big tank...

[gypsydad]

I have a 2017 King Ranch, 4x4, 6.5 bed, Supercrew, 6.7L. I have put 23,000 miles on it since June 1. I have 11k miles pulling our new 28' FC since June with this F250.

I average right around 13+ MPG while pulling the 28' average speed 60-65.

I average 16.5 to 17 MPG unhitched, at speeds 70-75; mix of freeway and city driving.

I expected to have better MPG after break in period...Still, I love this truck for payload, comfort, and pulling the AS.

[KWN306]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

I have a 2017 King Ranch, 4x4, 6.5 bed, Supercrew, 6.7L. I have put 23,000 miles on it since June 1. I have 11k miles pulling our new 28' FC since June with this F250.

I average right around 13+ MPG while pulling the 28' average speed 60-65.

I average 16.5 to 17 MPG unhitched, at speeds 70-75; mix of freeway and city driving.

I expected to have better MPG after break in period...Still, I love this truck for payload, comfort, and pulling the AS.

What rear end ratio do you have. I haven't heard those numbers with anyone pulling an AS with a Ford and a 6.2.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by KWN306

What rear end ratio do you have. I haven't heard those numbers with anyone pulling an AS with a Ford and a 6.2.

He has a 6.7L which is diesel, not a 6.2L gas. The diesel gets better mpg

[davidrrand]

Thanks for the replies. Current ‘15 F150 SCab Lariat 4x4 5.0 w 3.31 gets 18 overall, 20+ hwy and 11-12 towing 25FC on last two trips west. Daily driver with 2031 payload capacity. Fine for loaded trailer and truck currently. Hoped a new Super Duty 250 equivalent with 6.2 gas would enable me to add my 600 lb Atv on trips without such a massive mpg penalty. Guess I will stand pat for now. Maybe the 10 speed down the road will improve the mpg or a different gas engine offering. Thanks again! Still would like to hear what GiAnt Futon is getting with his 6.2 4.30 ��

[tjdonahoe]

My 17 ram, 4x4 , 6,7, is getting 20 empty on the highway, and 13-14 with the 13 31 ‘ classic..

[Bgibbs]

Don't you love these "my truck is better than your truck" threads?

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by Bgibbs

Don't you love these "my truck is better than your truck" threads?

Whenever someone asks about a specific truck (Ford 6.2 gas) everyone chimes in with diesel this and diesel that. The "torque is better than horsepower" post is coming. Kinda like which is better, volts or amps?

[sbowman]

Originally Posted by Bgibbs

Don't you love these "my truck is better than your truck" threads?

Yes and no. Most often reminds me of locker room talk. Trucks, dogs, and gun's. Someone asks a honest question, some answer w/honest answer(s), and others go into mine is bigger than yours. There are times I feel like I am at a Jim Jones convention other times I read honest and sincere statements. What works for one may not work for others. So Buy what you want and drive what you like.

Safe travels

[gypsydad]

Hey, sorry for chiming in with my F250 6.7L MPG experiences.. I thought it would be informative to also know current data on the diesel...did not want to try to start a "my trucks better than yours", debate...

[rlhendren]

I have a 16 F250 6.2 gas, single cab, 4x4. I haven't had it long and haven't towed much yet. So far, at 65 mph on relatively flat roads it gets 15 mpg. Towing a 23D it got about 11 under the same conditions. Towing a 25FB it got about 11, under the same conditions.

[GlideMC]

Originally Posted by davidrrand

Know there are few out there towing with late model 6.2 f250s and would like to hear your mpgs towing and non-towing numbers. Is GiAnt Futon out there? Thanks!!!

We just replaced our 2012 F-250 6.2L gas 4x4 Crew Cab with 2017 F-250 6.7L Diesel 4x4 Crew Cab. AS is a 2017 30ft. Classic 6.2L was 8mpg towing and 12.6 not towing. 6.7L is 12 mpg towing and 17.5mpg not towing. 6.2L gas is identical for 2012-2017. Hope that helps.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by m.hony

Hmm...
My Tundra only gets about 15 mpg empty, but 12 mpg towing the trailer at 60-65 mph.
Seems like diesels get the same mileage towing, but better than 15 mpg empty.
Hope an F250 6.2 has a big tank...

My 6.2 will go 250 miles on a tank towing. I just make sure I never get more than 250 miles from a gas station. It holds about 28 gallons.

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by Bgibbs

Don't you love these "my truck is better than your truck" threads?

Personally I enjoy the discussions/arguments as long as other people's choices are not belittled. One should feel strongly about their individual choices. There is always something to learn.

FWIW!

[Ampman]

2012 F250 4x4 CC 6.2L 3.73. I have about 66k on it. The 2nd trip indicator has never been reset, shows 12.8 MPG overall. Individual trips have been as low as 10 and as high as 16. From the Rockies to the plains. Tow 25 ft classic, tractors and skidsteer. 35 gallon fuel tank. Empty get about 475 mile range, towing about 325. Fuel mileage is fine with me. Truck has been super reliable and tows great. Cheap to maintain.