Superduty 6.0 diesel drivers...MPG?

[THEPILL]

I know this will vary with Airstreams and loads,but what kind of MPG are you averaging pulling? I'm getting 11 chipped with a superchips programmer in tow mode.. I was wondering if I should unchip before the next trip. Was thinking of going back to stock.

Thanks,

Shane

[richg]

I get 12-14 with a heavy 30' classic w/slide with stock.

[JBinKC]

And I get 12-14 with a 30' classic with stock.

[THEPILL]

Gonna change. Thanks

Shane

[thecatsandi]

I get 14 un-modified towing. 18-20 highway not towing.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, at the Ford dealer that I retired from, the biggest cause of damaged, dead, or destroyed Diesel engines was after market gadgets. [especially on the 6.0 L Diesel] Leave it stock, or don't blame Ford when it blows up.

[THEPILL]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, at the Ford dealer that I retired from, the biggest cause of damaged, dead, or destroyed Diesel engines was after market gadgets. [especially on the 6.0 L Diesel] Leave it stock, or don't blame Ford when it blows up.

Thanks, but I've had it CHIPPED for over 35,000 miles and no problems. I had my 7.3 chipped for over 160,000 miles with no problem. I wouldn't blame FORD if it did blow up. When they have "blown up" it's more than likely the trucks were being trated as racr cars.

I'm not afraid of chips and a lot of other people should not either. I have had great success with them. When I tune mine to perfomance level I reguraly get 23-24 mpg. But in Tow mode, I'm getting 11. So I'll unchip it when I'm towing.

Thanks for the advice ,though.

Shane

[2airishuman]

chip/no chip...

mpg towing LARGELY depends on mph.

ne1 claiming >12 mpg is goin' slow.

ne1 reporting <10 mpg is goin' fast.

many threads and many fish stories buried herein.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...lly-11416.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...sel-39890.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...r-38681-2.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...cle-46812.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...cab-40511.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f48/...ples-4385.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...s-40195-2.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...eed-45975.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...cks-40195.html

cheers
2air'

[dstalzer]

10 to 15 MPG with 2007 F250 CC 4X4 depending on speed and whether it is level or mountainous. Wind is also a big factor. A 30 MPH head wind can drop mileage by 3 MPG at 60 MPH. I usually will drive between 60 & 65 MPH.

Dennis

[Andrew Selking]

I tow with a gas engine 25 ft airstream behind and get better gas milage than the chipped diesel. May be time to buy new truck. Just my thoughts.

[THEPILL]

Originally Posted by Andrew Selking

I tow with a gas engine 25 ft airstream behind and get better gas milage than the chipped diesel. May be time to buy new truck. Just my thoughts.

I figure, I'll un-chip it and see what I get...I can go around the US a lot more than you with my diesel and still come out ahead on longevity.

Just say'n


Shane

[Goin camping]

2007 F250 4X4 pulling a 2007 25 FB. On the flat and level out here in Ca. where by law the speed limit is 55mph I get 14.5 towing and @55 unhooked I get 18.2

When I hit the AZ line and the speed limit goes to 75. The mileage goes in the dumper.

Truck is bone stock.

[Andrew Selking]

Originally Posted by THEPILL

I figure, I'll un-chip it and see what I get...I can go around the US a lot more than you with my diesel and still come out ahead on longevity.

Just say'n


Shane

I know this when I travel with my diesel friends we all stop for fuel at the same time and You may get ahead on longevity but I will still spend less than you in total cost of vehicle and fuel in the long run. Ask Ed Wallace the local DFW car and Truck man on 570 KLIF. I love all my diesel brothers

[Goin camping]

Originally Posted by Andrew Selking

I know this when I travel with my diesel friends we all stop for fuel at the same time and You may get ahead on longevity but I will still spend less than you in total cost of vehicle and fuel in the long run. Ask Ed Wallace the local DFW car and Truck man on 570 KLIF. I love all my diesel brothers

I wonder if it's in your trailers light weight? Your trailer is around 3500 lbs? My friend tows the same trailer as I with a Dodge Power Wagon and he's getting 10 mpg. Another camping buddy tows a trailer of near weight with an F350 2wd 460 cu gasser and gets 9 mpg.

[HowieE]

I tow at 16,540 lbs at 65 plus mph and average just short of 12 mpg to and from NJ to FL.

I do not have a good none towing mileage since I do not use the 6.0 around town or without the trailer.

As for modes on the 6.0 Ford. The week link in this engine are the head bolts. Ford took a great IH engine and modified it to compete with GM and Dodge in the hp race. In doing this they went beyond the limits IH had set for the engine. Increasing the HP causes the head bolts to stretch and the head gaskets start to leak. The bolts can be replaced with after market studs but that is a very expensive job requiring the cab be removed on a pick up and the front end removed from an Excursion.

The EGR system is weak link. Over time the coolant will eat through and leak into the EGT and thus into the engine. There are several kits available to remove the EGT system but you have to have an anti Nadder gene to do this.

The turbos if not used out on the road and just city driving will cause the inner ring of the turbo to bind and give what are called turbo farts on quick deceleration. If you are towing regularly this should not be a problem. I bought my Excursion from a soccer mom and had that problem.

[slowmover]

I know this when I travel with my diesel friends we all stop for fuel at the same time and You may get ahead on longevity but I will still spend less than you in total cost of vehicle and fuel in the long run.

Maybe for some . . but for those of us others running the numbers and spec'ng a diesel truck for economy (a Cummins engine by default), that -- all the numbers -- will blow any gasser clear off the road. The past 19,000 miles my total fuel consumption is at an average of 22.7 mpg. Highs of 27 highway, and never below 18 in town. Purchased used at 1/2 cost of new when 3-years old. I also expect to see 250k on but two sets of tires and brakes. No, not all highway miles at all. And, with a Dodge CTD, not uncommon.

Towing our 34' SS at 63 mph averaged me 13 mpg on the two-laner, stop-in-every-little-town roads, and 15 mpg on level Interstate. Had I dropped below 60 to my current favored roadspeed (1,725-rpm) I would have broken 16. I've had my share of 8-mpg vacations. And, I need the truck for other uses. So studying, analysing and changing habits, even minor, was central. The truck has to pay for itself with lowest overall cost.

I compared my rig with another man with the exact same truck but with a gasoline motor (who'd kept extensive records and had a similar trailer) taking into account purchase price, finance, depreciation, expected maintenance & repairs, re-sale, etc: If fuel cost for diesel was no more than 50-cents higher then the comparison was a wash in out-of-pocket costs. And I seriously doubt his truck will show -- no matter the level of maintenance -- the same level of performance as mine at above 200,000 miles when compared to new. If gas motors could, they would . . and none of us would buy a diesel.

Ed Wallace is a nice guy (I'm from Dallas), but his comments are for the general public.

Tightening emissions requirements have changed things lately, but they may change again in favor of diesel. Frankly, the idea that ANY work vehicle not so equipped isn't any longer tenable. The horsepower war is dumb, but once we have some 1/2T trucks (5/8T, I guess) with smaller diesels then some sanity for RV'ers will return. As in, a non-income producing vehicle needs a lesser or more compatible drivetrain.

As to stopping for fuel, sure, we're friends . . and I might as well top up.

Of course, if they're REALLY friend, then lettin' 'em drive a Ford or Chevy diesel, well . . there's probably one lucky guy out there with a 6.0 with accurate records and determined to drive for economy. A search should turn him up. Then, this thread'll be cookin' with, ah, gas. . . .

.