F-250

[ALANSD]

got the fuses tightened up and all was ok for our rally weekend. Then on the return, when we hit my driveway I had a puddle of trans fluid under the truck. I could see it running in a thin line straight down. Yikes.
Made it up to the mountains and back with no issues until this. At least I can say that anyway. Now not sure what I am doing next.

[overlander63]

Alan, I had to tighten the coller lines on my transmission, as one was weeping. Diesels vibrate more than gas engines (duh!), and will tend to rattle stuff loose. Try tightening the cooler lines before pushing the panic button.

[ALANSD]

Not panicking, yet. I read that when they heat up they leak also, and it did not have any shifting issues. I started up after letting it cool down awhile and did not see any leaks. I will check fluid levels tommorow and see how the atf looks. Also will check the lines. Hope its not a front seal as that seems to be a common failure.
I am considering that it might be sensible to trade while I can.

[Towdaddy]

AlanSD,

Don't know what you are driving but if it is a Ford PSD, then make sure the leak is the tranny. If the O rings go on the high pressure oil pump (HPOP), then it can look like it is a bad rear seal or tranny leak. Happened to mine - quick and inexpensive fix compared to a tranny.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by ALANSD

Not panicking, yet. I read that when they heat up they leak also, and it did not have any shifting issues. I started up after letting it cool down awhile and did not see any leaks. I will check fluid levels tommorow and see how the atf looks. Also will check the lines. Hope its not a front seal as that seems to be a common failure.
I am considering that it might be sensible to trade while I can.

If it looks like the fluid came out the overfill tube on top of the transmission, and the fluid looks kind of discolored, you may have a plugged coller. There is a way to check for this, but it is messy (requires high-pressure air, and removing the lines on both sides of the cooler). Your truck does have an aux cooler in front of the radiator?

[ALANSD]

I do have a trans cooler, and reading on the Powerstroke forums, seems its common for the trans to overheat, throwout a bunch of fluid and then be ok when it cools. Also the front seal is a source of leakage and more so when hot.
The guys there say even with the cooler, you should add another one to be sure, and they talk about driving with the od off.
I wonder whether I should throw more money at this rig or trade to newer one.
Can't swing a brand new one, but maybe less than ten yrs old like the one I have now.

[Otters]

Originally Posted by clancy_boy

Alan,

Twice in 4 years and soon again I have had to get my rotors turned because of brake wiggle when I apply my brakes. The whole front end shakes. I was told by my dealer that it was because I applied my brakes too hard????? Once he told me I should upgrade to the heaver rotors. I asked him why. The truck is a SUPER DUTY F250 - it says so on the side, comes with a tow package - at that cost there should have been the biggest and best brakes on the rig when I bought it. Makes me wonder sometimes....

My 2 cents..... just rambling.....

You can have great brakes but still need to have he rotors turned more often if you overuse them, such as long, downhill braking while pulling an AS. They simply overheat from too much braking (all that kinetic energy has to go somewhere, and it's in heating the brakes). A friend warned me about this last year while we were going over the Sierras sans trailer; he could smell my hot brake pads on the downhill side. His advice was excellent: use my transmission for braking assistance, and occasionally pull over and let the brakes (and tranny) cool off. Otherwise, prepare to have your rotors turned again!!

[mmth11053]

We have4 a 2003 F 250 Diesel. Never had a problem towing our 28' 1960 Ambassador. We pulled it last winter from Medford, OR to So Cal. OD off at 55-60 got approx 18 mpg. Couldn't even tell the the AS was there. Went through a pretty severe snow storm going over the pass from OR into CA. The AS tracked just fine.

Diesel is the only way to go....

[nilesrob]

Originally Posted by Devoman

So what is the F-250 size?Is it a 3/4 ton?How big of an Airstream can it pull?

Devoman,

It can pull anything Airstream makes - I can attest.

Since you have a young family, I would tend to point you to an Excursion - but only if you were open to buying used, since they are no longer manufactured (you might be able to still find a new 2005).

Along that same line, I moved from an Expedition to an Excursion (F150 to F250), and I can tell you there is no comparison. The Excursion (F250) is such a much better TV - strength, power, wheel base (length) - all results in about a 100% more enjoyable towing experience - my opinion.

[SilverGate]

Originally Posted by nilesrob

Devoman,

It can pull anything Airstream makes - I can attest...
Along that same line, I moved from an Expedition to an Excursion (F150 to F250), and I can tell you there is no comparison. The Excursion (F250) is such a much better TV - strength, power, wheel base (length) - all results in about a 100% more enjoyable towing experience - my opinion.

Our truck is now over two years old and has never had a problem. Our enjoyable towing experience includes the feeling of security and comfort for us and our dogs as we easily pull the trailer up and over our local mountains. I also really like the the TowCommand, factory-installed, fully integrated trailer brake controller, along with the telescoping tow mirrors.

A nice, recent surprise was to find that the Doran 360RV Tire Pressure Monitor fits perfectly in the auxiliary storage compartment in the dash.

[Lumatic]

For what ever it's worth:

Towing my 4500# Tradewind with my 99 F250 2wd w/ Triton engine, extended cab, short bed, 3.73 positrac rear, ac off. I drove from Albuquerque area to Carlsbad. At 55mph on the flats I got an amazing 14.5 mpg to Artesia and then crossing a mountain range 12.5 to Carlsbad.

On the return trip I took a different route, flat all the way. @ 60mph I got a dissapointing 11 mpg.

During the summer with AC on at 60-62 mph on mixed terrain I average 11-12 mpg.

[Minnie's Mate]

I am on my second F-250 diesel and the '05 and the '08 pull our 30' Safari as if it wasn't even back there. The two/haul cruises with the cruise control and a/c running full blast in the heat of summer on mountainous interstate like I had no trailer at all. I will admit the '05 had more torque and got about 2 MPG's better, but the reason I traded was the comfort. The new suspension along with the new captain's chairs that fit my back perfectly make for a much less tiresome day long trek. The built-in brake controller stops as if there were no load on the truck at all; I can tell virtually no difference in stopping with or without the trailer in tow. Pretty sweet combo.

[strodda]

Hey Dude,

I live in Mendocino and I just got back from a trip to the Northeast via Idaho, Yellowstone, Black Hills of SD, Eastern Canada, and returned via the southern route. Put over 10,000 miles on a 2007 F-250 powerstroke. Went east last year as well; so I've probably got over 20,000 tow miles on a 25' 2007 safari.

Truck is great and the extra power you get along with the "tow haul" or mini engine break is a must when doing real grades like Donner or Big Horn Mountains (9,700). Also, I've logged every mile driven and calculated gas miles at every fill-up (the auto gas mileage computer on board the truck is often inaccurate to the tune of 2 or more mpg's on the high side).

In short, you can get close to 15 mpg on flat surface with no wind at 55. Move up to 65 in same conditions and you're down to 13 mpg or so. If you haul in the mountains out west (Yosemite, Sequoia, Yellowstone, etc.) where there are real grades, you will be getting 10 or so mpg often.

In sum, living in Nothern Cal has its advantages; but gas mileage while pulling a trailer is not one of them given we can go no where on level ground other than the San Joaquin valley (which I only see on the way to the mountains)!

Cheers

d

[safari 28]

I know you guys love your diesels, but the numbers for maint over a gasser is significant. Add that to the cost of diesel and this is a real issue for those on the edge making a decision to justify a diesel. I have 23k on our 08 5.4, 4 oil changes @ dealer for less than 30.00 each and no real other filters need changing for at least 50-60k.

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by safari 28

I know you guys love your diesels, but the numbers for maint over a gasser is significant. Add that to the cost of diesel and this is a real issue for those on the edge making a decision to justify a diesel. I have 23k on our 08 5.4, 4 oil changes @ dealer for less than 30.00 each and no real other filters need changing for at least 50-60k.

Hmmm.. Please post your experience towing with deezul for comparison. Was this with the 7.3L or the last PS 6.0L? Having owned and towed with 6 (or 7? I forget…) gassers over the years, and now having towed with diesel for 3 years, I can tell you there is no comparison for tow duty. (I can’t imagine towing our AS or hauling our TC with anything other than diesel after having owned both.)
Deezul isn’t for everyone (aversion to hp/torque for instance), but I can tell you, based on my experience with both, some of these rumors are just that…
Maintenance and fuel cost for instance. A gasser used for towing will be subject to the “heavy duty” maintenance schedule (read; more frequent) for diesel this is SOP. My diesel gets serviced once/year, so the reality is my maintenance cost have been substantially less than with my gassers as diesel has quite a bit longer service intervals. Which is an advantage in itself when out for lengthy road trips!
My last 3 small blocks were all set up pretty much the same 5.3l, 3:73 (one had 4:10’s, but I never saw any measurable difference). Cost of diesel fuel is currently running slightly higher, but is more than offset by increase in mileage. All vehicles run with syn oil in sump.
Here’s a comparison of my fuel costs small block GM vs. DuraMax;

Useable Tank of diesel towing (26 gal tank) = $104/315 miles
Useable Tank of gas towing (35 gal tank) = $105/285 miles

Useable Tank of diesel not towing (26 gal tank) = $104/504 miles
Useable Tank of gas not towing (35 gal tank) = $105/465 miles

This is based on cost of $4/gal deezul…$3/gal dinosaur juice. (I never saw a full $1 spread, but I’ll even give gas a head start here…) As the spread narrows, of course, diesel gets more of an advantage.

Towing with a diesel is like making love; until you’ve done it, you’re very curious…you might even think it’s noisy and dirty (!), but you just don’t know how good it feels!

(Note;
Usable tank = actually usage, ~ ¼ tank remaining. I never run my tank to “Eeeee!)

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by mmth11053

Diesel is the only way to go....

Hi, if Diesel was the only way to go, there wouldn't be any gas engine tow vehicles out there; If that was true, but it's not.

As for the battle over cost between the two sources of power, there are too many variables and this discussion has gone full circle. Diesel has been lower than gas for a long time. Now Diesel is more than gas. It's just like milk, eggs, apples, and oranges the prices are always changing up and down and you can calculate until you are blue in the face. It doesn't matter; People buy what they want, need, and can afford. Smaller loads can be pulled very well with a properly equipted gas vehicle and when you get into the larger, heavier loads, they become Diesel territory. You decide the breaking point. I picked 7,000 lbs and under for gas. [my opinion]

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, if Diesel was the only way to go, there wouldn't be any gas engine tow vehicles out there; If that was true, but it's not.

As for the battle over cost between the two sources of power, there are too many variables and this discussion has gone full circle. Diesel has been lower than gas for a long time. Now Diesel is more than gas. It's just like milk, eggs, apples, and oranges the prices are always changing up and down and you can calculate until you are blue in the face. It doesn't matter; People buy what they want, need, and can afford. Smaller loads can be pulled very well with a properly equipted gas vehicle and when you get into the larger, heavier loads, they become Diesel territory. You decide the breaking point. I picked 7,000 lbs and under for gas. [my opinion]

Exactly…but some of the stuff people come out with is just not true. I don’t understand when Folks give an opinion based on hearsay, not experience…

I will say again though, once you tow with diesel, it would be hard to ever go back, makes for a much easier day behind the wheel.

Perhaps we will see even more choices in diesel power in the near future?
This could only be good for people who tow, and for the environment.

[Paul Mayeux]

I tow with a 2007 F250 Crew Cab Diesel. I've had two V10s prior and if I had to do it again, I'd go back to the V10. The motor was quieter, only got 1 mpg worse towing, the maintenance was cheaper and the initial cost was less.

This article from pickups.com illustrates how there is virtually no difference towing with the gas engine under fairly normal conditions towing a 10,500lb trailer.

Ford:

The entire article which is rather lengthy is located here:

PickupTruck.Com - Part 3: 2007 PickupTruck.com Heavy Duty Shootout

It tested all three HD pickups in diesel and gas configurations.

[safari 28]

I ran this thought of severe duty by the dealer. By changing oil every 5k miles and inspection of trans fluid and misc, it appears that is all that is needed and all other major stuff is at 60k. Trans fluid was recently analyzed and perfect. Really, where severe duty comes in is very short runs with engine not meeting proper temps or overheating and this thing I run hard in the rockies and sierras and the temp gauge does not budge. Now, to be fair,all towing is done between oct- april.

Not wanting to open a can of worms here, I know a diesel will pull freight train, just important sharing of information to help us all realize the new gassers have improved big time, and for some us not needed. My multiple cross country runs( currently on the 5th run for this truck Mich. to calif and back) towing a 28 is a test of endurance for any tow vehicle. Not so much as peep from under the hood.

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by 62 Overlander

I tow with a 2007 F250 Crew Cab Diesel. I've had two V10s prior and if I had to do it again, I'd go back to the V10. The motor was quieter, only got 1 mpg worse towing, the maintenance was cheaper and the initial cost was less.

This article from pickups.com illustrates how there is virtually no difference towing with the gas engine under fairly normal conditions towing a 10,500lb trailer.

Ford:

The entire article which is rather lengthy is located here:

PickupTruck.Com - Part 3: 2007 PickupTruck.com Heavy Duty Shootout

It tested all three HD pickups in diesel and gas configurations.

Yes, you and timemachine have had negative experiences with the old generation Ford diesel.
Let’s hope the latest diesel offering from Ford is better. The Cummins is known for it’s efficiency and durability, and the DuraMax is quickly earning the same reputation.
I towed a 25’ recently for a friend, with his BB gasser. I’ll take the diesel any day for towing…
The new common rail injection engines much quieter, more efficient, cleaner, and way better for the environment than gassers.
As noted, diesel is not for everyone, and if you had a bad experience, I am sure it would leave a bad taste…
If you want a BB, I’d grab one soon. I can’t believe in the current automotive climate that they’ll be around much longer.
It is more likelywe will be seeing more diesel technology in the future. I understand both Ford and the General have small diesels slated, even for the next gen of ½ tons. BB will be goin the way of buggy whips…

Looking at that article, it’s curious that the Ford shows almost no advantage for the diesel when comparing fuel usage versus, but the Cummins and Duramax do. But the Ford also has different final gear ratios, unlike the others. These numbers confirm what I said above about the Cummins and the Duramax.
Anywho, I suspect in the near future, you may have no choice except to drive a diesel when it comes to trucks…

I don't have a Ford manual but GM describes “severe duty” as; towing, or very hot, dusty conditions, and heavy loads”. I guess these don’t apply to Fords…