MPG

[2002F3504X4]

My 02 is a F350, crewcab, 4x4, dually, 6 speed with the 4:10 gears. It has 32K on the odometer. It consistantly gets 15 MPG towing a 7K trailer, and 20MPG empty at 60 to 65 MPH. At 75MPH it drops to 17.5MPG. It just went out of warrenty because of age. I am very apprensive about mods, because I do not want to have problems with dependability, but here is the question. Is there a mod that will honestly get a few more MPG's out of this set-up without taking a chance on messing up something, or should I just be happy with the MPG that I am getting? My sister has an 89 Dodge Cummins D250 2wd, standard cab, 3:55 gears, gets 27 MPG. Not an apples to oranges comparison, but wondering anyway? And yes, I do drive like an old man, but then I am old, so it must be OK. Thanks in advance.

[Dave]

An intake and exhaust will squeeze a little more MPG out of it also a chip with a good econo tune

[rajharley]

I would leave yours alone if you are getting that kind of mileage. Must be the difference between the 6-Speed and the automatic. My automatic get no better than 15 MPG and except for the automatic our trucks are the same. well except that mine has 157k on the ticker.

[jaawalke]

Thats pretty good milage considering you are running a 4:10 rear.It must be the 6 speed .My 04 with the automatic doesn't get that kind of milage.

[todd]

ive yet to see over 14 out of mine im really considering going to 3.73s if your getting that milage and arent wanting more power i say leave it i didnt think 4.10s could hit 20mpg

[adfields]

Thats just a little better than what I get, about 18.5 with my plow on the front pushing all that air. I have a auto and still getting this. Trans is built, exhaust is stock with cad delete, and a home made PVC pipe intake with K&N filter. Other than that the drive train is stock 95 F350 with a 76 club cab on top, witch is less efficient than the 95 body I would think.

Open up the intake and exhaust all you can live with sound wise, you should see an improvement and it sure wont drop. Then try a good economy tuned chip, if that don't work you can just take it out. As far as problems with dependability, you would need to jack the power way up and drive like a 16 year old to damage a 7.3.

[2002F3504X4]

Thanks you' all. Sounds like air flow is the key to increased economy on these rigs. It also sounds like I have nothing to complain about either, since the truck is already doing pretty well in the MPG department. The 6 speed may make a difference, not sure. 5th gear is direct, and the engine winds up pretty fast. The overdrive is pretty steep. She tach's 2350 RPM at 75 MPH with the stock tires. We live in NC and they are getting ready to start the tail pipe testing for annual inspections, so it will probably be wise to keep the cat intact. I think that I will try the air box upgrade offered by Ford first, and see what happens, since this is a very simple, non invasive, and fairly inexpensive mod. Maybe a good cat-back system might be the second thing to try.

Adfields, your truck sounds like it is one unique machine. That's cool to have a one of a kind truck! I thought I had done something dropping a 6 cylinder Cummins into a 87 G-30 Silverado Crewcab Dually, 4x4, with an SM-465 4 speed, a US Gear 2 speed 20% spliter, and 4:11 with an air locker in the rear and a stock Dana 80 up front with manual lockers, but I think that you have topped me!

[redstroker_2002]

ur lucky 2 get that out of that!

[adfields]

Originally Posted by 2002F3504X4

Adfields, your truck sounds like it is one unique machine. That's cool to have a one of a kind truck! I thought I had done something dropping a 6 cylinder Cummins into a 87 G-30 Silverado Crewcab Dually, 4x4, with an SM-465 4 speed, a US Gear 2 speed 20% spliter, and 4:11 with an air locker in the rear and a stock Dana 80 up front with manual lockers, but I think that you have topped me!

Well thanks, after over 30 years with it I love it. It's got a home as long as I do.

2350@75, is that in over drive? I am around 1650@75 but I run on the cruse control set at 70 most of the time and that is just over 1500rpm. I think that is the biggest reason I get the mileage I do out of it. When I had the 6.9 and 4 speed stick in it 76 was all she would go tacked out and that only gave me about 10 mpg. 14 mpg was the best I ever got with that set up and it was great as 8.5 mpg is the best the original 460 ever gave me, but man was that 460 fun to drive!

[redstroker_2002]

i wish i got that good of mileage