OT Fuel mileage

B W in MO

Member
I would like to get better fuel mileage on my 1999 F250 7.3, Would anyone have any suggestions other than $400-500 chip ? I keep the filters changed and clean all time. I try to stop at fuel centers, name brand as much as I can. I only get 9.5 when loaded. Thanks for any info.
 
my 2000 f250 7.3 4x4 auto gets 13 or 14 mph pulling a trailer, my brother had a 99 he said his was a slug empty compared to mine pulling the trailer, there are alot of differances between the 99 and 2000 7.3, he put a, I think it's a beans chip in his.
 
How loaded? My 96 4WD will get 22-23 if I take it easy in summer, and 18 or so in winter. Now, it depends when I am loaded, if I am pulling a 16' boat with it, it will get 15 mpg. But, if I have a load of logs or tractors behind it, it will go around 12. I believe it has 3.55 gears, auto (unfortunately), and 295-85-16 tires on it, which helped my unloaded mileage by lowering freeway rpm. No programmer, just a BB in the fuel pressure regulator, and a huge air filter and housing from a Gradall. It is pretty loose too, I'm almost at 300,000 miles, mostly working miles.

Ross
 
LOL I used to get 8mpg with my n14 500 cummins in a semi. type of oil is a big factor cleanliness of injectors fuel presure are some of the things you can do to improve fuel economy. The number one thing that accounts for fuel mileage though is the nut behind the steering wheel. Drive like you have an egg between your foot and the accelerator and your fuel mileage will increase dramatically.
 
Finding the difference between loaded and unloaded mileage should show up an exhaust issue.

Exhaust isn't cheap either.
 
Try switching to 5w40 full synthetic diesel oil. I have a couple customers who swear by this on their 7.3s and both claim a 2 mpg increase from it. The injectors work by motor oil on a 7.3, so anything to make them more efficient will help.
 
I noticed my rear tires were hotter than the front tires when I pulling a trailer, so I upped the rear air pressure and tire temps are the same. Better mileage too.
 
Since you mentioned customers I assume you are involved in
some type of auto business. I have a 2001 F350 7.3 that will not start if temps are below 38 degrees . We have new glowbplugs new wire harness, new gaskets, pump pressure is right and injectors are good. It does not smoke when cranking below 38 degrees. We have pulled the ECM from another running truck and it makes no difference. At 40 degrees it will lope when it starts for a few seconds it may even die once. At 42 degrees it will start and run perfect. It will start at sub zero temps if plugged in. Truck has no blow by and uses no oil. Anyone ever had this happen
 
OK first what are your driving habits? Are you a foot to the floor from every stop driver? 2nd what kind of RPM's are you running at say between 55 and 65 MPH? A SIL had an early 90's F250 7.2 5 speed that was geared so that at 55 he was turning over 2000 RPM. That engine likes between1600 and 1800 best for economy. No amount of chipping or exhaust work was going to make that truck get decent mileage. It was geared wrong for the engine. Original owner had ordered it with 4:10 gearing because he had always had a truck with 4:10's. That was his first diesel and he just didn't know any better. Look at those 2 things before you spend gobs of money that may not improve your mileage enough to make a difference.

On the driving habits. A few years back a guy I knew and I were both driving the same year, same model SUV as a daily driver. 2000 Ford explorer, 4.0. On trips I got 25 and he got 18. He always claimed I was lying about mileage. We finally went on a road trip together to look at a tractor for him. He drove on the way there and I drove coming back. He constantly ran 80-85 MPH and refused to use cruise control. I ran the speed limits, 55 and 70 respectively and set the cruise. HE accelerated foot to the floor every time, I didn't. Going and coming back we checked mileage. He got 18 I got 24. Total trip was right at 280 miles going the same route both ways.

Rick
 
I have a 2000 7.3 4x4 crew cab long box F350. It has 235,000 miles with 120,000 of those mine and only about 5,000 not towing a gooseneck trailer. We haul up to 40,000 gvw. I have never done glow plugs or injectors.

Starting. Good, matching, high cca batteries are a must. I would replace them every three years and put the old ones in something else. Any decrease in cranking will cause starting issues. I always plug it in below freezing and it starts fine. Much colder and without plugging it in I might or might not have problems.

Oil. My 7.3 expert and Ford say to never use anything other than 10w 30 oil. Other weights lead to injector problems. It has worked for me.

Mileage,
Empty on the freeway up to 18mpg
Towing empty 14,000 trailer 14-15
Towing full 14.000 trailer 12-14
Towing empty 25,000 gooseneck 10-12.
Towing full 25,000 gooseneck 7-10.

Heavy towing takes fuel. Wind direction and speed make a huge difference.

I have Banks turbo, chip, exhaust, and transmission controller.
 
Yea, my SIL is two years older than me, a heavy equipment operator. He says engines run their best on the governor, runs his backhoe that way (probably ok), my letter series Farmalls (ok but uses fuel), and any truck or car. He gets there but I don't want him driving my trucks.
 
When someone talks about his fuel mileage as him to show you his mileage log showing every drop of fuel and every mile traveled. If he can produce a detailed log then you can probably believe him.
 

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