Just traded my 2000 Tundra on a 6.0 Excursion this morning, in no small part because of the longevity and improved mileage of diesels. I'm something of a traveling salesman and tend to drive a lot (1200 miles last week), so improvements in mpg mean a lot more to me than most.
Admittedly I'd like more horsepower than a top fuel dragster but I really don't need the headache of a fragged tranny. However I don't tow much (ok, almost never) so that should help durability-wise.
So the question is what's the best way to spend less than $2k to improve mileage? These are great forums BTW...
Welcome,
My best mods for MPG's were free flow muffler, intake and 60hp chip. 20.5 MPG on round trip to Corpus Christi was my best usually 18-18.5 mpg. Baby the pedal, stay under 65 mph or you will lose 1 mpg per 5 mph anything over that. I get 17 maybe 17.5 now with 80hp chip, intake, 315/75/16's, and 2 inches of lift. I wouldn't go back either!!!
You will spend more money on this truck than you Toy.. Oil, fuel filters, ball joints, shocks/stabilizer, swaybar, misc. motors that crap out, I could go on but you get the picture..
I drive about 500 miles a week in a 92 Accord, 170K, 28 MPG Intown, org. clutch, org. rear brakes, 3rd set of tires, no drips/smoke/major repairs yet! Bought it for $1 from the parents. They feel they got the $'s worth out of it. Thats economy!!
I plan on running 285/75 tires without a lift. Admitted that will cost maybe 0.5mpg but the stockers are just too little. I was running 295/75's on my Tundra with a 2.5" lift and a little rubbing. Hopefully without much off road action and close to stock suspension/tires my ball joints will life a long healthy life.
So an intake/exhaust and some sort of flip chip ought to pretty much handle it?
You won't get huge gains, but I'd vote for a free flowing exhaust (take your pick) and a less restrictive air filter. (unless you operate in extremely dusty situations) I'd also spend the 5-10 minutes to replace the quick connect fittings on the fuel pump with a piece of diesel rated hose and 2 worm drive clamps. (not much of mileage improver, but definately better than the POS qc connectors that ford gives you). You'd still have enough left over for a programmer or chip. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
Have a good one,
Dave
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2002 Excursion Limited - 7.3 PSD, 4x4, Auto. Tekonsha Prodigy Controller. ISSPRO EV Gauges in A-Pillar mount. Diesel Turbo Lifesaver. Pre-pump Mod. SCMT-Trimode. AIC. Back Door storage bins. Banks 3 1/2 inch Monster Exhaust. AIS. "U-Code" Springs. Powerstroker Exhaust Brake. Husky Liners. Bilstein Shocks. ART Brakes, Helwig Rear Anti-swaybar. Zoodad Mod. Airlift Rear Airbags. Racor 3550 CCV. Forest River Wildcat 26FBS TT.
Never, ever let it rev over 2000 RPM. Forget the big tires. They are counterproductive for MPG.
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'00 F-350, 4x2, 6 Speed AIC 210,000 miles
3.08:1 Gears
Fuel tank mods: MaroonHarpoon, Pre-Pump,
Evans, 203 degree thermostat, Poor Man's Tymar, 4" Single SS Exhaust, Rugged Air Dam
225-75x16E tires in front 235-85x16Es in back, tires aired up to 100 psi, Lowered 4" in front and 6" in back, "Fastback" bed fairing
21.3 MPG before mods
27.0 MPG tested with mods
Try the 203 degree thermostat. I got an additional 0.5 MPG. Cheap mod.
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'00 F-350, 4x2, 6 Speed AIC 210,000 miles
3.08:1 Gears
Fuel tank mods: MaroonHarpoon, Pre-Pump,
Evans, 203 degree thermostat, Poor Man's Tymar, 4" Single SS Exhaust, Rugged Air Dam
225-75x16E tires in front 235-85x16Es in back, tires aired up to 100 psi, Lowered 4" in front and 6" in back, "Fastback" bed fairing
21.3 MPG before mods
27.0 MPG tested with mods
Exhaust system, air intake are the first things that come to mind with a mild chip.
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2001 F-250 Crew, long box, 4x4, Big Hoss level-5 Chip, Turbo Air Guide (TAG-II), Ford AIS air intake with foam sleeve, Monster exhaust, Aeroturbine, exhaust Guide, 6.0L intercooler, Di-Pricol Optix gauges, IHC CPS, Premo Oil Refiner, Banks Exhaust brake, SmartLock, Banks Quick Turbo, Six-Gun.
2000 Excursion PSD limited, Banks Big Hoss level-5 Chip, Turbo Air Guide (TAG-II), Banks Transcommand, UNI 2-stage foam air filter, 4" aluminized exhaust with 4" down pipe and 2 Aeroturbines.
I just installed the Edge "juice" chip tonight and took her for a spin. So far I just have the Afe filter/housing and the chip, so I didn't even consider the 100hp setting. At 50hp I noticed a significant difference. At 75hp I think I may have seen the Lord. I put it back to 50hp for safety until I get the turbo back exhaust installed this week. If you have a 6.0 Ex and don't have a chip, you simply have no idea what a difference it makes. I want to give rides just so I can see the expression on my friends faces [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
Edge Juice Box set to 50hp = -1.5mpg on the highway (722.6 miles in two days, filled up at the same pump both times). No test is perfect, but as an engineer this was a pretty dammed objective comparison. My next test will be with a DPPI turbo back and no chip.
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