E-Series VansTechnical discussion of topics related to vans powered by any of the Navistar engines. This covers a broad number of years, but there isn't enough demand to split it any further.
The ride is a shortbus-9000lbs. (I know-the size AND shape of a house ) 245k miles with new Beans tranny saver injectors. I've taken 2 trips in it-both in hilly terrain-99% hiway. On its own over a 700 mile trip it got apx. 11mpg. The next trip I was towing a 2000 lb trailer for 500 miles and the mileage was closer to 9mpg. Power was ok (well-i wouldnt complain if there was more while towing.)
What would you suggest to eek out a few more mpg? What might I expect to get?
I know that with my 2000 I have the up graded the exhaust to 4" from the down pipe, put the 1705 superchip program in.
My van does not have a tach so I use a scangauge 2 and have the rpms showing and drive more now on rpms for the van..
In 2003 when I bought the van I was 14-16mpg most of the time, but then with knowing and watching the rpms I am now at 18-20 more times than not.
Winter is about here and mpg is going to suck.... most likely around 15 for the most part.
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Winter is here again, and yes I mean WINTER.. the temps are likely to reach -25F and then there is the snow and the dark.
2000 E350 7.3PSD, Hellwig Stablizer bar,140 Lightforce with covers, 55Watt High/Lows HID's , extras in the bumper. 4"Aero Turbin and 4" all the way back. 1705 program, Scangauge II,265/75/16E Toyo Open Country, My Photos http://photos.thedieselstop.com/showgall...&stype=&ppuser=
"FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION"
IT IS MINE ALL MINE.....(The Van that is, it has been Released by Lenholder)
I have the stock AIC mounted in the passenger footwell and can see it while driving. Most of the trip the MPH was around 65-70-I set the cruise control to 68. Rpm was 2600? or so. What IS the sweet spot rpm?
For mine with the 3:55 rear end, 265/75r16 tires my spot on the rpms is 1600-1625
Now that gives me 58-59mph.
Even on the parts of the Alaska Highway that I could do 65, I don't for me it is not worth the extra speed for fuel that I will burn.
I have been keeping records of mileage and fuel on this van from day one. I have run tests to see what a higher rpm, speed will do for mpg, and for me it lowers it.
With Diesel at 3.699 here..... it is a difference between .22 or .30 per mile...
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Winter is here again, and yes I mean WINTER.. the temps are likely to reach -25F and then there is the snow and the dark.
2000 E350 7.3PSD, Hellwig Stablizer bar,140 Lightforce with covers, 55Watt High/Lows HID's , extras in the bumper. 4"Aero Turbin and 4" all the way back. 1705 program, Scangauge II,265/75/16E Toyo Open Country, My Photos http://photos.thedieselstop.com/showgall...&stype=&ppuser=
"FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION"
IT IS MINE ALL MINE.....(The Van that is, it has been Released by Lenholder)
Last edited by Alaskapsdvan; 10-25-2009 at 04:10 PM.
prolly not gonna get much better as you prolly have 4.11 gears. i get 21 mpg hway in my 03, 350 with 3.55 gears and sim to yours in my 04, 450 with 4.11 gears.
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2004 E450 Cutaway, 6.0L, quigley 4x4, ambulance pkg., maxbrake controller, curt 20k fifth wheel. Future mods: 52" sleeper, tandem (6x6?) rear (aint look'n likely), frame cover. maybe a Herd front bumper.
2003 E350, 7.3l, x-cargo
2003 F350 Lariat, 4x4, CC, SRW, Dark Green Fx4 SOLD
1995 C3500 6.5l work trk, 2x4, CC, DRW, white DECEASED PREMATURALLY
2003 JEEP WRANGLER, ooooops, not anymore!
1986 26' Seaway Northstar w/ 454 Mercruiser
2008 Montana Mountaineer 332PHT
1991 GMC Topkick, CAT, 4' vert. gang boxes, 12' dump. if only all were as reliable!
My '99 w/ 3.55, it's best record is just over 18MPG (and that was driving empty). Granted, everything is "stock" and it has 225K on it (ex van pool). I've been told that if you change the exhaust to a higher flow and then put a chip to increase the HP, you fuel economy can go up....
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1999 E-350 Cub Wagon, 7.3L Power Stroke, E4OD, 3.55
1990 E-350 Club Wagon, 7.3L IDI, E4OD, 3.54LS x2
1983 F-150 2x4, 4.9L, C-6 w/GV-OD, 3.55 Farm pickup
1981 C-8000, 3208 CAT, RT-6510, Rockwell SSHD Tandems (Swap)
1977 K100C, NTC-350, RT-1110, Tandem
1977 Transtar II, NTC-290, RT-9509 Single
1977 Transtar II, Formula 290, RT0-9513, Tandem
1974 C-750, 391CID, Clark 5 speed, Eaton 2 speed
With my scanguage, 4.11 rear and 6.0 I have figured that around 62 mph is best speed and that is just about 2000rpm. I don't start getting "bad milage" until I am going over 69mph. While towing down to disney I was going about 68mph towing 6k and averaged about 11.8 mpg. Around town and commuting I get about 14.5mpg. I use either DieselKleen or 2 cycle oil and rotate usage.
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2005 E-350 Super Duty Chateau 6.0 PSD (Wiring harness relaced (under warrantee), FICM replaced, Alternator, DEKA Batteries)
1999 Chevy Express Mark III
2002 Forest River Shamrock 25BH
Hi kali; I noticed "E4OD" for your '99. My '99 has the 4R100 and it was built in Oct/Nov '98, the beginning of the production year. How come yours is different? Just curious.
With my scanguage, 4.11 rear and 6.0 I have figured that around 62 mph is best speed and that is just about 2000rpm. I don't start getting "bad milage" until I am going over 69mph. While towing down to disney I was going about 68mph towing 6k and averaged about 11.8 mpg. Around town and commuting I get about 14.5mpg. I use either DieselKleen or 2 cycle oil and rotate usage.
I think part of lies in where we both drove-trip 1 of mine was from Ct to Watkins glen NY up rt 17 (big hills) 2nd trip was to Burlington VT-again hills. Going to dizzyland I presume you went down rt95. I've yet to check mileage on flatlands. 90% of my trips will be up north. Think I'm just stuck with the laws of physics getting a 9k lb big box up long climbs.
Just to chime in for what its worth, I have a 1992 E350 with a 7.3 Navistar,E4OD and 3.55 gears. I am averaging 17-18 mpg in town and 21-22 highway. The truck is bone stock, well maintained and driven daily with a 1/4 to 1/2 load of equipment. Maybe proper engine oil weight, tire pressures, brakes that don't drag and driving habits have helped. I was planning to upgrade the exhaust to 4", but wonder if I will see any better mileage than what I am getting.
Last edited by primetime86; 11-01-2009 at 11:25 AM.
Reason: Grammar
I think part of lies in where we both drove-trip 1 of mine was from Ct to Watkins glen NY up rt 17 (big hills) 2nd trip was to Burlington VT-again hills. Going to dizzyland I presume you went down rt95. I've yet to check mileage on flatlands. 90% of my trips will be up north. Think I'm just stuck with the laws of physics getting a 9k lb big box up long climbs.
One of the things that I have learned about the hills that we have around here, RPM's not speed.
While most would like to climb any hill at what ever Highway speed limit there might be, it is not going to help the MPG, giving speed for keeping say 1700 rpms will help in the MPG.
Friday I made a 300 mile run, with any number of hills and each time gave up speed to stay at 1700-1800 rpms and mpg with winter diesel was at 16.5 mpg.
If one tries to keep say 55 or 65 on a hill, one could see 2400 rpms and thus the mpg is going to be down around say 5.
To this day a still wounder WHY ford did not Put a Tach in the Van....
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Winter is here again, and yes I mean WINTER.. the temps are likely to reach -25F and then there is the snow and the dark.
2000 E350 7.3PSD, Hellwig Stablizer bar,140 Lightforce with covers, 55Watt High/Lows HID's , extras in the bumper. 4"Aero Turbin and 4" all the way back. 1705 program, Scangauge II,265/75/16E Toyo Open Country, My Photos http://photos.thedieselstop.com/showgall...&stype=&ppuser=
"FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION"
IT IS MINE ALL MINE.....(The Van that is, it has been Released by Lenholder)
I took a ride down the hiway yesterday-while looking over at the AIC tach, 65mph works out to 2500 rpm. I'm betting that means the 4.10 gear.
I'll bet that means 4.56 or 4.88 gears, probably 4.56.
Assuming you don't have a locker or a limited slip rear end, you can find out. Put blocks under both front tires, in front of and behind the tires, put the trans in neutral, Parking brake off, jack up one rear wheel, mark the bottom of the raised tire,
crawl under and mark the driveshaft. Rotate the driveshaft and count the number of rotations of the driveshaft that are needed to rotate the tire 2 revolutions. That number is your gear ratio.
If you have locker or limited slip, you have to jack up both rear wheels and count for one turn of the rear tires.
Mike
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04 E-350 Ext. 6.0L PSD 4.10LS 9700# w/driver
D70 Full floating rear axle from a cutaway van
Sportsmobile camper conversion w/penthouse top
140A Alternator. 125W solar panel. Sportsmobile off-road trailer.
96,258 miles. 16.63 mpg average
From Cal to Alaska, Key West, Labrador/Newfoundland and points in between
Salem Kroger coil spring 4wd conversion - 4" lift
05 F350 front axle and aluminum wheels 275/70-18 tires.
46 Gal tank - harpooned pump vent tube.
Scangauge. DieselSite Coolant Filter@72K. Fumoto valve. Amsoil dual remote oil filter setup.
176 days in the shop - not counting the 4wd conversion time - Replaced front springs, 2 injectors, Trans housing, 3rd gear, Reverse planetary assy, Turbo, Alternator, another Alternator, Turbo hose fitting, Block Heater, Door lock, Front axle seals - all under warranty. AC hose, 1 injector, Batteries not under warranty.
If he still has a tag with the VIN number and all the vehicle information on it (it should be in the driver's door)... he can just look there!
I only remember the number for 3:55's off the top of my head since that's what I look for. Look in your owner's manual or post your findings here if you can't figure it out on your own!
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) 245k miles with new Beans tranny saver injectors. I've taken 2 trips in it-both in hilly terrain-99% hiway. On its own over a 700 mile trip it got apx. 11mpg. The next trip I was towing a 2000 lb trailer for 500 miles and the mileage was closer to 9mpg. Power was ok (well-i wouldnt complain if there was more while towing.) 
), frame cover. maybe a Herd front bumper.
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