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.
Hello all,
although my current diesel isn't my first, it is my first powerstroke . And it's the only diesel I’ve had that I’ve driven in the winter. I bought the van a few months ago and have been getting around 440mi per tank (35gal. tank). I had been going to the fuel station close to my house for about the first month or two. But when the local grocery store started a discount program on fuel (buy certain items, get X mount off per gallon), I decided I would try their fuel.
After using their diesel, I started to notice a big loss in power and fuel economy. I went getting 440mi per tank, down to 280!!! This past Tuesday, I had just under a half a tank of fuel, so I decided to fill up at the station that I used to go to. I also changed the fuel filter, as I was told that the fuel from the second station could have been bad/dirty fuel.
Here we are a quarter of a tank later, and I’m still getting horrible mileage. I used to average 110mi per quarter tank, currently getting JUST over 60mi per quarter tank.
Took the van to the local diesel shop and had them hook it up to the scan tool. Everything checked out OK.
My driving habits:
*I do about a 50/50 mix of highway and in-town driving
*I use stanadyne winter fuel treatment
*Recently, I've started to let the engine warm up... but only for about 10min.
Somebody please help! Why am I getting such horrible mileage now!?
Last edited by SuperVan7.3 : 11-24-2008 at 01:20 PM.
Hello all, although my current diesel isn't my first, it is my first powerstroke . And it's the only diesel I’ve had that I’ve driven in the winter. I bought the van a few months ago and have been getting around 440mi per tank (35gal. tank). I had been going to the fuel station close to my house for about the first month or two. But when the local grocery store started a discount program on fuel (buy certain items, get X mount off per gallon), I decided I would try their fuel.
After using their diesel, I started to notice a big loss in power and fuel economy. I went getting 440mi per tank, down to 280!!! This past Tuesday, I had just under a half a tank of fuel, so I decided to fill up at the station that I used to go to. I also changed the fuel filter, as I was told that the fuel from the second station could have been bad/dirty fuel.
Here we are a quarter of a tank later, and I’m still getting horrible mileage. I used to average 110mi per quarter tank, currently getting JUST over 60mi per quarter tank.
Took the van to the local diesel shop and had them hook it up to the scan tool. Everything checked out OK.
My driving habits:
*I do about a 50/50 mix of highway and in-town driving
*I use stanadyne winter fuel treatment
*Recently, I've started to let the engine warm up... but only for about 10min.
Somebody please help! Why am I getting such horrible mileage now!?
You are getting winter blended fuel which is not as hot, but you should only lose a mile or so a gallon. I would continue to investigate- something else is wrong to lose that much. Filters??
I replaced the air filters and fuel filter. BTW, the local diesel shop told me there is only 1 fuel filter on a 97 7.3 (and I only found one myself), but the parts store said there were two?
Anybody know the truth? I replaced the one that I found.
There is only 1 fuel filter on your van . . .If you have a cat, it could be plugged. Mine was. Also make sure your intake connections are all tight . Do you have a boost guage ? Maybe you need a MAP sensor or your Injector o-rings need replacement. I did all of the above and I cosistantly get an average of 16-17 mpg If I stay on the highway I get closer to 19. This is with 4 ladders on the racks and at least 600-800 lbs of tools inside . . .
__________________
95 E350 PSD HD Cargo , BB shim , E4OD , B&M aluminium Trans pan , HD cooler , Cat sleeps with the fishes , 3:55 D70FF, Michelin LTX " E " ,Not installed yet DP flashed PCM (60 Tow )Autometer Triple Pillar Guage pod , New Injector O-rings /IPR /lift pump / filterbowl @ 235K , Timbrens SES kit
1977 F350 Dually Dump , 460 , 429 POLICE heads , 4:56 D70FF, Edelbrock Intake , Holley 850 dbl pmper ,MSD IGN , Custom HiPo C-6 Trans , Dual Exhausts , Bridgestone "E" Tires
1983 KZ1000R , Yoshimura Stage I
1982 KZ1000 , 1045 Wiseco , Turbo ready
1990 KX500
There is only 1 fuel filter on your van . . .If you have a cat, it could be plugged. Mine was. Also make sure your intake connections are all tight . Do you have a boost guage ? Maybe you need a MAP sensor or your Injector o-rings need replacement. I did all of the above and I cosistantly get an average of 16-17 mpg If I stay on the highway I get closer to 19. This is with 4 ladders on the racks and at least 600-800 lbs of tools inside . . .
Good point on the cat. Granted, I have a pickup but my mileage is virtually the same. 18 MPG mixed, little hotrodding and staying at 70 MPH (2K RPM). I drop to 16.5 in the winter. Towing my 32' enclosed 10K CargoPro aluminum trailer I averaged 12.8 running from MA to NC and back last month.
My winter mileage can drop as low as 11 mpg (versus 17 mpg in the summer). To do this, the daytime highs are typically less than -20 degrees F and I'm running straight #1 diesel. The engine will idle at close to 1000 rpm and the EBPV normally kicks in while driving in town, even if I spent significant time on the highway prior to that. There is a lot more idling time as well. Mileage of 13 - 15 MPG is pretty much normal in January and February.
Wow... that is a very drastic change. Ideling for 10 min shouldn't have an affect. What type of fuel is your local stations carrying? Is is straight #1 or a blend?
My van, I'm just between 1/2 tank and 3/4 empty and if I recall right, I have 300 or so miles on the trip odo. Granted, I think it still has summer fuel in it (just bought it last week.....surplus van that sat around)
__________________
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
...well it may be too early to tell for sure, but so far... the throttle seems to be a little more responsive and the milage seems like it may come back around. I'll keep watching and post when it gets a little further into the tank.
By the way, I stopped at the CAT scale today (just for fun).
Here are the results:
Steer Axle: 3980lbs.
Drive Axle: 5000lbs.
Gross Weight: 8980lbs. <<< might have something to do with lower mpg's?
^cargo area loaded, two people in the cab
...well it may be too early to tell for sure, but so far... the throttle seems to be a little more responsive and the milage seems like it may come back around. I'll keep watching and post when it gets a little further into the tank.
By the way, I stopped at the CAT scale today (just for fun).
Here are the results:
Steer Axle: 3980lbs.
Drive Axle: 5000lbs.
Gross Weight: 8980lbs. <<< might have something to do with lower mpg's?
^cargo area loaded, two people in the cab
Super, are you saying you are now loaded in the rear and were not before?
Wow... that is a very drastic change. Ideling for 10 min shouldn't have an affect. What type of fuel is your local stations carrying? Is is straight #1 or a blend?
My van, I'm just between 1/2 tank and 3/4 empty and if I recall right, I have 300 or so miles on the trip odo. Granted, I think it still has summer fuel in it (just bought it last week.....surplus van that sat around)
Made an error on my estimate. It was about 275 at just past half tank. Right now, I have about 350 miles and it's just at/past 3/4 empty. So I'm guessing that it "could" make 400-425 if I let get down to the 1/8 of tank area.
__________________
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
well according to the fuel gauge, i've only gone 70 miles, and it's already used a 1/4 tank. So unless the fuel gauge is going bad, all of the repairs I just did, didn't change a thing! If it stays at this rate, i'm still at 280mi per tank and 8mpg!!!
Any other ideas?
I changed:
Air Filters
Fuel Filter
Removed the Cat
Scan Tool says all systems are within spec
To the best of my knowlage, there is a fuel pump in the fuel tank and then another fuel pump (high pressure) by the engine. Is the fuel gauge attached to the fuel pump in the tank like gasser vans, or is it something I can replace without buying a whole new pump?
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Winter Fuel Milage
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