Maybe I'm a believer - Diesel Forum

rickeg · 08-21-2006, 01:05 PM

I'm still skeptical, but I have seen a recent and significant increase in MPG, at least in lightly loaded, highway driving. The truck just turned 16K.

I never got over 16.7 until recently. I average 18.1 on a 700 mile trip this weekend. This even includes two nightmare traffic jams (2 hours of creeping, idling) AC on most of the time, and a bunch of in town errands. I suspect I was getting close to 19 on the hwy, which I never would have believed.

Time will tell if this is an anomaly, but it seems like the real deal.
It was flashed recently....0516, or whatever the hell the current "mandatory" flash is called.

Too bad fuel is 3.50 a gallon here. This thing is still a money pit compared to a gasser.

**teamroper60** · 08-21-2006, 01:21 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Too bad fuel is 3.50 a gallon here. This thing is still a money pit compared to a gasser.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you truly need the truck, then compared to a gasser that could do the same job, no it isn't. A comparable gasser would get much less fuel mileage than the diesel.

If on the other hand, an F150 could safely and adequately do the job you need your truck to do, then yes, it is a money pit but remember, it was your decision to buy the truck.[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img]

STG · 08-21-2006, 01:43 PM

When the then new 2004 F150s came out, several magazine reviews reported an average of 12MPG for a 5.4 automatic FX4.

Skweeker · 08-21-2006, 02:00 PM

Hmm, my brother-in-law traded his 2004 F150 FX4 for a Subaru Outback due to bad fuel mileage. Said he was getting about 17mpg. Oh, well!!!

rickeg · 08-21-2006, 03:42 PM

The definition of "true need" is wildly open to interpretation.

I "need" to haul 1,500 pounds of bikes and gear in the bed and another 8K or so in the form of a travel trailer and seat 4 guys comfortably.

I could do that with any 3/4 ton plus crew cab. I NEED the diesel because it USED to be way cheaper to buy diesel AND it got better mileage. Now the diesel is WAY more money but the mileage is a little better. The equation has changed...a lot.

I NEED the diesel because it's cool and I could afford it.

The part aboout being a believer is that I was really starting to wonder if the increase in mileage was ever really going to occur. It seems like it has, too bad the water was muddied by the re-flash. Too many variables to be sure of anything.

FWIW, we got 19-20 in our Outback, we get almost 30 out of our 330Ci.

moldman7n · 08-21-2006, 03:48 PM

[quote Now the diesel is WAY more money but the mileage is a little better. The equation has changed...a lot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wait a while it may go back the other way. Diesel was cheaper than gas here in CT for a long time. Then it was more. A couple weeks ago it was cheaper than regular. Now it is the price of mid-grade. Unbelievable.

BigCreek · 08-21-2006, 03:53 PM

My '97 F-150 extended cab, 2wd 4.6L with 5 spd. handshaker got virtually the same mileage as the truck in my sig. 12-13 around town, 17 - 18 highway.

So - I got more room, the hauling capacity I needed, and 4wd, plus the bonus of the power to set the cruise and forget it rather than downshifting for every minor hill, all for the same (or just a little better) fuel economy.

Maintenance is higher, sure - but - worth it for me. Maybe not for everybody.

(Just a side note, after a couple thousand miles driving beside my friend's 7.3, only other difference is his is a short box, the 7.3 consistently gets 2mpg better than my 6.0.)

Terry

short_stuff · 08-21-2006, 04:43 PM

Yeah, it's time for them to start delivering home heating oil up north. So the annual 'supply' problems start to occur, and diesel prices (at least down here) go up for no reason at all (no hurricanes to halt production, no transmission pipelines blown up, no refineries down for their annual shutdowns). Go figure. What peeves me is that we go through this every year. You would think that by now, the oil companies would have their supply requirements down pat, and they would have ample supply of both home heating oil, and the on-road diesel.
So, since they don't, can anyone spell collusion between oil companies?

LSC_Ya · 08-22-2006, 10:23 AM

Collusion? I didn't you Texans knew such big words. LOL

I agree though. And what sucks (at least from what I've seen) is the prices don't go down by much (if at all) when things warm back up in the north.

bbuchanan2 · 08-22-2006, 12:40 PM

Just as a point of reference. In my office there are three F150 Supercrews. 2 are 2wd, and 1 is an FX4. The FX4 averages 13.8 MPG, and the other two just slightly over 14. All three trucks have the 5.4 in them. I average 15 to 15.5 in my F250 CC FX4. And on the west side of town Diesel is still $2.89, about the same price as standard unleaded.

rickeg · 08-22-2006, 02:12 PM

I would about kill at this point for $2.89 diesel.

We're still at $3.40-$3.50.

It cost $200 to get to Coos bay and back this weekend at 18mpg.

mparker762 · 08-22-2006, 10:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, it's time for them to start delivering home heating oil up north. So the annual 'supply' problems start to occur, and diesel prices (at least down here) go up for no reason at all (no hurricanes to halt production, no transmission pipelines blown up, no refineries down for their annual shutdowns). Go figure. What peeves me is that we go through this every year. You would think that by now, the oil companies would have their supply requirements down pat, and they would have ample supply of both home heating oil, and the on-road diesel.
So, since they don't, can anyone spell collusion between oil companies?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure, I can spell it. Ever heard of the Alaskan pipeline? Read anything about it in the news lately? Don't reckon the closing of the alaskan pipeline has anything to do with the price increase? Not a chance that the refineries switched their stills to make a little more gasoline and a little less diesel? Nope, it's gotta be collusion, all those greedy oil companies getting together to screw us poor helpless diesel owners.

4drdually · 08-23-2006, 12:27 AM

It's called supply and demand and gallon for gallon, we pay peanuts for what its worth. IT's just that we consume! Anyways. My dad has a 250 gasser with the 5.4. Bone stock 12 mpg. Exhaust 13mpg. No change highway or around town. same mileage hand calculated and through the computer. He drives nice and easy as any 55 year old would. My 7.3, 13 around town, 16 on the highway. I have a lead foot. Biggest difference, towing. He gets squat, my mileage doesn't change. Price of diesel is the same up here as gas. figure what he spends for an underpowered pickup compared to me that has the ability to pull down a house, and i think the diesel is worth it. I'm hoping the 6.0 will squeeze out a little more. If not, I need the truck, I'm a contractor. just my 2 cents

incredilion · 08-23-2006, 12:45 AM

"It's called supply and demand and gallon for gallon, we pay peanuts for what its worth"
Do you REALLY believe that?
Because, for me, I don't see anything at all that has driven up the price of fuels, aside from speculation. Fears about interruptions and the like. Yes, the Alaska situation has had an effect, as well as Asian demand, but demand isn't what has driven up prices, speculation is the main factor. And boy, don't the oil companies just love it.
Record profits. All over.
As of right now, the US reserves are at a 7 year high. That means we have more refined oil & gas products on hand than we have in 7 years.
And I paid $3.79 a gallon just outside of Mount St Helens yesterday.

dirtcurt · 08-23-2006, 03:49 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Too bad fuel is 3.50 a gallon here. This thing is still a money pit compared to a gasser.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you truly need the truck, then compared to a gasser that could do the same job, no it isn't. A comparable gasser would get much less fuel mileage than the diesel.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't forget the high altitude ability of the turbo diesel. I live at almost sea level and can drive to 8k feet in an hour. The turbo diesel runs circles around gas motors at altitude. I actually think it runs better(more power) the higher it goes.