6.4L Power Stroke Engine and DrivetrainDiscussion of the 6.4L Power Stroke diesel engine and drivetrain in the 2008 Super-Duty trucks. No gas engine discussion allowed except on transmissions and drivetrain that pertain to all models. Please confine discussion of topics in this forum to those items that are specific to the 6.4L Power Stroke engine.
this maybe a repeat question, but could the 450 owners with the 6.4 give me some input on your mileage? i have heard some people claiming up in the 14 range for a 450. it seems very hard to believe, and here is why. the first 450 i drove was an auto 4.88 gears. this truck also drove in the lot behind me as it came from tampa to ft laud, completely empty, with a 70 year old guy driving it, all highway, and odometer had 299 miles on it and mpg reader thingy said 7.9!! i test drove the truck, and of course reset it, just as i pulled out of the lot. the test drive i tokk was only a few miles, but it was mostly highway, and i never went over 72, and tried very hard to keep at 70, and also had long coasting stops (we have those no stop u-turn lanes on the expressway) anyway when i got back the meter was at like 9 if i recall correctly. so i convinced the dealer to order me one with 4.30 gears with out me leaving a deposit. truck came in and i took for it a ride, agian all highway. this time i went a few exxtis further. after about 3 miles, the gauge was at 9.9 and i never stabbed or accelerated hard. so i reset it while in motion at 70 mph with cruise on, and once it "cought up" it was at only 10.9, so i took the long coasting stop, meter went up into the high teens, and then headed back. after only a minute at 70 mph gauge at only 11, and would not move. first small bridge, down to 11.8 now. so i slowed to 65 gauge barely creeped up .2 so i reset it on motin again, was reading 12.2 at 65. truck had 32 miles when i got back, reader was at 10.5 when i stopped.
any input would be great.
ps, i took the same trip in the 350 with 4.10 and it was reading 16, after reseting in motion like i did with the 450. i know my meter is off, and the truck only gets like 14.5 on a highway trip like that, os if the 450 follows suit and is off some the mileage is even worse!!
Mine started at 9 and is running at just over 10 now. I'm waiting for 1000 miles before pulling a trailer but with 4.88, which I have, the mileage between 60 and 70 MPH makes a big difference. I will be adding an overdrive unit to my truck for those times when I'm not pulling a heavy trailer. I'd go for the 4.30's if I weren't expecting to pull 24k in mountainous regions.
As yet another fence-sitter (almost ready to buy), I too am keenly interested in mileage for the new 450s under a load. I realize not many folks have a lot of miles yet and I further realize that as she breaks in the truck will improve...but what is the expected high side with the 4.88/auto trans? 14 + empty and 10 + towing a 15K 5er would make me feel a lot less wobbly on this trade!!
Current 350 can squeak out 10 mpg in the WY to IL run while dropping to 7-ish in the Mts of WA/OR/UT/CO. And yes I know if I let up the pressure of my right foot, mileage will increase. However, I'm sorta "Mission Oriented"...time=$$ too...IF I only have XX days to get there then I need to roll that way!
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Current: '08 F-450 Lariat 4WD, Torqshift w/ 4.88 rear, dark stone over pueblo gold...a pulling beast!
~'02 F-350 XLT CC DRW 4WD longbed, 4 inch exhaust, K&N intake, air bags, Reese 20K hitch
~'96 F-350 XLT SRW 4WD longbed...stock, haulin' a 12 ft Caribou Camper.
Current 5er: '07 RAPTOR 3712, 3 slides and a garage! NOT a camper, it's a bloody HOUSE!
Well here is my take on the 450, 4:88's and fuel mileage. If you truly need the pulling/towing power of the 450 with 4:88's, than fuel mileage has to be a much lower consideration as to whether or not to choose this truck. I have spent over a year researching for a proper tow vehicle to tow a heavy trailer(22k pounds app). My options were: 1. a upfitted 550(cab chassis 450 was not offered with 4:88's)$75,000+ price tag, same fuel mileage
2. A MDT, such as a F-650, a Freightliner M2 (both powered with CAT C-7) or a International 4400LoPro with either the 466 or 570, all upfitted with hauler bed. Average price of these truck $89,000+. Towing mileage 8-11mpg
3. A retired HDT, such as a Volvo 610 or 770, converted for RV towing use, registered as a Not For Hire MH. Cost varies, but around $50,000. Towing mileage 6-11mpg
4. Available this year for the first time, a factory produced F-450 pickup with 4:88's rated to tow 24,500lbs. Cost $48-$58,000. Towing mileage 6-11mpg(according to actual owners I have personally talked to.
My decision was easy. I got a very nice, very comfortable, well built, dual purpose(pickup and tow vehicle) that the neighbors will not complain about. Sure it will not cruise at 75mph returning 16-19mpg, I don't think anyone who is needing the towing ability of this truck would expect that. I got a great warranty, decent price, low insurance and registration cost and by far(IMHO) the best looking big pickup this year. And the price wasn't too bad, either.
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2008 F-450 Lariat Dark Stone Metallic over Pueblo Gold 4x4(manual shift transfer case, manual hubs), High capacity tow 4:88s, Off Road, Camper packages, Sirius Sat, Upfitter switches, DVD entertainment, tailgate step, traction control, Audiophile 6-disc, PTC Supplemental heat and heated seats(warm buns), rear sensors, traction control, tailgate step. Built May 8, delivered May 24
Reese Signature Series 24k fiver hitch, I installed it myself, best hitch I have found yet
Line-X bedliner, heavy duty floor mats
2003 Sunline F281SR(weekend getaways)
SeaRay 215EC http://community.webshots.com/user/C...host=community
I think the problem you have is that you are driving 70. Even my fuel miserly 3.73 7.3L's millage would start to got the c**p above 55. You want a big truck either slow down or eat the fuel.
No matter which of my trucks I have driven there is a sweet spot rpm wise where they just purr along and sip the fuel. Find that and stay there.
Normal city/some highway driving and taking it easy I can get about 10.5 or so. Highway at 70mph or more your mileage goes to crap. (I see about 8.5-9 at 75)
Normal driving for me is about 9.5-10. (not driving like an old fart) Towing a 10k lbs empty stacker trailer netted me about 8mpg at 60mph
I hand calculated mine pulling a 7000 lb trailer I got 8.8 miles per gallon up and down hills. On the freeway empty I have hand calculated 13.9 miles per gallon doing 60-65 mph. Anything beyond 65 mph and it shoots $20 bills out the back. Don't trust the meters until you have done a hand calculation to prove they are correct. My meter reads about 1 mpg higher than what it actually is.
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2008 King Ranch F450 - 4.30 Gears
2008 XT F550 - 4.88 Gears
2006 Caterpillar 420D Backhoe
1957 Wife - Not a diesel burner, but sometimes does a Regen
I towed my Living quarter Horse trailer with 2 horses in it.... but no extra water or hay. About 18,000 lbs.I was going from Denver through Colo Springs then up in the mountains to Penrose. I made 2 trips. I have 3,000 miles on it so far. I had the oil changed and the reflash done the day before. As far a mileage I got around 8-9 miles per gallon. I have the 4:30 rear end in mine. My truck felt a bit sluggish through out the trip. BUT I also Had Tire trouble on my trailer. Lisa
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I hand calculated mine pulling a 7000 lb trailer I got 8.8 miles per gallon up and down hills. On the freeway empty I have hand calculated 13.9 miles per gallon doing 60-65 mph. Anything beyond 65 mph and it shoots $20 bills out the back. Don't trust the meters until you have done a hand calculation to prove they are correct. My meter reads about 1 mpg higher than what it actually is.
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Your sig. show that you have a 350 and a 450. What is the differance in mileage? Thanks.
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'08 F350 cc SRW 4x4 white/stone
The F350 seems to be getting about 16.5 miles per gallon at 75 mph on the highway, but that is using the meter. The F350 only has about 1500 miles on it and I do not trust the meter. My F450 broke in at about 3500 miles and started getting about 1.5 miles per gallon better milage. Once the F350 gets about 3500 miles on it and I go on a long trip I'll do a hand calculation on it. I suspect the F350 will be getting about 17 mpg after break in. The F350 is going 75 mph at 2000 rpm where the F450 is at 55 mph at 2000 rpm.
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2008 King Ranch F450 - 4.30 Gears
2008 XT F550 - 4.88 Gears
2006 Caterpillar 420D Backhoe
1957 Wife - Not a diesel burner, but sometimes does a Regen
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Well here is my take on the 450, 4:88's and fuel mileage. If you truly need the pulling/towing power of the 450 with 4:88's, than fuel mileage has to be a much lower consideration as to whether or not to choose this truck. I have spent over a year researching for a proper tow vehicle to tow a heavy trailer(22k pounds app). My options were: 1. a upfitted 550(cab chassis 450 was not offered with 4:88's)$75,000+ price tag, same fuel mileage
2. A MDT, such as a F-650, a Freightliner M2 (both powered with CAT C-7) or a International 4400LoPro with either the 466 or 570, all upfitted with hauler bed. Average price of these truck $89,000+. Towing mileage 8-11mpg
3. A retired HDT, such as a Volvo 610 or 770, converted for RV towing use, registered as a Not For Hire MH. Cost varies, but around $50,000. Towing mileage 6-11mpg
4. Available this year for the first time, a factory produced F-450 pickup with 4:88's rated to tow 24,500lbs. Cost $48-$58,000. Towing mileage 6-11mpg(according to actual owners I have personally talked to.
My decision was easy. I got a very nice, very comfortable, well built, dual purpose(pickup and tow vehicle) that the neighbors will not complain about. Sure it will not cruise at 75mph returning 16-19mpg, I don't think anyone who is needing the towing ability of this truck would expect that. I got a great warranty, decent price, low insurance and registration cost and by far(IMHO) the best looking big pickup this year. And the price wasn't too bad, either.
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thanks for the input. and yes, according to the knuckleheads at ford i need a 450. but the truth isi know i could easily get by with a SRW 3.73, with a manual. i have done it may times. bad thing is ford won't me get the truck i want. thats why the next one will mmore than likely be a dodge. 4k less for a truck i don't really want is better than 4k more for one that i don't really want.
If you "know" that you can get by with 3:73 SRW, why are you even cosidering the 450, whether 4:30 or 4:88's? How much weight are you planning on pulling with the truck? Unless the trailer weighs 18k+, I don't see why you are considering the 450. don't understand, "Ford won't let me get the truck I want", I think Ford more than any other truck builder allows us to build our trucks to suit our needs. For towing the weight that would require the strength of a 450, DOdge just does not build the pickup in that category today.
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2008 F-450 Lariat Dark Stone Metallic over Pueblo Gold 4x4(manual shift transfer case, manual hubs), High capacity tow 4:88s, Off Road, Camper packages, Sirius Sat, Upfitter switches, DVD entertainment, tailgate step, traction control, Audiophile 6-disc, PTC Supplemental heat and heated seats(warm buns), rear sensors, traction control, tailgate step. Built May 8, delivered May 24
Reese Signature Series 24k fiver hitch, I installed it myself, best hitch I have found yet
Line-X bedliner, heavy duty floor mats
2003 Sunline F281SR(weekend getaways)
SeaRay 215EC http://community.webshots.com/user/C...host=community
I drove a beautiful F-450 King Ranch today. Unbelievable truck! It was 2 wheel drive, which is what I think I will get this time. It had the High Capacity Towing package which includes the 4.88 axle. Engine was turning 2500 at 68mph, trip computer was showing 11 mpg. I can definately use an F-450 but I plan on getting the 4.30 axle. In fact I would have bought this truck but the 4.88 is not what I need.
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