F450 4.30 ACTUAL mpg ?

[KingRanch]

I currently have a 2006 F350 with 4.30 gears and am getting between 11 and 12 mpg when not pulling. What mileage numbers are those of you with the F450 with 4.30 gears getting out of your trucks?

Thanks

[dirtyharry]

We have a 08 350 dually with 4.3 gears and average 11mpg mix of highway and city. This is probably close to stock 450 since we are 9000lbs empty due to add ons.
Rob

[phubble08f250]

I have an 08 F450 with 4.30's , I've got about 3000 miles and seem to average 11 to 12 mpg, but have gotten as high as 14 if I am very gentle on the pedal, but I cannot do that for long..LOL,,the 11 to 12 mpg is a highway average at between 75 and 80 mph

[JESSE 1]

If I keep my speed down to about 60, I can get about 12mpg. The trip computer generally averages around 11mpg. Really doesn't seem to be getting much worse mpg than an F-250.

[jasonlisan]

I'm around 10.5-11mpg but I only have 2000 miles on the truck so far and I have to admit I'm a little heavy-footed.

[Clattertruck]

My F450 with 4.30 gears and weighing 14,400 lbs over 7000 miles has averaged 8.5 mpg at 65 mph traveling on varied highways.

The term “actual” is not precise because there are many factors involved with each truck and driver.

The Caterpiller Company has an excellent document on Coach / RV performance. For most owners who wonder about their rig’s fuel consumption, this publication has the explanations.
http://ohe.cat.com/cda/files/287140/7/legt5364-01.pdf

Factors affecting performance / fuel mileage
Driver
Route selection
Vehicle speed
Weight
Frontal area and coefficient of drag
Grade
Climate / ambient conditions
Fuel
GVW or GCW
Idle time
Tires

For example, they say the difference between the best and worst drivers can be as much as 20%.
Vehicle speed above 55mph becomes a huge factor. The horsepower needed to overcome Air Resistance increases as a cubic function of vehicle speed.

The biggest factor if you have a lot of frontal area is speed.

[KingRanch]

This information confirms what I had already suspected. I should not see much of a mpg difference between what I have now and an F450.

Thanks

[tonytabone]

Now have 16,000 miles on vehicle. Get 12 to 13 mpg in town (never driving more than 25 minutes in any direction) Get 14 to 15 mpg in the country (driving for more than 45 minutes at 50 to 55 mph) Drove to Branson from New Jersey pulling a 34ft, 10,000 Aristream, 3200 miles in all, averaged 11 mpg for whole trip. Not great but not too bad either.

[LSchicago2]

Checked my 05 the other day. 13MPG on the highway at 65-70. 8-10 in the city. LS

[jasonlisan]

I'll take that kind of fuel mileage at 16000 miles tonytabone, you're getting good mileage.

[W5DVC]

Originally Posted by KingRanch

I currently have a 2006 F350 with 4.30 gears and am getting between 11 and 12 mpg when not pulling. What mileage numbers are those of you with the F450 with 4.30 gears getting out of your trucks?

Thanks

I have a 2008 F-450 LARIAT EDITION 4X4 W/6.4L ,5 SPD TORQUESHIFT TRANS , 4:30 LIMITED-SLIP ,(DANA 110 IN BACK AND DANA 60 HYBRID IN FRONT),4X4 OFF-ROAD PACKAGE, 14500#GVRW PACKAGE,SHIFT ON FLY,NAVIGATION PACKAGE,AUDIOPHILE SYSTEM FOR NAVIGATION PACKAGE + SATELLITE RADIO,MOON ROOF,PWR SLIDING REAR WINDOW,DUAL-ALTERNATORS,REVERSE SENSORS & BACK-UP CAMERA,LEATHER CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND TOW COMMAND. I JUST TURNED 1453.5 MILES AND I'M GETTING 10 MPG. FORD SAYS IT WILL GET BETTER AFTER IT BREAKS IN , WELL SEE . BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A CHIP COMBINATION OR A BANKS PACKAGE IN MY FUTURE. W5DVC

[F450Mikey]

I have never gotten over 10mpg with 4.88s unloaded. You should expect between 7.5 towing and 10 around town / highway.

[tonytabone]

As far as the mileage I'm seeing, I have compared hand calculated with computer and found about 0.5mpg difference in favor of computer. Two things may be helping me. 1) I've been using Stanadyne Performance Formula since the truck was new. They claim 10% mileage improvement. 2) I installed a hard cover on the bed. Again all cover manufacturers claim a 10% benefit in mileage at speed (50mph ?) And of course, I do drive like an old man. (That's because I am an old man!)

[BIGBEN2004]

How many of these figures are hand calculated and going by the computer?

[F450Mikey]

My message center is always between 9.4 and 9.7 around town/freeway and my Excel spread sheet is ususally a little lower.