[DBillD]

I bought an 06 F350 Crew Cab King Ranch Long Bed 4x4 DRW at Carmax Sat here in Nashville. Had it transfered from Denver CO. It has 76400 miles on it. The gear ratio is marked as 4n on the door sticker ?? I am assumming 4:11. I read on another board that the computer learn from your driving styles and most start at 13mpg. I have burned 1 tank through it and now half way through my second tank. I am sitting at 13.5mpg according to the trip computer. I guess my ? is since I bought it used, should I unhook the batteries and let it sit for a few min then rehook and let it learn my driving style, or just let it gradually learn my style?? I have seen were alot of guys are getting close to 16 or so around town so just wandering what you guys thought.

If this is going to be the expected MPG then what mods would give me the other 2 to 3 mpg gains? I would like to do a programmer on a low setting but ran across some post on the edge unit that people were complaining of tranny trouble later on with it. Something about the line pressures and causing the slipage in the clutch packs. Same board people ranting that the SCT ,I believe,saying it was a great unit with no issuses on the tranny. Shift on the fly is no real issues for me but i will be towing cars with it a cpl times a month on a 48ft wedge so i want one that will give me the best bang for the buck without hurting the truck. Rest of time it will be used as a yard ornimant or a once a week and weekend travel truck. This is when i would like to gain the extra 2 to 3 mpg the most.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

P.S my last truck was an 2000 f350 4x4 crewcab lng bed srw it got 17 and 19mpg

 

[CAMPINGTOM]

The way I understand it, the only thing the truck "learns" is how long each shift takes. The trans adjusts the shift times based on driving. Mark K. could probably explain it much better. Your fuel mileage will not change based on what the computer learns.
I have a 2 wheel drive F-250 and get around 15 in town and 17 on the hwy.

 

[Strokin' 6.0]

DBillD, if you're getting 13.5MPG, count yourself lucky. We pretty much have identical trucks, and I'm lucky to get 14.3hwy. Since I drive from the suburbs into town everyday (30 min drive), I get 11.2MPG solid. I'll say that I keep the cruise on between 60-65MPH and change my fluids and filters religiously.

My advice is don't put anything on this engine; based on what I've read on several sites, the 6.0 is max'd out on power to its breaking point. I read about too many head gasket failures on this site, and I really don't feel like being stranded on the side of the road, when I'm on vacation with the family.

 

[OMCUSNR]

I bought an 06 F350 Crew Cab King Ranch Long Bed 4x4 DRW at Carmax Sat here in Nashville. Had it transfered from Denver CO. It has 76400 miles on it. The gear ratio is marked as 4n on the door sticker ?? I am assumming 4:11. I read on another board that the computer learn from your driving styles and most start at 13mpg. I have burned 1 tank through it and now half way through my second tank. I am sitting at 13.5mpg according to the trip computer. I guess my ? is since I bought it used, should I unhook the batteries and let it sit for a few min then rehook and let it learn my driving style, or just let it gradually learn my style?? I have seen were alot of guys are getting close to 16 or so around town so just wandering what you guys thought.

If this is going to be the expected MPG then what mods would give me the other 2 to 3 mpg gains? I would like to do a programmer on a low setting but ran across some post on the edge unit that people were complaining of tranny trouble later on with it. Something about the line pressures and causing the slipage in the clutch packs. Same board people ranting that the SCT ,I believe,saying it was a great unit with no issuses on the tranny. Shift on the fly is no real issues for me but i will be towing cars with it a cpl times a month on a 48ft wedge so i want one that will give me the best bang for the buck without hurting the truck. Rest of time it will be used as a yard ornimant or a once a week and weekend travel truck. This is when i would like to gain the extra 2 to 3 mpg the most.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

P.S my last truck was an 2000 f350 4x4 crewcab lng bed srw it got 17 and 19mpg

With the dually, you should be able to get into the 16 17 range if you drive sane. The 6.0 does not really like mods, but a tuner set to mild "can" give you some increased economy, if you can learn to drive for economy. Other "performance" mods will not yeild much in the way of economy, but a 4" cat back exhaust (w/EGT gauge) can help the longevity of the engine & trans. The "gauges" that come with the truck are really idiot lights in disguise. A good set of gauges maybe won't help your economy, but will help the life of the truck. EGT, fuel pressure & Trans temp.

Fuel economy is as much a head game and lifestyle as anything mechanical you can do to the truck. One of the biggest things you can do is to use smaller tires. Most of the gains to economy are going to be made in body style & speed. Don't lift it, lower it. Put an air dam on the front & a tapered cap on the back. Keep the tailgate up all the time. You're trying for aerodynamics at speed. Try not to let air under the truck. Keep the tires aired to their max inflation, and check the brakes (& the trailer too) to keep them from dragging. Keep your rpms at or just under 2k as long as possible, avoid traffic, drive three vehicles ahead, anticipate signals, keep it rolling, don't use your brakes, don't idle. Let rpms control your speed, not the other way around.

OMC

 

[Strokin' 6.0]

Chief,

I keep hearing folks say that these trucks get 16-17MPG, but I have yet to see it, but for one time, which was on a long drive to Weatherford; I got 16.3MPG with one helluva tailwind and haven't seen it since.

For regular around town driving, my MPGs suck. I've done everything suggested in your post, and it still amounts to no MPG gains.

Do you think that the Ford PCM flashes might have something to do with it?

If my truck got 16MPG consistently, I'd be happy. 11.2MPG don't cut it.

 

[OMCUSNR]

Chief,

I keep hearing folks say that these trucks get 16-17MPG, but I have yet to see it, but for one time, which was on a long drive to Weatherford; I got 16.3MPG with one helluva tailwind and haven't seen it since.

For regular around town driving, my MPGs suck. I've done everything suggested in your post, and it still amounts to no MPG gains.

Do you think that the Ford PCM flashes might have something to do with it?

If my truck got 16MPG consistently, I'd be happy. 11.2MPG don't cut it.

It certainly might. Fuel economy has so many wild cards to it, its almost impossible to trouble shoot. Tuners are usually to gain more power by burning more fuel, and they usually do it more efficiently. If you can train yourself to drive by the boost & EGT gauges, as well as rpms, I suppose you could increase your economy using one (without compromising the engine or trans).

Another problem is the fuel itself. Winter blend fuel has less btus in it than #2, so it suffers a bit (about 1 to 1.5 g/m) and the ULSD is a bit less good on economy too. If the fuel is suspect, might try adding a cetane booster to see if that helps. Some guys use 2 stroke motor oil as well to "improve lubricity", but I'd add a bit of bio diesel (B-5) instead of the oil. Since we're trying to find out what helps, I'd do one thing at a time for a tank or two, before going to something else. Since the ULSD, my truck has gone from a consistent 18.6 to about 17.3 without any driving style changes.

OMC

 

[MikeL46]

Invest in a ScanGauge:

ScanGaugeII - Trip Computers + Digital Gauges + Scan Tool

By monitoring fuel economy, you can adjust your driving to get the best mileage.

What I've learned from mine:

- Hills kill mileage
- Stops kills mileage
- Speeding kills mileage

- Steady speed/steady throttle is best
- Flat land is best
- Coast up to stoplights/signs, don't drive up and slam on the brakes (like my wife does)

- Fully inflated tires, clean air filters, etc. helps. But driving style and conditions make the biggest effect on mileage.

- On flat land I can get almost 20 mpg. In the mountains, maybe 12.

- When my wife drives our brand C pickup around town, she gets 13mpg; when I drive, it returns 17-18 mpg. I pay attention to traffic and try to not use the brakes. I shift and keep the engine below 1500 rpm. She drives right up to traffic and hits the brakes. She uses 3000 rpm to shift, sometimes maintaining speed at 2500 rpm.

Mike

 

[scottbob99]

I average 15-17.

 

[tly]

I bought a 2007 F-350, DRW, KR, 4WD, with an auto trans, and 4:11 gears last year in Denver and drove it to the west coast, I set the cruise at 70 MPH, and ran it all the way home at that speed, I was alone so I only stopped to fuel it up, and I got 18.5 MPG (yes I figured it by hand) I believe I could have driven a little slower and I could have gotten close to, or maybe even have gotten 20. Yes it was highway driving all the way, and I believe the not having to make rest stops for the wife every 100 miles may have made a lot of difference. I watched the boost gauge and it didn't take much of a hill to kick in the turbo... I think if when the boost started going up I had backed off the cruise and kept the pressure down my mileage would have been even better.
Around town I only get 15.3 (again by hand) without a load.
I pull a steel gooseneck trailer that weighs in at 13,000 lbs. loaded. I can get 13.6 pulling my trailer, no it's not all flat ground, but then I'm not in a race to see how fast I can pull when I've got horses on board. And I'm not racing ever car off the lights, my truck is bone stock, and that's the way she'll stay, mainly because I want it to last, and I think if you start putting chips in to gain horse power your asking to break something, it's just not worth the risk, for what you might gain to me.
Yes my old 7.3 gets better mileage, but it doesn't have the power, and it's a lot louder (yes it's stock too.)
I think I gave up about 1 to 2 mpg to get the DRW. but for what I pull, it was worth it to me.

 

[DBillD]

okay, with all this said, I don't floor the truck on takes offs, I don't even floor one unless absolutly necessary on the interstate. My driving is slow to cruise speed and I do watch the traffic and start letting off way before red lights and such known stops. I believe I have all that going for me. I was considering a programmer but considering what everyone is saying then I WILL NOT TAKE THAT RISK! I think more of my new luxury truck than to risk engine damage. SO all this being said,, this is my second diesel. I understand winter blend fuel and all. I understand octane, K2 has an oil for lubrication. I know on my 2000 7.3 I used to run K1 30 gal to 5 or 8 gal or K2 back when fuel got so high. The reason was K1 was darn near .40 cheaper or more sometimes. I never had no issues out of the truck other than increased filter changes. That truck my dad drives and now has over 240k on the odometer. We keep tranny and oil changed religously and all we have had is ball joint issues.

So if octane boost helps would not adding maybe a few gallons of K1 to a tank not hurt? That is the same to me as 89 to 93 octane with gas. Will a bigger exhaust hurt or help? Same time NEVER UNDERSTOOD MONTIORING EGT TEMP> someone want to explain what a good EGT Temp is and a bad one???? Bit lost on ideal area to be at there. I guess I am just a dumb half informed NEWBIE! LOLOLOL

 

[Strokin' 6.0]

tly,

I sure am curious as to which flash you have in your PCM. If I was getting that kind of mileage, even your in-town mileage, I wouldn't b!tch about this engine. The mileage I'm getting is the most frustrating thing. The truck is stock, I don't drive like a jackass, and my mileage is still in the crapper.:icon_mad:

 

[OMCUSNR]

okay, with all this said, I don't floor the truck on takes offs, I don't even floor one unless absolutly necessary on the interstate. My driving is slow to cruise speed and I do watch the traffic and start letting off way before red lights and such known stops. I believe I have all that going for me. I was considering a programmer but considering what everyone is saying then I WILL NOT TAKE THAT RISK! I think more of my new luxury truck than to risk engine damage. SO all this being said,, this is my second diesel. I understand winter blend fuel and all. I understand octane, K2 has an oil for lubrication. I know on my 2000 7.3 I used to run K1 30 gal to 5 or 8 gal or K2 back when fuel got so high. The reason was K1 was darn near .40 cheaper or more sometimes. I never had no issues out of the truck other than increased filter changes. That truck my dad drives and now has over 240k on the odometer. We keep tranny and oil changed religously and all we have had is ball joint issues.

So if octane boost helps would not adding maybe a few gallons of K1 to a tank not hurt? That is the same to me as 89 to 93 octane with gas. Will a bigger exhaust hurt or help? Same time NEVER UNDERSTOOD MONTIORING EGT TEMP> someone want to explain what a good EGT Temp is and a bad one???? Bit lost on ideal area to be at there. I guess I am just a dumb half informed NEWBIE! LOLOLOL

Ummm,

OCTANE is an ignition retarder, for gasoline engine to prevent pre-detonation (aka "ping"). 87 octane & 100 octane have the same btus, and would get the same economy as a result. The octane keeps a high performance engine from combusting too soon before it gets to full compression.

CETANE is used in a diesel to allow help start combusion when the cylinder temp is right. A higher cetane makes it bit easier to combust.


K1 has less residual oil in it and is very close to Jet fuel, so I'd be leary of using it unless temps get really low. Also, check that K1 that's "40 cents
cheaper" to see if it is dyed. The tax man does not like that.

Exhaust Gas Temp (EGT) is usually measured pre-turbo and is used primarily when towing heavy loads in steep terreign. Never want to see 1250*f pre-turbo for more than a couple of seconds at a time. Otherwise, things start to melt (pistons & such), causing delays and expenses not looked for.

All I can truly say on economy for these trucks is, they like to run between 1.5k & 2k rpms, and the more you can stay in that area, the better your economy will be. Wind resistance and drag are the two biggest killers at speed, and start/stop, idling are the two worst enemies when slow.

Keep it rolling as long as you can.

OMC

 

[tly]

Strokin'6.0

I have no idea what flash my truck is running, inform me how to find out.... without going to the dealer, and I'll let you know, and No I don't have a reader. The only time this truck is going to a dealer again is if I have a SERIOUS warranty issue,
I bought the truck used, it was a year old and it had 20K when I headed home with it, I took it to a dealer because the reflector in a headlight had fallen off, the first thing they asked me is where I had purchased the truck....I had to make an appointment to have a tech look at the headlight, then a week later it took them four hours to tell me they didn't have a headlight in stock to fit my truck, after I informed them I had just talked to the parts department and they had one in stock, it took another four hours to replace it. that was the first of two visits, the second one started out the same and went down hill from there, the next closest dealer has closed, and then the next dealer is out of my state. I LOVE the truck, but I can not say the same for any of the dealers I've been too.
But back to the mileage issue, I have 4:10 gears not 4:11, limited slip, and new BFG tires, all six were replaced by tire dealer on a defect issue, they are stock size, and yes I've checked to make sure my odometer is showing the correct distance.
I have several friends who have Dodges, some get great mileage, some don't. I have to think for once I got the good truck, the one that gets better mileage than most that were sold. So you can understand why I don't want a dealer to touch it and mess that up.
I would be willing to bet you if our trucks were side by side, you would run away from me, both in speed and take off power, but if I'm pulling a load this one does so much better than my stock 7.3 (189K) I'll keep this one and enjoy the power it has, the mileage it gets, the comfort, and size of the cab (it's a CC). The thing I have to wonder is, as I get some more miles on the rig, will the mileage go up higher? Time will tell.

 

[DBillD]

Thanks for the info on the EGT there OMC. As far as the K1,,It was a BP and it was just that around TN they don't buy alot of K1 in summer months because noone is using it to heat with. Kerosene heaters and such. Therefore when they raised the price of Diesel they never did on the K1 till they had to refill the tank. LOL So for a cpl of months I saved some money. A quick story here: (True)The really funny part is someone in a new dodge, traveling through on vacation, at about this same time frame stopped in this station and accidently filled his truck with K1. Pumps on same island, he had them call a wrecker to come get his truck to drain his 40gal tank and put enough in it so he could get back to the station to refill it with K2. The guys at the station told him that I was running it and it would not hurt the truck, but , he moreless told them what dumba** they were and he was not gonna tear up his new truck. So the wrecker company drained his tank, kept the K1, laughed charged him the tow bill of 75.00, a labor bill of 150 to drain the tank and of course he had to pay for the K1 plus the new fuel up of K2. A bill of all around 350. I wander who the real dumba** was?? LOLOLOLOLOL