I have recently purchased a 2000 2wd extended cab 7.3 with 50,000 miles. A very well taken care of truck. Problem is i expected better milage. I average 13 to 14 mpg in town, and same pulling my 18 ft boat to the coast and back. My friends all get better mpgs with bigger trucks than mine. (yes,filters and oil are all fresh, good tires also) I installed a k&n cold air intake and a 4'' exaust , stock other than that. still the same mpgs. CAN ANYONE SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS? Thanx
Axle ratio plays a HUGE part in economy. I have A 97 F350 4x4 auto 4.10's 285-75-16 BFG A/T's I average about 15 mpg. Brother inlaw has same truck with 35" BFG's and 3.73 or 3.55's (not sure what axle was available other than 4.10's)he pulls down a solid 25mpg all day every day.
Downhill with an 80 mile an hour tailwind maybe. Face it, if you are buying a truck and are concerned with mileage, trade it in for a Ridgline. it will suit you just fine
Chip it. Gears do make a big difference. 7.3's aren't known for mileage. My buddy has a '99 4x4 and the best he has gotten is 19mpg on a long highway trip at 65-70mph with 3.73s and 315s (35"tires). He has an 85hp Quadzilla chip and 225k miles.
Thanx for all of your inputs, I installed a juice with attitude and recently went on a hunting trip to Idaho, averaged 19-20 mpg at 70 mph on cruise control at 2050 rpms, happier now! Still 13's around town though, known to drive fast though, with the chip its all to fun!! burnout
I have a 97 F250 and I average between 16.5 and 19 mpg. I know that pre 99 diesels are set up a little different from the info I had read. My model truck according to gale banks info is set up for mid range power, I have 4.10s in it. I have 184.000 mi on it, but I have a 7' x 12' enclosed trailer i use for work and when i pull it my milage drops to around 14mpg. I know its like pulling a billboard down the road .
fuel mileage I drive a '99 F-350, 2X4, 3.73's, Super Chips 'Tow Safe' tune, K&N air filter(In stock air box), Stock tires and wheels. I don't know how anybody could get 20 to 25 MPG from a 7.3. The best I have EVER gotten with my truck was 18mpg. Usually it's more like 16 mpg give or take. Towing my 34ft. Montana 5th wheel I get maybe 10 to 12. If anybody knows how I can get 20 to 25 mpg with this truck LET ME KNOW, QUICK!!!! By the way, has anyone ever heard of putting Transmission fluid in the low sulfur fuel to add lubricity to the fuel? I had my truck in the Ford stealership for the cam pickup replacement, and the diesel mech there told me about adding tranny fluid to the fuel. He said one of the other mechs there uses the drained tranny oil with no damage to his engine. Anybody heard of this???
My buddy with a 1996 powerstroke is does that. He puts a quart of trans fluid in every tank. He works at a Peterbuilt and GMC dealership and an old-timer told him to do it so he has. I use a light weight oil that is on sale in mine. Lately I have also been putting the staynedyne additive in it also. The only reason I use oil is because Kragen will put it on sale for 99 cents a quart and I will get a case.
a) The 7.3 is not known for good mileage in the first place b) The best thing to do would be to keep your foot out of the pedal as much as possible and go slow on the freeway.
