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_AJ_
Well-known member
No,I'm not correcting for the oversized tires. I got the 14 mpg average using pencil and paper and not relying on the computer.
Any 7.3 powerstroke owners?
- Thread starter Watson777
- Start date
No,I'm not correcting for the oversized tires. I got the 14 mpg average using pencil and paper and not relying on the computer.
bear in mind that unless your computer has been recalibrtated to the larger tire size (superlift truespeed, edge programmer or similar) or your truck has been regeared so it has the same final drive ratio as it did w/ stock tires, you might actually be traveling further than is indicated on your odometer.
first off get a gps and check your spedometer. Maybe it's already been dealt with. If your speedometer is more than 10% off I'd consider fixing it. These trucks use speed to determine shift points and other pertinant bits. Plus, who wants to be doing math while your driving to figure out how fast your going?
I haven't messed with it in several years, my last lifted truck (a 99 on 38's) had a Superlift Truspeed. It worked fine. Only drawback I could think of would be cost. I think that thing was over $100.
For a bit more I think some of the programmers do the same thing, and some will actually read error codes, live data streaming, and of course offer some sort of power/fuel upgrade and reprogramed transmision tuning to wake up your ford.
I'm not really a fan of those, to many gadgets in one basket. None of them work really well... but if you want a mediocre upgrade that addresses alot of stuff that would do the trick.
Search around a bit, check out FTE, my best suggestion would be to find the best option to address your speed issues and leave the tuners to the guys that know how to build tuners. As mentioned often in this thread Jody @ DP Tuner is the king of that game.
I haven't messed with it in several years, my last lifted truck (a 99 on 38's) had a Superlift Truspeed. It worked fine. Only drawback I could think of would be cost. I think that thing was over $100.
For a bit more I think some of the programmers do the same thing, and some will actually read error codes, live data streaming, and of course offer some sort of power/fuel upgrade and reprogramed transmision tuning to wake up your ford.
I'm not really a fan of those, to many gadgets in one basket. None of them work really well... but if you want a mediocre upgrade that addresses alot of stuff that would do the trick.
Search around a bit, check out FTE, my best suggestion would be to find the best option to address your speed issues and leave the tuners to the guys that know how to build tuners. As mentioned often in this thread Jody @ DP Tuner is the king of that game.
02 F250 XLT supercab shortbox 4x4 auto (7900lbs with me and a full tank) with MBRP 4" exhaust, Ford AIS, Zoodad mod and an Edge Evo II rolling on 295/75/16 BFG ATs @ 65mph yielded me 20.3mpg one way and 19.5 the other direction. Highway miles, unloaded and towing nothing. I run 55-60psi in my tires and use 0w40 Rotella Synthetic, pump diesel with Stanadyne Lubricity (purple) in every tank. I also have a toolbox in the truck.
I think that's everything
I'm not too far off- early 99 F250 crew cab short box 4x4 auto, 3.73 posi, Diamond Eye 4" duals, 6637, Zoodad, wastegate delete, CCV mod, 01 PMT2 PCM, 285/75/16 BFG TA's. Maybe I need to get back to putting the DK in every tank and see if I gain anything. Lately it's been hard to gauge because all I've been doing is towing chit all over the place.
Just bought my first diesel and it is a 2003 Powerstroke Excursion. It is completely stock engine wise I average 14mpg with 35" tires.
It is a California model and I was wondering if anyone knows what that involves.
Is there anything I should do right off the bat to improve mileage besides a turbo back 4" exhaust?
Cali models have a different glow plug set up and different programming, no big difference. The GP system is set to throw an SES light if you have a dead glow plug which is kind of handy but I don't miss the feature.
kbeefy- do you use the same screen name on FTE? I go by superduty4x4 over there.
Best I ever got with my 01 is 19.8, and that is hand calculated. Cannot break 20, but if I drove 55 for a tank I think it is possible. DP Tuner with stock, 60 tow, 80 eco, 120 race, 140 smoke and no-start. Seem to get the best mileage on 80 economy. 6637 filter, tranny shift kit, 4" exhaust w/5" tip, looking for a 6.0 intercooler if anybody knows where there is one.
and no-start. Seem to get the best mileage on 80 economy. 6637 filter, tranny shift kit, 4" exhaust w/5" tip, looking for a 6.0 intercooler if anybody knows where there is one.
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pumpnlead
Member
Just bought my first diesel and it is a 2003 Powerstroke Excursion. It is completely stock engine wise I average 14mpg with 35" tires.
It is a California model and I was wondering if anyone knows what that involves.
Is there anything I should do right off the bat to improve mileage besides a turbo back 4" exhaust?
Your exhaust will help ever so slightly in fuel economy, but will help out quite a bit with your egt's. As mentioned by several others, DP tuners or a Total Diesel Performance chip from Tony Wildman are the way to go. These guys are the best in the business at 7.3L Performance and customly tune each chip for your pickup mods and to your specifications. I picked Tony for the simple fact that he will reburn your chip if you add more upgrades in the future (i.e.-injectors, turbo, etc). You definitely in my opinion need to invest in at least an EGT Gauge to monitor your temps. You can run around 1250 degrees fahrenheit, post turbo, all day, but somewhere around a 1260-1270 degree constant temp., you will burn up your turbo. After that get the main three (exhaust, intake, and chip) and see what happens. How much are you pulling?
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_AJ_
Well-known member
7.3
Not that much. Right now I pull a 27' Haulmark with four sleds and gear. I'm guessing it's around 7000 lbs loaded. I'm really leary of doing mods will will make it less reliable. I would like to increase economy a bit and get the best overall safe performance.
Do the Tony Wildman and the DP tuner setups also correct for tire sizes and shift points? What the best place to get one?
I see the True speed is about $200.
One other question I have relates to fuel additives and cold temps etc.... Being new to diesels, is it necessary? I've never added anything to the fuel since I've owned it.
Thanks for the help guys.
AJ
Not that much. Right now I pull a 27' Haulmark with four sleds and gear. I'm guessing it's around 7000 lbs loaded. I'm really leary of doing mods will will make it less reliable. I would like to increase economy a bit and get the best overall safe performance.
Do the Tony Wildman and the DP tuner setups also correct for tire sizes and shift points? What the best place to get one?
I see the True speed is about $200.
One other question I have relates to fuel additives and cold temps etc.... Being new to diesels, is it necessary? I've never added anything to the fuel since I've owned it.
Thanks for the help guys.
AJ
Indeed, nice to see I share interests other than trucks with some of the members there! Jody @ DP Tuner can re-burn your chip too if you decide to get one of his. They can both (Jody or Tony) also live tune your truck for the max. benefit. Someday when I'm rich I'm going to have a DP tuner in my rig.Yup, internet is a small world, eh?
S
Snowmobile Kid
Active member
the powerstrokes arent known for great fuel mileage.......lets make it clear that im not bashing fords right now, but I will say this. I have a 03' 2500HD Cummins 5.9 HO 6 speed, have a 10" lift and 40x15.5 Toyo MTs with a banks 6 gun clean tune system programmer (the clean tune eliminates soot, produces 2% less soot than stock, the edge produces 225% more than stock. This kills your fuel economy and does not burn as clean, therefore it doesnt burn all your fuel properly causing worse mileage and less power potential.) also have a K&N stage 3 intake and a 4" turbo back straight pipe. I get 22 MPG on the highway.
My buddy has a 99' 7.3 6 speed, has had nothing but trouble with that truck. has 4:56gears, edge chip (not a programmer) cold air intake, 75HP injectors,
4" straight pipe, waste gate actuater, and now a bigger turbo. also rolling on
40x15.5 toyos and the best he could get was 12 MPG empty on the highway driving 60 MPH. My cummins walks all over him.
Take into consideration its V8 vs. straight 6, so its common sense the V8 will suck more fuel.
the sad part is my cummins has more HP and torque than his powerstroke does with all those mods. The powerstroke doesnt have near the potential the cummins have. just look at any deisel tuner add.....look at the HP and Torque increases in the cummins Vs. the powerstroke.
I also have a buddy with a 06' 6.0 auto with an edge programmer, water injection, 5" exhaust on 38x14.5 toyos....now that truck is fast!
My buddy has a 99' 7.3 6 speed, has had nothing but trouble with that truck. has 4:56gears, edge chip (not a programmer) cold air intake, 75HP injectors,
4" straight pipe, waste gate actuater, and now a bigger turbo. also rolling on
40x15.5 toyos and the best he could get was 12 MPG empty on the highway driving 60 MPH. My cummins walks all over him.
Take into consideration its V8 vs. straight 6, so its common sense the V8 will suck more fuel.
the sad part is my cummins has more HP and torque than his powerstroke does with all those mods. The powerstroke doesnt have near the potential the cummins have. just look at any deisel tuner add.....look at the HP and Torque increases in the cummins Vs. the powerstroke.
I also have a buddy with a 06' 6.0 auto with an edge programmer, water injection, 5" exhaust on 38x14.5 toyos....now that truck is fast!
I use Diesel Kleen, the white bottle. As it gets colder you deffinatly need to put something in, and I've heard the fords like a little extra lubrication for the injectors and pump, so I run it in every tank.
Best I ever got with my 01 is 19.8, and that is hand calculated. Cannot break 20, but if I drove 55 for a tank I think it is possible. DP Tuner with stock, 60 tow, 80 eco, 120 race, 140 smoke
Hey, we have almost the same trailer. 38' Haulmark Edge? Mine has +1' of height and more doors and windows, but looks identacle other than that.
If Ford put a Cummins in a SuperDuty I'd be all over it! Those are great motors, and keep proving themselves. As it is I'll just have to wait until the 7.3 dies then do the conversion. Only 200k to go! Until then I'm pretty happy with my 7.3.
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pumpnlead
Member
Neither of those chips will correct your speedometer reading. It will tremendously help if you have an automatic with your shift points as it changes timing of the shift as well as the firmness (more pressure). This will increase your transmission life as it doesn't have as much slip under more of a horsepower load. Tony is a great guy to talk to at TDP and will take the time to walk you through any questions you may have. I believe Jody is who runs DP Tuners and I have heard good comments about their customer service as well. Here are their websites:
http://www.totaldieselperformance.com/
http://www.dp-tuner.com/
I am in the same boat as you as I want a little more horsepower and torque, but want to keep the pickup as reliable as possible. That is why I say to get an egt guage installed and watch it when you are pulling (or racing). There is reason to believe that after installing exhaust, cold air intake, and a chip that you can actually make your 7.3 more reliable. The chip will actually increase your transmissions life. The key is to not rod it all of the time and check fluids frequently. With the amount of weight you are pulling, this ought to get you the power you demand, while keeping your excursion very reliable.
On the additive question, yes you definitely want to add something to your fuel at least every other tank, if not every tank. This new low sulfer fuel is very "dry" and the 7.3 is not made for a fuel with that little lubricicity. I use Stanadyne Performance Formula, but there are many other good additives to use. It improves lubrication as well as lowers the gelling point and improves your cetane value. It will save you a headache in the future if you plan on owning the rig for a while.
Hope this will help,
Ryan
Yes, except mine is a 36 footer. I added 6" to the height, trying to install a heater right now. We put the biggest windows in we could get. Do you have the electric jacks? Next time I will definitely be ordering them. Trailer pulls like a dream. Never go back to a bumper hitch.
I have a Toyotomi Cabin Heater in mine, it's a nice heater but my trailer needs more insulation. A Friend has a Webasto that he's really happy with.
I don't need electric jacks, I have automatic ones. They're called teenagers. The electrics probably would have been cheaper, quieter, and more reliable though. Next time I'll know better.
K
knee deep in it
Well-known member
i have pretty much given up trying to figure out my fuel mileage on my 2001 7.3. The problem is how to know when your tank is full. I can usually get 2-3 gallons in after it clicks off once. I put in a few ounces at a time and then quit when I get tired of it.
The only way would be to fill er up as much as possible 4 or 5 times and then figure out how many miles and how much fuel.
BTW, does anyone have a part # for the NAPA air filter that flows 65% more air?
The only way would be to fill er up as much as possible 4 or 5 times and then figure out how many miles and how much fuel.
BTW, does anyone have a part # for the NAPA air filter that flows 65% more air?
Well I bought an 02 Excursion with the 7.3 in it in June. It was 700 miles away from my home in South Dakota. I filled it up when I left Illinois. It was totally liquid diesel no foam. I drove it right at or below 2000 rpms which is 65 to 70 mph. Got home filled the tank liquid full no foam with diesel. HAND CALCULATED and got 19.2 mpg. Which I didn't think was too bad for an 8000 lb vehicle. I would say average is around 17-18. But if I set out and just drove highway fuel stop to fuel stop it would get 19-20 believe me or not. It has 4" turbo back exhaust, predetor chip which I run in high setting, and a pillar gauges. Not sure what it gets towing but we'll see when the snow flies.
it's the one mentioned above, and it replaces your whole airbox.
Wix 6637, I believe the Napa # is 46637
I'd think it flows more than 65% additional, but I could be wrong.
well i personaly don't have a 7.3 but i do set up alot of them here at the dealership we install exaust and chips and as a hole we see pulling milage from 12 to 20 depending on what they are pulling .....we install superchip coustom tunning multi position chips and full 4" exaust turbo back the chips had 4 positions aprox.40hp 60hp 80hp and 110hp and stock what we found was for normal driveing the best milage was at the 80hp setting empty and 60 towing .....
we don't do very many of these trucks any more....
i do have 1 edge chip for a 7.3 left i found it the otherday wile cleaning out my tool box it is new never used still in the box if anyone is interested i will sell it for $300 + shipping which is under cost just want to get rid of it....
we don't do very many of these trucks any more....
i do have 1 edge chip for a 7.3 left i found it the otherday wile cleaning out my tool box it is new never used still in the box if anyone is interested i will sell it for $300 + shipping which is under cost just want to get rid of it....
