diesel shopping.....help please

[boonman]

Filling to the neck, (drizzling the last 6 gallons or so of fuel, because I haven't harpooned the tank yet), hand calculated, because the overhead display is wayyyyyy off, (although I would like it not to be, because it registers 20+ MPG.. LOL) and I get 12.5 MPG on a consistent basis, 65-70 MPH, hauling 12-14K#. No "shenanigans". my truck is an '03, Crew cab Lariat, short box. I have (I think I mantioned it above, but so you don't have to scroll) an AFE stage 2 intake with a Pro guard 7 filter, and a 4" turbo back exhaust. My chip is a TS Performance 6 stage flip, programmed with stock, high idle, 50, 75, 100, and 140 HP settings. I normally tow in the 50 horse setting, sometimes 75. I hauled my Dodge to Long Island, the trip one way was over 500 miles. Keep in mind that the truck stood at 13' height, because I left it on the 44" tires. Call it a parasail if you want to behind the truck. I drove 65-70 MPH, all the way there, perhaps a couple short runs to 75 or so. I pulled 12.5 MPG-13, hand calculated. On the way back, the trailer weighs 4K#'s, and I got 15-16MPG. Around town pulling equipment, I get 10-11 depending on how I drive. On the open road, I am back up to 12-13 on the mileage scale though. 14K# is the max load on the trailer at once. Not all the time is it loaded that much. You can't compare stock truck, to a modded one. Not wen it comes to diesels. I frequent the TDS quite a bit. Get an exhaust and an intake on your truck, and then post up some Mileage #'s. I would like to see the difference. Because when my truck was stock, I got much the same mileage as you did. Stock, these trucks are choked up too much. I think you would like the benefits of an upgraded intake and exhaust. Even if you keep the stock programming. I see you have an '04. That is a 6.0L truck. Towing with that truck and an exhaust on it, will help out immensely. That variable turbo can really help you out when you can get rid of the hot exhaust. You have guages right? Try keping your EGT's as low as possible. If I tow any more than 70 MPH, well, about 75+, my mileage drops considerably. Down to 10 or below. Also, what gears do you have?

[pimp559]

ALot of people that don't have diesels don't realize the fun they can have with the diesel.  My truck pulls 12-13 loaded.  That's pulling a 14K# equipment trailer.  With a gas job, I would be struggling all the way, and getting 6 MPG with that kind of weight.  Maybe 7-8 MPG if I babied it.  My brother has an '04 Chevy HD with the 6.0 L gasser in it.  With my trailer, and the Kubota on it, (only tipping around 8K#) his truck seems like a dog.  With my truck hooked to the trailer, you hardly know it's there, untill you hit a bump.  And I say that honestly.  You will not believe it untill you ride in a hopped up Diesel.  I KNOW Sredish and Banchetta know what I mean on that.  You will piss yourself smiling.  Nothing beats a Diesel while towing.  I can guarantee that with a diesel, and a small chip, you would be kicking yourself in the ass wondering why you didn't get a diesel sooner Pimp... 

305454[/snapback]

There is no doubt your gonna like the feel of pulling with a diesel better. We went to Jawbone Canyon for New Years with some friends that have an extended cab 4X4 jsut like ours only diesel. There is a nice long grade going through the mountains that the diesel just pulled away and left us. He got to the camp spot 10 minutes before we did. I myself don't mind the extra time spent taking my time to get there for the difference in price you pay for a diesel. The point of my post was to let someone shopping for a diesel know that you don't have to have a diesel to pull a heavy load to where ever your going. One big question is how often will you be pulling a big load. This will probably answer you question of do I really need a diesel or not.

[wesw]

gas vs diesel

 

in a pulling contest the diesel will always get better mileage.

 

 

thats why semi have huge diesel engine, torque to pull and get some what of a mileage. my pete averages 5.5 but we idle to unload our trailers

[Banchetta]

Filling to the neck, (drizzling the last 6 gallons or so of fuel, because I haven't harpooned the tank yet), hand calculated, because the overhead display is wayyyyyy off, (although I would like it not to be, because it registers 20+ MPG..  LOL) and I get 12.5 MPG on a consistent basis, 65-70 MPH, hauling 12-14K#.  No "shenanigans".  my truck is an '03, Crew cab Lariat, short box.  I have (I think I mantioned it above, but so you don't have to scroll) an AFE stage 2 intake with a Pro guard 7 filter, and a 4" turbo back exhaust.  My chip is a TS Performance 6 stage flip, programmed with stock, high idle, 50, 75, 100, and 140 HP settings.  I normally tow in the 50 horse setting, sometimes 75.  I hauled my Dodge to Long Island, the trip one way was over 500 miles.  Keep in mind that the truck stood at 13' height, because I left it on the 44" tires.  Call it a parasail if you want to behind the truck.  I drove 65-70 MPH, all the way there, perhaps a couple short runs to 75 or so.  I pulled 12.5 MPG-13, hand calculated.  On the way back, the trailer weighs 4K#'s, and I got 15-16MPG.  Around town pulling equipment, I get 10-11 depending on how I drive.  On the open road, I am back up to 12-13 on the mileage scale though.  14K# is the max load on the trailer at once.  Not all the time is it loaded that much.  You can't compare stock truck, to a modded one.  Not wen it comes to diesels.  I frequent the TDS quite a bit.  Get an exhaust and an intake on your truck, and then post up some Mileage #'s.  I would like to see the difference.  Because when my truck was stock, I got much the same mileage as you did.  Stock, these trucks are choked up too much.  I think you would like the benefits of an upgraded intake and exhaust.  Even if you keep the stock programming.  I see you have an '04.  That is a 6.0L truck.  Towing with that truck and an exhaust on it, will help out immensely.  That variable turbo can really help you out when you can get rid of the hot exhaust.  You have guages right?  Try keping your EGT's as low as possible.  If I tow any more than 70 MPH, well, about 75+, my mileage drops considerably.  Down to 10 or below.  Also, what gears do you have? 

306626[/snapback]

I had 2 chips on my Duramax when I went out to Dumont and got 12-13mph pulling a 20' trailer w/ 6 quads and gear averaging around 65-70. Like Boonman my mileage drops considerably after 65mph. About 1mpg for every 5mph over 65....I broke down in Nevada and traded my truck in, got the same mileage, now I have the edge juice w/ attitude chip, exhaust and intake and my mileage went up 2-3mpg. I get better mileage w/ my new truck for some reason...Boony, how do you like that TS chip? My friend has a 550 Ford and wants more ponies, since his truck weighs around 10,000 empty, its a little sluggish. He has the 7.3 in a '02...I know the best chips for the D-max, but not the Fords..He's not looking for performance, but a lot of low end torque..Any suggestions?? He pulls excavating equipment a lot.

[boonman]

If he wants something for pulling, I recommend he gets into a programmer. Edge Evolution makes a great programmer. I used one on my truck, and I may get another one, and stack it with the TS chip. I'm not sure how crazy I need to get though. I LOVE my TS chip. I have 2 things I don't like about it. One, it lets the motor slightly overrev, (1-200 RPM's) before it will shift the truck. This, the PCM does NOT like. It makes the truck stop charging, the battery light comes on, and you have to cycle the key before it will start charging again. I also do not like the fact that when you hit the brakes, the Torque convertor unlocks. With my stock programming, (a VDH5 code) the torque convertor stayed locked, and helped you decelerate. SO, down a hill, I have to click the chip to stock, and then click it back to whatever when I get to the bottom. I only do it when I'm towing. Which is actualy quite a bit. I am assuming he has a 5 speed in that F-550. If he does, than he can run quite a bit more power. I only tow in the 50 or 75 mode because I have an automatic, and I don't like routing all that power through a stock torque convertor. Once I upgrade that though, it's game on!!! TS also sells a 4 stage flip. And it is cheaper, if not the same price as an edge evolution programmer. I do however, recommend that he gets an exhaust on that truck first and foremost. Then, he needs to get some guages. At least an EGT guage.

[lincster]

I won't modify my truck because I like my warranty. Too many horror stories out there about guys that add stuff, just to have the dealer not repair something under warranty because they have changed it.

Maybe a CAT back exhaust, but no intake changes.

The new intake on the 6.0L are supposed to be just as good as an AFE.

Yes, I have gauges.

Towing on flat ground at 72mph, my EGTs are 1000-1100F area. Pre turbo of course.

I have 3.73 gears, that is all you can get in SRW trucks from the factory since 1999.

[dnhyoung]

Well, Like my buddies sticker says, " I'd rather be cummin than powerstrok'n"

 

I have an '01 dodge Cummins 4X4 that has the 65 horse Edge Chip, 4 inch exhaust, cold air intake, and the pilar mount gauges. i average around 17-18 MPG empty, and the last time I headed tothe coast, I crossed the scales loaded at 22,000 lbs on truck and trailer and got 12-13 MPG. But as a few others have said, if you start juicing up the engine, you have to besure to watch the tranny. I burned mine up and ended up having a custom tranny built to handle the ponies

[boonman]

In a crew cab, you can get 4.10 gears in a srw configuration from my understanding. Anyways, your warranty isn't going to be voided because of an intake. Nor an exhaust. My warranty is still in check, and I have a chip. Just had the HPOP O-rings done recently under warranty. With a chip, it can be voided though. But, a programmer, they can't ever prove it's use. As long as you clear the memory, and tell them you had the batteries out to explain the fault code of the memory clear, your all set. The factory intake will not flow as much air as an AFE. But it may be close. The 6.0 intake is a phenominal unit. Works flawlessly for a stock intake. Your EGT's would drop 2-300 degrees with a larger exhaust. Your EGT's are really high right now. I was in the same boat. My truck, running 75 MPH loaded at 11K# is right around 800-850 on level ground. I RARELY get up to 1100, let alone past it. I have had to back out of the throttle once due to heat on the guage. That was at WOT, chip in the 140 setting, and on a fairly steep grade. I was feeling things out when I first installed the chip, and seeing what it did. On the stock setting, no matter how the truck is loaded, I cannot get the EGT past 1050. No matter what I do. And getting it that hot takes a long grade, and some really gnarly lugging. I think you would benefit very much from an exhaust.

[lincster]

In a crew cab, you can get 4.10 gears in a srw configuration from my understanding.  Anyways, your warranty isn't going to be voided because of an intake.  Nor an exhaust.  My warranty is still in check, and I have a chip.  Just had the HPOP O-rings done recently under warranty.  With a chip, it can be voided though.  But, a programmer, they can't ever prove it's use.  As long as you clear the memory, and tell them you had the batteries out to explain the fault code of the memory clear, your all set.  The factory intake will not flow as much air as an AFE.  But it may be close.  The 6.0 intake is a phenominal unit.  Works flawlessly for a stock intake.  Your EGT's would drop 2-300 degrees  with a larger exhaust.  Your EGT's are really high right now.  I was in the same boat.  My truck, running 75 MPH loaded at 11K# is right around 800-850 on level ground.  I RARELY get up to 1100, let alone past it.  I have had to back out of the throttle once due to heat on the guage.  That was at WOT, chip in the 140 setting, and on a fairly steep grade.  I was feeling things out when I first installed the chip, and seeing what it did.  On the stock setting, no matter how the truck is loaded, I cannot get the EGT past 1050.  No matter what I do.  And getting it that hot takes a long grade, and some really gnarly lugging.  I think you would benefit very much from an exhaust. 

307723[/snapback]

 

 

Negative ghost rider, go to any order form, Kelly Blue Book, whatever, you can't get 4.10 gears in SRW. I ordered my 04 and wanted this option, could not get it.

 

Warranty isn't in jeopardy due to mods? You must have a cool dealer. You said you read over at www.thedieselstop.com, then you must read about the guys that get crap for mods on their trucks, not worth it to me.

If you really think that mother Ford can't tell you used a programmer, you are just fooling yourself. All computers write codes when they are upgraded/changed, Ford can tell.

Do you have your EGT probe mounted pre turbo?

[boonman]

the only thing that Ford can see with a programmer is that an ECM code, about the KAM (Keep alive memory) has faulted. Hence, tellign them that you had the batteries disconnected for whatever reason. That is it. You see, disconnecting the batteries, clears the memory, and starts the system "fresh". Taht's why you have to tell them you had the batteries disconnected. Otherwise, it's a dead give away. Now, I have my EGT probe Pre-Turbo, and the only thing they can gig me on with that would be if the fins on the turbo grenade. And if that happens, Im not going to be looking for a replacement turbo from Ford anyways. and the probe would have to break off to cause catastrophic damage. For however, is loking for any reason to void your warranty in most instances. But, an exhaust isn't going to void your warranty. ANd yea, on TDS, it seems that some people have a problem with the dealer voiding them out. Which is understandable for some of the things they do. And they could very well void my warranty for me cleaning the terminals on the PCM board. But, that's the chance you take I reckon..... If my truck suffered severe damage, I Have no doubt that at my dealer, it would be covered under the 100K. But, If I was out of town, I would have my doubts. I would likely trailer the truck home. and take it to my local dealer just to be sure. It's a crap shoot when it comes to modding your truck. The manufacturer (Ford) has often times voided people with completely stock trucks. For very small things. Like a tire change. Little odd things. It all depends on the weather I think.....