Go Back  Offshoreonly.com > General Discussion > Trucks, Trailers and Transportation
06 Ford F-350 poor towing mileage, what to do ?? >

06 Ford F-350 poor towing mileage, what to do ??

Notices

06 Ford F-350 poor towing mileage, what to do ??

Thread Tools
 
Old 05-07-2011 | 01:24 PM
  #1  
10x's Avatar
10x
Thread Starter
10x
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,796
Likes: 2
From: La Grange Ill
Default 06 Ford F-350 poor towing mileage, what to do ??

Just towed last weekend for the first time with this truck. It's a stone stock 06 F-350 6.0 dually with 4.10 gear. Average mileage on the highway "empty" is around 14.5. Around town is 13-13.5. Last weekend I pulled the enclose race car trailer, approximately 10K lbs, and the truck averaged 9.5 mpg. That's terrible, thought it should've been around 12-12.5. What do you guys think ??

Is there any minor mods that I can do to improve mileage without tearing up the engine or knockin out the head gaskets ?? LMAO What about the 4" exhausts ??? Is'nt there some kind of EGR delete deal that improves mileage ?? I don't need more power, I just want to improve the fuel consumption all the way around.
Any info you guys could put up here on this matter, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks alot, Frank
__________________
Fountain powerboats rule "The Preacher"
Chicago Powerboat Club Director
[email protected]
www.chicagopowerboat.com
10x is offline  
Reply
Old 05-07-2011 | 06:13 PM
  #2  
bowtie's Avatar
Charter Member
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 667
Likes: 3
From: New Jersey
Default

Thats bad for a 6.0, my 03 250 got 19 empty and 12 to 13 pulling boats. The earlier 6.0's had more power and got better milage but didn't stay together. I think they detuned them in 04. Remember if it's a dually milage is going to suck. My 08 F450 get under 15 empty on the highway and I've seen under 8 towing a 30' boat. But even with the poor milage its the best truck I've ever hauled boats with.
bowtie is offline  
Reply
Old 05-07-2011 | 07:28 PM
  #3  
t500hps's Avatar
21 and 42 footers
20 Year Member
Platinum Member
Super Moderators
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,207
Likes: 146
From: Richmond VA
Default

I've got the exact same truck in an 07.......your numbers mirror mine when towing a 15K go-fast or empty. Since I only drive it 3K a year it isn't worth it to me to do anything about it. I did notice keeping it around 65 on the highway nets much better highway but I can't manage 65.
t500hps is offline  
Reply
Old 05-07-2011 | 08:01 PM
  #4  
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,613
Likes: 375
From: Traverse City MI
Default

Sounds about right for the truck. The reason you think it should be better is "most" people just look at the overhead computer not hand calculate. They also do not include ideling etc. Real world fuel economy IMO is hand calculated for the entire tank including all driving. Not just resseting the computer on a down hill and saying "LOOK 25 MPG!" From looking at your boat you have more truck then needed. A single rear wheel 2500 3.73 gears would fit better. EGR DELETE AIR INTAKE AND EXHAUST WILL HELP BUT NOT AS MICH AS YOU WOULD LIKE. Even a performance compter. Snow performance water injection is sweet. Also remember a performance computer will make the factory computer lie even more saying the milage is better then it is.
offshorexcursion is offline  
Reply
Old 05-07-2011 | 08:34 PM
  #5  
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 210
From: Grand Haven, MI
Default

the rearend kills the mileage. Everything's a compromise.
jbraun2828 is offline  
Reply
Old 05-07-2011 | 11:07 PM
  #6  
10x's Avatar
10x
Thread Starter
10x
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,796
Likes: 2
From: La Grange Ill
Default

Originally Posted by offshorexcursion
Sounds about right for the truck. The reason you think it should be better is "most" people just look at the overhead computer not hand calculate. They also do not include ideling etc. Real world fuel economy IMO is hand calculated for the entire tank including all driving. Not just resseting the computer on a down hill and saying "LOOK 25 MPG!" From looking at your boat you have more truck then needed. A single rear wheel 2500 3.73 gears would fit better. EGR DELETE AIR INTAKE AND EXHAUST WILL HELP BUT NOT AS MICH AS YOU WOULD LIKE. Even a performance compter. Snow performance water injection is sweet. Also remember a performance computer will make the factory computer lie even more saying the milage is better then it is.
I agree on the SRW 2500. I have one, but it's gas, not diesel, 2500 HD, and it has the 4.10 rear end, and was told that's the only way it's offered. So, I bought another 06 350 powerstroke like the one I had 4 years ago. That one was the same setup as far as gearing stc. but it got 13-14 on the highway empty, and 11.5 pulling the boat. Now, pulling an enclosed car trailer @ 65 mph, this one gets 9.5. Just thought it would get a lil better than that, kinda like the last one did.
I also pull a 46 Cig, so that's another reason for another diesel dually. The last F-450 got a terrible 7.5 mpg's pulling anything. I towed a friends BMW M-5 from Chicago to Santa Monica Ca. for him a couple years back when the truck was a year old. It averaged 7.5 mpg's for the whole trip, and it was all highway. Got to Ca. and he offered to buy the truck from me, so he bought me a plane ticket back home, and he was the proud owner of a 7.5 mpg 08 F-450. Swore I'd never buy another one again. That one had the 4.88 rear end in it, and that's probally the main reason for the bad mileage tho.
Hav'nt towed the boats yet, so I guess I'll just wait and see how bad it's gonna be. Love the truck, guess I'm just a little disappointed in the poor mileage, that's all. Enough to not even want to drive it that much anymore, unless I have to.
__________________
Fountain powerboats rule "The Preacher"
Chicago Powerboat Club Director
[email protected]
www.chicagopowerboat.com
10x is offline  
Reply
Old 05-08-2011 | 08:50 AM
  #7  
Registered
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,314
Likes: 1,818
From: Merritt Island, FL
Default

10x
I have a old 96 f250 with the 7.3, 4.10 rear end and when I pull a small box trailer it gets just about as bad as when I pull the boat that weighs 5K more.

With the boat under 70 I get about 10, with the trailer i was only getting 11 -12. I think it is the wind resistance of pulling a big BOX behind you.

this year truck it is hand calc. Speedo and odometer checked and correct.
Wildman_grafix is offline  
Reply
Old 05-08-2011 | 11:19 AM
  #8  
Registered
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
From: Boca Raton, FL
Default

What is your cruising speed on the highway when empty? Even a dually with 4.10's at normal cruising speeds should be getting better then the 14 range.

I will say a good intake/exhaust/tune will give a nice increase in mileage, any diesel we've owned or friends with just those mods saw pretty large increases in mpg especially on the highway. The 6.0 when done right gives pretty damn good mileage, just have to do "studs" possibly.. you have people who have blown the gasket with the factory tune and you have others with full mods and hardcore tunes with 10's of thousands of miles that aren't "studded" and yet no issues... weird lol.

Last edited by Quicksilver; 05-08-2011 at 11:23 AM.
Quicksilver is offline  
Reply
Old 05-08-2011 | 01:31 PM
  #9  
Registered
 
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 867
Likes: 0
From: Grain Valley,Mo
Default

I have a 2007 dodge 2500 with the 5.9 48000 miles get 20-21 all day long on the highway and 15 - 16 pulling boat and thats on hills and curvy old state highways to the Ozarks 373 gears. Might try 5" exhaust and a programmer might improve the ford but or but you might be limited unless you spend a fortune on upgrades
firehawkcat is offline  
Reply
Old 05-08-2011 | 01:47 PM
  #10  
Banned
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,373
Likes: 1
From: Arlington Tx
Default

If it was my truck I would take it to Beans Diesel Performance and tell them to put a 5.9 Cummins and a 3.73 axle in it.
Catmando is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.