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Originally Posted by lil red
(Post 4091472)
Actual fuel trim as shown in % from -25 to +25% is controlled directed by the front pre cat 02's. The other inputs use multipliers in the tables to determine commanded fuel amounts. The o2's just pick up how the engine is reacting to those commanded amounts and the ECM "trims" accordingly.
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Originally Posted by Cory H
(Post 4091462)
Is the 454 in your truck a competent puller? Maybe I should consider one as a second vehicle for the limited amount of towing I actually do.
If so, I'm happy with it. Its a 97 dually 4x4, 4.10 gears, stock but with a tune. Pulls the boat just fine, no problems going 65-70mph, with the ac cranking and the boat behind it. IDK, is it gonna outpull a new diesel? Heck no. But Im not into drag racing my tow vehicle. Wait, actually i take that back, lol, Icdedppl and i did drag race. My 97 454 dually vs his 7.3L chipped up excursion! But, I really dont use the truck for much, other than tugging the boat around. My model doesnt have that fancy computer deal that displays unrealistic and incorrect mpg figures. I have to figure my mpg via a piece of paper and a pen. Best i ever saw empty, was 13.4 on a long trip of hwy driving. Normally, combined city/hwy, I see around 10mpg. Towing, I was getting around 8. When I had my PCM tuned, I had them correct it for tire size. I went from stock 225/75-16 tires, to 245/75-16 tires, which i believe were around 1.5'' taller. Icdedpeepees truck had 215/85 stock. Now has 235/85 on it. I think about 1 or 1.5'' taller than stock. |
Originally Posted by MILD THUNDER
(Post 4091503)
Are you asking me?
If so, I'm happy with it. Its a 97 dually 4x4, 4.10 gears, stock but with a tune. Pulls the boat just fine, no problems going 65-70mph, with the ac cranking and the boat behind it. IDK, is it gonna outpull a new diesel? Heck no. But Im not into drag racing my tow vehicle. Wait, actually i take that back, lol, Icdedppl and i did drag race. My 97 454 dually vs his 7.3L chipped up excursion! But, I really dont use the truck for much, other than tugging the boat around. My model doesnt have that fancy computer deal that displays unrealistic and incorrect mpg figures. I have to figure my mpg via a piece of paper and a pen. Best i ever saw empty, was 13.4 on a long trip of hwy driving. Normally, combined city/hwy, I see around 10mpg. Towing, I was getting around 8. When I had my PCM tuned, I had them correct it for tire size. I went from stock 225/75-16 tires, to 245/75-16 tires, which i believe were around 1.5'' taller. Icdedpeepees truck had 215/85 stock. Now has 235/85 on it. I think about 1 or 1.5'' taller than stock. I am asking you. Thanks for the response. A new diesel is not in my cards. The limited amount of pulling I do, I can't justify that cost (both fuel and maintenance). Have been considering a 2004 to 2007 8.1, but they are hard to find clean and equipped as I want. Just was not sure how a Vortec 454 truly pulled. Have though about looking for one, but unsure of towing capabilities. Borrowed a buddy's 2003 Ford F250 7.3 PowerChoke last year. Only has 60k miles and was truly a gutless turd. 7-8 mpg towing and at times floored and struggling to get over 45mph through KC interstate and on some of the Ozarks hills with a 1997 PowerQuest 380 Avenger. |
Sounds like somethin was wrong with it, no comparison in towing with a diesel vs gas. Any of the gas trucks are gonna get horrid mpg. Had a 98 dodge 3500 DRW V10, great truck never a problem. But only got 13-14mpg empty on the highway 11 @ best around town 7-8mpg towing the boat at 75-80mph. Can be found much cheaper than the Chevy's.
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Originally Posted by Cory H
(Post 4091541)
I am asking you. Thanks for the response. A new diesel is not in my cards. The limited amount of pulling I do, I can't justify that cost (both fuel and maintenance). Have been considering a 2004 to 2007 8.1, but they are hard to find clean and equipped as I want. Just was not sure how a Vortec 454 truly pulled. Have though about looking for one, but unsure of towing capabilities.
Borrowed a buddy's 2003 Ford F250 7.3 PowerChoke last year. Only has 60k miles and was truly a gutless turd. 7-8 mpg towing and at times floored and struggling to get over 45mph through KC interstate and on some of the Ozarks hills with a 1997 PowerQuest 380 Avenger. Like I said , its definitly no 6.7L cummins, or 6.7L Ford diesel when it comes to towing power. But generally, they are solid reliable engines, that last a long time. They are known for intake gasket leaks, injectors around 100k miles. But, cheap and easy to repair. I installed a set of takeout LS1 injectors I scored for 65 bucks that were like brand new, slapped some intake gaskets on it, new fuel pump, new distributor, wires, plugs Total parts cost was under 300 bucks for all that lol.[ATTACH=CONFIG]520445[/ATTACH]. |
Originally Posted by MILD THUNDER
(Post 4091484)
Get a diesel. I read on the internet, they get 24mpg empty, and 18mpg towing a 38 Top Gun. I think you can get a 2014 loaded up dually for around 65k. Or, a 2001 with 300k miles for 30k. They will go a million miles no problem, and are very cheap to repair. If going used, I recomend a 2003 Ford 6.0L, and get a tuner. Make sure you tow the cig in high performance/high boost mode. Just be sure to refill the coolant jug when you stop for fuel. What works really nice, is when the raw coolant blows out the tailpipe, it leaves a nice tack coat on the boat, for the black smoke that follows. Your boat will look like a greasy coal miner by the time you get to the ramp.. But at least your mpg will go from 7 towing, to 8, maybe 9 with a tailwind. Plus, you'll get christmas cards from the service department at the dealer, thanking you for sponsoring their annual xmas golf outing. :pacifier:
Its the only truck that registers worse gas mileage if you let it sit idling for more than 5 minutes. Without a doubt I`m going back to a Diesel. |
I had 2 2500 Suburbans (first one was stolen).Great tow vehicle and got 13mpg consistently in both.8-9 towing a 35 Fountain.
Went to a 6.4 F350, after getting the Fastech and as nice as the Suburban was, it's still not a diesel. If you're towing a boat like mine, yes the Burb will do it, but not anywhere as well as that truck. My $.02... |
Put over 100 k miles on an 01 2500 LB CC. 10 miles per gal.Period! great truck other wise. Like clock work put 20 gal in tank ck trip odometer 200 miles.
And a qt of oil every 1500. Don't for get that. |
I now have a 3500LS Regular Cab Dually with the 8.1 and Allison. I like the truck, its about 11-13 Highway and pulling the boat 8-9. In NYS gas is around $3.65 and Diesel is pushing $4.45. I had a diesel before and yes it had a little better hill towing power, and the gas mileage was a bit better, but unless you are towing a lot, maintenance, fuel, initial price, etc, doesn't always make sense. However it is getting harder to find decent mileage, good condition 8.1s since they have been discontinued for a while. The Allison transmission on either package is great for towing boats.
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I've got an 2002 3500 dually crewcab 8.1. 5 spd allison...About 11 mpg highway light. Depending on load, mpg as low as 7 or so. If I was doing a lot of long distance towing I'd own a diesel ..But I don't, so I won't.I just don't like pulling up to the diesel pump and having to step in oil-sorb .And it seems no matter what, a little diesel fuel will get on me from the fuel soaked nozzle. My wife doesn't like the smell and neither do. Say what you want but I like my 8.1 gas
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