Fuel economy from 7.3 diesel

[markatherton]

After "freshening up the diesel" (See projects). I just completed a trip from San Diego to Albuquerque and back with two cats and girlfriend. 26 hours roundtrip. I mostly was on cruise control, 65 to 70 mph (mostly 65) and averaged 16 miles per gallon; I was really pleased. Mark in San Diego

[sm350bl]

That is pretty darn good. I know the sweet spot with 3.73's is right at 70 for best mileage. i would figure 65 ish for the 4.11's. Best i have gotten with my f250 is 21mpg. I think im going to compare my mileage before and after doing the work on the chinook, but I would wager mine is only getting around 10-11 right now. or course there is extra weight involved with the t-case and front end. However I think there is alot of room for improvement. Sounds like you had smooth sailing on your trip, that's awesome.

[chin_k]

You must be going down hill *both* ways, since 16 MPG is very, very good.

On my gas V10, I don't think I ever got better than 11 mpg, but maybe I was going too fast.

[gofetchwellness1]

What year is your V10? I'm hearing that some people that have the Ford gas engine with models before 2000 are getting 15mpg. I was looking at an 2003 Cascade, Chevy engine, and was told that the gas was closer to 8-10.

Any insight here would help!

[caconcourse]

From personal experience and from what I have read, the V10 is very consistent on gas mileage and tends to average between 10 1/2 and 11 mpg. It is a rare occasion when we get less than 10, and it's always a long uphill climb stretch. On a good downhill stretch we can get more than 12, but 10 1/2 to 11 is the norm. Our average on a 13,000 trip was 10.85, and that seems to be a reliable average over all of our driving.

Towing is a different story and mileage is worse and more variable.

[chin_k]

I think Clay is spot on for my 2000 Chinook, and it is about 10.6 or so. It does get better mileage if I am softer on the gas paddle, and drive more conservatively. Going around 60 mile per hour seems to let me get better than 11 mpg, for example, but I am always like to get to the next exciting thing quicker.

[b6fischer]

V10 Concourse on 11,000 mile Ski Safari trip averaged 10.6 MPG.

Virginia to Colorado, up the Rockies to British Columbia, down to Montana and back to Virginia. We hit 35 areas crossing major passes many times, so lots of mountain driving.

Best I ever got was 11.3 MPG Va to NC down I95 driving 65MPH.