Gas Milage, 2008 F350, 6.4 - Montana Owners Club

PowellsMonty · 08-11-2008, 03:09 AM

When does it get better? I have 10,500 miles on it, and around town driving only, hauling nothing, I get 9-10 MPG. (We live in the mountains of Western North Carolina.) Highway, flat like in TN or SC at 65 MPG, I get 18. Is this about normal?
TIA

**Rondo** · 08-11-2008, 03:58 AM

Mike-- It is normal for now! I own a Chevy Duramax and the service rep told me I won't see the actual MPG until I hit around 25000 or more. I'm past that now and I'm getting 12-14 in the city and 20-24 open road. When I'm towing the Monte, I'm getting about the same as in city driving. I don't want to start any thread war here but I don't know about Fords but from what I've been able to grasp off threads here on MOC they are not getting quite that!

richfaa · 08-11-2008, 04:42 AM

Sounds pretty normal Mike. We are in the flatlands here in Northern Ohio and we do @12 in the city and 17/18 on the interstate not towing. Towing the 3400 anchor we average 10/11mpg at the end of the day under varying conditions... we have 13,500 on the truck. Our MPG has been creeping up as we get more miles on it.. however I do not expect much better.

mcculloe · 08-18-2008, 02:33 PM

Mike --- what axle ratio do you have?

I have an 08 F350 Crew Cab duallie, with all the crap and 4.30 gears. I actually get worse than Rich -- usually around 8-9 mpg when towing and 10-11 when going solo. I too, would like it to improve, but at 17,000 miles not really expecting much.

richfaa · 08-18-2008, 02:48 PM

Those 4:30's do put some hurt on the MPG's ' We had the job 1 build and we did install the longer job 2 air dam which did improve MPG some.We also use centene booster all the time and that also helps with the MPG..without a doubt.Erik..I am surprised that you are not doing better MPG solo. Since mine sits most all the time we take it for a Sunday spin every week..Same 4 lane road, 42 miles round trip same speed 60MPH. last Sunday we recorded a all time high of 18.6 MPG solo of course, for the round trip.We are not disappointed, considering the weight of the truck, (9212 lbs)in the MPG. Our RPM at 60mph, level ground, is @ 1850..what is yours at the same speed.???just curious about the difference between the 4:10 amd 4:30 diff....

Delaine and Lindy · 08-18-2008, 03:51 PM

Rich thats excellent mileage, I don't get that kind of mileage with our Chevy 3500. And our Truck weight is 8160. I have just under 11,000 miles. The best I have done is 17.5 at 60. Oh well just hope it improves just a little more. GBY...

richfaa · 08-19-2008, 05:56 AM

I have noted that the new GM's and the new Fords are much the same in over all MPG. The Dodge does a bit better but IMO there is no equal to the Cummins.. The new 6.4 does not yet have a track record because it is so new but In My experience it is doing better all the time. Of course I think that 10/11 MPG pulling the weight that many of us do is good MPG and there is no such thing as a light Montana. We feel we get really good MPG and that the BS on other truck forums on all the new model truck is mainly just gripes, poor driving practices, etc. We base our observations on real life experiences. we get around a lot and talk to drivers of all brands and we all do pretty much the same towing the same weight. Even the Cummins is close.

PowellsMonty · 08-19-2008, 12:23 PM

I have the 3.73??I don't use the additive but was told that it does help by the salesman, who I do trust and have been buying from for the last 20 yrs. I was in the business so I can pretty much tell BS from real. I have some, just don't use it, the one that ford stores sell. Maybe I will start.

richfaa · 08-19-2008, 02:28 PM

We use power service diesel kleen cetane booster on the advise of our dealer diesel tech both here in Ohio and Florida . We purchase it at wally mart.We have run several tanks with and several without..it does make a difference. If you have the short job airdam replace it with the longer job 2 airdam..it also makes a difference. You should do a bit better than us as you have the 3:73 diff and a bit lighter Montana.

stiles watson · 08-19-2008, 06:36 PM

I am sitting on 25,000 miles on my 2008 F350 6.4L Crew Cab Long box with 4:30 rear end. I am getting 8 to 10 pulling and 11.5 to 14 solo. I use celtane boost. I drive sensibly in my opinion.

I like everything about this King Ranch Ford except the mileage. Too bad they don't put a dual rear end in these trucks. At 9500+ lbs, I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but I sometimes miss my old 2002 F250 and the great mileage it provided.

richfaa · 08-20-2008, 01:45 AM

Stiles.. we have pretty much the same truck execpt for the diff,me 4:10 you 4:30. Your big sky is a bit heaver as is your truck. Your MPG is in line with what I would have expected. We would all like better MPG but the emmission standards keep more rigid and that is that. I feel we do good for what we have.

PowellsMonty · 08-20-2008, 06:17 AM

Thanks!

sreigle · 08-23-2008, 12:12 PM

Don't dismiss my post after looking at my signature. I towed with Ford trucks with gas engines from 1995 to 2003, then Fords with diesel engines (6.0L) from 2003 until mid-2007. I found on both of my Ford diesels the mileage took a pretty good jump right around 30,000 to maybe 33,000 miles. If I recall, the mileage increase was a couple of mpg and it stayed better the rest of the way. I don't know if the 6.4 will be the same but it's designed and built by the same company as the 6.0 and shares many parts with that engine. So maybe it will get better for y'all.

kmh3212 · 09-03-2008, 04:28 PM

I just bought a new to me 2008 6.4 diesel Ford F450 CC dually 4x4 with 4.3 rear end ratio with 29,000 miles. I haven't put enough miles on it yet to really get a great idea of mileage but so far 12.95 mpg empty mostly highway. I do know that all the new diesel trucks from the big three will be at a disadvantage as far as mileage goes compared to last years model. The new emissions as required by law have mandated catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters in order to meet the new requirements. These filters and converters use more fuel by self cleaning the filter by dumping raw fuel into the exhaust to burn the soot from the DPF. This is fuel burned with no power to the wheels. We might as well get used to it because in a few more years the requirements are going to get even tougher. The manufacturers are working on new technologies though to help us out though. We may be filling up another small tank with a chemical called urea at every oil change to further reduce the NOx (nitrogen oxides) gases produced as a byproduct of combustion in the engines. This will actually bring back some of the lost fuel mileage. This is being tested now. I hope this works out I may be trading again in a few years.

Jim Jarvis · 09-03-2008, 10:47 PM

I have the 4.3 gears and am in line with what Rich gets. I find that hills, speed and wind have a big impact. I've had as high as 14 towing on flat road and as low as 8 in mountain country or high head winds. Have had no problems with the engine.

corncob · 09-04-2008, 01:36 AM

2006 Silverado 2500 HD w/Duramax and 6 sp Allison w/ 3.73 and now 36KM+ and have consistently gotten 17-18 around town and over 20 on the highway (5000 mile trip running at 70 mph) with no tag a along. Towing TT got around 11-12 mpg. Towing Montana (2008 3465SA) best was 13 mpg. Lots of get up and go with Monty or anything behind. Biggest effect on lower mileage is letting it warm up or idling.
Just my experience.

Bob & Lee · 09-05-2008, 05:44 AM

I have very little experence in puting together a power package Iam looking at F350 SRW PSD but the Rear end gears are confusing me. they offer 3.55 Non Slip 3.75 Lim Slip 3.55 Lim Slip. Which would be the best all around fuel milage, towing and not towing. Thanks for all the knowlage.
Bob

TLightning · 09-05-2008, 10:24 AM

The higher the rear end (numerically), the better the towing (more RPM) and the lower the gas mileage (more RPM). The majority of diesels don't offer a rear end lower than 3.73 (is that what your 3.75 should be?), some have a 4.10/4.30 option. GM offers ONLY a 3.73 rear end with ALL diesels.

Ford has a chart where you can check tow ratings, just BE SURE you get the correct model, drive train (4x4 vs 4x2), engine, body style, etc, because they all affect tow rating.

Dave Anderson · 09-05-2008, 05:12 PM

My f350 gives me 19mpg solo but only 9mpg towing my 3295 . Has anyone installed the K & N air filter? I just bought one and thought I could install it myself but the32 steps to install has me intimidated. I can sure use some input.........Dave

Jim Jarvis · 09-06-2008, 01:33 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Bob & Lee

I have very little experence in puting together a power package Iam looking at F350 SRW PSD but the Rear end gears are confusing me. they offer 3.55 Non Slip 3.75 Lim Slip 3.55 Lim Slip. Which would be the best all around fuel milage, towing and not towing. Thanks for all the knowlage.
Bob

I'd be more concerned about towing specs and making sure you are safe than fuel mileage. Think about what you want to tow, the weights and what you can do to accomplish that first. IMO.

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