2010 F250-6.4 diesel poor MPG

[bandit]

On a recent trip from southern Oklahoma to Yellowstone National Park I averaged 8.5 MPG pulling a 2007 Montana 2955 which is relatively light in weight compared to many other larger rigs. Is this milage normal? Seems like everyone I talked to up in YSNP claimed they got 11 to 12 mpg pulling larger rigs. I do have a 3.55 rear axle which I think may not be ideal for towing. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Bill-N-Donna]

When we’re towing we get about 9.8 on avg. Wish I could say 10-11 but it is what it is. I used to get about 4MPG with a M/H we once had. I really enjoy the 9.8MPG I get now.

Oh on edit I had a V-10 Dodge Ram that got about 9MPG before I even started towing.

[Trailer Trash 2]

Well 3.55 gears arnt the best trailering gears that could be your problem, 3.75 or 4.10 I would think them better for towing. I had 4.10 in my 96 ford power stroke and I pulled my 35 foot Terry up there I got 10 on the flats and 8.5 to 9 on a pull. but when I disconected and drove around Y.S.P. with the hige altatude I got 20 due to it leaning out the fuel. good luck on you search.

[Carl n Susan]

While 8.5 seems a tad low, it is not out of the realm of normal. The 6.4L motor is a strong engine but has notoriously poor mileage. I put 65,000 miles on my 2008 6.4L, most towing a 2955, and usually got 9+/- MPG. And that is towing pretty much at 61 MPH. Go faster, climb a lot of hills or fight a head wind and the mileage went south - quick.

Of course the lie-o-meter always read 1 to 1.3 MPG better than my hand calculated values. Some will tell you their gauge matches their hand calculated numbers. I recorded every gallon of fuel I ever used and I can tell you it ain't so.

My advice to you is:
There is more to life than fuel mileage!

[seahunter]

Only have a few hundred towing miles, but getting 11-12 towing about 14,500 to 15,000 pounds with a 2012 F350 diesel dually with 3.73 gears and not trying to be easy on it necessarily. So far about 17-18 when not towing. This new 6.7 engine is wonderful and is hardly working when going 60-65 under 2k rpms.

[HamRad]

Bandit,
We get about 10 to 11 mpg in our Ford PSD 450. We have the good old standard 7.3 engine and the 4.88 rear end. Thought at first we'd lose some mileage because of the gearing but mileage has worked out about the same as I got in my 250. Of course the 250 had the 3.73 gears. But both vehicles ended up getting about the same mileage.

So it seems to me you are a bit on the low side but certainly within acceptable parameters.

Unless it gets worse I don't think I'd worry too much. Good luck and travel safely. Dennis

[DQDick]

Don't have a ford, but have towed across OK and seen that kind of milage. We tow slow, 60mph, and usually get 11-12 but from OK City to Albuquerque I was getting around 8.5 last winter. OK City to Albuquerque is up hill almost all the way and I had a head wind, coming back with a tail wind I was closer to 14. From southern OK to the mountains would no doubt be up hill all the way also.

[richfaa]

08 6.4L F-350, 4:10 diff. we have had MPG all over the place depending on conditions. We run 62/65 and on a average road and will normally get around 10MPG at the end of the day. We are at about 23,000 lbs GCWR. Strangly enough we are seeing better MPG pulling this 2013 3402 Big sky.No doubt about it. Have no idea why???

[BB_TX]

My 6.0 will get over 10 mpg, sometimes approaching 11, on relatively flat roads and little wind. That is towing at 70 mph. I am sure it would do better if I could just get myself to slow down.
But in mountains and/or high winds, it will drop well below 10.
3.73 rear on mine.

[Glenn the fifth]

In my truck with 4.88 gear set, about 23.5K GCWR and normally 62-65 mph, I average ~ 7.5 mpg. Few more hills up here than most parts of the country, but the truck sure pulls nice. I knew I would not get great mileage and that's okay.

[TLightning]

bandit...you were towing in OK, where the wind ALWAYS blows. If you were going into a head wind that would explain your mileage.

[Lee F.]

2008 F250 with 6.4 and 3.55 towing a 2955RL at 65 mph I average about 8.5 mpg. If I slow down to 60-62 it improves to around 9.5-10 mph..

[pineranch]

My 10 6.4 got the same milage when towing in head winds or mountains. 10-12 on the flats. It's a known fuel hog. I just quit paying attention to it.
Mike

[ols1932]

Don't let what others tell you they get in mpg. There is a tendency to talk about mpg like talking about how big the fish was that got away. I have never gotten over 11 mpg nor less than 8 mpg on any trip and we're full time, traveling from coast-to-coast. On average, we probably get around 9 to 9.5 mpg depending on the terrain, wind conditions, etc. You'll find that traveling west, mpg seems to decrease.

Don't worry about it, just enjoy the scenery and the lifestyle.

Orv

[mlh]

Don't forget you gained about 6000 feet in elevation and were pulling in the mountains.
Lynwood

[bandit]

Thanks. We did indeed enjoy our month in Yellowstone. Great advice, we will pay more attention to the scenery and less on the fuel gauge.

quote:Originally posted by ols1932

Don't let what others tell you they get in mpg. There is a tendency to talk about mpg like talking about how big the fish was that got away. I have never gotten over 11 mpg nor less than 8 mpg on any trip and we're full time, traveling from coast-to-coast. On average, we probably get around 9 to 9.5 mpg depending on the terrain, wind conditions, etc. You'll find that traveling west, mpg seems to decrease.

Don't worry about it, just enjoy the scenery and the lifestyle.

Orv

[bandit]

Wow, same rig as me and same fuel economy. Thanks for the info. My rig seems to prefer 1850 RPMs which is 69 MPH. At that speed it has tremendous torque and does not seem to struggle on inclines at all. Amazingly at 60 mph or 1500 rpms it falls on its face when meeting hills and inclines. I also noticed it regens more frequently when it is hot outside. I regen'd 3 times in 500 miles coming thru Nebraska where it was 102 degrees.

quote:Originally posted by Lee F.

2008 F250 with 6.4 and 3.55 towing a 2955RL at 65 mph I average about 8.5 mpg. If I slow down to 60-62 it improves to around 9.5-10 mph..

[mlh]

A wise man once said:
Don't let what others tell you they get in mpg. There is a tendency to talk about mpg like talking about how big the fish was that got away.
Great advice, we will pay more attention to the scenery and less on the fuel gauge.

Lynwood

[bandit]

I notice you now have the 6.7 engine. Does it get significantly better milage?

quote:Originally posted by Carl n Susan

While 8.5 seems a tad low, it is not out of the realm of normal. The 6.4L motor is a strong engine but has notoriously poor mileage. I put 65,000 miles on my 2008 6.4L, most towing a 2955, and usually got 9+/- MPG. And that is towing pretty much at 61 MPH. Go faster, climb a lot of hills or fight a head wind and the mileage went south - quick.

Of course the lie-o-meter always read 1 to 1.3 MPG better than my hand calculated values. Some will tell you their gauge matches their hand calculated numbers. I recorded every gallon of fuel I ever used and I can tell you it ain't so.

My advice to you is:
There is more to life than fuel mileage!

[richfaa]

When we hand calculate which is not often. We fill the tank right up to the lip of the filler tube.Can not pump in another ounce or it will spill out. When we do the next fill up we do the very same thing, fill to the lip of the filler tube.That is the Only way you can get a sort of accurate calculation. Our Lie O meter and our hand calculating are always very close. I will go with the on board figure as it is a real time indicator of MPG.

We are towing Around 23K GCWR and do not expect good MPG..If we can do 10MPG and we can , We are good.