I use a 2000 Excursion V10 to pull my 28' 4-place enclosed trailer, which is a V-nose but it's basically a car hauler. It has 2 5000lb axles and an aluminum frame. The wind makes a huge difference. The last time we went to Mass City, I averaged 8.9MPG. Last year, fighting a headwind, we were below 6 at one point. A diesel would be nice for some extra torque. Also, depending on the year, the earlier V10s had the spark plug issue where the heads strip out and shoot the plug out. Mine is one of those early engines, but nothing happened yet (fingers crossed).
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7.3L Ford Excursion 2003
- Thread starter snofish
- Start date
X2 on everyone else. 7.3L is great engine. Probably the only ford I would ever buy being a chevy guy. 12mpgs sounds great for that big a rig. V10 you would be under 9mpg.
Consider this, I drove across the country in my 5.3L Chevy with one snowmobile in the bed and averaged 14.8 for the whole trip. Now imagine if I had pulled a trailer...
Also driving 55-60 makes a huge difference than driving 70+.
Consider this, I drove across the country in my 5.3L Chevy with one snowmobile in the bed and averaged 14.8 for the whole trip. Now imagine if I had pulled a trailer...
Also driving 55-60 makes a huge difference than driving 70+.
I had a 2000 F-250 crew/short 4x4 7.3L and was getting 20mpg (hand calculated) on the highway empty. It had a 75hp chip and K&N air filter from the original owner. I would see about 15mpg pulling a 4 place open trailer. This was also before the switch to ULSD which some people claim lost about 2mpg. Since that truck I have had a 2005 Ram 3500 quad/short 4x4 5.9L Cummins, 2006 Chevy 2500 crew/short 4x4 Duramax LBZ, 2007.5 Chevy 2500 crew/short 4x4 Duramax LMM and a 2009 Chevy 2500 crew/short 4x4 Duramax LMM. The 2006, 2007.5 and 2009 Chevy's all get the same mileage while pulling my 4 place enclosed aluminum trailer........11mpg. I don't think it is the weight, but the wind resistance that is lowering the mileage, along with ULSD winter fuel. My suggestion with the 7.3L is to keep a Cam Position Sensor in the glove box. Mine went out at 60mph and the truck shut off......scary!
99 f250 4WD, 7.3 crew cab, 4 place enclosed low profile alum. trailer. I get about 11 towing and about 12 not towing. Summer milage is about 13.5 on a good day, but no differance highway to city, same milage. Never go over 2000 rpm/70 mph, milage drops fast.
I have a hypertech chip set as hot as it will go, 4" turbo back exhaust, KN filter kit, nice power improvement from the chip, noticed nothing for the exhaust and intake, no milage change for the mods, stayed at 13.5. Interestingly, I noticed no change when the fuel went low sulfer, same milage, (still sucked), but better than my old 93 F-150 gasser.
I have a hypertech chip set as hot as it will go, 4" turbo back exhaust, KN filter kit, nice power improvement from the chip, noticed nothing for the exhaust and intake, no milage change for the mods, stayed at 13.5. Interestingly, I noticed no change when the fuel went low sulfer, same milage, (still sucked), but better than my old 93 F-150 gasser.
bogiewheel
Member
Type of diesel fuel
If you are buying diesel from gas stations during the winter, it is most likely a blend of #1 and #2 fuel. #1 fuel has less BTUs and will decrease power and economy but is blended with #2 to protect from cold weather gell problems. If you can buy straight #2 and use an additive if you must, you should see better performance in both power and economy. My Dodge cummins will get 13 - 14 pulling a 4 place inline and have seen one with a chip of some kind pull this trailer at 15+.
If you are buying diesel from gas stations during the winter, it is most likely a blend of #1 and #2 fuel. #1 fuel has less BTUs and will decrease power and economy but is blended with #2 to protect from cold weather gell problems. If you can buy straight #2 and use an additive if you must, you should see better performance in both power and economy. My Dodge cummins will get 13 - 14 pulling a 4 place inline and have seen one with a chip of some kind pull this trailer at 15+.