mpg
 

i need to increse my mpgs im getting about 13 on the highway and i have a 40 mile comute to work and 40 back so i need to do something diesel prices are on the rise so does anybody have ideas and i dont really have the money to put in to a programer right now

Well, Hi! My Oklahoman Brother. I used to work For Matrix when I lived over there. I need some info on your truck? Like Is it a m/t or an Auto? The next thing is, what your cab configuration? Is it a 4x4? Did you have some decent MPGs before you replaced the Cam Position sensor through Ford, when they did their recall? What size tires are you running? and are you prepared to change your driving habits? Let us know and we will steer you in the right direction. you can track your progress through this site Fuelly.com

http://www.fuelly.com/sig-us/52508.png
This is my average city driving MPG

it is a 4 door 2wd dually auto i dont know if the cps was replaced when they had the recall i have had the truck for 2 years and havent seen a change in mpg at all and im running stock tires

My 1999 F-250 7.3 SUPER-CAB, LONG-BED was giving me 15.5 in the city

Ok some weight issues but no problem there. You being a dually might have some issues, but not much. Automatic transmission? Look in the front of your power-plant if you need some resources go to this site guzzle's 2002 Ford Powerstroke Diesel CPS R&R Changeout If your CPS is Grey it is giving you some problems. If its black you might want to take a look at it, and see if the o-ring on that position sensor is a bluish purple. If it is either of those go to 1825899C93 International "Black" CPS - Original this should help a bit. The next thing is to prepare for intake and exhaust system, and tuning I prefer SCT, but you can decide for your self. You really don't need to do much. just try a different driving style don't lay into it. If your at a known light that is red for over 10 seconds shut the truck down (only if you have a manual) Cost down the hill, etc google Hypermiling. Now if you need more info? Try ecomodder you might not wasn't to go the extremes these guys are doing, but you will have a better understanding in your quests for more MPG

Your driving a truck that weighs about 8500#, it has the aerodynamics of a brick...

About the best you can do is drive it like there is an egg under your foot, keep the RPM's below 2k when ever possible.

Changing the CPS will NOT gain you anything. There is some Perceived issue with the Gray CPS, I have not seen anything worth while that shows it.

Rustin, Why do you prefer SCT? You do understand you can access more parts of the PCM's programing with a chip right?

There is NO reason to use a flash tuner on a 7.3...

i dont drive it hard i hardly ever really get in to it i useually keep it about 2k rpm but it still dont help

Thats about all you can do, check the up pipes for leaks, get some gauges in there to see what your boost and EGT's are doing...

But the best I would expect any Dually to get is about 15mpg... Its heavy, its wide and its got alot of ground contact.

Check the air pressure of your tires, go to MAX rating of the tire and that will help as well.

No problems with that quote.

Changing your driving style will help, I did leave a link.

[quote=CSIPSD;730859]Changing the CPS will NOT gain you anything. There is some Perceived issue with the Gray CPS, I have not seen anything worth while that shows it.

Here is where we have a difference of opinion. With all due respect to Joe (CSIPSD). He knows his PowerStroke, and has yet to say anything wrong. I did the grey CPS after the Recall. I thought nothing of it. For about 6 months I had issues of fuel economy, and false injector codes. I have been on many forums complaining of this issue. One member on another forum sent me to Clay over at Riff Raff. I bought the black CPS he sells. Replaced the grey one and put it in the glove box. The truck ran like it was supposed to. Starting was not so hard, and my fuel economy went to normal. I will say this not everybody has had this experience, a small minority did not experience any change in the behavior of their Power-plants

With all due respect again to you Joe. In my opinion, I really don't think you can access the full spectrum of the PCM with a chip. In my experience many of the owners, that have had a chip installed, Loved their chips. Some have seen problems with the chip from prolonged use. I like flash tuning, albeit a full custom flash tune, not some buy it try it basic flash tune. SCT works rather well with Fords, like EFI Live on a GM product. Chips to me (and this is fully my opinion), Are out of date technology. Granted they are better then they have ever been since they came out in the late 80's. If I go to any serious hot rod shop that uses Electronic controlled fuel injection systems on their creations. They use a full out custom flash tunes.

Just a difference of opinion Joe. What you, and I do might not work for everybody.

well if they ever come out with a tuner like EFI live for a 7.3 i will buy one, untill then i will stick with a chip like the people who know what they are doing are using.

Are you saying that the people that have a flash tuner, don't know what they are doing are using?

Re: mpg
 

How many people that make tunes for the 7.3 are using a programmer? I can think of 2, one of which only does it if you already have the tuner. Now how many tune on the TS or DP chips? I can think of 10, kinda goes to show you what is the best for the 7.3

:pca1:
aside from the chip/tunes debate i think your question is pretty much answered
also look at getting smaller tires with bigger rims the smaller the sidewall of the tire the less resistance to the road tires are a great concern when looking intor you MPG
hope this helps :rocking:

I am currently getting about 13-14 on the highway as well. I have 315s though. It might just be what it is. The part that puzzles me is I have a buddy getting about 18 on the highway and he has 35s and a lift as well

How is he "getting" his 18mpg...

Lots of guys go by the lie-o-meter in the overhead...

Or they simply do not know how to calculate mileage.

Flash tuners for a 7.3 have proven to be less desirable then a chip for YEARS Rustin, you do not understand that a chip can over ride EVERYTHING in the PCM, completely replacing the existing programs.

There is NO down side to a chip. Period.

There are MANY downsides to a Programer.

Hand calculated. Miles driven divided by gallons to fill

Is his speedo recalibrated? What cab configuration?

Your MPG issue I believe is the lack of distance, your truck never warms up.

How ever 18 mpg is a bit higher then I would expect, unless its a single cab or he has a rather long commute.

I dont think its recalibrated, mine is either. I usually add a few miles on to even it out, or close to it. I have a guy thats coming through who is gonna put an ae on it for me this weekend. Should I have him make my speedo dead on? I know from the factory they are off, when I had the 285s it was dead on. My buddy has been at Ford 10 years he said the 285s make it perfect. My buddy has an ext cab lb like me. I think he said his last tank was an average of 16.5, and I think he is around 18 on the highway Im guessing. My numbers might be off, Im just going off what I remember

Mine is dead on with AE for the 37's...

so i guess i just need to go spend some money and get a bully dog triple dog and be done with it

Yep. go waist your money. You CANNOT beat Custom Tunes from some very reliable Tuners, i.e. Tyrant Diesel, Beans, DPTuner, Swamps, etc

I will have it reaclibrated then when he scans it.

Get a custom chip, and save yourself over the bully dog. A custom chip will give you better power and run much better. But never ever look into any chip or power adder for an increase in mpg, cause you wont see it

That would not be the chip or programer of my choice...

First off you have to get some gauges, at least a boost and a pyro, this will allow you to see what your truck is doing.

Then you can add some power if you want.

The problem is, most people go out and get a programer to boost there MPG, and they are disapointed.

Throwing a chip or programer on there MIGHT gain you 1-2-3 MPG, but you will have to learn to drive it very lightly.

There are lots of good tuners out there to put some tunes on a chip, Power Hungry Performance, Swamps, Beans, DI, Total Diesel Performance, Cale (cant recall his company name right now, Ken?).

Call up one of them and tell them what your looking for... But dont expect 20mpg, or even 18mpg with a dually.

I never said chips were bad. Tuning will get you so far. it has always been tires, aerodynamics, and driving style.

Joe, Cale's Company is in Bold

Thank you...

Like I said Chips have come along-way and they are better then they used to. I will say this they have become much better at working with the PCM. Remember; before you could not scan your truck for codes, if you use a chip. I stand on my opinion and judgment. Not here to argue. Call me an idiot all you want behind your screen. I understand what goes on with a chip and a flash tune. I am still working with DP on a set-up, Simply because the cost of my Flash Tune out weighs my budget.

You have nothing to back up what your saying...

The Same TS chip that came out back in 1998 is the very same one we are using today... I have no idea what you are using as facts or information to base your chips are bad ideas, but I wish you would take some time to read up on what a chip does on a 7.3...

You have ALWAYS been able to scan your truck with a chip installed on a 7.3 powerstroke...

Did I say they were bad? You need to stop! This is a thread on fuel economy. I never said chips are bad. Joe when your right your right, regardless of an opinion. Besides TS, there is HyperMax, and Superchips, ETC.....

I have to go with Joe on this one Rustin. TS Chips or DPs Chip are far and away much better than these programmers u mention. The programmers are all GENERIC Tunes unless you can get Jody to put his tunes on an SCT. But either way, TS or DP and head and shoulders above.

We have excellent luck with the TS Performance 6pos Chip on the 7.3s.

Well, I am sure of that. I just never said Chips were no good. I said I prefer a flash tune. And it is expensive, when done correctly, if you get some yahoo that has no clue then. It's still expensive. Joe asked the question, and I answered. I did not ask to make this a debate of technology. I have my opinion, It's not wrong, nor is it right? SCT has wonderful software out for about $3-6,000 so does Sniper. They can almost but no quite do what EFI Live does for GM. These trucks are getting quite sophisticated And the computer systems are getting much better. The Chips are getting better, and so does the flash software. In my opinion no facts behind it. The reason why we have very few flash tuners is, that it's hard and most flash tuners are afraid to tune a diesel.

Am I stupid for thinking this way? Yeah, I asked the question any member can give it to me. This ought to be interesting.:argh:

Rustin...

Our computers are not changing, Nothing major on the 7.3 PCM has changed since 97... The reason there are not flash tuners for the 7.3, is because a chip does it so much better... The chip has more capacity then the factory PCM has...

Now when you step up to a 6.0, 6.4, 6.7... Its a different matter... But we are not in those forums, we are in the 7.3 forum, and chips are just plain better.

Every time you have started this, on every forum, everyone has told you the same thing...

But carry on, and have fun with your flash tuner.:tu:

It would be nice if this was moved over on another thread instead of cluttering this guys MPG thread. And you have been right on the chips! Like I said I prefer flash tuning. Thats me. I have yet to say any of you are wrong. It is unfortunate nobody dares to figure out how to flash except for the one person you mentioned earlier. If one man can flash tune a truck well! it can be done. All I will say is Chips are old technology. It still works and it is better then ever. After time something will get figured out, and all you have to do is drive to a shop, get plugged in, and your permitters are set. I will also admit they are basic tunes. Not written for a truck with all the different components that need to be worked. If the chip guys could take what they know and put it to a flash. We would not have to disengage the chip for California smog! Simply because californians are lazy and complain about chip removal and other stuff. I know this has nothing to do with this guy he might not live in CA. Have they (The chip makers) received an executive order to be legal?
You have fun to joe! Thanks for the lesson! I need it. No jokes Seriously I did need it.