fuel mileage queston

jayro88

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'90 F350, 7.3, ATS 088, cc dually, 5 speed, 4.10, 130 gal bedtank, 4 boys,...oh & the wife.

When this truck was new I'd get 18-22+ mpg cross country keeping it pulling, not hotroddin. Build a fire & keep it pulling 55-65 on flats & hills, 70-80 down hill.

At about 80K miles my mileage be down to about 14 or less. Pull the pump & injectors & have them rebuilt & mileage back up to 18-22+, At about every 80K miles I'd do this.

BTW, in early-mid '90's I had couple places in Tx I had rebuilds done....cost me then around $250-$350-$400 for pump & injectors....sigh

It is interesting that you talk about new vs now. I know there has been a bit of discussion regarding the changes in fuels over the years and the effect on mileage. I believe the fuel now is much less energy dense and has caused mileage to drop overall.

Glad to hear you were able to get it back up to the original numbers. I need to replace my up/injectors and have them sitting in a box at home. Issue for me is that it is a turbo pump to go along with the turbo kit I have sitting in my garage. So it is about finding the time to take my van off the road for the install.


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IDIBRONCO

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I believe the fuel now is much less energy dense and has caused mileage to drop overall.
I completely agree. I also feel that our engines ran better on the old red diesel too. Maybe they got better mileage. I wouldn't know that since I didn't own my first IDI until 2005.
 

Psolver

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i have and 89 250 4x4 was getting 16 with banks turbo ip started poring out fuel. was very tight in the funds department so put in a good used pump from local junk yard no i am doing good to get 14 and have no power egt are hitting 1000 any help would be helpful
 

genscripter

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Your timing is off. Find a timing gun (check the Forum's Lending Service in the Tech section), and adjust your timing.
 

Cubey

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I completely agree. I also feel that our engines ran better on the old red diesel too. Maybe they got better mileage. I wouldn't know that since I didn't own my first IDI until 2005.

I accidentally pumped 2 gallons of it recently before i noticed. Oops! I backed up the 10 feet and finished with the legal stuff. Seems dumb to even have it along side the street legal stuff at a conventual truck lane. I just pulled to the last pump so another non semi could fit behind me. I can't say I noticed any improvement from such a small amount, in any case. Whoever was there before me bought $300+ of the red stuff. A semi?
 

ISPKI

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I have been able to pull 18 on average in the slug with 4.10, N/A 7.3, ZF5, 4x4 log truck.

These engines seem very dependent on how hard you get on the throttle. I generally drive pretty slow when im hauling material.
 

IDIBRONCO

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Whoever was there before me bought $300+ of the red stuff. A semi?
I don't think that too many semi drivers would take that chance. I'd guess that it was a farmer or someone who owned or worked for a construction/dirt working company. They probably pumped it into a portable fuel tank of some sort that can be taken to a job site and then pumped into each fuel tank on the equipment.
 

HicksNthaStix

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I don't think that too many semi drivers would take that chance. I'd guess that it was a farmer or someone who owned or worked for a construction/dirt working company. They probably pumped it into a portable fuel tank of some sort that can be taken to a job site and then pumped into each fuel tank on the equipment.
Yep. Used to do site prep, mostly rock drilling. Had a 100 gallon fuel tank on my truck to fill my drill. Could go through 100 gallons a day pretty easily too. My co-worker and I used to joke that we wished that we got paid a much as that diesel pump did.
 

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