With fuel prices going through the roof, I get asked constantly about improving the fuel economy of the Power Stroke Diesel. This is probably the single most common question I answer these days! Having had the conversation more times than I can count, I figured it would be easier for everyone involved if I just put it down in writing for all to read. Please keep in mind that this information is my opinion, based on my experience and that of my customers. This is certainly not the "end all" of Economy topics, but it's the guts of what I tell everyone that calls me asking for help with fuel economy.
For those that are looking to improve the economy of their Power Stroke without spending a fortune, I believe that there are 3 main areas to look at:
- VEHICLE CONDITION: This encompasses everything from vehicle maintenance to currently installed modifications. The age old advice about keeping up on fluid changes, filter changes, air pressures, etc...still holds true of course. Four wheel drive trucks will generally get worse economy compared to two wheel drive trucks. It should be mentioned that modifications like lift kits and larger than stock tires can negatively impact your fuel economy. As an example, my personal 7.3L 4x4 lost 2mpg when I installed a 4" lift and 35" tires, with no other changes (yes, the speedometer was adjusted for the larger tires). Simply put, I took a large, heavy truck that wasn't very aerodynamic to begin with and lifted up and made the airflow over the body even worse. I then put larger and heavier tires on it, which not only increases rolling resistance but also adds unsprung weight to the equation. If fuel economy is a major concern for you, I highly recommend keeping your truck (2 or 4 wheel drive) at it's stock ride height, with near stock tire sizes and keep up on all of your maintenance. There are some other modifications (such as regearing, lowering kits or bed covers) that can actually benefit economy, but these things need to looked at with "return on investment" in mind as some are very expensive and you'll have to save a bunch of fuel to pay for them.
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- PROGRAMMING: Ford factory programming was configured around a number of criteria, they needed to provide enough power to get the job done and still be able to support a 5 year/100,000 mile warranty. Unfortunately this strategy left both power and economy on the table. The addition of more horsepower coupled with fine tuning of engine parameters and shift points to be properly suited for each application (towing programs when loaded for example) makes for a more efficient system and will deliver better fuel economy provided the truck is driven with economy in mind. Of course, when you use programming that adds horsepower and you drive your truck "like you stole it", you should expect your economy to get worse...which brings me to the next topic.
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- DRIVING STYLE: Plain and simple, this is the #1 player in the fuel economy game. The Power Stroke just doesn't respond well to aggressive driving when economy is a concern. Slow down, everywhere. Take off from a stop in a more gentle manner, get up to speed a bit slower and drive slower in general. Try timing the traffic lights so you don't have to stop or cruising in the right lane with the slower traffic on the highway. The "sweet spot" for economy from a Power Stroke on the highway is generally considered to be 1900-2000rpm, do your best to stay in this range and you will probably see gains. My personal truck picks up about 2-3mpg if I cruise at just below 2000rpm (about 70mph) compared to running in the 80-85mph range...of course at that speed everyone is passing me and wondering why a truck with performance stickers all over it is driving so slow in a 75mph zone! It's also been reported to me that getting the rpm even lower continues to benefit economy. I believe that this is not only because the engine is turning slower, but also because the slower the truck is moving, the less energy needs to be made to actually push it through the air.
While I freely admit that I am of course in business to make money, I personally find it shameful that vendors are making excessive fuel economy claims for almost every diesel performance product on the market just to make a sale. In all reality, very few products actually make any difference in fuel economy. Some products do nothing but remove money from your wallet. BUYER BEWARE!
This is not to say that there are not other products that can be beneficial to fuel economy, there are. I personally believe that you have to weigh the cost of the product against the "real" fuel economy benefits and decide if the return on investment justifies the purchase. I think you should also consider that some upgrades may have little or no economy improvement to offer, but they may "compliment" modifications that do benefit economy or they may just make the truck more enjoyable to drive...even when going slower to save on fuel! |
