7.3L Diesel

[UP4ROX]

Originally Posted by nsjeep

I am not into polished stuff so not going to spend time doing that. I did take wire brush to the frame and cleaned it up before priming and rattle canning it black. Still a little portion left but it is not urgent.

Chrome gets you home. Ask Hardtimes

[nsjeep]

Yes it was lot more than what I wanted to spend on steering wheel but could not find anything cheaper and as nice. At least dint have to spend money on shipping. Besides I think it would look nice with my Katzkin interior.

[nsjeep]

Got 16 miles per gallon on the last tank around town.

[JVilla112]

Originally Posted by nsjeep

got 16 miles per gallon on the last tank around town.

wow thats great, im getting 11.7

[nsjeep]

I actually got 15.9 but I rounded it up 16 just sounds better
I use to get about 13.5-14.3 stock which was not bad considering the extra wait of 4x4.
The mods gave me the extra two miles. Power is not bad either. I got this mileage using my TW chip's daily tune. I also have economy tune but don't like driving around in it.

I am still getting used to all the funky settings of the chip like different shift points etc. I liked the way my truck drove stock. I wouldn't say TW chip is like the best thing on earth or anything like that. It does help with power lots of power. Paddle is very touchy. Have to get used to it. My trans felt very nice before not so much after the chip. Now I have to get a different valve body which was not at all required before I installed the chip and gained more power. I also have a 6.0l trans cooler waiting on me to pick up.

[RocknRoll]

I've got 4 chips I run through an SCT, some very similar to Tony's. If you don't have a grin from ear to ear, talk to him and make sure everything is set right(or a different tune). You don't hear many say what you did after seeing him, just a thought.

[afd516]

Have you towed with the chip? My TW chip is firm when no load on the truck. When I have a load on it or I am getting into the throttle the shifts are nice and smooth. I love the way mine shifts.

[nsjeep]

Originally Posted by RocknRoll

I've got 4 chips I run through an SCT, some very similar to Tony's. If you don't have a grin from ear to ear, talk to him and make sure everything is set right(or a different tune). You don't hear many say what you did after seeing him, just a thought.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying anything about Tony personally. I am just saying don't install a chip (any chip for that matter) and expect miracles. You have to set your truck up properly for everything to work nice and smooth. Moreover you also have to get used to how various things feel on your truck after a mod that changes lot of things on your truck.

I very much intend to go back to Tony and have him retune few things once I have the valve body in.

[Shaggnastie]

Just got back from a trip to Colorado with Bill/Corrine and Kids ... and also met up with Skip and his wife .... Anyway here are a few numbers of my F250 7.3 --- real numbers(long hand math)
OK about a week before leaving I install a 6 position chip from Tony .... couple of days before leaving I installed a Tru-Max Trans cooler add-on and removed the air box an installed a Napa 6637 air filter(Tymar filter i think they call it)

The trip direction was from North Fort Worth to Creede thru New Mexico ---- then from Creede to just north of Silverton then back to north Fort Worth by way of New Mexico/west Texas

OK so on the way to Creede Co. driving speed limit + maybe a couple of MPH over at times.... loaded with some tools, 20 lb Co2 tank, 2 -35" jeep tires, the cab full of vacation stuff-ice chest, clothes etc ... I got a little over 16 mpg ... in Econo-Mode --- kinda disappointed a little ... but it was way better then the Tahoe loaded would have gotten for sure ;)

Then in Creede I hooked up and towed the Gooseneck the rest of the way ... The load was a 26-28 ft gooseneck with 2 jeeps, 3-spare tires, one jeep loaded with vacation stuff(clothes etc) .... from Creede to Silverton and then back to the flater areas just south of the Colorado line the F250 in TOWING MODE was getting 8.5 MPG-- .... That was mostly mountain towing .... I think it was about 300-350 miles in the mountains (Creede-Sivlerton/back out thru Santa Fa) if i remember right. I was able to maintain a fairly good speed up the mountains for the most part ... The only problem I encountered was the first climb each day the engine coolant would get hot(I think because of a stuck Thermostat) .... once the thermostat open it NEVER moved past the normal again the rest of the day ....

Towing on the flatter areas(with the same load) I was getting 9.5-10 MPG all the way back to back to home ....

All in All it was better then the Tahoe no matter the loads .... and for sure I would not have been able to tow 2 jeeps with the Tahoe thru the rockies .... I have towed one jeep thru the rookies(with Tahoe) and the numbers were not better and the Tahoe struggled most of the way ....

The biggest problem I had was the STOPPING of the truck/trailer on the 6% (Wolf Creek Pass mainly) grades coming down ..... FOR SURE the next MOD before going back will be a better braking setup for sure ..... right now after reading it will be better pads and Rotors that are Slotted and dimpled probably ... Also before I tow my 18 ft dovetail in the mountains again I will probably add another set of brakes to the other axle ... even though i think the f250 with the way everything is now it could handle it alright but my thinking is I can never have TOO much braking help in the mountains ....

Anyway that is my report and my 1st major experience with the f250 7.3 towing a BIG load.

ALL in ALL i love the way the trip went ... and I am Hooked on the diesel torque for sure .... I can set the cruise at whatever and whenever and just let it go ...... never could do that with a gasser in the past on a long trip.

take care

[KA5IVR]

Originally Posted by Shaggnastie

I am Hooked on the diesel torque for sure .... I can set the cruise at whatever and whenever and just let it go

x2 Sums up my mountain towing with a Diesel.


Once you go Diesel, you won"t go back!