Not sure what to tell you but the WORST i have seen is towing 12,700 in a box trailer (read: huge speedbrake) is 13.9 on a hilly stretch of road... usually get about 14.7 average with a similar load on a flatbed... I wouldnt settle for 7 mpg unless it was coming from a twin turbo bugatti or a 12 cylinder italian...

 

Something is wrong.......I pull a 26 ft. Wilderness 7700lbs and it pulls with no problems..........I only manually shift out of OD on 1 really steep grade.........other than that it never shifts on it's own

 

Are those trucks that are experiencing poor towing performance and low fuel mileage reporting any codes? Are they smoking? Mine is stock and has never smoked. (not counting single digit temps) My tail pipe can blacken, but it never leaves a screen behind me. It would seem to me that if you were burning twice as much fuel as me in the same distance, you should be able to see it in the rear/side view mirrors.

My truck is a 6 speed, and my boat is certainly more aerodynamic than any tt is, but does weigh almost 9k fully loaded; and I routinely get 13 towing it. I'll never admit to how fast my truck has pulled it, but cruise control is usually set at 65 which allows me plenty of margin to accelerate and pass slower traffic.

I would think somethings' amiss, rather than a few trucks being outside the typical production differences.

 

Bulabula, is right on the mark here... some production differences are inherent yes, but like he said that is not a difference of 7mpg vs 13 or 14. I could see a slushbox 3500 qc lwb 4x4 getting maybe 12.7 - 13.1 (which is about what our company trucks average in town fully loaded). Also I could see a sc swb 2wd 2500 getting about 22 mpg unloaded doing 55 across Kansas, But those are the 2 extremes that i personally have ever seen.

7MPG is the result of something like a clogged fuel filter, TPS, trans slippage, ECU/ECM malfunction, 300 Knt headwind, or perhaps even a brake that is hanging. All of these except the 300Knt headwind should be covered by your warranty. Id be in there showing them some numbers and asking *** over...

 

I've gotten as high as 28 mpg at sustained 65 mph. This is ideal conditions. No hills and no traffic and no load. I reset the computer on the freeway and it was a 40 mile trip with cruise control.

 

Went to the dealership today and heres what they said, Yes we know there is a fuel milage problem, even worse with the 600, yes we know there is a tranny shifting problem, yes we know the 7.3 and 6.0 powerstrokes will do a better job in all areas. No there is NOTHING we can do about it!!!!!!!!!

WELL IS'T THAT SPECIAL?

JD

 

jd, who at the dealer said that? You ought to go have a sit down with the owner and let them know what the troops are saying. Then tell them you deserve your money back to get the ford because their dealership misled you.

 

Might not hurt to tighten all the hose clamps on the intracooler hoses. You could have some leaking air under pressure. This will cause a noticeable loss in pulling power. In the early 3g's this was a common problem.

 

I pulled my 25 foot camper through the catskill mtn`s last week, NO PROBLEMS. rarely had to take it out of OD.

 

FIND ANOTHER DEALER!!! Also, try cummins.com, and let "powermaster" know what the dealer said. They will take care of you, (and maybe give the dealer the little lesson in customer service he needs!) Don't be depressed, the Cummins will run circles around the powerjunk anyday (I've had both). Just contact cummins directly, and get it fixed!

Good Luck and sorry to hear about your problems

 

OK DFD536 I went to Cummins.com and sent them an e-mail. Will keep "yall" posted.

JD

 

coulda just been crappy fuel!

 

My first Post!
The TSB is for the 47RE, not the 48RE. I have a 48RE. However, the dealer did program mine and it took can of my lack of power while towing.......The program TSB might help in this instance.

CM

 

I've got the same crap for fuel mileage. Pullin' an empty 32' enclosed gooseneck I get 8.1 mpg if I'm lucky and it will barely do 75 mph. Weighed the trailer empty today and it scales at 8080 lbs. Only get 14.1 average at 75 mph not towing and on cruise. Can't wait to see how much worse it gets when the trailer is loaded! I can't believe this engine makes 555 tq stock and will hardley do 75 loaded light! This is not the performance I purchased a Cummins powered truck for. Looks like I'll have to leave my box turned on even though I shouldn't have to IMHO. What a joke...

 

I drove the same stretch of road but with a slide in camper in my 01, couldn't run in overdrive against the head wind! 10 mpg, poor power. 12mpg without camper and I questioned it's performance here also. That was at 67,000 mi. at 85,000 mi. she spun #5 rod bearing! New short block under hood is much stronger tho power mods for my 190 hp are required to play!

My advise, get rid of it, it's not right! If it's right it will make you happy sty