Question '97 PSD MPG's

diesel patriot

SDD Junior Member
Joined
May 5, 2008
Messages
27
Reaction score
0
Location
ofallon,mo
Ok guys, I need some suggestions here. My Dad has a '97 250 PSD Heavy duty 4x4 SC LWB. He has around 176K miles on it. He was going to trade for a Ranger to save fuel $$$. I talked him out of it. His truck is in great shape and has been maintained reguraly. I already told him to go back to factory tire size to increase fuel milage. He is currently getting 21-22 HWY and 14 Towing. Any other suggestions for this first Generation PSD to gain MPG's? I was thinking programmer but dont know which is best for his truck.
 

hheynow

Señor Aceite de Soja
Joined
Apr 1, 2005
Messages
2,194
Reaction score
0
Location
Northern California
Ok guys, I need some suggestions here. He is currently getting 21-22 HWY and 14 Towing. Any other suggestions for this first Generation PSD to gain MPG's?

Those are top notch numbers. ;tu

Don't idle for more than one minute. That means no drive-thru fast food.
Tire pressure at door sticker numbers.
No quick acceleration.
Drive like a little ol' lady.
Make sure fuel caps are tight (four clicks).
 

Zookie400

I WANNA GO FAST
Joined
Mar 18, 2007
Messages
1,683
Reaction score
0
Location
wallingford, CT
awesome numbers, and he wont see much if anything better from a ranger.

the 3" downpipe gave me 2 mpg accross the board, and my low stall torque converter gave me another 2 city.
 

BlueMule

Full Access Member
Joined
May 17, 2005
Messages
52
Reaction score
0
Location
Phoenix...USA
Does he have a pyrometer and boost gauge? If not he might consider getting them. Both EGT's and boost are the result of adding more fuel. The lower you can keep the numbers the better the mileage will be.
 

hheynow

Señor Aceite de Soja
Joined
Apr 1, 2005
Messages
2,194
Reaction score
0
Location
Northern California
Never heard of that one. Tell us about it?

Actually four clicks is for gassers. :sorry The theory is gas will evaporate from an open container so make sure your gas tanks are closed tight.....thus the four clicks on the gas cap. This was one of the tips reported in a local radio news story on how to get everything out of every last drop of gas.
 

Dogman

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2007
Messages
1,789
Reaction score
2
Location
tampa,FL
I know that you can get a check engine light if the cap is not on all the way on a gasser. On the newer cars and trucks dont know about the PSD.
 

johndeerebones

GOT PMS?
Joined
Mar 17, 2006
Messages
238
Reaction score
0
Location
Farmington, MO
Ok guys, I need some suggestions here. My Dad has a '97 250 PSD Heavy duty 4x4 SC LWB. He has around 176K miles on it. He was going to trade for a Ranger to save fuel $$$. I talked him out of it. His truck is in great shape and has been maintained reguraly. I already told him to go back to factory tire size to increase fuel milage. He is currently getting 21-22 HWY and 14 Towing. Any other suggestions for this first Generation PSD to gain MPG's? I was thinking programmer but dont know which is best for his truck.

Dang bud your close to home. If his truck is maintained as well as you say, are you still sure he doesn't want to sell it?:lmao:lmao
 

johndeerebones

GOT PMS?
Joined
Mar 17, 2006
Messages
238
Reaction score
0
Location
Farmington, MO
Ok guys, I need some suggestions here. My Dad has a '97 250 PSD Heavy duty 4x4 SC LWB. He has around 176K miles on it. He was going to trade for a Ranger to save fuel $$$. I talked him out of it. His truck is in great shape and has been maintained reguraly. I already told him to go back to factory tire size to increase fuel milage. He is currently getting 21-22 HWY and 14 Towing. Any other suggestions for this first Generation PSD to gain MPG's? I was thinking programmer but dont know which is best for his truck.

Something else too. You said you told him to go back to factory tires....if he didn't recalibrate his speedo when he changed tire sizes, his numbers are lying and that is why he can get 21-22.

I have a zf5 spd and 3.55s and everyday I get 15 to 16. Granted, I don't try to hard to make good mileage, but the biggest killer I have noticed is the new fuel. I used to get 18 and up everyday driving, when the fuel changed it dropped off hard.

All in all I can't even complain about 15-16. A 7500 pound gasoline rig that would pull as hard as my truck would probably get only 5 mpg at best.
 

BlueMule

Full Access Member
Joined
May 17, 2005
Messages
52
Reaction score
0
Location
Phoenix...USA
Something else too. You said you told him to go back to factory tires....if he didn't recalibrate his speedo when he changed tire sizes, his numbers are lying and that is why he can get 21-22.



If his PSOM is still calibrated for stock size tires and he is running larger than stock then he is actually going farther and faster then the speedometer/odometer shows. If that's the case then the mileage would be even better. Either way I'd be real happy to get even close to that, my best ever was 16.3 and I usually get 12-14.
 

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
30,506
Messages
266,043
Members
14,623
Latest member
F350 On Track
Top