CamoVan 7.3 liter diesel MPG's

[John W]

I just had to brag, since it made me very happy when I checked my MPG's on a 300 mile round trip.
Got 18.5 mpg highway, with the UJOR 6" lift and 35" tires.

I'm pretty sure the speedo is correct, though hadn't compared it to a GPS reading.

Speed limit was 65 mph most of the way, and I kept it below 70 mph most of the time.

Did an extremely short run on a dirt road in 4L, and the speedo/odo reads double.

My happiness will doubtlessly be tempered when it comes time to change those 4 gallons of engine oil.

 

[dcguillory]

18.5 is great. Thats what I got almost all the time untill I put the hi top on. The cost of the oil change has minimal impact on your happiness since its every 5k. Enjoy

 

[John W]

I see you have the dp tuner as well. I have the 80hp tune, but I kept it in stock the whole way.
Have you compared 80hp tune with stock for mpg's?

 

[djbonsu]

Great fuel economy. what gears are you running?

 

[dcguillory]

my 80 tune is for towing over 6k lb so I havent done any mpg comparo. My 60 tune is my econo tune and thats what I got 18.5 with. I highly recomend the 60 econo since you get the the mpg and the power. Whats to complain about? 3.73 gears here

 

[djbonsu]

thanks for the info dcquillory. I have a dp tuner from a '03 7.3 van loaded with 80 econ/80 tow. hoping ill be satisfied with it and not have to send it back out....John W are you running 4.10 gears?

 

[John W]

thanks for the info dcquillory. I have a dp tuner from a '03 7.3 van loaded with 80 econ/80 tow. hoping ill be satisfied with it and not have to send it back out....John W are you running 4.10 gears?

Yep 4.10's.
Shifts into OD at about 50mph, so I'm guessing if I travelled on roads with 50-55 mph limits, the mileage would be even better.

Since I bought the van all set up, I don't even know where the box is to send it out for an econo tune.
Haven't had time to familiarize with everything.

Enjoying it though.

 

[dcguillory]

call DP tuner. you dont heve to send them anything. He will ask you questions about gearing and driving hadits and such and then send you a chip that you can (easily) install your self

 

[OBORG]

Love my DP tuner 19 mpg on 35" tires weight 11,500

 

[John W]

call DP tuner. you dont heve to send them anything. He will ask you questions about gearing and driving hadits and such and then send you a chip that you can (easily) install your self

That's great to know, thanks!
This is what I have;
position 0: no start (anti-theft)
position 1: stock
position 2: 80 hp econo codes (this boosts power, a little press on the gas and lots of fuel goes to the engine, really hustles! not sure why it's called econo, or if it saves fuel)
position 3: 80 hp tow codes (I think it alters shift points in addition to adding power)
position 4: 80 hp tow beach (he used it for driving on beach sand 4x4, I think he said it synchronizes shifting, not sure, might swap this chip for the most fuel economic chip)

I keep it in stock most of the time, just because I think it's gentler on the engine, keeping it under-stressed, despite that it's a 444 cu in beast.