- #391 of 423
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Re: Mpg 7.3 Diesel or 6.0 Diesel to V10 Gas or V8 Gas. [lance17]
by twtcad
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May 05, 2009 (6:15 am)
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Replying to: lance17 (May 05, 2009 6:02 am)
You are very welcome! Some more info..........'03 was a model change for the engine; every diesel x before 03 is a 7.3l and after '03 is a 6.0 and '03 is a mix. The 7.3l is the tried and true workhorse for Ford. Some people say the 6.0 was a bad mistake. I say if you are not towing anything you should be fine w/ the 6.0 and you will get better gas mileage especially w/ 2wd. Also, don't be afraid of diesel maintenance as they are basically the same as gas; you change the fluids, belts, brakes, filters, ect......I've put about 75k on mine and the only things I've done to it is fluids, filters brakes (slotted, dimpled rotors) alternator, both batteries and Ranchero shocks. I am planning on replacing the exhaust this summer to a 4" free flow from the turbo back, this should help out the mpg a little. Oh I should mention I also have a superchips programmer on my truck set to performance which adds about a 100hp and makes a huge difference in throttle response and upped my mpg about 2mpg.
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- #392 of 423
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Re: Gas or Diesel. [lance17]
by nukeford
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May 05, 2009 (6:26 am)
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Replying to: lance17 (May 02, 2009 8:41 am)
I have a 2001 Excursion 7.3 and I usually get about 15 MPG with a mix of highway and city. My diesel has about 150,000 on it and I just took it on a trip to Florida. We had nine people packed in with a loaded carrier in the back. I got 17-18.5 MPG at 70MPH.
I have found that the main factor in my gas mileage is temperature. I can usually count on 1-1.5 less MPG in the winter. I have a 2000 F250 diesel that I ran on the highway. The truck ran its best in the summer when it was over 90 degrees. The truck has 302K on it and is going pretty strong (power train). I never did anything to it except change the oil and trans fluid. cant say much about the V10.
For that year and make, with that kind of mileage, it is probably getting close to ball joints and shocks. I think the heavier diesel is slightly less efficient with tirewear. The oil changes will cost you more but with 10K a year that would not be a big problem. FYI--that year of Ford has a tendency to have power door lock issues and "door ajar". I am also starting to get some minor paint peeling. The biggest problem with the diesels
is they last so long you tend to think you have more problems than you really do.
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- #393 of 423
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Re: Mpg 7.3 Diesel or 6.0 Diesel to V10 Gas or V8 Gas. [twtcad]
by lance17
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May 05, 2009 (7:55 am)
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Replying to: twtcad (May 05, 2009 6:15 am)
twtcad. Thanks again. Yeah through my research I've found the year of the engine changes. I have a buddy who is a diesel freak and I've been trying to get a hold of him for a couple of days. I presume if I go diesel he will have some options to boost the mpg even more, im sure the aforementioned "superchip" will come into play. But buying a diesel and leaving it as stock I think will still get better gas mileage than my 4x4 '01 Ram. So that will be nice. From what I've found in my area my two best diesel options at the moment are a '00 7.3 4x4 with 105k for $16k and the other is an '04 6.0 with 60k miles for $17k. Would you take the tried and true 7.3 with 105k or the 6.0 with 60k. How is your AC. I live in Phoenix so it's an absolute must it's like oxygen in the summer time around here. Thanks again.
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- #394 of 423
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Re: Gas or Diesel. [nukeford]
by lance17
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May 05, 2009 (8:04 am)
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Replying to: nukeford (May 05, 2009 6:26 am)
nukeford. Thanks for your info as well and thanks for the heads up of possible problems areas at that mileage. I have noticed the posts about the door ajar and door lock problems. We just had the door lock problem on our '01 Expedition as well. I guess they run in the family. I've rethought my mileage now that the Excursion would be the primary family car I will probably put 15k-20k miles on it per year as a safe ballpark estimate. The misses has a corolla we will run to the ground but to tow the family around the "X" will be it as long as we have room to park it. Giving the money I will be saving on gas going with the diesel and the longevity of it I think the oil changes wont be that big of a deal. I do my own oil changes at the moment on my dodge don't like the goons and the quick lube place spilling oil all over my stuff and stripping my bolt. I shall have to see if I can manage the diesel oil change. I do like your last sentence about the longevity of the diesel they last so long you think you have more problems than you actually do. That is a good one to remember. Thanks for all the help.
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- #395 of 423
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Re: Mpg 7.3 Diesel or 6.0 Diesel to V10 Gas or V8 Gas. [lance17]
by twtcad
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May 05, 2009 (8:29 am)
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Replying to: lance17 (May 05, 2009 7:55 am)
If you are not towing anything or rarely (small items) then I would go w/ the '04 especially if it is 2wd. You will get a lot better mpg and their are a lot you can do to up it, air intake, exhaust, computer chip, ect.........There are some great Ford forums that go over all this stiff. As far as oil changes..........same as a gasser. I use Royal Purple synthetic and can get 15k out of one change. I buy 4 gallons of oil (one extra for topping off) and change my filter once or twice in that time period. It usually cost me $100 and I can go the year. It cost me more to use Rotella and change every 3k plus time. The AC; well I live in Central Florida w/ the high humidity and I feel the same way " it's an absolute must it's like oxygen in the summer time around here." and we have not not one issue with ours. It's also nice have dual air.......sometimes it can take a few miles to get it cool enough, but we really don't have any complaints! I think most of the issues people are having with these are the earlier one, (knock on wood) my '03 has not had a single issue! If you do purchase one, the first thing I would do unless they are new is replace all 4 rotors w/ slotted/dimple aftermarket one's; you will not be sorry. Then I would do a tuner of some sort; just do some research on which one and you will never look back at the improvement! Good luck! Todd
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- #396 of 423
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peeling paint and what size lift for 38.5 tires???
by sparkload
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May 07, 2009 (3:52 pm)
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I have peeling paint and cracked paint around most of the windows and what size lift do i need for me to put 18" wheels and 38.5 tires or 18"wheels and 36.5 tires??? The truck is black in color and is always hand washed as it does fit around here in the washes. Anyone have radio problems like it trying to play too loud but the sound is not really turned up??? Thanx.
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- #397 of 423
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Re: peeling paint and what size lift for 38.5 tires??? [sparkload]
by agoodwin
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May 07, 2009 (8:29 pm)
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Replying to: sparkload (May 07, 2009 3:52 pm)
Hello Sparkload,
I had Ford repaint my Ex. and I cost me out of pocket $75.00. I have a 2004 Ex. Eddie Bauer, white with light copper trim. Mine was peeling on the roof by the top of the windshield and along the side (top) and front bumper. I'm not sure if Ford will do anything for you with the problems they are facing now. But it may be worth a try. Good luck!
About the lift, you may be able to get away with a 2" but I would say a 4" is what you would have to put on your Ex. to clear that size of wheel and tire.
C/ya Andrew
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- #398 of 423
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Re: Mpg 7.3 Diesel or 6.0 Diesel to V10 Gas or V8 Gas. [twtcad]
by wjtinatl
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May 22, 2009 (11:38 am)
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Replying to: twtcad (May 05, 2009 8:29 am)
Just sold my '02 V-10 4x4 Limited with 88k miles. Almost cried as the new owner drove off, but don't really need that big a vehicle anymore. I can tell you this; my truck was in the AutoTrader for less than 24 hours, had three calls on it and a buyer who offered my asking price ($12.3k) sight unseen. The Ex was immaculate and well maintained, but I was surprised at the demand for it, now that gas is on it's way back up. Guess I left a grand or two on the table, given the response. I bought the Ex used with 25k on it in 2004 and can say without hesitation that it's about as bulletproof as any mechanical item can be. Brakes are a weak point, but easily fixed with just about any aftermarket rotor (I used NAPA, 20k+ with no warping). Outside of brakes however, change the oil at 5k and tranny fluid every 30k and these things will run forever. My brother has a '01 V10 4x4 with 150k and has likewise had little go wrong, and he is very hard on a truck. Compared with a Suburban, the Ex is head and shoulders a better vehicle for any type of towing or heavy use. Two previous Suburbans both rode a bit nicer than the Ex (they were 1500's) but ate transmissions like waffles and the brake were even weaker points than the Ford. Misc. A/C, power accessories and trim issues turned me off from the GM products. My V-10 averaged about 12 mpg, a bit better on the highway if you keep it below 75 mph. Above 75, it's like trying to push a barn down the highway and gas mileage plummets. I truly loved the truck and hope one day to find another in nice shape if my needs change. A word of caution, the Excursion is quite a bit bulkier than a Suburban or Expedition and drives as such. If your usage is mostly inner city in a large metro area, beware it doesn't fit in some parking garages and regular parking spaces. But if you need heavy duty.... nothing like the Excursion! Would love to see Ford bring it back on the greatly improved Super Duty platform.
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- #399 of 423
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Re: Mpg 7.3 Diesel or 6.0 Diesel to V10 Gas or V8 Gas. [wjtinatl]
by roosmama
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May 25, 2009 (9:54 am)
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Replying to: wjtinatl (May 22, 2009 11:38 am)
I know what you mean about the Big 'X's. If I could get a brand new one I would be all over it, but with today's economy I can't see it happening. I have a 2000 V10 with only 140,000 km on it. Everytime I take it for a service the dealer asks if I want to get rid of it. They have people looking for them.
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- #400 of 423
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re: shuddering - to fphilli1,heater1951,idgolfjunkie [twtcad]
by tzimmermann
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May 28, 2009 (8:23 am)
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Replying to: twtcad (Apr 27, 2009 10:05 am)
I have looked but never found slotted, dimpled rotors, only slotted, drilled? I have looked on ebay.
I am looking for people with experience with just drilled rotors, slotted and drilled and slotted and dimpled.
Thanks
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