E 450 V 10 MPG

John & Angela wrote:
Our mechanic told us to watch the temps and to take the tire off if the temp went above 220 regularly and 240 in extreme once in a while type conditions. Both our engine and trams temps are staying around 200 (a little less for the tranny) except on extremely long hills. Like the coquihala connected between kelowna and Merritt. Then the motor rises to 210 where the fan comes on, then drops to about 195 where the fan kicks off and then repeats. The tranny temp never seems to go over about 205 even on the hotter days. I'll post the picture again so you can see how much of the grill is covered. It may help in gauging the effect de sus planes.

Yep .... Ford got their V10 engine & transmission cooling systems right!

I've owned both Dodge and GMC pickup trucks ... and both made me nervous in hot weather with their temperature rises.

Our E450 Ford V10 motorhome engine has so far (~42,000 miles) stayed cool as a cucumber in all situations - climbing high altitude grades in hot weather (Eastern Wyoming) and in low altitude grades in hot weather (Death Valley). No need to baby the air conditioning either - run it full blast if needed ... that's the way engine cooling should be designed. In fact that is now a criteria in our selection of any new (to us) vehicle - what is it's reputation for cooling system design?

I sent scan gauge an email....

if anyone has a Nissan titan it will not read trans. temp but does
on the E450..

I had an early 99 f350 powerstroke...trans. temp can be an issue in stop and go driving and when using exhaust brake down hill with torque converter is not locked..temp will rise quickly but no longer have that truck.

thanks for the responses

emmitt

tommykelly wrote:
I have a 2014 e450 v10 Fleetwood
looking at the scangauge website I don't see where it will read Transmission temp.. I know it won't on a Nissan Titan..
maybe I overlooked it...

It is one of the "X Gauge" functions, this was one of the main reasons I initially got the SC but it does so much more. As noted above it only takes a couple of minutes to program in. I have the codes for my 2011 and they are probably the same as your 2014. PM me if you would like to have them.

:C

pnichols wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
We watch our transmission and engine temps all the time as our spare tire is mounted on the front. No problems though.

That's encouraging!

I'd like to carry a scooter - maybe even one of these: http://www.rokon.com/ mounted on the front of our E450 for desert use and was wondering how cooling would be affected. We love it that the E450 doesn't care about outside temperatures or climbing grades with full A/C operating, and didn't want to jeopardize that. :C

Our mechanic told us to watch the temps and to take the tire off if the temp went above 220 regularly and 240 in extreme once in a while type conditions. Both our engine and trams temps are staying around 200 (a little less for the tranny) except on extremely long hills. Like the coquihala connected between kelowna and Merritt. Then the motor rises to 210 where the fan comes on, then drops to about 195 where the fan kicks off and then repeats. The tranny temp never seems to go over about 205 even on the hotter days. I'll post the picture again so you can see how much of the grill is covered. It may help in gauging the effect de sus planes.

John & Angela wrote:
We watch our transmission and engine temps all the time as our spare tire is mounted on the front. No problems though.

That's encouraging!

I'd like to carry a scooter - maybe even one of these: http://www.rokon.com/ mounted on the front of our E450 for desert use and was wondering how cooling would be affected. We love it that the E450 doesn't care about outside temperatures or climbing grades with full A/C operating, and didn't want to jeopardize that. :C

tommykelly wrote:
I have a 2014 e450 v10 Fleetwood
looking at the scangauge website I don't see where it will read Transmission temp.. I know it won't on a Nissan Titan..
maybe I overlooked it...

Good morning. It's just a selection. It's not part if the factory setting but 3 minutes of chasing around menus and it's done. We watch our transmission and engine temps all the time as our spare tire is mounted on the front. No problems though.

I have a 2014 e450 v10 Fleetwood
looking at the scangauge website I don't see where it will read Transmission temp.. I know it won't on a Nissan Titan..
maybe I overlooked it...

We have a 24' C that is larger (taller/wider), than most, see sig. It sits on a 2011 E-350 chassis, V-10 with the 5 speed Torque Shift trans with the 4:10 rear end. No way we will ever see the mileage of a more aerodynamic B+ but then there is no way they have the interior room and storage that we do.

We cruise at 55 to 62, do not have a toad and I tread lightly on the go pedal which seriously improves our mileage as verified at the pump on every tank and constantly by the Scan Gauge. After 20,000+ miles in the last year (at the end of every long trip), we consistently average 9.5. This includes a lot of dirt roads, city traffic, shopping, sightseeing and yes, some generator run time. To average 9.5 you have to spend a lot of time getting 10 to 11+ and we do.

If you don't have a Scan Gauge I highly recommend you add one. The fuel savings that can be realized by merely paying attention will quickly pay for it. Just monitor average and real time mpg and try to keep the real time higher than the average, kind of fun to do actually. :B

The ability to monitor trans fluid and coolant temps is priceless and will allow you to make the most efficient use of your Tow Haul mode adding years to the life of your tranny. Those are just two of dozens of readouts it can provide and don't forget that it is a built in code reader as well.

:C

navegator wrote:
If the RV is stream lined as some are you will see better gas milage, most "C" with the cab over will get less milage, there are a couple of air dams that prevent the rig to move smothly trough the air stream.

The first is the semi flat cab over that meets the air stream head on and tries to send it up where it meets all the vent covers, air conditioner, satelite domes, tv antena, etc.

Then you have the air stream going under the overhead being pushed down and to the sides of the cabin where it meets the flat portion of the house trying to spill over and mixing with the air that is being displaced by the hood and fenders of the RV, all of this needs more power to move the RV and more power means more fuel consumed.

On the "C"'s that are streamlined, the air is pused aside rather that being stopped by flat panels, so there is less wind resistance, that is what makes the diference in gas milage, ever carry a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood and battle the wind, same thing happens with the RV.

navegator

My Itasca Cambria which doesn't have the forward bunk is more streamlined in the front. That increases the MPG slightly. Also when using a scan gauge I have

found that MPG increases OR decreases with just a small adjustment of MPH.

I haven't reset the lie o meter for about 5K miles and it shows 9.2 MPG. 11,300 lbs 24' "low profile" 2011 Lazy Daze on E450. Generally cruise at about 60 MPH (GPS) but about third of time cruise about 65 MPH when caravanning with friends. Includes highway, some city, some mountain roads. General RV driving conditions.

Lower cruise speed equal better mileage. Running mine at indicated 55 mph gave about 10 mpg. Throw in any mountains or stop and go and down down down.