I finally found the V10 I was looking for. 2001 F350 Lariat dually, crew cab, 4x4. All the bells ansd whistles. Excellent shape. Bilstein gas shocks, Firestone airbags with onboard compressor, oversize tires, the works. I talked to several people who said gas milage would be around 14 mpg. I've never been a gearhead so didn't know much about the larger rear ends. The owner thought it had 411, the book says 430. All I know is I was a little shocked when the gauge showed 6.9 mpg. ?? Besides a K & N cold air intake, which will be my first purchase, what can I do for better mpg? Had I known about the milage I probably wouldn't have bought it. My fault for lousy research. Sorry for the long winded intro. Thanks.

Save your money on the K&N. It won't do anything positive enough to justify the cost.

It really all depends on how it hauls. If you find it stays in top gear for most of the time, it's saying over geared. But if you find it shifts down readily on slight hills, it's geared about right. I get 10 to 11 with my 7.3 in US gallons

Hi I have a 02 F250 4x4 4 door with the v10 also has the over load springs towing package put it beside a 350 can't tell much difference. Any ways I have got 14 with a TC on it and going on the interstate and keeping it around 65 . but it averages 10 mpg , also use the math and not the computer.

An 01 F350 should have 3.73 or option 4.30 gears. If it has a tachometer, you could tell by figuring out the speed to rpm comparison. If you can't figure it out, just post the rpm at 55mph and at 65 mph. By posting the two speeds, can better check the calcs. Would also need to know the tire size.Based on 3.73 gears, empty the truck should get around 12-13 and pulling a trailer about 9. TC may do a tad bit better, but usually about the same due to wind load. The 4.30 gears would hurt empty mpg more than loaded. The V10 was a good engine except for the first year when they had a habit of blowing out spark plugs.If he has been showing the truck a lot, lots of idling, and very short drives when mainly cold, the mpg could be that low. Really wouldn't trust it unless you know how it's been driven since the last reset. If really interested, see if he will let you reset it and take it for a 30 mile spend and see what it reads.

OP mentioned it had oversize tires. Make sure the speedometer and odometer have been recalibrated for the larger size tires. Also, larger tires are usually heavier than stock tires plus change the rear end ratio to a higher rear end, which would be a lower number. If it has a lift kit on it, that will also hurt your mileage. However, as mentioned above, always calculate your mpg by hand as the on board computer is not always correct.

Advice needed on F350 V10 | Good Sam Community

wvabeer
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
I had a 2004 with a v10 6 speed 4x4 430 gear. 9 to 11 mpg. thats it I haul a TC with a 1/2 ton and only get 10 so thats not to bad. Nothing you do to that truck will help, just run it.
jimh406
Explorer III
Apr 12, 2016
Definitely more to consider in CA. Just a little more info with a bit of searching.

It looks like a 2001 truck qualifies for catalytic converter replacement based on this site. Apparently, the converters have to be labeled to be legal. http://www.californialegalconverters.com/store/Converters-California/What-Is-Legal K&N has a page that helps people determine if their kits are legal or not. http://www.knfilters.com/streetlegal.htm My "guess" is that also an option would be to keep the airbox and change only the air filter.

Several tuners are 50 state legal. It means they can't turn any emission products off.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2016
jimh425 wrote:
Reddog1 wrote:
I question you could pass smog in California with those mods.

Those are relatively minor mods, but I don't pretend to be a CA emissions expert. Our testing in Seattle may not be as extreme as CA, but the emissions of the newer Fords is near zero even with those mods. The goal is to burn more cleanly at low rpm. The full emissions equipment will be in place just more efficient.
Unfortunately, California does not allow modifications that change smog devices. The first step is a visual and any visual changes is automatic fail. To my knowledge, the only exceptions are engine changes which must be approved by a smog arbitrator. The only parts changes (relating to smog) to an existing vehicle must smog board approved.
whizbang
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2016
My V10 F350 SRW got 10 unloaded.

I seem to recall a highway drive downhill with a tail wind where I got 11 mpg. But it was a fluke. The truck got 10 mpg.

Of course, towing or hauling, it was worse --- 8-1/2 or 9 mpg. I'm guessing the 6.9 on the computer was towing the 5th wheel. There is NO WAY you will ever get 14 mpg.
Tom_Anderson
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
billtex wrote:
Those tires are likely C or D rated. Probably not suitable for carrying a TC.

Take those out of the equation and replace with some OE size E rated tires. This should help your mpg also...

Bill

Mine are E rated. I think they're rated for over 3800 pounds each.
billtex
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2016
Those tires are likely C or D rated. Probably not suitable for carrying a TC.

Take those out of the equation and replace with some OE size E rated tires. This should help your mpg also...

Bill
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
IMO, skip the mods, do the fluid changes, recalibrate for larger tires and get the plugs changed. The mileage is what it is, you're good to go.
jimh406
Explorer III
Apr 12, 2016
Reddog1 wrote:
I question you could pass smog in California with those mods.

Those are relatively minor mods, but I don't pretend to be a CA emissions expert. Our testing in Seattle may not be as extreme as CA, but the emissions of the newer Fords is near zero even with those mods. The goal is to burn more cleanly at low rpm. The full emissions equipment will be in place just more efficient.
Vinsil
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
Nope, do your normal post buyer fliud changes and checks...and enjoy the savings over a diesel you already put in your pocket. I had a v10, great engines. They drink fuel but gas is cheap. You most likely saved 10k plus in your purchase over a similar year/mileage diesel.
Tom_Anderson
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
My '02 with 4.30 gears, a 4" lift, and LT315/75R16 tires gets 9-10MPG average. It doesn't sound like there's anything wrong with yours.

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