Interesting comparison F250 vs F250 - axle ratio

[ib516]

So Pickuptrucks.com did some testing in 2010 at Milan Dragway in one of their comparisons, and again in 2014 using the same place.

Both times an F250 with the 6.2L V8 gas engine was tested. In the 2010 Shootout, they used a 2011 model, and in 2014, they used a 2014 model. Both were rated at the same 385hp/405tq.

The only difference between the trucks was that one had a 3.73 axle (2014), and the other had a 4.30 axle (2011).

Here are the comparisons:

0-60:
3.73 axle truck - 9.03 sec
4.30 axle truck - 9.80 sec

1/4 mile:
3.73 axle truck - 17.2 sec @ 83.4 mph
4.30 axle truck - 17.5 sec @ 84.3 mph

I would have thought the 4.30 geared truck would have been faster accelerating than the 3.73 truck. Same cab & body style, both 4x4 automatics with the same transmission.

The same thing happened when Pickuptrucks.com tested two GM 1500s, each with the 6.2L V8. The 3.42 truck was slightly slower accelerating than the 3.23 truck. Weird.

Now, for those of you keyboard warriors that are getting ready to type "I didn't buy my truck to drag race" or, "who cares about 0-60 times?"
Save it. It's just a discussion. Take your heart meds and go back to watching the Price is Right. :B

References:
2014 test - 3.73 axle

2010 test - 4.30 axle

GM vs GM / 3.23 vs 3.42

[mtofell1]

4x4ord wrote:
My guess is that the 4.30 made 1 more shift getting up to 60 mph ....

I was just about to type this. There is definitely a pause when switching gears and that would explain it.

[DaveF-250SD]

X2 what wing zealot and a couple of other folks have mentioned. Torque management is at work here. The first time I towed anything with my 2004 F-250, I noticed it first hand. I moved a friend's empty toy hauler from the rv shop to his house. the empty weight was very light, about 4,900 lbs, GVW was 7,500. I drove with the same light foot I use when my truck was empty on city streets, and my rate of acceleration was indistinguishable from when the truck was by itself. The software seems to sense that more weight is being moved, and cranks in more hp/torque to compensate. I also notice the same thing when towing an open car hauler with car, at a touch over 7,000 lbs.

[brulaz]

Agree, computer programming changes over the model years:
Engine torque management,
Tranny shift points, and so on.

These things aren't just plain mechanical devices anymore. And we don't have the faintest idea how the computers are programmed. Pretty soon they'll even drive themselves.

[Greentreena]

I'm thinking wheel spin. The 60' times would be interesting to see.

[Buck50HD]

Hook up 10k and race to 55mph and the 4.30 would win. The 4.30 truck is in the middle of a 2-3 shift around 60mph.

I don't know about the 1/4 mi times though. They would both end in 3rd gear but the 4.30 truck would be close to redline while the 3.73 would still be lagging in RPM a little. The 4.30 does have a higher trap speed so it had a higher average power to the ground.

[coolbreeze01]

Fords? Not surprised.

[TomG2]

In the old days of three speed transmissions with third being direct, the lower geared vehicle would win every time. Anyone else remember the 4.56 positraction rear ends we used to run in our 1957-1966 Chevy's? Times have changed and with the big low gear in the six speed transmissions, they launch like the old hot rods. From there on, it is a matter of what the computer wants it to do.

[dodge_guy]

More than likely a typo, they flip flopped the numbers. There is no physical way a lower geared anything is slower than a higher geared vehicle! Just not possible!

[4x4ord]

My guess is that the 4.30 made 1 more shift getting up to 60 mph .... so third gear where as the 3.73 would make it to 60 mph in 2nd. That would be a big advantage for the 3.73 as it would be running close to maximum horsepower as it approached 60 mph instead of loosing time to shift and then running at a lower horsepower rpm as it approached the 60 mph mark.


And it could be a similar thing in the 1/4 mile.

[Mmaxed]

If traction control wasn't turned off, it may have been pulling power to keep the lower geared rig from spinning.

[YZ]

Curious to see the difference of gas consumed....

[fla-gypsy]

Too many variables to be useful. The easy explanation is better computer control of traction and shifting in 3 MY's.

[mich800]

One question that would need to be answered. Particularly for the 0-60 time is did the lower geared truck need to shift an extra gear? Or as another mentioned traction could also be an issue.

Also, difficult to compare as these were done 4 years apart. Could simply be different shifting algorithms, weather, track condition, etc.

"Both times an F250 with the 6.2L V8 gas engine was tested. In the 2010 Shootout, they used a 2011 model, and in 2014, they used a 2014 model. Both were rated at the same 385hp/405tq."

[8iron]

Ambient temps, track temps etc. may have something to do with it?

[Fast_Mopar]

ib516 wrote:

0-60:
3.73 axle truck - 9.03 sec
4.30 axle truck - 9.80 sec

1/4 mile:
3.73 axle truck - 17.2 sec @ 83.4 mph
4.30 axle truck - 17.5 sec @ 84.3 mph

I would have thought the 4.30 geared truck would have been faster accelerating than the 3.73 truck. Same cab & body style, both 4x4 automatics with the same transmission.

The same thing happened when Pickuptrucks.com tested two GM 1500s, each with the 6.2L V8. The 3.42 truck was slightly slower accelerating than the 3.23 truck. Weird.

I agree. It makes no sense.