LUGGING A POWERSTROKE

[chevyrod]

campinman started this topic on a Cummins, I have the same question, what is a safe range for optimum fuel mileage to run a 7.3 Powerstroke w/6spd?

[chevyrod]

campinman started this topic on a Cummins, I have the same question, what is a safe range for optimum fuel mileage to run a 7.3 Powerstroke w/6spd?

[Frankenstien]

As this is the set up I have, the sweet spot for running hills (not Mtns) is around 24-2600 rpm, if traveling down the freeway on level ground, 18-2200 seems to work well. If I'm going to climb an oh-my god hill I have no problem pushing to 3200, and holding it there till the top, This will maintain a safe highway speed, and not over do it. I usually run with the cruise control, when the truck can't maintain in OD then i'll run down to 5th..and so on. The key for me has always keep an eye on the Boost and EGT's .... The boost will let you know how hard the peddle is being pushed, and EGT's will let you know if you need to find another gear. and under the fwiw category, 65ish is around 1950 rpm's hope this helps answer the basic ????,, as I am sure there are more "qualified Diesel Gurus out there they would be able to get a bit more specific.. on edit I have a dually, with 373 gearing, empty back and forth I will get around 19-21 mpg... mostly highway.... with the 5th wheel, worst case is 8 best case is 13 depending on how the wind blows...

[JimmyDee]

The PowerStroke love the 1800 to 2000 rpm range and the best mileage comes from under 2000 rpm. With that said, on a 50 mph, hilly run I will let it run free at over 2000 rpm with no degradation of mileage. If it gets under 1600 rpm and the exhaust temps get up over 800? while towing, I'll force it up a bit to that sweet zone of 1800-2000 rpm.
Towing 8k, I find myself in OD 95% of the time.
Jim

[gearman]

chevyrod,

How much weight are we talking? Because I drive mine like Frankenstien and I am pulling close to 13k, there is no way you can pull this much weight and drive it like JimmyDee does. Yes I have towed our boat (6000 lbs, and jet ski behind the boat at 2000 lbs) and then I drive more like JimmyDee.

But one thing I do different than the other two, I drive watching the EGTs and shift according to high temps. The higher the RPMs the more cool air is going through the motor the cooler everything stays. I try to not let the EGTs go over 1250 degs F, pre turbo. Going up 7% hills this is just over half throtle.

Lugging a powerstroke will just overburden the motor and temps will rise to very dangerous levels.