RideZX6R

Hey all,

Looking at purchasing a leftover '18 F150 Platinum 701A long bed with the 3.0L diesel. For this specific one, since it's a leftover it's WAY WAY more discounted than 2019 MY - So while I would have wanted the diesel anyway, I'm now even more enticed to get one.

However, after some searching... I've read some reviews and seen some detractors saying the towing/payload isn't as good as the 3.5V6TT and it's about the same/slightly better than the 2.7TT. Looks like with the 3.55s (which this particular one has) I can tow over 10k (I think it's 11,100 or 11,300) and payload is just over 2k lbs... Which seems like more than enough for me.

Primary use is daily driving this thing usually totally empty on a decent sized commute (40-45 miles round trip) - so I like the diesel MPG here

Secondary use is towing about 5700lbs with about 350-450lbs of gear in the bed 8-10x a year (towing a race car to the track and back all over the PNW) - Which it seems like it should do fine...

My questions are...

Current owners -

• What are you averaging on MPG with an empty bed/not towing (include your gear ratio if you know it) ?
  • Especially interested in MPG for folks with a tune or any deletes/tune
• What about with a trailer?
• Other than (maybe) resale, why would/should I spend more for a 3.5?

TxBriley

Look over at dieself150forum.com we have a pretty good group of owners over there but as for your question I have about 2500 miles on mine so far and I've gotten 19.5-21 MPG Hand calculated and seems to get a little better each fill up as the motor breaks in this is probably 50/50-city/hwy for the life of the truck and each tank so far. I have 4x4 with 3.55 gears and also would note i leveled, added aftermarket wheels and tires that are a tad bigger than stock(295/55r20) at 700 miles so i don't really have a before and after comparison there. One would think adding the stock rake and stock rims/tires my mileage would just be a little better. Haven't hooked up the boat yet but I'm loving the truck so far coming from 2 prior 2500 Duramaxes!!

StonedFX4

Maintenance will be higher on the diesel and the RV forums usually state you need to keep the diesel for many years/miles to pay for the option, at least in the F250+ models.

Julian703

3.5 19mpg?

Seems very similar to diesel.
Except, diesel is around .50 more a gallon? See what your local fuel station charges. Diesel is probably gonna cost you $27 more a month if you drive 1,000 miles a month. Thats $1700 over 5 years.
Next Id compare the used value of a 2018 diesel vs a 2018 3.5 used on edmunds.
Now factor in $1500 more depreciation for a truck one year older.

Then you have to account for maintenance. You can get some estimates from the service dept. Def is cheap, 6 gallons or so every 10k miles?

Ask your insurance company to compare rates on both vehicles.

Then youve got numbers, now forgot all of the above and drive both. Which one do you like better? :-)

old ray

What he said !
I traded a new Hemi for a F150 diesel mostly because of poor dealer / manufacture customer service but the deep 2018 discount certainly made it possible.
The truck rides and drives like a gas engine and it is hard to tell it's a diesel other then the low rpm torque (impressive and sometimes a little exciting).
In spite of the supposed "dated design" I am enjoying it very much. (Sorry for the hijack and the big picture.)

RideZX6R

Just to make sure somethings are correct...

Based on Fuelly.com (self-reporting from owners) it' looks like the 3.5 is typically around 17mpg mixed
http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/f-150...4&submodel_id=

And the average is about 23 for Diesels... (with an admittedly much smaller sample size, but you'd expect that as it's only been out for 1 year) - However I have read on articles/forums that 23 is about right...
http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/f-150...4&submodel_id=

Please note here - I'd like to hear more FIRST HAND MPG from owners ... a sample size of less than 50 people isn't that great, compared to a sample size of 2600+ people for the 3.5TT

So the $4500 savings of the 18 over a 19 MY is reduced 1500 (depreciation as you noted) to $3k -

And as far as fuel goes ... using a 500 mile distance...
500 mi @ 23mpg = 21.7 gallons x $2.99 for diesel (what I paid last week at costco in my A6 TDI ) = $65
500 mi @ 17 mpg = 29.4 gallons x $2.49 for 87 (it's actually more here, but lets say it isn't - also I think you're *supposed* to run 91, but let's say I don't) = $73.24

So the diesel is cheaper - not by a ton - I will only drive maybe 10k on the truck so that's only about $150 a year less

From what I've read the oil is priced about the same and same for filter - uses within 1qt of what the 3.5 uses (can't recall if more or less TBH) so I'd say that's moot - if its more I'd bet it's less in cost than that $150 I'd save in fuel. DEF is like $50 for 24 liters, which is all I should need for 20k miles.

One thing to note is my driving is usually 2.5-7 miles to/from work during the week, but pretty much all the other driving I do is longer highway stuff, so I tend to be on the higher ranges of average overall MPG-wise. For example my Audi TDI is rated at 24city and 39 highway and the EPA says it should get 29 combined but I usually average 31-33mpg on a tank, so I'd assume I'd probably get 24-26 mpg out of the F150 (assuming the 23 EPA/Fuelly average is to be believed) - of course this might also be the case with the 3.5TT as well...

I feel like if I'd keep it over the long haul it'd be worth even more than that $3k I'm saving, but this was a good exercise.

Stu Cazzo

This is such a regular comment made about diesel engines...maintenance will be higher...so what!

If it runs good, and is not plagued with timing chain problems, engine rattles or cam phaser problems, excessive oil consumption and the many other issues that many are having with their 3.5 ecos and 5.0 v8 engines then in my view its worth it! If I could go back I woulda bought the diesel.

Nice thing about the diesel engine...its SUPPOSED to sound like a diesel!

Munkeebutt

I always get amused by the comments on these diesel threads. All the worries about a little extra initial cost and higher maintenance and blah blah blah. But already spending $45000-65000 anyway for Lariat and above trims. Who gives a shiznit about the little added cost for the diesel related stuff at that point? I personally always put 93 octane in my truck for whatever goofy reasons. Diesel around here +\- $.20 compared to premium gas.

52isntbigenough

I'm looking at a 2018 Lariat in Leadfoot with the 3.0. Amazing truck, the dealer I'm at is about 59 right now. Said they can't sell the ones they have and have no 2019s

fharrison

I have 18,000 on my Lariat 5.5' bed diesel. Have the 3.55 gears. This winter (NJ), mileage was down to about 23 with winter diesel. Seems they just started phasing it out and I am back up to around 26 by the computer. Higher if you are cruising less than 70. I do trips to Canada pulling a 3 place snowmobile trailer (about 4000 loaded) and will average about 16 mpg if no heavy wind. 13 mpg with big headwind. Granted, I am not driving slow, that is usually 70-75 mph. I love the diesel. Towing is very relaxed. Set cruise and just drive. I didn't buy the diesel really to save money, just wanted the diesel and I have no regrets. Sport mode makes the truck very quick but normal mode is great all around. I am sure the 3.5 eco is quicker but if that was my concern initially, there are cars that do that better.