This is really getting old.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 313
Likes: 41
From: SLC, Utah
16 mpg??? That's really good. Have usually heard the latest big diesels will get ~25% better, or about 12.5 mpg if you're getting 10mpg now with the EcoB or a big V8.
And unloaded they might get the same as an EcoB.
Have been looking at the Nissan Cummins Titan XD as a possible upgrade in a year or two. But even there they say only a 20% mileage improvement when towing.
And unloaded they might get the same as an EcoB.
Have been looking at the Nissan Cummins Titan XD as a possible upgrade in a year or two. But even there they say only a 20% mileage improvement when towing.
Unloaded, it was a little worse than the EB (it averaged 16 lifetime, my EB is at 17.8 mpg so far for essentially the same duties).
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 482
Likes: 130
From: Marietta, GA
There's a number of factors contributing to my terrible gas mileage. First, it's a MaxTow and has the taller 3.73 gears and huge elephant ears. I also run aggressive AT LRE tires which have more rolling resistance (and weight) then OE. Lastly there's a number of grades around my area. Nothing crazy but certainly not flat prairie towing. Also I don't drive like a maniac. Set the cruise and stick to 65mph even though many of the highways in my area are 70mph.
Usually I average between 9~10mpg with my travel trailer (in sig below). This tow above was with a new enclosed car hauler trailer and vehicle payload. The trailer has 12-inches of additional height (above the standard) so I'd say it's about 11-foot tall going down the road. Definitely not as tall as my travel trailer which is closer to 13-foot.
A travel buddy pulls a 15k pound 5th wheel with a Duramax diesel. When we travel, I get the 9~10mpg and he gets closer to 16mpg. My point with the EcoBoost motor is that it CAN be fuel efficient without any real load and sip by at higher MPG, but as soon as you load it down the little turbo 6 has to constantly spin those fuel hungry turbos to produce enough power to sustain the load.
Usually I average between 9~10mpg with my travel trailer (in sig below). This tow above was with a new enclosed car hauler trailer and vehicle payload. The trailer has 12-inches of additional height (above the standard) so I'd say it's about 11-foot tall going down the road. Definitely not as tall as my travel trailer which is closer to 13-foot.
A travel buddy pulls a 15k pound 5th wheel with a Duramax diesel. When we travel, I get the 9~10mpg and he gets closer to 16mpg. My point with the EcoBoost motor is that it CAN be fuel efficient without any real load and sip by at higher MPG, but as soon as you load it down the little turbo 6 has to constantly spin those fuel hungry turbos to produce enough power to sustain the load.
However, I only have one four-wheeled vehicle, and I only tow heavy for recreational activity, maybe 15% of my annual mileage. I would not want to endure an HD diesel engined truck for the other 85% of the miles. If I were towing for 85% of the miles, I would likely get the diesel. I really like my Ecoboost and I am quite satisfied with the fuel economy and would not trade it for a diesel HD truck.
Mine has P metric tires and a 3.55 axle, which are fine for towing a 6700# camper.
I get 26 mpg unloaded at 65 mph, 16 mpg towing a 6x14x6 enclosed trailer 60 mph 9200# GCVW, 12.5 mpg towing a 27 ft. camper 60 mph 12,900# GCVW. Try slowing down. "I'll get run over if I don't go 65 mph." I don't think so.
26 mpg
16 mpg, 9200# GCVW Yes, I towed it on a 4,276 mile trip.
12 mpg; 12,900# GCVW
Last edited by atwowheelguy; Apr 29, 2015 at 07:26 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 132
Likes: 25
If I tow my 7,600 lb toy hauler 65 mph or above my milage drops in to the 8's. If I stay at 60-63 I get 10 ish. I panicked the first time I towed with my 2011 Screw, 4x4, 3.5 Eco with 373 gears.
A buddy of mine just got a F250 diesel and is towing up I-95 right now pulling same trailer and is getting 10.5 mpg. Trucks pulling campers hate speed and wind.
The Ecoboost pulls great but it is not so ECO.
A buddy of mine just got a F250 diesel and is towing up I-95 right now pulling same trailer and is getting 10.5 mpg. Trucks pulling campers hate speed and wind.
The Ecoboost pulls great but it is not so ECO.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 29
Likes: 2
I use to get much better before some update they did when they had my transmission out to fix a leak.
I really am considering trading it off.
Somethin' Bout a Truck...
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 393
Likes: 52
From: Columbus, Ohio
I tow at 65-72mph for the most part and worst I've gotten is 10.8mpg towing the camper and best was 14.2 towing our boat. These were both on 300+ mile trips.
Around town I average high 15's to low 16's not towing. I work 6 miles from home all city streets so truck doesn't even get warmed up really.
Not towing I have seen a hair over 20mpg on a long road trip, but typical is 17-19 mainly due to speed, 78mph sucks gas.
Around town I average high 15's to low 16's not towing. I work 6 miles from home all city streets so truck doesn't even get warmed up really.
Not towing I have seen a hair over 20mpg on a long road trip, but typical is 17-19 mainly due to speed, 78mph sucks gas.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 471
Likes: 99
I have the 5.4, 3.73 4wd crew. Tow a 19 foot airstream. I run the speed limit, but never over 65.
So far, burning "winter blend gas" the best I can get is 10.9. On pure gas and similar driving conditions I get 12.6.
Fuel economy when not towing is pretty much the same between pure gas and winter blend. Biggest difference between fuels is only when towing.
Over 63 mph or so my economy droops quickly. City and highway doesn't make a big difference.
You should try regular ethanol free gas.
So far, burning "winter blend gas" the best I can get is 10.9. On pure gas and similar driving conditions I get 12.6.
Fuel economy when not towing is pretty much the same between pure gas and winter blend. Biggest difference between fuels is only when towing.
Over 63 mph or so my economy droops quickly. City and highway doesn't make a big difference.
You should try regular ethanol free gas.
Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 74
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma City Ok.
My father in laws eco gets way better mileage than mine does till we hook up the camper trailers. We do about the same at that point but I can walk away from him on the bigger hills.
The eco boost is awesome, Glad chevy thought about it in the 80s, but never put it in a truck. Shame on them. For day to day driving the eco does awesome, but with a heavy load its still a v6.
The eco boost is awesome, Glad chevy thought about it in the 80s, but never put it in a truck. Shame on them. For day to day driving the eco does awesome, but with a heavy load its still a v6.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 204
From: Ontario, Canada
My father in laws eco gets way better mileage than mine does till we hook up the camper trailers. We do about the same at that point but I can walk away from him on the bigger hills.
The eco boost is awesome, Glad chevy thought about it in the 80s, but never put it in a truck. Shame on them. For day to day driving the eco does awesome, but with a heavy load its still a v6.
The eco boost is awesome, Glad chevy thought about it in the 80s, but never put it in a truck. Shame on them. For day to day driving the eco does awesome, but with a heavy load its still a v6.
With a heavy load, the 3.5L EcoB has way more torque and HP than any normally aspirated V6 and is even better than the 5L V8.
With a heavy load, it compares well to the 6.2L V8. The EcoB actually has better low end torque and HP than the 6.2L, but the 6.2L beats it over about 4300 rpm.
Wyatt
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 1,373
Likes: 163
What are you driving?
With a heavy load, the 3.5L EcoB has way more torque and HP than any normally aspirated V6 and is even better than the 5L V8.
With a heavy load, it compares well to the 6.2L V8. The EcoB actually has better low end torque and HP than the 6.2L, but the 6.2L beats it over about 4300 rpm.
With a heavy load, the 3.5L EcoB has way more torque and HP than any normally aspirated V6 and is even better than the 5L V8.
With a heavy load, it compares well to the 6.2L V8. The EcoB actually has better low end torque and HP than the 6.2L, but the 6.2L beats it over about 4300 rpm.
