Hey Guys I'm new to this forum. My first post ever was a few hours ago in the suspesion forum.
I have a 97' F-150 XLT Ext Cab 4wd with 5.4L Triton and auto Transmission.
I am always towing. I travel all over the country fishing tournements. Most of the time I am towing my 21'6" Cobra Coosa Bass Boat. If not that I am towing a trailer with 2 commercial mowers and weedeaters, lol.
My truck hardly ever sees pavement without a trailer. When its not on pavement I am driving around on my lease hunting.

I am wondering if there is a programer/chip/tuner whatever that i could get to improve my towing fuel economy.
If i drive 55-60mph I can sometimes get 10-11mpg but only if i dont use cruise control and i baby it up hills.
If i set the cruise on 80mph and just let it go i get around 7-8mpg.
I usually leave overdrive on unless i am in a really hilly area.

So any performance/economy improvements would be much appreciated.

Also without a trailer my truck seems like it doesnt have near the HP it used to. And my fuel economy is much lower than it used to be. And i have noticed its a little rougher at idle, and if its in park and i hold the RPMs around 1,200 it really starts shaking. But if i hook it to my Snap-0n vantage Scanner, it isnt throwing any codes.
If anyone has any suggestions there it would also be much appreciated.

Thanks
Cody.

 

How many miles on it, when was the last time you changed your spark plugs, and what brand plugs did you use?

A tuner is not something you should use on a vehicle that's not running right stock. You need to fix the problems first.

 

It has around 120K New NGK plugs and coils like 20K ago. I wasnt looking for a tuner to correct the problem. I want to fix it then add perf/econ.

 

Gotcha. I'd make sure you don't have a plug and/or coil issue. Supposedly NGK's are okay, but you are safest with stock Motorcrafts. The track record with aftermarket coils isn't that good, we usually recommend the cheap OEM's on Ebay from Global or Uneek, they are about 80 bucks a set. Make sure you do not use antiseize and torque the plugs to 28 ft/lb to prevent loosening and blowout, those heads only have 4 threads.

Do you ever use fuel injector cleaner in the gas?

 

The coils are motorcraft, i'm sry i didnt specify that. The plugs are NGK. I use them in almost everything, them or Bosch. But most things i work on are 2-cycle. I put them in all my race outboard motors that i build.
I didnt torque the plugs i would say they have around 30# on them though. I know what u mean about blowout though my buddies V10 has blown out 3 plugs and had to get helicoils.

I do not use fuel injector cleaner. I know 2-cycles well but i wasnt comfortable enough with this motor to know what to put in it. I use Seafoam in my outboard as well as QuickLean and Stabil.

Would Seafoam be ok or is there something better?

 

Sounds like basic maintenance items would.bring you back to better mpgs.
Like......
Cleaning the throttle body.
Cleaning the MAF.
Replacing the o2 sensors.
Replacing fuel.filter.

Just some thoughts............

 

The Tritons can be fussy. Bosch is a definite no-no. The NGK's may be causing you grief - I'd at least pull them and look at how they are burning. When you have them out, you may want to do a compression test to make sure you don't have some burnt valves, head gasket, or ring issues.

The best fuel injector cleaners are Techron and Gumout with Regane.

Agree - pull the TB and clean it - and look particularly at the EGR passages, those like to plug up. If you are using an aftermarket oiled air filter such as a K&N, definitely clean the MAF, the filter oil can foul it.

If you replace the O2's, don't bother with the rear ones, those are just cat monitors for the OBD2. Use only Motorcraft or Bosch.

 

if you were towing that much then a diesel should've been on the shopping list but since you've got a non PI 5.4 well work with that.


when is the last time you changed the air filter?
what gears and tires? ("stock", will not be an acceptable answer as Ford offered more than one "stock")
how much does the boat and equipment weigh?

 

A diesel would be great but i dont have one, and i dont have the money to buy one. Well actually I do have a diesel but not one for towing. I have a 1984 non turbo diesel F-250. But its worse than my 5.4L for towing. It barely pulls its self up hills, lol. No j/k it is a great truck but when its under load it just doesnt have the HP to cut it.

I dunno total weight on the boat & trailer, but adding up all the weight i can think of its right around 4000#. And my truck is usually loaded down with luggage as well when i am towing.

I have no idea the gears, i can try to find out though.
The air filter is new. And it is a Fram, not an oiled filter, its a disposable one.

Thanks for the info on the Fuel injector cleaners. I'll definate get on that.
I have a list of parts i am getting in the near future, fuel filter is already on it. As well as tie rod ends. And now fuel injector cleaner. I'll probably go first of this week and get it all.
I already replaced upper control arms and lower ball joints. As well was sway bar links. The connecting link on my sway bars were broked off and not even attached.

How do u clean the MAF sensor? Just spray it out with carb cleaner?

I never replaced the Serpetine belt either. The truck had 56K when i bought it. And actually the belt had completely slipped my mind. I guess i better get on that too pretty fast. Isn't that a 75K maintenance item or is it routine at 100K.

As if you all cant already tell I am not super familiar with these things. I guess I invest too much energy in my boat and motors and neglect my truck too much. I consider myself to be very mechanically inclined. I can built a 2-stroke Race outboard with my eyes closed, but I just dont have the equivalent experience and knowledge when it comes to automotive engines. But I'm trying to learn. I am only 25yrs old.

Within the next 3 years i plan to purchase an 03 F-250 4wd 4-door 7.3L hopefully 5-speed with bulldog gear. I dunno if that tranny was offered in those trucks. I have yet to find one. But my cousins V10 had it and i loved towing with it and driving around my farm.
Just need to get my truck lined back out. And hopefully a fuel economy / performance towing gain to hold me over till i can purchase the diesel.

 

No - you need MAF cleaner. It's an electronics cleaner that is non-residue. DO NOT TOUCH the MAF, it has a very fine wire that breaks easily.

The 03's were available with a ZF6 manual - with 1st being a granny and 6th being an overdrive. Good luck finding an 03 with a 7.3 and a stick, they are scarce and very desirable. 03 was the last year of the 7.3 - the 6.0 was a midyear change. You may have to settle for an older model - 99 or newer.

What's the axle code on the door jamb sticker? What size tires are you running?

 

Yeah i knew 03 was the last production of the 7.3 thats why i wanted an 03. Maybe i will have to settle for an older one.

I looked for the axle code on the sticker in the door jam but didnt see the axle code. Not exactly sure what i am looking for though.

I am running Bridgestone H/T - P265/70R17 Tires.

I have looked at teh MAF but didnt know what to clean it with. I'm familiar with no residue electronics cleaners. Does it have to be a MAF cleaner or can i use any electronics cleaner?

 

crc is the brand- specific for cleaning maf's, in a silver spray can

 

cool thanks allot guys i'll pick up a can of that.

 

You are looking for a letter and a number or 2 numbers.

Example - 19 is 3.55 open, H9 is 3.55 limited slip.

If you already have a no residue electronics cleaner, you can use it. If not, might as well buy the specific MAF cleaner.

 

Is it on the sticker that specifies tires and pressure? If so is there a prefix or something that says that it is the axle code or something somewhere?