for all the people calling bs on people claiming 20mpg, u need a reality check. my dad has a 2000 excursion with 6in lift and 38in tires and can do 20 mpg no problem, with stock gears. it has a tuner, the turbo was ported, 4 inch turbo back straight pipe,banks intake, sct tuner, and a built trans. Believe it or not because of the upgrades and the ammount of power added it can lug those monster tires in overdrive down the highway no problem, bigger tires believe it or not help(to a certian extent), because the bigger tires change the gear ratio in favor of gas milage uness it doesnt have enough torque to carry a higher gear at cruise speeds.

 

if you buy a 99 7.3 it has forged rods.

Do you realize how fast you will launch a head off the 6.0 unless studded??

 

Hello all. I am a new member and decided to add my two cents worth here. I happen to own a 2001 Ford Excursion Limited with a 7.3 turbo diesel. I bought the truck with 85,000 miles and currently am near 185,000. I can honestly say that this has been the best vehicle I have ever owned in terms of reliability. Since I have bought it I have only changed one starter, one water pump and one cam sensor (this actually had a recall but the dealer told me I would have to wait two weeks for an appointment so I bought one myself and installed it.The installation took all of five minutes). The only other items I have replaced were regular wear and tear items (shocks, brakes, etc.).

I change the oil and air filter every 3,000 miles religiously and also change the fuel filter every 15,000 religiously as well. I drain the water separator at every oil change. I get 24 to 26 miles per gallon on the highway and 20 using local streets. I tow cars on my equipment trailer and have had a best of 17 miles per gallon towing and my worst has been 13 miles per gallon towing.

Before everyone starts stating that I must be lying I will tell you that I did not do any modifications at all to my truck. It has the stock size tires on the original rims. I have no idea of whether or not a previous owner did anything with the computer but I did nothing at all. I did have another Excursion owner tell me he thought mine had computer work done since my truck starts rolling as soon as I take my foot off of the brake. He says his will not move until he actually starts pressing down on the throttle. He says he averages 18 miles per gallon with his truck.

I will also let it be known that I take it very easy on my truck. I am extremely light on the throttle and will do at most five miles over a posted speed limit. I do know that if I were to drive my truck like I have driven cars I have owned in the past that I would get much less average miles per gallon.

I will also say that I notice that a clean air filter means a lot to my truck in terms of mpg. I have already had the experience of losing 3-6 miles per gallon with my truck, checking the air filter, finding it to be filthy and changing it to see the mpg improve to what it was.

I happen to believe that excellent or horrible miles per gallon can be had with a 7.3 liter diesel depending on how well you maintain it as well as driving style. A heavy foot will definitely make this truck a guzzler.

 

I'd love this engine or a cummins as my next truck. I'll prolly be going towards a 6.7 cummins just for newness

 

agreed. for a big tow truck/tank thats what i want. i really want a converted Excursion over to a Cummings.

 

Yeah, my dad has one of the last of the 5.9 Cummins in his 05. He bought it nearly mint with 70k on it last April. He averages over 20mpg mixed. I want a Cummins so bad and keep my 150 for just screwing around on weekends after college

 

It's gotta have a chip if you are getting that kind of mileage. I agree that it's totally possible.

 

If it's a 2wd truck I can see that happening my heavy 4wd 6.0 gets 15.8hwy and 12.7city and if you drive like you have an egg under your foot these trucks can achieve that milage. All I have done to my truck is a straight pipe and EGR delete so far and I change my oil and fuel filters at about the same interval as he does.

 

Wow that's good mileage.

 

First off, I have been away from this forum for a couple years, and it is good to see it's still a friendly place to share ideas.

I have a 2003 Excursion. I get 16-19 MPG. My wife had a 1997 F250 Crew shortbed and got 18-23MPG. Both had 7.3L PSD. We calculated MPG by filling to fuel neck, and hand jamming. Her F250 just got amazing economy. We drive them very gently, and to RPM rather than speed, so we are usually getting passed on the highway. All time best in excursion was 20mpg. All time best in F250 was 24 MPG.

I am looking to get a tunner/chip/modifications for my excursion to assist fuel economy. What do you gents recommend?

Current modifications: second pyrometer for exhaust gas temp guage, a PSI sensor in turbo for PSI guage, and a Banks 4" exhaust system.

At one time it had a bullydog, but unknown details (previous owner, sticker is still on the car)

Observations: I think she runs rich, because the tailpipe has a lot of soot buildup, much more than my wife's truck ever did, and much more than other excursions I see in the parking lot.

 

Old post, but I can sort of relate. I had a 99 1 ton dually 4x4 w/the 7.3L. Just hit 100,000 and I trailered a car from Michigan to PA thru the mountains and back. It was pulling so good, like nothing was there so I began pulling in OD ,MISTAKE. MUCH better mpgs, BUT, although I made the trip there and back just fine, -after disconnecting the trailer, the trans goofed up. Yep, that screwed that 4R100 right up, DAMN!

 

Damn, this forum doesn't get much traffic. I've wrote the last word, since what, some time last year lol.

 

No, it sure doesn't.

Now I have the last word!

 

Your user name ^^^ is funny

 

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? . . . Anyone? Anyone?