Econoline real world MPG?

[jetpoweredmonkey]

Hey gang, I'm looking to put together some kind of camping vehicle and I'm trying to find some info on late model E-series vans. I'd like to do sort of a roll-your-own Sportsmobile and keep it short on frills. I can do most of the conversion myself, depending on how elaborate I decide to get. I'm not sure yet whether I want to go all out and do a 4x4 conversion, but probably not, since my motorcycle will ride on the bumper and take me through the rough stuff.

Anyway, I'm looking at late model Econolines and I'm having trouble coming up with much in the way of real world MPG figures. I'm interested in either the 4.6L gas or 6.0L turbodiesel. The diesels are harder to find and of course more expensive. I care nothing about power (I drive slow and keep the load light) and they can all tow more than I'll ever use.

Right now I have a little 2.3L Ranger and it gets a combined 20MPG average, which I find to be pretty underwhelming considering it is gutless and never carries any kind of a load, not to mention the fact that the cab is tiny and it can't tow anything. It sounds like some people are getting darn close to 20MPG on the freeway with the turbodiesel E350. Man, I'd be stoked to do that in such a big and do-it-all vehicle.

Can anyone speak to this or maybe point me toward a forum for the E-series? I can find lots of information on the F-series trucks but there seem to be a great many differences in the truck and van powerplants and resulting performance. Also, much of the information I am finding seems to be based on vehicles that have been modded with huge tires, low gears, more boost, etc., no interest in any of that here.

 

[CSG]

My Pleasureway 2 wheel drive conversion van with the 5.4 gets a reliable 15-18 MPG with my conservative driving and stock components. Based on an E-250.

 

[Saline]

There is a wealth of information at www.sportsmobileforum.com regarding the E series as most of the SMB conversions are Ford.
My 04' extended body E-350 6.0l diesel SMB gets about 15mpg average. I have 4:10's gears and 315" tires.

 

[arz]

I've got an 03 E350 with the 7.3 diesel and a Quigley conversion. I haven't been keeping good records, but I'm right about 13-14mpg with mixed highway/town driving.

I think my issue is the 4.10 gears and the 265/75R16 tires. I think I need to bump up a bit on the tire size.

 

[ujoint]

My rig doesn't meet your criteria, but the more you know the better!

06 E350 6.0, engine 100% stock, aftermarket exhaust (cat delete) 4.10 gears, 38" tires. I average 13 in city, sometimes towing. I get a solid 15-16 hwy as long as I keep my foot out of it.

If you do plan to go 4wd in the future, I would recommend stepping up to the diesel or V10. The extra power is nice, and the cost is cheaper due to more parts shared with the trucks. It will also increase the resale value of the van.

 

[deserteagle56]

Again, I have to agree with UJoint. You must realize that the Econoline is a big and heavy vehicle - twice the weight of your Ranger - and equipped and loaded as an expedition vehicle, even heavier. The 4.6 would be helpless and straining to pull all that weight, and that would cause the fuel mileage to really suffer.
The company I work for has a lot of Ford vans to haul work crews around. Most of them are equipped with the 5.4, and any time they encounter a grade the tranny shifts down and the tach is up there hovering around 3200 rpm. That's not the way to get mileage - nor longevity - out of an engine.
As UJoint says, the diesel or the V-10 is the way to go. I have a 2007 Quigley with the V-10 - and I wish I had waited for a diesel. The power on the V-10 is Ok but it's nothing like the low-rpm grunt of a diesel. But my mileage stinks - no matter how I drive or what I do, 12 mpg is as good as it gets.

Here's a link to a forum that has lots of good info on the diesel vans: http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f14/

 

[robert]

I know some have had good experiences with their 6L Powerstrokes but I wouldn't take one if you gave it to me. Every single one the ambulances I've been on since they came out has had major issues. Plenty of threads on them on the various diesel forums. Just my two cents worth.

 

[jetpoweredmonkey]

Thanks for all the responses, guys. I've been reading a bunch of sites including the ones you sent me.

Some food for thought (for me, and maybe it will help someone else).

The diesels are just NEAT. All else being equal, I'd rather listen to the turbo going down the road and smell that exhaust in the morning. And I've even found a few bare bones diesel vans that are almost right in line with the price of a gas van.

It seems to me that the MPG comparison is almost a non-issue. That is, the diesels get maybe 3-5 MPG better than the gas (maybe better still over the V10), but diesel fuel has been more expensive than gas for a while now. Not a big difference either way there, and it will depend on what gas/diesel prices do in the future.

Other than cool factor and big-time low RPM torque, it seems like the biggest advantage of the diesel is for folks who do a lot of towing. The gas engines suffer a bit on mileage, whereas the diesels do fairly well with a big load.

That said, I have a mind to buy a boat sometime in the future, but it will doubtless be pretty small, so I could tow it even with an E150 4.6L. I'm including those in my research since I don't need the towing capacity of the E350. The factory MPG specs for the 4.6 and 5.4 gas are almost the same, just a 1 MPG difference. That would change, doubtless, when hauling a big load.

One other thought - diesels have a reputation for longevity, but the 6.0 is awfully complex. It might be reliable as a stone, and then again it might not. I don't put too much stock in internet horror stories about all the turbos or heads blowing up, etc, but the more junk you stuff under the hood, the more there is to go wrong. The gas engines have a cheaper buy-in, and I think I'd tend to worry less about something breaking. Plus, from what I can tell, the diesels cost quite a bit more to maintain - filters, fuel additives, gobs of engine oil, etc. Anyone care to speak to that?

One other thing that has me leaning toward the gas camp, if only for less cost, is that I don't drive very much. I ride my bike or moto to work most days, I'll get the truck out and go to the store if I have to haul a ton of junk or it's raining out. I only do about 6000 miles or less per year. Reliability is not a big issue either way gas vs. diesel with mileage like that, I realize. But if I have to do one big expensive service on the diesel every year, even if it's getting better MPG, that starts to add up.

 

[ujoint]

You're correct on the cost of diesel ownership! It adds up quick.. oil changes cost me $100 (DIY), and that's every 5K. Fuel filters every 10K, and they're right under $50. I haven't kept track of the additive, but I add it every fill up.

The Ford modular V8's are great engines, I've seen many with over 250K on them. It sounds like you've put some thought into what you want & need, so I'm sure you'll make the best decision. Now go get that van!

 

[Saline]

I know some have had good experiences with their 6L Powerstrokes but I wouldn't take one if you gave it to me. Every single one the ambulances I've been on since they came out has had major issues. Plenty of threads on them on the various diesel forums. Just my two cents worth.

Our 6.0l ambulances have had endless EGR valve problems. That is due mostly to the extended idle times they get. They must be kept at high idle if they are going to sit for any length of time. Low idle = poor combustion = carbon buildup and EGR valve failure.
I don't idle my van at low idle for more than a few minutes. So far knock on wood, no problems.

 

[robert]

All ambulances should have a high idle- it's the only way to keep the charging system up. Most engage when you put them in park and push in the parking brake. The new Ford's also have a catalytic cleaning system that activates itself every so often depending on what the computer tells it.

I've written about them on here before, but every single one of our trucks (in two different counties I've worked for) has had at least one major issues such as head failures, manifold failures, turbo failures, etc. Almost every single one has had to have the computer reflashed or replaced. All have had at least part of the injection system fail or be replaced due to continued problems. Several have had entire engines replaced. Every single one of them had these issues start well before 100,000 miles; some of them had well under 20,000 miles.

Obviously these are heavy use vehicles, but they all receive proper PM (the average type one ambulance starts around $120,000) and most of us don't abuse them- we know we depend on them.

I love driving a diesel and would buy a low mileage E350 with a 7.3 Powerstroke in a heartbeat (I'm actually looking for one), but the odds against the newer engines are just way too high for me to play.

 

[dsw4x4]

I own a 2000 7.3 eb 33 inch tires and 4:10s with a raised roof, again not what you are on the hunt for but any way I get 10 to 13 the best I ever got was 16 totally empty no interior and no raised roof. I put a edge juice and I still have not broke 13 but I have not been on an trip (empty) since the edge. However I do get that 10 to 13 empty or loaded and when I say loaded I mean towing a 20 foot comp ski boat two motorcycles in the back and a canoe on the roof. Towing through colorado and I drive fast. Nothing really seems to make a difference.
Hope that helps.

 

[Stumpalump]

I was looking for a diesel but came across a great deal on an 02 E350 with a V10. It runs and drives great. Pulling a built Jeep on a 18' car hualer and with the van loaded I got 9mpg on a long trip. That was pulling thru hills and slowed by snow. 13mpg is what I get loaded for camping without the trailer. Still not good but for a 4wd with as much water and gear as I carry I'm happy. The pulling power of the V10 is suposed to be fantastic but after owning a diesel and mine was the crappy 6.5 turbo diesel in a chevy I would have to differ. Nothing runs like a diesel if you are loaded. Good luck with your search but if you come across a nice V10 then they do fine.

 

[stevenmd]

Jetpoweredmonkey - I live right down the road from you in Ripon, we should chat sometime. I am also looking to do a build-it-myself type of SMB. We have 5 kids so it would also be a DD. If you are pretty handy with building stuff I'd rather pay another ExPo member to help or do some of the work than an expensive shop!

I've wondered about the V10 - would it have enough power to pull a car trailer with one of my rovers on it? It seems like the gas engine is the best bet for me b/c I want a passenger type van to begin with. I can find work vans with the diesel all day long but not a passenger type van.

~Steven

 

[hojhauler]

we have a 2001 E350 extended body, passenger van w/ V10 that I bought to tow the travel trailer and haul the kiddos. Our summer trip this year was towing a 29' travel trailer from Texas to Florida to disney world. 3000 miles and two weeks on the road and in the trailer we got 8.53 mpg, not bad with 3.73 axle ratio, I think I could have done better w/ 4.10 or 4.30 with that load. It gets 12-13 on everyday, empty driving and tows my Early bronco on a flatbed car hauler without any issues at all.