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RE: Ford 450 Super Duty
Also check ball joints and tie rods. If something is loose, it may track fine, but the extra force from braking may be the extra force needed to move things
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carringb
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11/22/08 03:40pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Ethanol MPG
I also see a 10% reduction when running ethanol. And this is known by miles per tank, not just by looking at my scangauge.
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carringb
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11/20/08 04:15pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Ethanol MPG
Or possibly your measurement methods are not sufficiently scientific to accurately measure the differences.
Devices that connect to your ECM to estimate mileage may not give accurate answers, because the ECM does not measure fuel flow. Fuel use is estimated from mass air flow and assumptions about the fuel flow that matches, which are invalid for alternative fuels.
Ford uses injection pulses. Injector volume is known as long as they are stock.
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carringb
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11/20/08 04:14pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: How can I improve fuel mileage with a Ford V-10?
Years ago, one of the spark plug manufacturers sold fire ring plugs and another sold plugs with 3 ground electrodes. Both concepts were to provide hotter spark. I worked as a mechanic in a Chevy garage and we had to replace pistons with holes in them as the plugs created an extreme hot spot in the combustion chamber. Today's pistons may be able to take the extra heat.
My brother put Bosch +4 spark plug in his Expedition. These had 4 electrodes. THey couldn't handle the current of the Ford COP, and we burned one up. No, it didn't eject. A hole burned right thorugh the plug along the threads, and the hot gasses burned through the injector and ignition harnesses.
I did some research after that, and Vollo owner had that problem for years, since Volvo were one of the 1st with COP.
So... best stick with OEM plugs.
Of course, it doesn't take bad plugs to screw things up. I rebuilt a motor last week that we had the spark advance set 58 degrees in the 9-11,000 RPM range. Turned out we had detonation, and broke a couple pistons.
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carringb
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11/20/08 12:50pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: e450 rear brakes
25k isn't too terrible. I only get 30k out of my Camry brakes. You have close to 10,000 pounds on your rear axle.
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carringb
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11/20/08 12:39pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: e450 rear brakes
Oh, and for the wheel... Use a big hammer, and some PB Blaster spray on the hub.
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carringb
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11/20/08 12:46am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: e450 rear brakes
Changing the calipers isn't a bad idea. But the hoses are probably just fine. '08 brakes are bigger. No idea how interchangeable they are. It's possible the caliper piton volume changed, which would also require a change in the master cylinder.
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carringb
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11/20/08 12:44am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Towing with 2005 Denali XL
I just checked the door sticker on my Denali XL and my GVWR rating is 7,200 lbs. What's the real deal?
That rig has a listed payload of 1,440 pounds. Subract the weight of any options, and fuel, and passengers, and that leaves what your maximum tongue weight. That size trailer realistically has a tongue weight of 1000-1200 pounds.
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carringb
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11/19/08 10:09pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: How can I improve fuel mileage with a Ford V-10?
The V10 coil over plugs already make high voltage. They also have a very short firing duration. They do this by building up a charge in the coil (dwell time) and then discharging it when commanded by the ECU. That would make the Pulstar plugs pretty much unable to offer any benefit, since they are essentially a plug with a built in capacitor. I suspect it's also possible for them to introduce a slight delay in spark timing. Where they may help, is on older distributor systems that put out much lower voltages, and have longer firing times.
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carringb
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11/19/08 09:50pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: abs light stays on
The ABS system only effects the rear brakes.
Sometimes. Pre-'97 cargo vans had rear only ABS, but passenger vans had standard 4-wheel ABS starting in '94. I'm not sure when cutaways got in in that era.
'97+ E-series all have 4-wheel ABS, even cutaways.
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carringb
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11/19/08 07:27pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: How can I improve fuel mileage with a Ford V-10?
I'd stay away from the Pure 1 oil filter on the V10. It is so restrictive it can reduce oil pressure during cold starts. I thought my pressure sender was failing, but it turned out to be the oil filters.
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carringb
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11/19/08 07:24pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Dually owners... Do your rear tires wear even?
And no, I can't get much over 30k on my rears. But a lot of that has to do with 400HP combined with 4.56 gears = easy to spin tires.
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carringb
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11/19/08 02:44pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Dually owners... Do your rear tires wear even?
I understand why my centers wear faster. I can't really reduce PSI because my load can vary greatly, and I'd rather be a over-inflated empty than under inflated while loaded. Eventually I'd like to do central tire inflation, then I can adjust on the fly.
It's the outer tires wearing faster than the inners I'm confused about. And yes, a 4-wheel alignment (true 4-wheel not just thrust alignment) has been done.
The tire scrubbing thing makes sense, but I hardly do any city driving.
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carringb
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11/19/08 02:41pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: How can I improve fuel mileage with a Ford V-10?
I heard bad things when chipping the v10 engine. An exception is if you invest heavily in a Banks exhaust system with their chip option. It also increases power which is the other reason for consideration. But that system is many thousands of dollars. By the time it paid you back, you are done with the RV. Most RV owners simply change their driving habits and still complain.
I have never heard a bad thing about using a programmer or chip on the V10. I did did have an issue with my Banks chip initially because my dealer had re-flashed my ECU, so the ECU code didn't match the Banks chip and it would go into Safe mode occasionally. Banks fixed that, but while the chip was out for reprogramming, I tried a Diablo Predator tuner. The power gains were much more impressive than the Banks chip, even using 87-octane (which Predator can do, but Hypertec can't).
As far as fuel economy goes, that's not why I got those devices. I also have the full Banks powerpack. But, I also changed to 4.56 gears and converted to DRW, and with the Banks and Predator, my net change was a loss of only about 0.5 mpg highway. Without the Banks Power pack, my loss would probably be greater. I don't think a chip or programmer will save fuel because it's pretty much impossible not to use the extra power.
6 mpg does seem low. That's less than I get at 24,000 combined at 70 mph. I'd try running a tank of Chevron Premium. It has more Techron than the lower grades, and Techron is a very effective cleaning agent.
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carringb
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11/19/08 10:50am |
Class C Motorhomes
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Dually owners... Do your rear tires wear even?
So I took a look at my old tires the other day. I had though they were all shot, as the outers were bald in the center and had about 2/32 on the edges. But it turns out the inners had about 2/32 in the centers, and 4/32s on the edges. OK, so I still would have bough 4 new knowing that.
But why are my outer tires wearing faster? I always figured my inners would wear sooner due to the crown in the roads? Do rear axles have some built in camber maybe? I'm certain my tire pressure was always the same in all 4 rear tires.
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carringb
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11/19/08 12:12am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ford 450 Super Duty
Also check tires. I know it sounds strange, but broken cords in the wrong layer can cause pulling.
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carringb
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11/18/08 11:44pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: abs light stays on
A scan of the Bendix ABS controller will indicate if it's the HCU. If it's not the HCU, then the speed sensor is the likely culprit.
But... Make sure the shop has an ABS controller reader. A scan of the ECU will reveal nothing but a charge on the credit card.
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carringb
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11/18/08 01:22pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: towing a boat
The frame extension are good for 100% of the E450's ratings if they were completed to Ford's spec. https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/Q18.pdf. Almost all of the mfgs follow this, otherwise they would have to either do their own engineering, or accept the liability of having non-engineered frame extensions.
Higher rated receivers for E350 vans will also fit the E450.
I would not hesitate to pull that boat with your rig, assuming the receiver were changed out.
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carringb
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11/17/08 11:36pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Opinion needed on overheat potential E350 or E450
How much air is blocked depends greatly on the shape of the box, and the mounting height. Lower is better. I suspect 14" isn't too big of a deal. I plan on doing the same on my van. Sometimes I need more space too, so the new bumper has a receiver built in.
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carringb
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11/17/08 11:30pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: abs light stays on
Pre-96 E-series had HCU's (hydraulic control unit) that would fail due to corrosion if moisture ever got in the system. I had mine fail on my '94 E350. A rig that is driven daily, or has annual brake fluid changes, probbaly will go forever. Howver, I didn't know this before hand, and did much less regular fluid changes.
Yes, it's expensive. No, you don't really need it as long as you understand you no longer have ABS, and brake accordingly. The rest of your brake system won't be hurt by the broken ECU. I never fixed mine.
Newer E-series don't have that same susceptibility to corrosion. One letter I read from Ford actually recommended not changing brake fluid, because that's an opportunity to introduce contaminants. So on my current van, I have not changed it, and only add as needed when servicing brakes.
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carringb
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11/17/08 11:19pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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