I have a 2003 F250 extended cab Super Duty 6.0 diesel. I bought it about 4 years ago and always averaged getting around 17mpg. It didn't matter if I was towing a 30ft 5th wheel or empty. I went up into the mountains towing a 18 ft flatbed trailer on a family camp out. I backed the trailer off the road to turn around and that's when I noticed the trailer tires were up against a rock stopping my truck but when stepping on the fuel pedal the engine raced but never spun the truck's tires. It seemed like it had no power even though the engine rev'ed up.
One of my relatives there in camp happened to be a Ford Service Mgr. I told him and he tested it by pulling the front tire up against a stump to see if the rear tires would spin when he pressed on the accelerator. The engine would rev up but the tires would never spin. I took it to his Ford shop when I returned. When they finished, he told me that the program in the ECU was gone (?) and they had re-flashed it with their latest program for me. I had replaced both batteries (Had them both out at the same time) before the trip and thought that might be the cause of the missing program.
Since the re-flashing about a year a half ago, I've been getting 11-12 mpg . I took it back and complained nicely. I asked if they could just flash it with a older program but was told that they only have the current flash programs and due to California's laws it probably wouldn't be legal to go back anyway. Is this really correct??? If I have it flashed in Idaho for instance, would it be the same gas guzzling program in that state too??
I find it kind of odd that older programs don't exist. Especially since I burned More proms than I could shake a stick at before I retired. I always had a file with multitudes of programs and the ability of changing certain things within the programs to make things work a little differently. I guess "Burning" proms isn't politically correct anymore so they call it "flashing".
Any help with getting my mileage back up would be appreciated. Even though I'm related to the service mgr, I think I might be getting a "canned" answer.

 

The dealer isn't able to "roll back" your PCM strategy to your older one.

You can check out PHP, Bill can "roll back" your PCM and FICM to a older more desirable strategy to gain back your lost MPG.

http://www.gopowerhungry.com/_ficm.shtml

 

Stealerships won't reverse flash, period. However, Innovative Diesel Performance sells a programmer specifically for the FICM and Power Hungry Performance does as well. In fact, PHP can roll back your computer to a previous tune (strategy). Save your time talking to the stealership and call these guys.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I'll follow up with your suggestions. Appreciate it!!!!!

 

Tune in to my thread in the 6.0 Peformance section, my programmer from IDP should be in my pudgy paws tomorrow.

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FICM programmer.

 

It sounds like you have other issues going on though... regardless of what "flash" is on the truck, it should still spin the damn tires. Are you letting it build some boost up, you really have to hold the throttle down for a few seconds, just stabbing it wont do much.

 

I know how you feel. i have had the same problem. this is very common issue. Bill at php was very helpful. Just glad i am not the only one with such terrible mileage!!

 

I missed that part, but you're right, matting the throttle does little to nothing when loaded or trying to turn the tires over. I always had the best results "rolling into it", building some boost, then nailing it like a drunken prom queen. Although, ditching the EGR cooler and Matt's SRL tune eliminated most of that need to roll in to it. In fact, it does some cool smokies now!